Odds are, you are neglecting one or the other, skin routine or shaving routine, or both and that’s where your difficulties lie. If you’ll address your skin condition (i.e. oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blemish-prone skin) your shaving will be easier and less painful.  If you address your shaving techniques (i.e. what blade you use, what cream you use, what aftershave treatment you use) your skin will be smoother, softer, and healthier than ever.

Let’s start with addressing your skin condition.  Everyone, men and women alike, need to treat their skin with a basic regimen that includes a botanical based cleanser that contains an exfolliant, and a moisturizer that contains a broad spectrum sunscreen (minimum 15 spf).  Use formulas specifically for your skin condition.

If you have sensitive skin, which means you have to repair your skin’s lipid barrier, you will have to address that condition first, and then move on to treat oiliness, dryness, or blemishes.  Once the barrier is healed, your skin will be less sensitive.  You will then be able to use the appropriate skin care products that will help you manage your other concerns.

Your sensitive skin can be caused by many things, but primarily it will be caused from your shaving techniques – the wrong beard prep, the wrong blade, or the wrong after shave product, or all of the above.  You know you have sensitive skin when it tends to turn pink or red, or stings or burns when you apply products to it.

The good news is you can repair your sensitivity!  Try using botanical based products that contain some over the counter strength medicines, which are gentle but effective.  The gentle cleanser can also be used as your shaving cream.

Changing your shaving techniques will do wonders to improving your skin conditions.  The first thing I’m going to recommend is you go back to shaving the way your grandfather did.  I’m happy to report wet shaving techniques are making a big comeback because they are healthier, cheaper and greener!

Start with lots of heat and steam – shave right out of the shower, when your skin and beard have been softened and the pores are opened.  Then, get rid of your  lightweight, multiple blade razor, and that big aerosol can of chemically laden shaving cream.  They are costing way too much, and they are wrecking your skin.

Your shaving razor needs to be heavy enough so you won’t have to apply too much pressure to get the close shave that you want.  When you apply too much pressure, you are removing the top layer of your skin in addition to the beard, thus, the razor burn and ingrown hairs.  Those double, triple, and even quadruple blades – YIKES!  They are wreaking havoc on your skin.  You are damaging your skin every time you use them.

It’s time, men, to go back to the double edge, adjustable safety razor, that has some weight to it.  The replacement blades are recyclable and cheap, but better yet, they will not damage your skin. Replace the blade, at minimum, weekly.

Find yourself a botanical based cleanser, that you can lather up with a nice badger hair shaving brush.  This brush will last your entire life!  Here’s an excellent website to learn more about wet shaving and how to get started.

After shaving, it’s time to really pamper your skin.  Don’t ever use products containing alcohol after shaving, no need to feel the pain after shaving to feel all manly.  A good natural skin soother is an alum block – a clear crystal that you smooth all over the skin after shaving to soothe the skin.  Follow up with a natural fragrance if you like.

For your own free skin care consultation visit my blog page.

There’s help and hope at the Skin Care Blog!

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