Can a synthetic brush cause irritation?

ElwoodP · Jul 18, 2022

Can a brush or cream cause the red spots of irritation?
I ask because sometimes it seems I have red spots starting just before the cream covers my face. And my shaves are very smooth. They don't feel like I am irritating my skin at all. But when I rinse, I have red spots all over.
I don't have allergies that I know of.
My synthetic brush is a $4.99 from Amaz.
I just can't get rid of the spots.

luvmysuper · Jul 18, 2022

Try the same cream with brush you have that didn't give you spots, and try the same brush with a cream you have that didn't give you spots. That will give you the answer.
I wouldn't expect a lot out of a 5 dollar brush though.
Depending upon its country of manufacture, you may have no idea what those bristles are actually made of.

Happy Jack · Jul 18, 2022

Seems unlikely that it's the brush. With a cheap brush they're hardly likely to use silver tip badger bristles and claim they're synthetic. I can quite believe that a shaving cream might cause a reaction, though.

ElwoodP · Jul 18, 2022

I have been experimenting with several soaps and creams. I guess I'll have to go back to the Creamo and start over.

LRod · Jul 18, 2022

I have an Aqua Velva after shave balm (cream) they gets my skin irritated when used after a shave with Proraso red shave cream. Doesn't happen when mixed with any other shaving cream. I guess something between the two don't mix. So it can be a host of things. Do what @luvmysuper said and I'd also check other products used such as your after shave. Something might be reacting to something else or maybe something (on its own) might be causing your issue.

ElwoodP · Jul 18, 2022

True.
I am looking at things other than my shaving routine also. Just in case...
I was hoping someone would say, "that exact thing happened to me and I fixed it with Oreos".
Oh well..

luvmysuper · Jul 18, 2022

Happy Jack said:
Seems unlikely that it's the brush. With a cheap brush they're hardly likely to use silver tip badger bristles and claim they're synthetic. I can quite believe that a shaving cream might cause a reaction, though.

I'm not suggesting that badger hair was substituted. Nope. I'd be happy if that were the case.
But if you don't know what the "synthetic" material is because the manufacturer is dishonest, who can say.

Who would expect:

Fake eggs

In China, Fear of Fake Eggs and ‘Recycled’ Buns

A stomach-turning string of food-safety scandals this spring, from recycled buns to contaminated pork, makes it clear that official efforts are falling short, the NYT reports.

www.cnbc.com

recycled cooking oil from the sewer

China Cracks Down on “Gutter Oil,” a Substance Even Worse Than its Name | TIME.com

Among the list of food safety scandals that have plagued China in recent years—toxic infant formula, pesticide-tainted vegetables, exploding watermelons, "lean meat powder" and pork reconstituted as beef—few are quite as stomach churning as the nauseatingly-named "gutter oil.

world.time.com

Fake food seasoning

China probes 'fake seasoning producing hub' near Tianjin

Some 50 factories were said to be using unapproved ingredients like industrial salt.

www.bbc.com

Fake rice

Chinese fake rice is on shelves [China] - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

www.business-humanrights.org

Fake honey

China's next food scandal: honey laundering

www.scmp.com

Fake baby formula

Contaminated milk formula kills three babies in China

Local officials knew about problem for more than a month before alerting central authorities

www.theguardian.com

Recycled 50 year old frozen meat

China's latest stomach-churning food scandal: Frozen meat from the 1970s | CNN

Some 800 tonnes of smuggled frozen meat have been seized by Chinese authorities, including one batch dating from the 1970s, state media reports.

www.cnn.com

thombrogan · Jul 18, 2022

I’ve gotten irritation from over brushing and from soaps that don’t like my skin

Dobric · Jul 18, 2022

Could be cream or soap
Synthetic brush shouldn't cause iritation
Unless you have some alergy to plastic

ElwoodP · Jul 18, 2022

Maybe I'll look for a nicer synthetic brush. Just in case.
Any budget friendly recommendations?

Eric_75 · Jul 18, 2022

ElwoodP said:
Maybe I'll look for a nicer synthetic brush. Just in case.
Any budget friendly recommendations?

The Hawkins & Brimble synthetic brush has been working great for me.

LRod · Jul 18, 2022

luvmysuper said:
I'm not suggesting that badger hair was substituted. Nope. I'd be happy if that were the case.
But if you don't know what the "synthetic" material is because the manufacturer is dishonest, who can say.

Who would expect:

Fake eggs

In China, Fear of Fake Eggs and ‘Recycled’ Buns

A stomach-turning string of food-safety scandals this spring, from recycled buns to contaminated pork, makes it clear that official efforts are falling short, the NYT reports.

www.cnbc.com

recycled cooking oil from the sewer

China Cracks Down on “Gutter Oil,” a Substance Even Worse Than its Name | TIME.com

Among the list of food safety scandals that have plagued China in recent years—toxic infant formula, pesticide-tainted vegetables, exploding watermelons, "lean meat powder" and pork reconstituted as beef—few are quite as stomach churning as the nauseatingly-named "gutter oil.

world.time.com

Fake food seasoning

China probes 'fake seasoning producing hub' near Tianjin

Some 50 factories were said to be using unapproved ingredients like industrial salt.

www.bbc.com

Fake rice

Chinese fake rice is on shelves [China] - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

www.business-humanrights.org

Fake honey

China's next food scandal: honey laundering

China's next food scandal: honey laundering

www.scmp.com

Fake baby formula

Contaminated milk formula kills three babies in China

Local officials knew about problem for more than a month before alerting central authorities

www.theguardian.com

Recycled 50 year old frozen meat

China's latest stomach-churning food scandal: Frozen meat from the 1970s | CNN

Some 800 tonnes of smuggled frozen meat have been seized by Chinese authorities, including one batch dating from the 1970s, state media reports.

www.cnn.com

I think you've reaffirmed my decision to avoid Chinese made products at all costs!

LRod · Jul 18, 2022

ElwoodP said:
Maybe I'll look for a nicer synthetic brush. Just in case.
Any budget friendly recommendations?

Razorock brushes are my favorite synthetics and are of fantastic quality. And they're cheap!
Even better than my synthetic Simpsons!
My favorite is the Plissoft Disruptor.
Here are all of them:

Brushes | RazoRock

www.razorock.com

If you go to Groomatorium, they have a section that says "Mega sale". In that section they've got a couple of them on sale for super cheap.

borwish · Jul 18, 2022

ElwoodP said:
Any budget friendly recommendations?

The Yaqi Fatory Store on Aliexpress will put their defect handle brushes up for sale for sale every so often. They will also put some brushes for half off every few months---you can then get a timberwolf for about $8 and it's a very good brush.

Edit: I've never tried a Razorock brush, but I keep seeing that they're good. I'd take a look at LRod's suggestion.

luvmysuper · Jul 18, 2022

LRod said:
I think you've reaffirmed my decision to avoid Chinese made products at all costs!

There are legit quality products from China. It's all in the QA demands, and the process checks. That often doesn't translate to cheap, which is a major factor in selection.
There are some good synthetic brushes being produced at very reasonable prices including Chinese made.
Buy from a seller who cares about his reputation and not one that doesn't care one iota if you never buy from them again.

Possum092 · Jul 18, 2022

Never know exactly what you’ll get from Chinese goods. I’ve been using a Van Der Hagen Chinese boar brush for about 5 months with great results. Original plan was to use it as a beater for testing, but it’s became a favorite.

LRod · Jul 18, 2022

luvmysuper said:
There are legit quality products from China. It's all in the QA demands, and the process checks. That often doesn't translate to cheap, which is a major factor in selection.
There are some good synthetic brushes being produced at very reasonable prices including Chinese made.
Buy from a seller who cares about his reputation and not one that doesn't care one iota if you never buy from them again.

I guess you're right. I do have a Yaqi synthetic that I bought direct from them and it's fine. Regardless, I tend to try buying stuff that's made elsewhere and not from there (when able).
And reading stuff like that just blows my mind!

LRod · Jul 18, 2022

borwish said:
The Yaqi Fatory Store on Aliexpress will put their defect handle brushes up for sale for sale every so often. They will also put some brushes for half off every few months---you can then get a timberwolf for about $8 and it's a very good brush.

Edit: I've never tried a Razorock brush, but I keep seeing that they're good. I'd take a look at LRod's suggestion.

Your suggestion is good too. I have one of those defect Yaqi brushes from the factory store. I think I paid like $6 for it. (Couldn't say no to that price). I bought it when I purchased the Yaqi slant agressive. I kept the brush but got rid of the razor. I can't seem to find any defects though except the fact that it has no logo. Works well!
The Razorock brushes are unbeatable for the price. Quality is A-1 and they're made in Canada.