What do you ladies use or do to prevent or minimize the skin irritation from shaving your face? I have quite a bit to shave, especially under my chin, and I feel like the irritation makes the fact that I shave that much more noticeable. Also, does Magic Cream leave any visible irritation?
Hi mannequin, i've been following the same routine for years....
*I exfoliate with an apricot type scrub, usually st. ive's, but i'd like to experiment with making my own homemade, more natural formula...
*next I use a very non-irritating facial cleansing soap, I love Neutrogen's fresh foaming cleanser. I lather my whole face with it, and use it as a shaving lather for the parts of my face that need to be shaved.
*Then, after rinsing the soap, i rub a cottonball full of witchazel over my entire face.
*lastly, i slather on a bit of Neutrogena oil free moisturizer for sensitive skin.
My face used to get really dry and irritated after shaving, but after trying a variety of many, many products. I really like how hydrated and clean my face feels after using this combo. The exfoliant lifts the hairs up a bit before being shaved, the cleanser is very gentle on the skin, witchhazel is a wonderful natural astringent, and the non-oily, gentle, moisturizer seals it all in.
I've also found that using cool water rather than hot keeps the skin from becoming irritated as well.
I shave like a guy would... I figure they know how to do it best.
In the shower, warm water (not hot) to soften the skin and hair, apply a mousturising shave gel to the face and neck (the moisturising verions are more slippery). Then, using a good name brand men's razor (triple blade at least), shave first in the direction the hair grows then again in the opposite direction. Doing it like that keeps the hairs from standing up when they're cut.
If you shave the opposite direction first the hairs stand up when cut and the razor damages the skin around the follicle because it gets pulled up a bit when the hair stands up. When they've been cut in the opposite direction first they are shorter and simply slide into the blades without distorting the follicle so the skin doesn't get damaged and you won't get irratation.
No mirror needed (I'm blind without glasses anyway) I just feel where the hair is and shave gently until it's all gone. It's also better to shave every day and never skip a day. I sometimes get a bit of irratation when I've gone more than 24 hours without a shave but then it's so rare I get a day when I don't see other people that it doesn't happen very often.
After the fact I wash with a gentle face cleanser and rinse thoroughly. My skin doesn't get dry, and I don't want to encourage any nasty zits, so I don't use moisturisers. If there's any reddening I will use a bit of hypoallergenic foundation to cover it up.
I used the Magic cream yesterday. There was a very slight pink hue to my face where I used it for about 30 minutes, I applied facial cream and then it was all gone.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"When Satan is knocking at your door just say "Jesus, could you get that for me?"
I shave like a guy would... I figure they know how to do it best.
In the shower, warm water (not hot) to soften the skin and hair, apply a mousturising shave gel to the face and neck (the moisturising verions are more slippery). Then, using a good name brand men's razor (triple blade at least), shave first in the direction the hair grows then again in the opposite direction. Doing it like that keeps the hairs from standing up when they're cut.
If you shave the opposite direction first the hairs stand up when cut and the razor damages the skin around the follicle because it gets pulled up a bit when the hair stands up. When they've been cut in the opposite direction first they are shorter and simply slide into the blades without distorting the follicle so the skin doesn't get damaged and you won't get irratation.
No mirror needed (I'm blind without glasses anyway) I just feel where the hair is and shave gently until it's all gone. It's also better to shave every day and never skip a day. I sometimes get a bit of irratation when I've gone more than 24 hours without a shave but then it's so rare I get a day when I don't see other people that it doesn't happen very often.
After the fact I wash with a gentle face cleanser and rinse thoroughly. My skin doesn't get dry, and I don't want to encourage any nasty zits, so I don't use moisturisers. If there's any reddening I will use a bit of hypoallergenic foundation to cover it up.
Thank you so much for your detailed post on the *correct* way to shave facial hair. I never knew that you should shave in the direction of hair growth first, then again against the direction of hair growth! I will definitely start doing that, as I always have a problem with skin irritation from shaving. Thanks again!
__________________ Carrie (Pa) 31 y.o., married, 1 stepdaughter (10 yrs old). Diagnosed with PCOS in Aug '05. No current treatment.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
As you can tell from my Avatar pic--I am A.A. and I suffer tremendously from shaving my face using a razor...What I have found to help minimize irritation:
Oil of Olay smooth skin exfoliating scrub prior to shaving
After washing my face, I wet my face cloth with the hottest water I can tolerate and place it on my cheek, chin, and neck for about 2 minutes
Then I use bump patrol shaving gel coupled with my schick quattro razon for woman--I tried the men's version but it irrates wayyyy more than the female version
After I'm done shaving I follow up with bump patrol aftershave treatment for sensitive skin
half hour after that I use Loreal Refinish's protective mosterizer
I also found that using powder soothes some irration--but I only use that when/if I shave at nite
Hi there! This isn't meant to be a cheap advertisement for Mary Kay, but if you get on a good skincare routine it might help. My sister and I have both shaved before, and my sister still does. The most important step is to exfoliate your face to reduce the number of ingrown hairs. Then, use the right formula of cleanser for your skin (whether it be normal, dry, or oily). When you shave, use a MOISTURIZING shave cream! Then, when done, don't forget to moisturize your face. Also, loose powder seems to help a lot.
Good luck! I know it feels crummy!
Allsmiles
__________________
Amanda(30) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Brian(31)
Hey, I have been wanting to ask this question for a while! I pluck, I have really bad sideburns better then some of the guys I have seen and my face gets rough around the area. What can I do for that, I use a moisturizer and I can't use most lotions becuase they break me out real bad. Do you have any suggestions!
Facial Irritation? 
