I would love some input

[DaveyT]

I am early in my DE wet shaving career and am really enjoying it so far. The next area I would like to experiment with and perfect is my post shave routine. I would like to use some nice smelling products that will also help my skin. I have sensitive, dry skin. I currently am using Nivea's sensitive skin ASB. It works well, but I would like to play around with scent.

What would you gentlemen recommend? Should I use a splash, let that try and then apply some balm? Stick with strictly ASB? If it is recommended to try splash and a balm, what is the preferred method? I would also appreciate specific recommendations for products. Thank you in advance for the replies!

 

[winstonage]

I would recommend using witch hazel, before applying balm or splash. Regarding balm or splash, experiment with both and see how your face reacts. Start with the drug store after shaves, so if it doesn't work out for you, you haven't invested a ton of money. Clubman, Aqua Velva, Skin Bracer, and Old Spice get a lot of love here. Try a couple of them and see how it works out for you. I can't recommend any balms, I am strictly a splash guy.

 

[Ron Scott]

I would recommend using witch hazel, before applying balm or splash. Regarding balm or splash, experiment with both and see how your face reacts. Start with the drug store after shaves, so if it doesn't work out for you, you haven't invested a ton of money. Clubman, Aqua Velva, Skin Bracer, and Old Spice get a lot of love here. Try a couple of them and see how it works out for you. I can't recommend any balms, I am strictly a splash guy.

+1

I use Alum, WH, and then a good quality splash and my sensitive skin is well taken care of. I stay clear of balms, creams, etc.

BTW, what do you mean when you say "sensitive"?

 

[sarimento1]

Go to your local mall and get some samples. Most dept stores will let you try their testers. Take a couple small baggies or empty small jars with you. If there is an art of shaving store, they will give you some sample packs as well. You might like to try some pre shave oils as well. Have fun.

 

[DaveyT]

+1

I use Alum, WH, and then a good quality splash and my sensitive skin is well taken care of. I stay clear of balms, creams, etc.

BTW, what do you mean when you say "sensitive"?

It is easy for me to get irritated skin from shaving. I am not allergic to anything that I have used so far and I am not prone to acne. Thanks!

 

[smalltank]

DR Harris is also a great pre shave...gives you that light fuzzy feeling and has a light scent

 

[BeeSeeDub]

It is easy for me to get irritated skin from shaving. I am not allergic to anything that I have used so far and I am not prone to acne. Thanks!

Your irritation will likely ease off as your technique improves...it might not be your skin. Give some of those "drugstore" splashes a try!

 

[RobW]

Something with shea butter might help soothe some of that post-shave irritation...I like the Pre de Provence balm myself.

 

[Dantheman]

Captain Bay Rum is a great AS. Worth a try, it moisturizes and is a great scent.

 

[petr]

musgo balm.

 

[wsteineker]

Sensitive, dry skin? Here's my advice.

1) Keep working on your technique. You're not as good as you think you are. None of us are.
2) Grab a bottle of Speick aftershave splash and use it after patting your post-shave face dry. It's alcohol free, contains alum for toning and disinfecting, and is made of organic ingredients. It's also a pretty solid light moisturizer and soothes like no other splash I've found.
3) Get some kind of facial moisturizer that isn't shave-specific and use it after you wash your face, shave or no shave. This will help keep your skin's moisture in balance, reducing irritation and any potential issues from dryness or oiliness that results from dryness. Your best drug store bet would probably be something from Aveeno, but the folks at Clinique, Kiehl's, Anthony Logistics, and Jack Black all make solid options for a little more money.
4) Work on your technique some more.

 

[m139]

Sensitive, dry skin? Here's my advice.

1) Keep working on your technique. You're not as good as you think you are. None of us are.
2) Grab a bottle of Speick aftershave splash and use it after patting your post-shave face dry. It's alcohol free, contains alum for toning and disinfecting, and is made of organic ingredients. It's also a pretty solid light moisturizer and soothes like no other splash I've found.
3) Get some kind of facial moisturizer that isn't shave-specific and use it after you wash your face, shave or no shave. This will help keep your skin's moisture in balance, reducing irritation and any potential issues from dryness or oiliness that results from dryness. Your best drug store bet would probably be something from Aveeno, but the folks at Clinique, Kiehl's, Anthony Logistics, and Jack Black all make solid options for a little more money.
4) Work on your technique some more.

Are you sure?? Speick splash has plenty of alcohol in it!

To the OP, if your face is dry and not prone to acne breakouts then you could be a bit more liberal on your choice of lotions. You can avoid or limit alcohol by going purely with ASB. Using WH (Thayers alcohol free) directly following the shave but before applying anything else has done wonders for me and YMMV.

I would just rinse with cold water, pat dry your face, apply alcohol free WH then let it dry as you clean up your equipment and sink. Then apply a good quality ASB with whatever scent you like. Good examples are:

TOBS
GFT Skin Food
Castle Forbes
Truefitt & Hill
Speick ASB

I'm sure there are many other great ASBs out there so go crazy!

 

[wsteineker]

Are you sure?? Speick splash has plenty of alcohol in it!

So it does. I'm not exactly sure why I typed that, though I did mean to say that it was relatively low-alcohol. That's what I get for posting in a hurry, I suppose. Good catch!

 

[GKC1]

I have very sensitive skin and a heavy beard. I do get a good close shave with a Fusion cartridge, without irritation, but after shaving my skin feels dry. I've tried various things over the years, but the one thing that consistently works for me is Mennen Afta, original scent, which soothes my face. Since the scent is very light and doesn't seem to last long, I also use cologne, applied to my chest.

 

[Mr Bob]

Just a thought concerning your dry or irritated skin: How close is your shave? Depending on your choice of soap or cream, it might possibly cause what you perceive as dryness or irritation, especially if you have recently begun using a DE or straight. In my opinion, a slick soap that offers little cushion is not forgiving to less than optimal technique and can produce an irritation or possibly a perceived dryness after a few shaves. A cushiony cream would more forgiving. Using warm water to open your pores prior to applying lather might also be helpful with dryness or irritation.

Plenty of good drugstore A/S to be had, as has been pointed out. Since it is hot and humid now, I'd say try Aqua Velva to start. It contains glycerine along with the alcohol, and has a nice cooling feeling.

 

[CFSoto]

I would recommend using witch hazel, before applying balm or splash. Regarding balm or splash, experiment with both and see how your face reacts. Start with the drug store after shaves, so if it doesn't work out for you, you haven't invested a ton of money. Clubman, Aqua Velva, Skin Bracer, and Old Spice get a lot of love here. Try a couple of them and see how it works out for you. I can't recommend any balms, I am strictly a splash guy.

+1. Excellent advice here. I too have very sensitive,allergic skin and winstonage suggestions here make very good sense to me. It also may save you big money down the line in buying a product that your skin reacts poorly to and then you are stuck with an entire bottle of a product you cannot use!

Craig

 

[EloquentRune]

I also fully recommend using witch hazel before splashing on any other after shave. My post shave skin quality improved by leaps and bounds after I started using it.

 

[Chadao]

Witch hazel is always good. I use GFT Skin Food before I lather, if my skin is feeling particularly dry. I might use it after the shave too. But I normally finish with Bath House Fig and Nutmeg skin balm. I usually shy away from creams, but I tried it on a pilgrimage to Merz Apothecary in Chicago, and I love it.
Although...with my last order (The one with the sheep on the side of the box), West Coast Shaving gave me a few samples including Tcheon Fung Sing Bergamotti Neroli After Shave Balm. It was terrific. They do not have it listed yet, but will soon. If th price is reasonable a bottle of that will soon be in my shave den.