Help me choose a non-irritating cream please?

[whatrymes]

I have a brand new tub of AOS lavender cream and through much trial and error have realized this cream irritates my face really bad. I thought it was everything else BUT the cream but I can't deny it any longer. The only quality creams I've tried were AOS lavender in a trial size, then TOBS lavender in a tube and just bought the tub of AOS about 7 shaves ago. I have struggled with irritation all along. I don't even now where to begin to look for a cream (soap) that is suited for sensitive skin. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[AndyG]

Proraso with aloe and green tea in white tub

TOBS Jermyn Street

AndyG

 

[JCee]

Lately I've been using Ingram, which I find rather mild.

 

[blacdisco2000]

Something without essence AOS has a line of products in this case can be cream or soap.

Regards.

 

[Luc]

Mmm, I would recommend a cream or soap with a short list of ingredients. That way, if something happens, it won't take a long time to figure out what's doing it for you and what doesn't.

Omega shaving cream/soap is fairly available, milder than Proraso green and actually quite nice. I wouldn't get rid of Proraso but Omega would be considered. They are very close in the ingredient list so if you're allergic to one, you have good chances to be allergic to the other...

Good luck. I would try unscented soaps/creams however, I didn't find that fragrance is always the one to blame when it comes to sensitive skin...

 

[TromboneGuy]

If you want a cream, try Trumper's Coconut. I've had no problems with that, and I have pretty sensitive skin.

 

[mammoo]

Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort is very lightly fragranced so that might be good for you.

 

[norman931]

Another vote for Ingram, if you don't mind menthol. By the way, you're not alone; many of us have bad reactions to some creams and soaps.

 

[whatrymes]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[gollum83]

Ed, do know if anything in particular, like a certain ingredient or scent, irritates your skin?

 

[burnwood]

without knowing what is causing the irritation it is hard to suggest anything for you.

 

[HoratioCaine]

Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort is very lightly fragranced so that might be good for you.

Ed, T&H UC contains lavender oil. Given that you have traced your problems to AOS lavender (and, if I read your post correctly, TOBS lavender as well), I would suggest you try something without lavender oil to see if you continue to have problems. One good way to narrow it down would be to try AOS unscented. That way, if you cease to have problems using it, you can pretty much be sure it was the lavender oil that was doing it. Conversely, if you continue to have problems, it would seem it might be more of a problem with the AOS formulation - although if you've had problems with TOBS as well, that confuses matters a bit. If you don't want to try another AOS cream and just feel like going in a totally different direction, I second the recommendation for Trumper coconut - an excellent cream, pleasantly scented. Also, Nancy Boy is good, but only go for their Replenishing scent, rather than the Signature, since the Signature also contains lavender oil, whereas the Replenishing only uses cucumber hydrosol to scent.

 

[gollum83]

Ed, T&H UC contains lavender oil. Given that you have traced your problems to AOS lavender (and, if I read your post correctly, TOBS lavender as well), I would suggest you try something without lavender oil to see if you continue to have problems. One good way to narrow it down would be to try AOS unscented. That way, if you cease to have problems using it, you can pretty much be sure it was the lavender oil that was doing it. Conversely, if you continue to have problems, it would seem it might be more of a problem with the AOS formulation - although if you've had problems with TOBS as well, that confuses matters a bit. If you don't want to try another AOS cream and just feel like going in a totally different direction, I second the recommendation for Trumper coconut - an excellent cream, pleasantly scented. Also, Nancy Boy is good, but only go for their Replenishing scent, rather than the Signature, since the Signature also contains lavender oil, whereas the Replenishing only uses cucumber hydrosol to scent.

Well done, sir!

This is probably the best way to go about it if you don't know what is irritating your skin. Remember sensitive skin means some different to a large number of us here. A little self-experimentation and scientific approach, however, should help pinpoint the problem. And by the way, if it is lavender oil, well you have my sympathies. It's an awesome scent.

 

[don.putnick]

Search the forums for "sanpaku". He came up with a list of recommendations for sensitive skin.

 

[whatrymes]

Ed, do know if anything in particular, like a certain ingredient or scent, irritates your skin?

With my lack of experience, the only high quality creams/soaps I've used both contain lavender EO. I'm assuming it is lavender (bummer). I've also used Edge gel and Barbasol neither of which (after 12 shaves) have bothered me. Oh, one shave last night with KMF(unscented), it was fine. So far so good.

 

[whatrymes]

without knowing what is causing the irritation it is hard to suggest anything for you.

I'm not absolutely sure what though I suspect lavender EO. I thought there might be general brands that do well with people who have sensitive skin.

 

[HoratioCaine]

I'm not absolutely sure what though I suspect lavender EO. I thought there might be general brands that do well with people who have sensitive skin.

Generally, yes, but everybody is different. AOS is considered to be a fairly good brand for sensitive skin, since it contains no colorants or perfume fragrances, and only uses essential oils to scent (except for their unscented, which contains no scenting agents whatsoever). However, "sensitive skin" also varies from person to person, in terms of what a person's specific sensitivity is. The aforementioned Ultimate Comfort cream by Truefitt & Hill was designed for people with sensitive skin, but for those whose sensitivity is lavender oil, it obviously is not a good choice. In your case, trial and error is in order. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of you trying AOS unscented, because it will isolate the variable of the lavender oil. The only difference between the unscented and the lavender AOS creams is that the latter contains lavender oil and the former does not; otherwise, they are identical. Therefore, if you have no problems with the unscented, you've figured out your problem - lavender oil is not for you. Also, the unscented is the one cream scent of which AOS puts out pre-packaged, free samples. Most stores carrying the line should have sample packs on hand (they include packets of unscented cream, pre-shave oil and aftershave balm), so assuming you have a stockist nearby, you should have no problem obtaining a few - and I would recommend grabbing several, if you can, since the cream packets are pretty small. It's a cheap and easy way to figure out if lavender oil is the problem for you.

 

[jakespoppy]

Ed, T&H UC contains lavender oil. Given that you have traced your problems to AOS lavender (and, if I read your post correctly, TOBS lavender as well), I would suggest you try something without lavender oil to see if you continue to have problems. One good way to narrow it down would be to try AOS unscented. That way, if you cease to have problems using it, you can pretty much be sure it was the lavender oil that was doing it. Conversely, if you continue to have problems, it would seem it might be more of a problem with the AOS formulation - although if you've had problems with TOBS as well, that confuses matters a bit. If you don't want to try another AOS cream and just feel like going in a totally different direction, I second the recommendation for Trumper coconut - an excellent cream, pleasantly scented. Also, Nancy Boy is good, but only go for their Replenishing scent, rather than the Signature, since the Signature also contains lavender oil, whereas the Replenishing only uses cucumber hydrosol to scent.

Very good posts, Horatio, both this one and your earlier comment in the thread. As one who also has sensitive skin, it is very frustrating to not know what the source of the problems are. The folks in this thread have offered excellent advice!

 

[whatrymes]

Very good posts, Horatio, both this one and your earlier comment in the thread. As one who also has sensitive skin, it is very frustrating to not know what the source of the problems are. The folks in this thread have offered excellent advice!

I concur and thank you all so much.

 

[HoratioCaine]

I concur and thank you all so much.

Any time.