Alums - saving alums vs deodorant alums - any difference?

[NIKK0]

Hi,

I've only recently started DE shaving and as part of this I learnt of using an alum on your face after shaving.

I'd been using a 'crystal deodorant' for the past several yrs and it struck me that perhaps they're the exact same thing......which from what I've been able to gather they perhaps are.

Does anyone know if the chemical composition of the shaving & deodorant alums is identical?

On the rear of my Grant's crystal deodorant it lists the ingredients as: "Contains minerals salts (KaSO4 - ALa(So4)324HCO)

Wikipedia does make them sound one and the same thing.

Reason I ask is when I use the crystal alum I have it stings and irritates my face badly - were I've heard others say their shaving alums have a bit of a calming effect.....the exact opposite that I've been finding.

On a lighter note it may bring a wry smile to some faces if you note the final use thats listed under COSMETIC uses for Alums......curious lil circle of what men rub their faces on! :-D

 

[buyandhold2018]

Hi Nikko,

The Crystal is Ammonium Alum, which is a synthetic Alum and IMO inferior to natural potassium alum. Many people suffer irritation from Ammonium Alum.

You want to use Potassium Alum for your face, and I would use it for your pits too.

Obviously, my opinion is bias because I sell Potassium alum, so take my guidance with a 'grain of salt'.

 

[NIKK0]

Thanks for the reply RazoRock.

You could definitely have something there - and I think its a huge credit to you that you give such a balanced response. I've never had any irritation probs with the 'inferior' Ammonium Alum when used as a deodorant but on the face its a bit uncomfy. WOuld the Potassium Alum be superior, I might have to give it a try and find out.

FWIW your product range looks great and appears to be well priced!

 

[jtb]

The Ammonium Alum stings alot more then the Potassium Alum IMHO.

You can find deoderants that are Potassium Alum but some don't actually list which Alum they use.

 

[nstenberg]

The Crystal is Ammonium Alum, which is a synthetic Alum and IMO inferior to natural potassium alum. Many people suffer irritation from Ammonium Alum.

You want to use Potassium Alum for your face, and I would use it for your pits too.

Cool; I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!

 

[buyandhold2018]

Thanks for the reply RazoRock.

You could definitely have something there - and I think its a huge credit to you that you give such a balanced response. I've never had any irritation probs with the 'inferior' Ammonium Alum when used as a deodorant but on the face its a bit uncomfy. WOuld the Potassium Alum be superior, I might have to give it a try and find out.

FWIW your product range looks great and appears to be well priced!

Hi Nikko,

Unless you shave almost perfectly, which I definitely do not, the face get rather exfoliated with the razor and the top lather of skin gets slightly irritated; my guess is... this is why you are uncomfy when using the Ammonium alum on your face versus your arm pits. If there was a big price gap between ammonium alum and potassium alum, then I would say maybe a good debate could take place, but their prices seem to fall into the same range anyway.

 

[armykunin]

I've noticed that the alum helps you learn how good of a shave you've gotten. When I first started it would really sting my face but now it just really tones my face up after I'm done.

 

[SirWhiskers]

I use Naturally Fresh with aloe as a deodorant and it has potassium alum in it.

http://www.naturallyfreshdeodorantcrystal.com/

I tried RazoRock and it's a great a alum, but I decided that using it after I shave is not my thing. Also, the problem I had with the RazoRock is that the stick gets thinner and it falls out of the holder. The screw-from-the-bottom design seems to work better so far.

 

[rockviper]

Osma Alum Block is potassium-based, yes? I'm looking to order some and would prefer the non-sting variety