pecking order of post-shave products

[gse123]

At the moment, after I shave i'm using witch hazel or similar, then my ASB, then moisturizer, then cologne.

Now I have some Proraso pre/post shave cream and aftershave splash. I take it the cream is a replacement for my ASB? And would the after shave splash replace the witch hazel stage? I don't want to end up piling 10 different products onto my face, as i'm sure there is only so much your skin can take in.

 

[Newfie]

Being new to this I can only give an opinion based on what I do, and what I find works. Here's my routine when I finish shaving:

• WWR after last pass
• Proraso Pre / Post
• CWR
• Alum block
• CWR
• Pat dry with warm towel
• Splash of aftershave, let dry
• Apply ASB if desired (this depends what I'm doing after ow what AS I have splashed on)
• Cologne (again, depending on time of day and what I'm doing / where I'm going.

Hope this helps.

 

[DaveF]

I would think the pre/post and the splash would be redundant. I have the pre/post and the ASB but I never use both...it's either one or the other as an aftershave "protector", and 96 times out of 100 it's the ASB.

Also, the ASB has a light scent that dissipates quickly but I'm not sure about the splash...that might conflict with your cologne if it lingers. I'm sure someone familiar with the splash can answer that.

I don't use moisturizer and while I have a nearly full bottle of Thayer's Lavender Witch Hazel, I don't end up using that either. I tried it a few times after my shave and before the ASB but it didn't seem to do anything special. My normal routine now is shave, rinse, ASB, and then cologne if I am going out. I don't think there is anything wrong with your routine but those are a lot of products to keep track of!

 

[scruffyv]

Here are my thoughts on this subject--

After I am done shaving I use the following pecking order:

1. Cold Water
2. Alum Block
3. ASB - this varies:
-- If I have had a "rough" shave, I use eShave After Shave Cream-- it is the MOST soothing product I have ever used
-- T&H West Indian Lime ASB - Best smell-- smells exactly like the shave cream-- not as soothing as eShave
-- Body Shop ASB - Gel based, almost as soothing as eShave, little to no scent
4. Cologne - depends on what ASB and what mood, choices include Penaligon English Fern, John Varvatos, Nancy Boy Butch


Regards,

Vin

 

[boboakalfb]

Upon completing the shave...

Warm Water Rinse
Cold Water Rinse
WH or AS Splash
ASB
Cologne

My skin is on the dry side so I usually need a dab o' balm. Hot days I can get away with certain splashes. You just have to figure out what works best for your skin.

 

[gse123]

I don't think there is anything wrong with your routine but those are a lot of products to keep track of!

Yeah I know...people keep recommending various products and I keep wanting to try them, but now I have so many that basically do the same job, I guess it's down to finding which one works best for me.

 

[javyn]

I think once you find the products you really like, you can whittle it down greatly. I go for the less is more approach. Proraso Pre (sometimes), shave, and aftershave balm. I use witch hazel as a toner only about once a week. I don't even wash my face in the shower since I'm going to be lathering up and dragging a razor across it right afterward anyway. I do wash my T-zone with Savon de Marseille though. Also don't see much of a point of moisturizer, since the AS balm does that anyway? Sometimes I'll throw on some Jason Aloe Vera gel instead of an AS balm if I do something stupid and grind my face up while shaving. Otherwise, that's it and my face has never looked better!

Also once every two weeks or so I try to have an olive oil bath. Make a paste out of olive oil and salt, rub yourself down everywhere; face and hair also, then soak in the tub about 15 mins, then shower as normal with whatever soap or bodywash you use.

 

[michaelskar]

Upon completing the shave...

Warm Water Rinse
Cold Water Rinse
WH or AS Splash
ASB
Cologne

+1...my routine exactly

 

[Stauff]

+2 A sound procedure!

 

[jamacdon]

This is my usual:

-Warm water rinse
-ASB
-Moisturizer
-Cologne (optional)

 

[Suzuki]

Warm water
Cold Water
Alum
Splash
Balm
Cologne/EDT (optional)

I agree that once you find a few products you like, you'll stop experimenting.

For example, I really like Proraso splash, Swiss Pitralon and the Booster Products - so I'm not really in the market for anything else in this department.

I've just discovered handmadeessentials.com and they have a fantastic all natural ASB that, for me, just blows anything away and I'll likely stick with that for a while - I'll use up my other stuff and likley just keep this one around. The other product I really like is the coral skin food - especially in the winter and I'll use that over my balm to seal all the goodness in.

You'll find you go through a lot of products before you find what works for you, but you'll likely settle down with a couple of favourites fairly quickly and then just try other stuff out for a change.

As for your specific questions, about Proraso, yes, the AS splash (which contains witch hazel) can sub for the Thayers - use one or the other. The same is true for the pre-post - in terms of use post shave.

 

[johnniegold]

Wwr
Cws
W/h
A/s
Edt

 

[DaveF]

Wwr
Cws
W/h
A/s
Edt

Reason #35 You Know You Read B&B Too Often: that alphabet soup actually made perfect sense.

 

[Limey]

Upon completing the shave...

Warm Water Rinse
Cold Water Rinse
WH or AS Splash
ASB
Cologne

My skin is on the dry side so I usually need a dab o' balm. Hot days I can get away with certain splashes. You just have to figure out what works best for your skin.

+3...this works for me as well!

 

[rtaylor61]

With summertime upon us, I stick to a very simple routine. Cool water rinse, followed by witch hazel. Then a moisturizer that includes some type of SPF.

Randy

 

[TstebinsB]

Warm water rinse
Cold water rinse
Alum Block
With Hazel w/EO blend
Skin Conditioner or SPF Moisturizer

 

[ouch]

My a/s routine is highly dependent on the weather. It'ss been quite hot recently, so I don't need much, if any, moisturizing. After the warm water then cold water rinse, I'll use a toner (usually a QED toner or Thayer's WH) followed by a splash (Speick, Proraso, DRH, Musgo, or Aqua Velva). This proccedure leaves my face dry and clean.
In colder months, I'll either follow this routine with a balm, or skip the splash and go directly to a balm (Proraso, Musgo, skin food, etc.)

You'll figure out what feels best.

 

[gse123]

Since I started this thread, i've cut back a lot on the products I use in general. As I'm no longer going ATG, I have virtually zero irritation after a shave, and feel no need to use ASB at all. After my cold water face rinse, I use some astringent aftershave, then some proraso splash (just because I love the smell/refreshing feeling). Later on I moisturize, but I will now only use a little bit of balm if i've had a particularly rough shave, which is hardly ever.