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I saw at the local store a tube of pure aloe vera, no fragrance, no color, etc. I think the brand was "Fruit of the Earth". Would this be an effective aftershave?
Tim, it worked for me pretty well during the summer (I used to add 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil to a quarter-sized amount of the aloe vera gel). But, it is not going to be of much help to me during the Fall and winter months as my skin can get pretty dry. Either ways, I would recommend buying a small bottle of the gel and investing in a larger one later if it works for you.
I know that a few members use Aloe on a regular basis. I'm unsure if they use aloe mixed with an Aftershave...
Aloe is quite good for the skin. Specialy on cuts!
Aloe is quite good for the skin. Specialy on cuts!
Not to sure how the pure aloe would work as an aftershave per say. I think you should give it a shot and see how it works for you.
I do know some stores sell a liquid form of aloe that you can find at health food stores. I experimented with some witch hazel and aloe a while back and think I am on to something here. I can't take full credit because I read about somebody doing something similar here on the B&B. Myself and a buddy I work with (Vitaman) took a trip to Walgreens to pick up some supplies. We bought some Dickinson's witch hazel and dumped about 50% of an aloe (blue cooling stuff) tube and shook vigorously. Once the aloe was mixed in I added about 15 drops Eucalyptus EO. I am on my second bottle of this concoction and can say it works very very well. I use it immediatley after every shave before my AS application and everynight before bed with a cotton ball.
I do know some stores sell a liquid form of aloe that you can find at health food stores. I experimented with some witch hazel and aloe a while back and think I am on to something here. I can't take full credit because I read about somebody doing something similar here on the B&B. Myself and a buddy I work with (Vitaman) took a trip to Walgreens to pick up some supplies. We bought some Dickinson's witch hazel and dumped about 50% of an aloe (blue cooling stuff) tube and shook vigorously. Once the aloe was mixed in I added about 15 drops Eucalyptus EO. I am on my second bottle of this concoction and can say it works very very well. I use it immediatley after every shave before my AS application and everynight before bed with a cotton ball.
Mix it with witch hazel and a touch of glycerin and its a wonderful aftershave. By itself it is too gooey.
Good Idea
Used that exact Aloe for my first week of shaving.
Saved my life the night of my first shave I tell ya
After that though found it too gooey and left a "coating" on the face that wasn't that pleasant.
So yes works well on the burn, but the "after effect" ain't that good.
Saved my life the night of my first shave I tell ya
After that though found it too gooey and left a "coating" on the face that wasn't that pleasant.
So yes works well on the burn, but the "after effect" ain't that good.
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Where can I get glycerin from and in what form?
Do you have a recipe as far as the proportions go?
I used just a basic aloe gel from Walmart for a lot of years as my ASB, and it worked great. At times I needed something with a little more moisturizing, like after a sunburn, and used a creamy balm at those times.
I bought glycerin at Rite Aid. It was kind of hard to find but I found it.
I mix it up in batches of about 3 oz.
I like witchhazel, so my AS is about 60 percent witchhazel, at least. I add the clear aloe vera gel until I get the thickness I want (I like to keep it rather thin, more like a splash, but not as thin as pure witchhazel). Then I add maybe 10 drops of glycerin, or a little more. Finally I add some peppermint EO (usually only about 4 drops) and shake it gently.
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I tried just the aloe gel as an aftershave today and while my face looked smooth and did not look dry, it felt as if a thin film dried on my face and was about to crack if I moved my face muscles. I guess it doesn't work well for me just in aloe form. It's also getting colder here so my skin gets a little dry hence it's in need of more mosturizer than during the summer. Not sure that I want to combine it with witch hazel and make it more astringent.
I saw a bottle of glycerin on the shelf at Wal-Mart the other day (near the rubbing alcohol & witch hazel), about $5.
I use aloe after every shave, but then let it dry and follow it up with a true aftershave balm. I have very dry sensitive skin so this combo works great for me.
I have used the fruit of the earth aloe for years, but currently I am using some Jason 98% aloe that I really like because has a little extra stuff in there with aloe.
J.
I have used the fruit of the earth aloe for years, but currently I am using some Jason 98% aloe that I really like because has a little extra stuff in there with aloe.
J.
I have been using pure aloe gel as a part of my post shave for years. I put a pea sized drop in my palm and rub together then massage into my face. I let that soak in while I cleaned my shave gear and follow with a witch hazel based AS. I found this combo to be incredibly soothing with no greasiness or film at all. For many years I just used the aloe with out any feeling of greasiness or film, it goes on feeling like cool water and is absorbed by the skin quickly. However it is important that it is labeled 99% pure as lesser proportions do feel greasy or tacky to me. Brand has made no difference. Aloe is a toning agent and will help to close the pores and may add to some tightening. But if your face feels really tight, that seems more indicative of shaving technique as others have mentioned it after beginning shaving without using the aloe. Everyone reacts to different skin treatments in a unique way highly specific to the individual. That being said I can not recommend pure aloe and witch hazel, used in conjunction, highly enough and if a gun were placed to my head I would ditch the witch hazel first.
Another option is pure aloe juice, which I get from Walmart in a gallon jug. This is some sort of "food grade" aloe juice aimed at ingestion. You are supposed to drink it. I have and it is shall we say, very plain. Nasty comes to mind as well but just paper/cardboard plain is closer. I like this because it is juice, not gel. The gels you get from the stores are gelled because they have an agent added to them to make it so. Untreated aloe juice is the consistency of water. At least after it is extracted from the plant and allowed to set for awhile. It is viscuous as you squeeze it out but it will turn liquid within a little while. I mix about 1 tsp of this juice with most of my alcohol based a/s splashes and it seems to help tame some of the burn and makes the ones that seem to evapourate in your hand stay "wetter" while you apply them to your face. I think it also helps boost staying power of the scent. I like the conditioning that aloe gives as well. It is why so many of us love the Musgo Classic scented a/s splash. It is aloe based and very good to your skin. I have said this before and I am convinced of it beyond argument. Great aftershave products are the holy grail of wet shaving. Fantastic lathers abound but truly EXCELLENT A+ aftershaves can be counted on one hand. Musgo Classic, Enchante's a/s, and I think the Gentleman's Refinery gets the nod as well though I have not used the latter two personally. Many others just do...something and none of it seems too great. At least to me. I am not convinced that your idea of mixing up your own wouldn't be just as good if not better than most commercial stuff.
Regards, Todd
Regards, Todd
