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Anyone with experience with Pre-shave oils?

Hi!. Been wet shaving for years, but due to medications I now take, my skin has gotten VERY sensitive. I have used the "sensitive skin" creams (Taylor of old bond street, Truffit and hill ultimate comfort) which work OK, am now trying Musgo Real cream. I've tried pre-shave oils, but they just make me feel like I have to wash my hands right after applying them, then just gunk up my brush when I add lather. Anyone with experience / advice on this? I currently use a Schick injector (just great!), badger brush, and the creams that I mentioned earlier.
Thanks.
 
i've used pacific shaving oil, art of shaving and a king of shaves one. they all work pretty well. the price varies of course with the king of shaves and pacific costing between $5-6 and the art of shaving costing like $20. but honestly they all work about the same.

as far as gunking up and feeling nasty be sure you don't use too much. 3-4 drops should be more than enough. what i do is after washing my face with hot water i apply a few drops of the oil in my palm and rub it into my wet face.
 
Well try hair conditioner first (which is probably already in your shower right now). If you shower before you shave, go through your normal shower routine, and then apply conditioner to your beard area before you wash your body (or do something else that's timely in the shower. You want to leave it in about 3 minutes. Also leave conditioner in your hair up top, if applicable).

Conditioner, just as advertised, softens hair... the same as pre-shave! I've used pre-shaves and come to the same conclusion as you (sticky, gooey messes that require washing your hands). Conditioner, however, is readily available, does as promised, and washes away with no mess.

If that doesn't work as planned, I'm out of ideas. I've found conditioner to be the best after using two or three different products (so I'm not an expert in this area). Other cheap effective ways of softening your beard I've heard on this forum: You may want to try applying witch hazel before each time you apply shaving cream to your beard. WH of course softens and tones, and leaving it on below your shaving cream should make the razor glide more, and potentially soften hairs. Another cheap solution I've heard is using Proraso's aftershave cream as preshave instead, since it softens skin and hair same as any other preshave would (and since it's a cream closer to conditioner, no gooey mess).

Let me know.
 
Hmmm...sounds like you are using too much oil. Try just a thin coat, that is all you really need. There is nothing wrong with having a quick hand wash after applying the oil.

I found that PSO really improved my shaves, I can get a good shave without it, but it is even better with it.

You can always make your own oil without fragrance if your skin is very sensitive, and it is much cheaper than buying it. (I use a mix of castor oil and olive oil)
 
Pre-shave oil is intended to help preserve the hydration of your skin. No need to use more than 4 - 6 drops to rub into your skin after you've finished washing (or, if you're like me, as the last thing you do in the shower).

I bowl lather. As such, my brush is full of soap before I start to lather my face. A fully loaded brush doesn't get junked up with the little oil I have on my face. If you face lather... well... I'll let a face lather practitioner opine on how to pull that off!

Good luck.
 
I have both Pacific Shave Oil and Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort PSO. Neither of them seem to gum up either my razor or brush. I use about 8 drops of PAcific and about 6 drops of the T&H. Like others have said, if you're gunking up things, you may be using way too much oil.

For me, the oils provide a bit of additional protection for my face and neck area. FWIW, I mostly bowl lather, so the brush is full of soap before it goes on my mug.

HTH!
 
I use T&H preshave oil and really like it (although it is not cheap). I get the best results when I apply 5 or 6 drops to my wet face. It sounds to me like you are using too much oil.

Pete
 
Thanks. I've been face lathering, and have gotten a few suggestions to bowl lather - so I'll try that the next couple of days and see how it works.
 
Thanks! I'll try the conditioner - for a few years I had a thin beard, and now that I think about it - I used to condition it daily and never had and problems with skin irritation shaving the areas around it - so this may just be the ticket. I'll try it (as well as all the other helpful suggestions about using only a small amount of oil and bowl lathering) - keep you posted as to how it works.
 
RE: making your own pre-shave oil - what proportions of olive oil to castor oil do you use? I really don't like to spend the money for T&H oil, and the king of shaves oil is not too pleasant smelling, at least to my nose!
 
I have slowly transition into using pre shave oils. because using it seemed to cut down my post-shave irritation as well as increase the total shave comfort.

For me, I read somewhere on this site to use grape seed oil, and I find it perfectly fine. Probably cheaper than other PSO mentioned.

From wikipedia: Grape seed oil is a preferred cosmetic ingredient for damaged and stressed tissues, possessing regenerative and restructuring qualities which allow for strong control of skin moisturization. It can help skin retain the normal structure of epithelium cells and nerve cells via supporting the cell membranes.[citation needed] It is noted[weasel words] to be especially effective for repair of the skin around the eyes.[citation needed] Used as an all-over skin moisturizer, grape seed oil is known to reduce the look of stretch marks[citation needed]. A light, thin oil, grape seed oil leaves a glossy film over the skin when used as a carrier oil for essential oils in aromatherapy. It contains more linoleic acid than many other carrier oils. Grape seed oil is also usable as a lubricant for face shaving.
 
RE: making your own pre-shave oil - what proportions of olive oil to castor oil do you use? I really don't like to spend the money for T&H oil, and the king of shaves oil is not too pleasant smelling, at least to my nose!

2/3 Castor oil & 1/3 Extra Virgin Olive oil. Add a few drops of your favorite essence oil and you should be set.
 
Anybody know how to duplicate T&H oil? I just tried a sample and I'm totally crazy about this stuff. I don't care if it helps or not, it just smells amazing.
 
The medications must be considered for their affect. Meds such as Prednisone can make the skin become thinner and slower to recover from damage. While other medications may cause skin to become more sensitive to the effects of sunlight. Perhaps a simple application of a sunblock might help.

Terry
 
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