Grooming Tips
How to Apply After Shave Lotion
Remember watching your father in the mirror after he finished shaving? He’d grab his bottle of after shave (maybe it was Old Spice After Shave), splash a small amount into his hands and then pat his beard with the palms of his hands, sometimes looking like it was a painful experience. Just what is after shave lotion, why do we use it and how should it be applied?
After shave lotion is a product that comes in many forms: liquid, gel, even powder. It’s primary purpose is to treat the freshly shaved area with an antiseptic agent intended to prevent infections from cuts that may have resulted from shaving. It generally contains a form of alcohol or stearate citrate and as a result usually “burns” immediately after application, thus the often-pained look on the freshly shaven. The burning can last up to several minutes.
The market has responded to the stinging symptoms by creating products with essential oils and moisturizers that have allowed them to brand their aftershave as unique. In fact, today’s best post shave lotion products claim to be alcohol free for less burn and to contain no oils that are associated with clogged pores. Shaving balms are a good alternative to a biting liquid.
And just as women enjoy selecting their own personal scent, men, too, like to have their “shaving scent.” Experiment to find one that works for you. After shave fragrance won’t last as long as a splash of cologne, but if you use both, it’s best to buy a set that includes an after shave and a cologne of the same fragrance.
Shaving oil products, such as Proraso Crema Liquida Dopobarba, has been used in Italian barbershops for more than 50 years, which is made of creamy, light-weight formulas that leave skin smooth and soft.
Razor burn can result from a close shave, but there’s a solution for that, too. Murad Murad Man Razor Burn Rescue boasts may benefits including infusing skin with antioxidants to reduce redness and inflammation and the removal of dead skin cells, thanks to the ingredient glycolic acid.
Apply after shave lotion immediately after shaving to get the most benefit.