I read somewhere that different scents can have different effects on irritation (I have realllyyy sensitive skin). I am currently using TOBS cream in rose and am getting a lot of irritation on it. Any recommendations for creams that give less irritation? Would unscented be the way to go? Avocado maybe? And are there any good Avocados besides TOBS I might try if it is in fact the TOBS cream that is giving me irritation?
Does scent effect irritation for sensitive skin?
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Try unscented. Fragrance Oils and Essential oils do give some gents skin irritation. I would stay away from glycerin based soaps. These tend to have quite a bit of fragrance oils.
Scent can definately cause irritation, be it a synthetic fragrance oil or essential oil. Everyone's skin will react differently. However, irritiation can also be result of anything included in the product, not just fragrance.
TOBS Rose is actually one that bothered me, and I tend to have pretty tough skin. The fragrance was pretty intense, at least in the tub I purchased. This was probably 3 or 4 years ago. Creams or soaps heavy with Lime oil also bother me, they tend to make my skin feel rough and make the shave quite uncomfortable.
I would give some unscented products a try or look for some that aren't too heavily scented. I tend to like stuff with a subtle scent that is pleasant but not overwhelming.
TOBS Rose is actually one that bothered me, and I tend to have pretty tough skin. The fragrance was pretty intense, at least in the tub I purchased. This was probably 3 or 4 years ago. Creams or soaps heavy with Lime oil also bother me, they tend to make my skin feel rough and make the shave quite uncomfortable.
I would give some unscented products a try or look for some that aren't too heavily scented. I tend to like stuff with a subtle scent that is pleasant but not overwhelming.
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I might be able to help you here. I've got some serious EO allergies myself. Honestly I have yet to find a scent that works for me without stinging and adding irritation
. I believe the shave den sells shaving cream samples; if you want to try a lot of different creams to see if you can find a scented cream that works for you, that might be a good option to keep the cost down (some). Even the samples aren't cheap, although if you successfully found one that might make it worth it for you.What were you using before the rose? Was it less irritating? I'd be interested to know as I'm in the same boat.
So far the holy grail for me has been VDH Glycerin soap. It's nice and comfortable with zero irritation, despite the faint scent it has. It's almost certainly FO rather than EO, that could be why. I tried MWF and it has "parfum" in it. It hurts my face too
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I might be able to help you here. I've got some serious EO allergies myself. Honestly I have yet to find a scent that works for me without stinging and adding irritation
What were you using before the rose? Was it less irritating? I'd be interested to know as I'm in the same boat.
So far the holy grail for me has been VDH Glycerin soap. It's nice and comfortable with zero irritation, despite the faint scent it has. It's almost certainly FO rather than EO, that could be why. I tried MWF and it has "parfum" in it. It hurts my face too
This is a total newb question but would you mind telling me what FO EO and MWF are? From the way you used it MWF is not referring to 3 days of the week lol.
Before I was using TOBS lavender SOAP, but I didn't like building lather off of the soap so I moved to the cream. It was pretty good though and the scent was great. I have also tried TOBS Mr Taylor gel which was the worst lather EVER (smelled great, though, but it was sooo bubbly and was just like foam). I also bought some VDH soap at Wal Mart and thought it was okay but as I said I prefer building from a cream. I might go try the VDH again as it was dirt cheap lol.
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FO - Fragrance Oil, usually meaning a synthetic oil
EO - Essential Oil, meaning a naturally-produced oil
MWF - Mitchell's Wool Fat - a brand of shave soap
As to the original question, there's really no way to generalize what will or won't irritate your skin unless you can somehow determine exactly what ingredient irritates your skin in that cream. If it's the scent, then shifting to pretty much any scent other than the one that irritates you can help. If it's something in the base, you might have to switch brands.
For instance: I love T&H shave creams. They're fantastic. BUT: Trafalgar makes my face itch and burn. I love the scent, but I can't use the cream. The 1805 cream doesn't irritate me at all. In that case, it's something about the scent in Trafalgar that kills me. Oddly enough, I don't react to the Trafalgar cologne at all.
SO: My suggestion, a13firman, is to try a different TOBS cream, such as the avocado. If your face doesn't like that one, it's something in the TOBS cream base and you should try a different brand. Maybe T&H, or eShave, or Trumpers. If the TOBS avocado is fine, then it's something about the rose FO in the TOBS cream. Keep in mind, you may not react the same way to rose scents from other brands, so testing is key.
EO - Essential Oil, meaning a naturally-produced oil
MWF - Mitchell's Wool Fat - a brand of shave soap
As to the original question, there's really no way to generalize what will or won't irritate your skin unless you can somehow determine exactly what ingredient irritates your skin in that cream. If it's the scent, then shifting to pretty much any scent other than the one that irritates you can help. If it's something in the base, you might have to switch brands.
For instance: I love T&H shave creams. They're fantastic. BUT: Trafalgar makes my face itch and burn. I love the scent, but I can't use the cream. The 1805 cream doesn't irritate me at all. In that case, it's something about the scent in Trafalgar that kills me. Oddly enough, I don't react to the Trafalgar cologne at all.
SO: My suggestion, a13firman, is to try a different TOBS cream, such as the avocado. If your face doesn't like that one, it's something in the TOBS cream base and you should try a different brand. Maybe T&H, or eShave, or Trumpers. If the TOBS avocado is fine, then it's something about the rose FO in the TOBS cream. Keep in mind, you may not react the same way to rose scents from other brands, so testing is key.
I have noticed that my skin has been more acne prone since beginning the use of traditional lather creams. I have noticed this with all of my creams, AOS Sandalwood (my favorite so far), AOS Lavender, and TOBS Lemon/Lime. I don't notice that my skin is any oilier, just that I notice more whitehead clogged pores. They usually open easily but i'm sure this issue has something to do with the EO's in the creams.
But you know what they say about people with Oily skin, the skin will not wrinkle as easily or show as much wear with age.
But you know what they say about people with Oily skin, the skin will not wrinkle as easily or show as much wear with age.
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You may want to try a 24 hour-skin test prior to using a product on your face. All you do is rub a tiny amount into the fold of your inner elbow. if any redness, irritation, itch, etc., develops within that time, the product should not be applied to your face.
As mentioned EO (essential oil) and also FO (fragrant oil) can cause irritation. It's been my experience that Almond FO and Lavender EO and FO have a higher rate of irritation.
Irritation may also be the result of an ingredient; not fragrance. Try some samples and note the ingredients of the product that you are sensitive to. Eventually you will probably find a common denominator in all of them.
With other skin products such as aftershaves, you can do the same. Also make sure you use a product for your skin type: dry, normal, oily, etc.
Hope this helps, good luck tracking down the 'offender'.
Sue
As mentioned EO (essential oil) and also FO (fragrant oil) can cause irritation. It's been my experience that Almond FO and Lavender EO and FO have a higher rate of irritation.
Irritation may also be the result of an ingredient; not fragrance. Try some samples and note the ingredients of the product that you are sensitive to. Eventually you will probably find a common denominator in all of them.
With other skin products such as aftershaves, you can do the same. Also make sure you use a product for your skin type: dry, normal, oily, etc.
Hope this helps, good luck tracking down the 'offender'.
Sue
Yeah, be careful with the TOBS Avocado!
Lathers great, smells good, shaves well...sets my face on fire after about a minute!
I wasn't sure the time I used it, so I didn't wash it off right away and finished my first pass.
I had an irritated, red and rash covered face for most of a week! I don't know for sure what disagrees with me in it, but it won the argument!
Lathers great, smells good, shaves well...sets my face on fire after about a minute!
I wasn't sure the time I used it, so I didn't wash it off right away and finished my first pass.
I had an irritated, red and rash covered face for most of a week! I don't know for sure what disagrees with me in it, but it won the argument!
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Thanks for all the replies! I was thinking about going with the TOBS sensitive skin but after 2 TOBS in a row I think it may be something in the formula. Maybe I will get back to it later.
Out of curiousity, where do you guys get your AOS supplies or creams in general? Classic Shaving and West Coast shaving are the only ones I know (except for the AOS website). What are some other goods ones to browse?
Out of curiousity, where do you guys get your AOS supplies or creams in general? Classic Shaving and West Coast shaving are the only ones I know (except for the AOS website). What are some other goods ones to browse?
Thank you for posting this, Sue. This is great advice. I have a very hard time with skin sensitivity, and still don't know specifically what will cause irritation and what won't. I'll have to try this testing method.
I would add one word on one of the "sensitive skin" creams. The T&H Ultimate Cream Unscented causes me a little trouble. It's a great cream as far as lathering and efficacy, but it does have lavender in it, it even has a pretty strong lavender smell, plus it's more expensive than their other creams. You might want to try a sample of this one before you buy it. Good luck!
Pm sent.
Just had a burning experience with tobs rose. Put a little on my face before the hot towel and left it there for the two minute towel routine. Then face lathered and left it there while stropping. By the time I started shaving, my face was burning a little. The second pass was very harsh. After shaving, I always apply a liberal amount of cheap alcohol-based after shave, just as a precaution, and to help clean off the soap scum, and it burned everywhere. All the time, the lather felt just fine between my fingers.
Don't know if it was something in the rose, or the length of time it was on my face. I've used the sandalwood before with no trouble. Not sure if I used the rose before or not. I think I tried it once. Adding shaving cream before the towel and then stropping is a recent routine for me, so it's doubtful that any tobs cream was ever on my face that long if/when I used it before. The ones I use regularly are on a shelf in the bathroom.
Thanks for that tip, Sue. Wish I'd read it first, but this is the first reaction I've had to any product, and only went looking after the fact. Maybe I'll try your spot check idea with a bit of the sandalwood. Or maybe I'll just pass on tobs altogether. There's too many good products out there to bother trying it again. I will, however, look out for the ingredients to try to figure out what the specific problem is, and trying the sandalwod is a good way to narrow it down.
Don't know if it was something in the rose, or the length of time it was on my face. I've used the sandalwood before with no trouble. Not sure if I used the rose before or not. I think I tried it once. Adding shaving cream before the towel and then stropping is a recent routine for me, so it's doubtful that any tobs cream was ever on my face that long if/when I used it before. The ones I use regularly are on a shelf in the bathroom.
Thanks for that tip, Sue. Wish I'd read it first, but this is the first reaction I've had to any product, and only went looking after the fact. Maybe I'll try your spot check idea with a bit of the sandalwood. Or maybe I'll just pass on tobs altogether. There's too many good products out there to bother trying it again. I will, however, look out for the ingredients to try to figure out what the specific problem is, and trying the sandalwod is a good way to narrow it down.
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Do you live in the U.S. near a decent-sized city? Virtually any Nordstrom will have the line - at least the basic stuff, like cream and balm - and a lot of other department stores do, as well. In fact, that's one of the biggest selling points of the brand - the fact that, unlike so many other brands, you should be able to find some in a brick and mortar store nearby for the same retail price everybody else charges for it. The AOS website has a store locator function. Just go to the "Locate a Store" link at the bottom of the page, then use the "Find Authorized Resellers" interface on the right side of that page. I found nine stores that carry the line in my area.
