"Post Shave Face Feel" Overrated?

[TallyShave]

People often talk about different soaps and creams and the "post shave face feel" of a product. Many times I see someone saying that "Product X has the best post shave qualities ever!!" and wonder if we are talking about the same product because I have a very different experience from the same product. Everyone has different skin types, complexion and characteristics and I think each product will react differently for different people based upon any number of variables.

I often think it is just a afterthought for over-the-top reviews or comments as well. There is sort of the checklist of properties a good product must have, so it is included whether someone really thought about it or not..."slick, cushion, stable, post shave, yada, yada."

So I have started heavily discounting comments regarding post shave feel and discounting the importance in my comments as well. Meaning, all things being equal if two products work identically well for me during the shave but one feels better for me after the shave, I wouldn't rate one higher than the other because for anyone reading my comments it may be very different. And if someone says a product worked great, but they didn't like the post shave feel it doesn't deter me in the slightest anymore. I really think that post shave feel is about as personal as scents but perhaps I am alone in this line of thinking.

 

[ksblazer]

Like you said this is a personel thing

But like you I have have gotten just as excellent shaves with products that don't leave my skin as soft as others. I just look at it as that. Was I able to get an excellent shave with it as product X? If so, it's a quality product. But I do have sensitive skin that also dries out easily. So I do prefer the extra moisturizing qualities that these products offer. Again this is just a personel thing. If I didn't have this issue, I'm sure I'd feel the same way as you do about this subject.

I found this out on Arko item of the week. I was getting excellent shaves with it. But would also apply facial lotion after the shaves as my face felt a little dry afterwords. After my 3rd straight shave with it. The next morning I woke up and looked in the mirror and found out that my skin was dried out and flaky in spots. So I'm not able to use Arko exclusively.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

I generally feel the same but then I tried MWF. I could understand what they were taking about after that.

 

[BrianC]

I generally feel the same but then I tried MWF. I could understand what they were taking about after that.

Same here. For the most part, my face feels the same after my shave for everything I use...minus MWF. When I use the "fat" my face is much softer to the touch.

 

[Ron Scott]

Assuming I'm using shaving soap of average quality and rinse thoroughly under the shower head I feel no difference, MWF included.

 

[skleice]

It it important to me, but what works for me may not be good for others. I never really paid attention to post shave feel until I tried QCS hard soap. My face never felt so amazingly soft and healthy. I've found the same properties in Mystic Water soaps. Now I would consider it an important factor in choosing my software.

 

[dparish1952]

I think we can weight the factors differently, but we can agree on what the primary factors user are considering. For instance, I weight Fragrance and Lather Appearance as very unimportant; but I recognize that many DE shavers rate these as very important.

Dennis

 

[The Dean]

Since I always moisturize minutes after shaving, I don't worry too much about what others say about that--as long as the other qualities of the product are generally agreed to be superior. But, when I use a product that lacks a good post-shave face feel, I typically add a bit of glycerin to it and that takes care of any deficiency.

Fragrance is a slightly different issue. "Good" or "bad" are wholly meaningless to me as a fragrance description. However I might be dissuaded from trying a product by the description of the scent (perhaps if it is deemed similar to a product whose fragrance I don't care for) and vice-versa. I'd also be more likely to accept the recommendation a particular poster, whose advice has always been good for me and/or who seems to share similar taste in scents.

 

[Omp]

I would say it is way down on my list of priorities.
It's better when a cream doesn't leave my face feeling tight but I moisturize a few minutes after a shave anyway so it's not a feeling I have to suffer for long.

 

[ateace]

I do take the "post shave face feel" into account, not only to judge a product, but also to monitor my technique.

Since I use an aftershave balm regularly, it's not too much of a concern. However, it is nice when I can choose to skip this step
due to the performance of a soap or cream.

 

[rxonmymind]

So long as my face isn't starting to crack like the Sarhara desert from the soap post shave it's not something I would comment on a regular basis. Winter time for me anyway is a good measure of any soaps post performance. For some reason winter season is difficult on my skin. But post shave feel is akin to tingeling feel of certain soaps for some. Our skin types being different, various products will react positively/ negatively to each individual. Now by accident of haste last night shave with Fogure MDC left my face w/o the need for a/s and very "moisturized" for now. How it will be in the winter is a another matter.

 

[TallyShave]

I'm not saying that post shave feel isn't important to me. I enjoy the way several products leave my face and appreciate that fact (even though I always use aftershave). I just don't think there is anything universal about it and therefore it is irrelevant in a review or opinion context. One man's face saver is another man's face irritator...based on nothing more than luck.

 

[Niles]

I generally feel the same but then I tried MWF. I could understand what they were taking about after that.

Ditto.

 

[Mick]

the post shave "feel" is one of the biggest YMMV things in shaving.

What "feels" nice to one person can be dry to another.

My philosophy is that any product can be doctored to fit an individuals personal requirements

 

[rxonmymind]

I'm not saying that post shave feel isn't important to me. I enjoy the way several products leave my face and appreciate that fact (even though I always use aftershave). I just don't think there is anything universal about it and therefore it is irrelevant in a review or opinion context. One man's face saver is another man's face irritator...based on nothing more than luck.

True. It also depends where you live and the climate. Someone in brutal winter state vs a person in sunny San Diego would differ vastly on the performance of any soap. Then lets not forget a member living opposite seasons on different time zones. A member in Australia will say this stuff post shave feels like butter(summer others)! While a chap in Chicago (winter)will wonder what he's talking about.

 

[TallyShave]

True. It also depends where you live and the climate. Someone in brutal winter state vs a person in sunny San Diego would differ vastly on the performance of any soap. Then lets not forget a member living opposite seasons on different time zones. A member in Australia will say this stuff post shave feels like butter(summer others)! While a chap in Chicago (winter)will wonder what he's talking about.

That's another good point...and one I probably take for granted living in Florida. I do remember how different things were in Colorado a few months ago.

 

[musicman1951]

After shaving face feel is very important to me. I understand that some skin types might easily have a different reaction to the same cream/soap, but I also appreciate that there are some almost universal reactions (i.e. the Fat and CF Lavender) and to suggest that the many reviews I've read about the Fat will have absolutely no relevance to my face seems to be throwing the baby out with the bath water.

I moisturize right after shaving and WH, but the cream still makes quite a difference in the face feel.

 

[coolbus18]

Post shave feel is important to me. It allows me to get a good feel for how the shave went and by golly I just love the way it feels. To me this is a tactile sport that involves care and diligence to get the desired effect. I have "lousy" skin, Psoriasis and some other dermatitis, so from start to finish I keep that in mind. I use a tallow based soap(PC , Mike's, MW, P-160, Haslingers, RR. I do because of how they aid in my facial feel apre shave. I also use RR's King Louis asl, which contains --olive oil! when I feel how good my face feels , it helps to light up my day. And that is why it's important to me.

 

[Haggises]

Well I can get the personal experience and the YMMV, but it's still a fairly important part of whether I will continue to use a soap.
Palmolive soap leaves me dry, Arko leaves me neutral, Mystic Waters leaves me without having to add in a mosturizer.
You can also tell at least somewhat in the aggregate - most people's reviews I've seen here will say that MW, MWF, QCS etc does give them a good post-shave feel. Can't discount it completely, just another factor to weigh on deciding on a new soap.

 

[Emanon]

An interesting note for me is that I do feel that my skin feels better after certain shaves and combinations of products. Why exactly? I can't say.
But what's interesting is I never would have noticed were it not for the internet. Association?

A study finds that TV causes heart disease. X amount of men were followed for 10 years. Those who watched a lot of TV (more than X hours per week) had the highest levels of Heart disease. Conclusion...TV can cause heart disease. Or is at least related.
Ok. So is it related or is that association? The study doesn't take into account that men who watch a lot of TV probably sit around allot and also eat a lot of unhealthy snacks. They also then lack exercise. Many are also smokers and drink allot.

I'm just sayin'


Good shave or suggestion?