Key Points at a Glance
- It's not just dry air and too much sun that are bad for men's skin.
- Constant shaving can also cause serious damage to the skin over time.
- Aftershave commercials suggest that every product on the market is good for the skin—but that’s not entirely true.
- That leaves the question of which types of aftershave are actually good for men's skin.
If men didn’t have their wives, they probably wouldn’t worry all that much about the health of their skin. After all, reminders like “Please put on some lotion—on your face, too” or “Don’t stay in the sun too long” would simply be missing; men tend to ignore such obvious things—or at least forget them. But men’s skin remembers everything, too—and that goes for the skin on the face as well. But what about shaving?
Shaving causes skin irritation
The skin almost always becomes irritated after facial and neck stubble has been removed, regardless of whether it’s a dry or wet shave. It’s easy to imagine what would happen to a man’s skin if it weren’t cared for after every single shave. Redness would be the least of it; persistent irritation and even dryness, on the other hand, would be much more serious consequences. And unfortunately, damaged skin doesn’t regenerate that quickly.
At the very least, however, taking care of one’s facial skin after shaving is a masculine trait that doesn’t require encouragement from one’s partner. Men know from their own (and often painful) experience that the right aftershave is worth its weight in gold. Actually, the name “aftershave” is a bit misleading, since it implies that the shave is already over. However, using a balm, gel, shaving cream, lotion, fluid, or shaving water is still part of the shaving routine.
Which aftershave is best for freshly shaved skin?
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question—it always depends on your skin type and how your skin reacts to shaving. You can’t even say that an alcohol-free aftershave is better—because some men get razor bumps, which an alcohol-based aftershave usually helps prevent. However, if you have dry skin, you should avoid alcohol-based aftershave, as it strips the skin of even more moisture.
Anyone who has dry or sensitive skin to begin with is therefore well advised not to use traditional aftershave. Oily or greasy skin tolerates aftershave much better. Fluids and lotions that provide a cooling sensation after shaving and absorb quickly are also suitable for oily skin. Of course, they also moisturize the facial skin.
Cream, gel, and balm for drier facial skin
However, many men struggle less with oily skin than with dry facial skin, which is further stressed after shaving. Aftershave gel or cream is the right choice if your face feels a little sore after shaving. Shortly after application, the skin calms down as it quickly absorbs the oils and moisture they contain.
Men with very sensitive, dry skin, on the other hand, are well advised to use an aftershave balm. These products not only provide the face with sufficient moisture in the short term, but also contain lipids that replenish the depleted moisture reserves in the outermost layer of the skin.
