Even when using an electric razor, applying aftershave to your skin after shaving is vital to ensure optimal skincare. When using an electric razor, some make the mistake of applying too much pressure, which results in little nicks and cuts.
This pressure, along with the heat created by the electric razor’s engine, could result in razor burn if left unattended. As a result, a healthy, alcohol-free aftershave is required to soothe the skin and avoid razor burn.
What Is An Aftershave?
An aftershave is a lotion, balm, gel, oil, or even a liquid applied to the skin after shaving to avoid irritation, soothe inflamed skin, and moisturize the skin. Despite availability in various form, all the types have their own benefits as well as own drawbacks.
Why Do You Use Aftershave?
The capacity to soothe inflamed skin and rehydrate dried-out skin is why you need an aftershave cream or a post-shave lotion. You may also require an aftershave cream to lessen the risk of razor burn after shaving.
A post-shave balm or gel with disinfectant characteristics may assist in keeping the skin from being infected with bacteria.
What Does Aftershave Do?
As a result of the slight exfoliation that occurs as a result of shaving, the skin becomes dry and prickly, necessitating the use of an aftershave to rehydrate the skin. To avoid or decrease skin irritation and the resulting discomfort, use post electric shave lotion, gel, or balm.
Benefits Of Aftershave After Electric Shaver
What should motivate you to use an aftershave after shaving? Not the fear of what happens if you don’t use aftershave, but the benefits that a good post-shave routine can provide for your skin; otherwise, you may come to regret this process as little more than a dull and uninteresting but necessary ritual that you must perform every time.
The following are some of the most important advantages of utilizing an aftershave. They are as follows:
- Disinfecting the skin
Most aftershave products contain isopropyl or ethyl alcohol, which is responsible for the cold feeling experienced when applied to the skin. Alcohol-based aftershave can function as styptic substances and kill bacteria on the skin. However, they may have a drying effect on the skin. This may not be a problem for people with oily skin, though.
Not to worry, many plant-based aftershaves containing antiseptic essential oils, bacteria-fighting lavender, and others have been developed. These can perform this function as effectively as alcohol-based aftershaves.
- Soothing the skin
Many do experience skin irritations after shaving, such as inflammation, puffiness, or redness; this may make the thought of going through a shaving session seem dreadful. However, these symptoms can be greatly reduced or even removed with the right balance between a good shaving cream and a soothing, alcohol-free aftershave.
- Hydrating the skin
A good aftershave helps to hydrate the skin. The process of shaving, especially dry shaving, is a bit rough on the skin, and removing the top layer of the skin makes it lose water easily. Hence, it is necessary to apply a moisturizing or rehydrating aftershave.
How To Choose Aftershave?
When the first aftershave products came, they were alcohol-based as more priority was given to disinfecting the skin after shaving, and little thought was given to sensitive and dry skin. However, with time, aftershave gels, lotions, and balms have been geared towards almost specific functions.
Some of the things you should consider before choosing an aftershave include:
- Hydration
If you are trying to apply an alcohol-based aftershave to hydrate dried-out skin, you are only complicating matters for yourself; you know that already, right?
If you have dry skin, you should opt for alcohol-free balms or balms with very little alcohol content, as they hydrate the skin with the water and oils they contain. Also, balms are very suitable during periods of dryness because they contain oils that help preserve the skin’s moisture.
Lotions contain a very high percentage of alcohol and have a drying effect on the skin, making them not ideal for people with dry skin or prone to skin irritation.
- Presence of chemicals like dyes and synthetic fragrances
This is a no-go reason for people with sensitive skin, and they may even hurt delicate skin. This is due to the fact that these compounds can irritate the skin and induce allergic reactions. Instead, more natural aftershaves should be used.
- Sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, you should rather go for a fragrance-free aftershave balm or one whose fragrance is as a result of the presence of sweet-smelling naturals such as rose or lavender.
People who have easily irritated skin should also avoid aloe vera containing aftershaves as there is the off chance that they might be allergic to them. If this is the case, you might develop dermatitis, and it could also cause itching and burning sensations.
How To Apply Aftershave Properly?
The purpose of aftershave may not be achieved if it is not applied properly. To apply aftershave in the right way, follow these steps:
- Rinse your face thoroughly with warm water to wash away the bits of hair on your skin or the remnants of shaving cream used while shaving
- Pat your face with a clean, dry towel
- Dab your palm with a generous but not excessive amount of aftershave
- Rub your palms together to spread the balm, gel, or lotion over it
- Carefully rub the product on your face, ensuring an even distribution, especially on the shaved parts
- Do not wash off as it needs to sit and penetrate the skin
What Is A Good Aftershave?
Good aftershave can be easily identified using the following points as searchlights:
- Must be as natural as possible
A good aftershave would rather use natural fragrances obtained from plants and oils than use skin-damaging chemicals such as synthetic fragrances.
- Must hydrate the skin
Due to the lack of nearly no alcohol and the presence of water and essential oils, an aftershave balm outperforms a lotion in this area; it does an excellent job of moisturizing the skin.
- Should leave a nice scent:
While this may not be overly necessary, a good aftershave should leave a sweet scent on your face with a blend of specially selected natural substances.
- Should nourish and rejuvenate the skin
Aftershaves are essentially skincare products. Hence, a good aftershave should be able to nourish the skin with oils containing vitamins and substances it needs to gently close the pores, heal minor nicks and cuts, and reduce the risk of razor bumps and aftershave redness.
5 Alternatives To Aftershave
Sometimes, you may have run out of your usual aftershave product and may not be in the best position to acquire a new one, or you may simply wish to apply something more natural and gentle on the skin than the products typically found in stores.
A few of these alternatives include:
- Aloe Vera
After shaving, rinse off the remnants of hair from the skin and apply this gel to the skin. It does the job of moisturizing and soothing the skin very effectively.
- Alcohol
This should not be a problem if your skin isn’t the dry type. You could use drinking alcohol like vodka or rubbing alcohol mixed with herbs on the skin.
- Apple cider vinegar
You could dilute it with water, witch hazel, or cinnamon if its strong fragrance is too much for you. It is a core ingredient of aftershave lotions, balms, or gels and can be used as a standalone aftershave.
- Coldwater
This helps in closing skin pores that have been left open during shaving. It also hydrates the skin.
You should carry out this method by washing the dirt, shaving cream, and rinsing the hair off your face with warm water before applying cold water and experiencing its soothing effect.
- Cologne
Using Cologne as aftershave is also a smart move. However, they contain alcohol, so you should do well to dilute with witch hazel or glycerin before applying it to the skin to reduce stinging and drying.
Final note
Aftershave application is an important part of the shaving process that should not be missed, whether you use an electric razor or a traditional razor. The use of an aftershave should not be undertaken in haste since not all products are good for your skin and may cause irritation.
Also, if you’ve persisted with an alcohol-based aftershave, you may need to use a moisturizer after applying aftershave to counteract the drying effects of the alcohol.
