I've been having a big issue lately that I haven't had to deal with in a long time. My post shave comes with dried out skin. My post shave treatment is impeccable. Cold water rinse, alum block, witch hazel, post shave balm and aftershave splash. A few days ago I bought a bottle of original Clubman. I haven't used it in over a year. I vaguely remember slight drying when I went through my last bottle but not to this extent. A little story of struggle: this past week I've been trying out a puck of GFT soap and yesterday decided to give up on it due to me coming to the conclusion that its post shave properties lacked severely in that my skin felt like rubber. Kicker - my aftershave was Clubman each time of use. That brings us to today's shave. I decided to treat myself to a nice luxury shave with my VDH soap. Everything is going fine until I applied the Clubman. Now I have that rubbery dry feeling again. Has the GFT been framed? Is the wonderful Heaven like smelling Clubman the real killer here? After the long winded post (sorry), my question is does the original Clubman have a higher alcohol amount than Old Spice, Aqua Velva, all the drug store norms? Hell, even Pinaud's Bay Rum doesn't give me this feeling.
Tomorrow I'm going to use the GFT without any alcohol based AS. Just alum, WH and balm. If it's a success then I will use a different AS I'm more familiar with. If this trial is a success then justice will be served. Until then the jury is still out on the case.
I just don't want to be able to not use PC. This stuff is what they use to clean the pearly gates. Another factor is my pre shave... I've been washing my face with African black soap but I've been doing that for probably 3 weeks before any issues occurred, but hey.
I don't know if you're interested in using lotion or not but I have naturally dry skin (and eczema on my hands) so whether I shave or not and regardless of what aftershave I'm using, I always have to apply lotion after bathing, shaving, or washing my hands and often throughout the day. I always use unscented so it doesn't interfere with anything and I've even tried adding small amounts of some of my favorite aftershaves and colognes to small bottles of lotion so I've got a light aftershave balm that moisturizes and smells good.
The Alum and Clubman will dry your skin and perhaps the witch hazel as well if it is alcohol based. This is on top of any drying effects of the shave soap that you're using. You presently are using a lot of post shave products that are all drying. Adding glycerin to the Clubman (or any aftershave that doesn't already contain it) will help. I add 4-5 drops per ounce to any clubman aftershave. In the dryer winter months I use a good balm such as Soap Commander, Nivea Sensitive, Brut's new AB or simple unrefined shea butter followed by a splash that I enjoy for the scent.
" alum block, witch hazel,"; these are strong astringents. Do you really need all that after shaving? I rinse and apply some AS or Balm, and in the evening I use a face moisturizer if I feel any dryness.
This has been my post shave treatment for years. I've been changing alot of variables and equipment this past few weeks and I'm trying to narrow down what is causing my trouble.
I have very oily skin and noticed Pinaud Clubman was drying my skin too much and burned so I mixed it 50/50 with witch hazel and added a little bit of glycerin. Now I get the great clubman smell and my skin feels better.
In winter, I first apply an AS such as Clubman, Aqua Velva or Old Spice then Nivea ASB. My reasoning is that the alcohol in the AS will remove the ASB and reduce its effectiveness. By applying an unscented ASB over the AS, I still get the scent of the AS which has now dried prior to applying the ASB which will moisturize. Worth a try...........
I would suggest eliminating any kind of post for a few days, maybe a week, then adding product back in one at a time. Go from nothing and then do witch hazel for 3 days. Then stop with hazel and then do alum for 3 days. Then do just a splash, or whatever's next. One of two things usually happen: Either the irritating product will become very clear, or your body will have reset itself and none of those things will continue to irritate you.
My blondness did not allow me to think of this. In the winter I may give the reversal of AS balm/splash a shot.
Just use face lotion or a Vitamin E cream. I also use Aveeno lotion because it's non comedogenic and has dimethicone in it.
