Skin feeling tight post-shave...
- Thread starter bandito
- Start date
Definitely need to experiment. However, if when washing the cream/soap off (before applying a/s) and your skin feels taut, the culprit is obvious. I haven't come across an alcohol splash (including surgical spirit) that has caused my skin to become taut. Certain soaps and creams have usually been the issue.
halvor
a most elusive fish
With Nishy on this one. I never had an aftershave make things worse; rather, most, even if not containing a drop of any conditioning or moisturising agent, improve face feel after the shave. Given your SMN fad of late, Mick, have you tried the non-alc emulsion, btw?
I find the SV lotions to be a perfect middle point between splashes and balms, by the way, and they contain plenty of goodness for the skin. No tightness guaranteed!
Edit: typos.
I find the SV lotions to be a perfect middle point between splashes and balms, by the way, and they contain plenty of goodness for the skin. No tightness guaranteed!
Edit: typos.
D
Deleted member 30
Guest
As @Nishy has pointed out, the soap has a higher chance of doing this over the aftershave. This tends to happen when the soap is high in Coconut oil and/or Stearic Acid and lacks a good percentage of free oils/glycerine.
If you enjoy the soap and want to continue using it I would suggest a balm or a good post shave emulsion to rehydrate and moisturise the skin afterwards.
EDIT: @halvor beat me to the post, well done that man!
If you enjoy the soap and want to continue using it I would suggest a balm or a good post shave emulsion to rehydrate and moisturise the skin afterwards.
EDIT: @halvor beat me to the post, well done that man!
D
Deleted member 30
Guest
Yes superfat is free oil in the soap, it helps to condition the skin but also act's as a buffer to ensure there is no free lye in the soap after saponification, which would be nasty. Extra glycerine is not really superfating as it does not neutralise any free lye in the soap. That said a little extra glycerine in a shave soap goes a long way in producing extra glide/slip and helps to condition the skin afterwards.
@Fox any thoughts on products which cause drying if over loaded yet don't when loaded for a short time? Both options producing a suitable lather. I can appreciate the initial option to be more 'concentrated' given similar amounts of water added. Yet surely even if diluted (second option) the same base would cause similar (perhaps a little less) drying of the skin.
bandito
Ex-Addict
Cheers guys - the suspect in this case is Ach Brito Lavanda cream, which does have glycerine but which lists stearic acid and coconut oil as the first two ingredients.
I have tried the SMN emulsion and it was nice, but in all honesty I prefer the splash; and the SV doesn't like me half as much as I like it!
I have tried the SMN emulsion and it was nice, but in all honesty I prefer the splash; and the SV doesn't like me half as much as I like it!
D
Deleted member 30
Guest
I think I understand what your asking. In theory it will reduce the drying if there was more water introduced, you see it's the pH that does the most of the drying in a soap. Shaving soap falling somewhere between a pH of 9.5 - 10.5. Tap water has a pH range of 6.5 - 9.5. More water can lower the pH of the soap depending on your water pH level that is.
Regular bottled water brands can range in pH levels from 4.0 to 7.0. So using this water to lather a drying soap should improve things slightly. Would be interesting for @bandito to try and post back his findings.
The problem with adding more water to reduce soap concentration would be the trade off with a reduction in cushion. That said if you were to use a soap normally on the first pass and then on the second used more water on the face and a light going over with the soap on the brush. A lack of cushion would be less of a problem and the extra amount of slip created by the watery soap would or should improve your second passing, though be careful as it would be a close pass so I wouldn't recommend placing to much pressure on the razor. That would be using DE and SE razors, straights I have no experience with so can't advice on these.
I do use this technique myself with 1912, but then I don't have thick growth and a watery second pass is no problem for me. Someone with dark hair pigmentation who will have denser and thicker hair may find this a problem. Though certainly worth a try.
D
Deleted member 30
Guest
Something just occurred to me that is worth mentioning. A pre-shave oil should help in reducing the dryness of a soap, as it would create a film between the soap and skin which would act as a barrier.
I understand that oils are not for everyone as some can clog skin pores. Something like grapeseed oil that is light in it's viscosity should be good for this purpose.
@iamsms sounds great, you should post up a link to it in the forum.
I understand that oils are not for everyone as some can clog skin pores. Something like grapeseed oil that is light in it's viscosity should be good for this purpose.
@iamsms sounds great, you should post up a link to it in the forum.
Nick_S
Forum GOD!
I've taken this approach with soaps that have the drying effect. It works as suggested, which is to say, drastically reduced the drying effect.Something just occurred to me that is worth mentioning. A pre-shave oil should help in reducing the dryness of a soap, as it would create a film between the soap and skin which would act as a barrier.
I understand that oils are not for everyone as some can clog skin pores. Something like grapeseed oil that is light in it's viscosity should be good for this purpose.
@iamsms sounds great, you should post up a link to it in the forum.
Conservator
Forum GOD!
I find that if I use an alum block a few days in a row my skin feels tight.
Shaverrific666
368
Interesting thread this gents..I have never used a soap that has made my skin feel tight, but have definitely used some that have made my skin burn...as odd as that sounds..I get it as well with some post shave products.. for example La Toja stick burns me like crazy and Gillette Series sensitive balm ironically.
Not to derail the the thread but anyone have any ideas what that could be that causes this kind of sensation/reaction?
Not to derail the the thread but anyone have any ideas what that could be that causes this kind of sensation/reaction?