How is an alcoholic Aftershave moisturizing?

I am fairly new wet shaver (about a year) and love it. By many trials and errors I have come down to what I believe works for me.. what to avoid, what to stress and what route to go. But at the end of my shave I come down to this dilemma.

* I use a Alum block due to the antiseptic features and the sweet light burn, even though it does dry my skin.
* Then I want to use an Aftershave, but alcohol is bound to dry my face even further?
* So I go with a balm... but I would like to use an alcoholic based aftershave.

Can I use balm and aftershave? Should I go with an aftershave and then a real good moisturizer?
My face get's a bit dry from wet shaving.. and the err must be in the end of my shave.

Input is appreciated. How do you deal with it?

 

I had a very bad alum block so i tended not to use it.

But what I always do is I apply my alcohol based AS whatever scent I like and then apply Nivea sensitive cooling aftershave balm(unscented). And this has been a winner combo for sure. You can of corse use whatever balm you have. I just happen to love this Nivea. Even though it's not really cooling haha. I have the original to but it has a light scent so I tend to use it less.

I actually don't feel like alcohol based AS dried me out, but the balm thing just makes my skin feel great. So, yes you should definitely do it

 

Good call.
I will try Nivea Aftershave Balm for sure.

 

I used to have the same view on alcoholic AS, but the experience came out to be totally opposite. If you apply AS only one time and move on, then surely your skin will go dry. You have to apply the AS in "passes" just like the way you apply the lather. I apply Brut, Old spice, Rasasi and other Alcoholic AS three times (apply, wait for it to dry and apply again). After the third pass, you will surely feel your skin to be well moisturised. Don't forget, in the end, its all YMMV.

 

I have always used both aftershave and later on a balm if needed.
The AS to sterilize the skin, and balm to sooth and moisturise.

Lately my aftershave if choice has been unscented witch hazel. I seldom need a balm after that. And it is easier to match with my favourite cologne, or sex water as the local rednecks call it.

 

There are actually forms of alcohol that are moisturizing, but they're not normally found in aftershaves. I can't use Alum. It tightens my skin up too much and leads to more ingrown issues, even if I apply moisturizer after. My skin actually does best with Tend Skin, which has a lot of alcohol in it, whith occasional moisturizer (usually once at night, but sometimes in the morning as well).

 

I've never heard of this before. Applying your aftershave several times.

I use alum, then skin food on a wet face. When all that's dried. Then an A/S.
I don't use any balm as they make my skin feel a bit greasy. I think aftershaves moisturise because of the oils in them.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to double tap the aftershave.

In for a penny.. And all that.

 

Alcohol is only one ingredient. Glycerin and other ingredients can help negate the drying out.

Also, grain (ethyl) alcohol is not as bad at drying out skin as isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.

 

I won't use the term "several times" for putting on AS lotion only three times. Like I said, it is all about YMMV. If I apply AS lotion only one time, the skin goes totally dry. But if I apply it three times (which takes only a single minute), skin feels much better.

 

Bottom line - mix things up, try different combinations, find what works for you. As far as I can tell, there is no "right" or "wrong" way, just your way.

It's your shave. Enjoy it your way.

 

Clearly a breakdown in translation there. Where I come from 'several' means more than two. ( but not many).
Maybe read my post again. I wasn't having a pop at ya. I thought it sounded like a good idea to try.

 

Oh no, I wasn't trying to defend my comment. However, I was somewhat worried that you might apply AS lotion more than enough times and end up with a long lasting burning sensation. I once applied AS lotion 5 times and next 30 minutes were spent in quite a discomfort.

BTW, I didn't know that condition for using term 'several' is more than two and not three. It has been quite a many years since I checked the definition for this word. As far as I remember, according to cambridge university dictionary : amount which is not exact but fewer than many

 

I use which hazel followed by whatever I'm in the mood for, either as or balm.

 

To answer the thread question, it's not the alcohol is an astringent. Your after shave relies on varying amounts of different adjuncts to provide the moisturizing effect.

In the winter time, my skin becomes too dry to rely on my beloved AS splashes alone. Not willing to give them up entirely, I add a good moisturizer to my post shave routine. The best I've found (and it's unscented, so no clash with my AS to worry about) is this stuff, and it's an absolutely incredible moisturizer:



Shop around, you can find it for less than retail.

 

I live in the driest winter climate and I have found that only Speick and witch hazel work and don't dry me out. Balm's are ok, Nivea is probably the best skin care. But honestly if dry skin is your issue no balm can compete with a fragrance free lotion like Aveno, so you may consider a splash of witch hazel and follow up with a lotion instead

 

I have found a routine that seems to work very well for me. I use alum after every shave, then I put on some Osage Rub. This seems to get my skin ready for a balm, which I happen to like Stirling Unscented PSB. I let the balm soak in a bit, then follow with another alcohol based aftershave of choice.

 

I do pacific shaving co. caffeinated PSB, then proraso AS, then dove + ASB.

 

My routine is a three part one, and it took me about a year to figure out that this one won't dry out my face. After my shave, I do a cold water rinse. While my face is still wet, I apply alum. I let it sit for about a minute, then dry my face. Then I do a splash of uncented alcohol free witch hazel, and leave that on for about a minute. Then I dry my face and put my aftershave on. I would say about 2/3rds of my aftershaves are alcohol based, and the other third are balms. Either way, it seems to work for me.

 

Never thought of that actually, but it works. Applied AS today, waited a few minutes, applied a second time - just great

 

Good to know that it went great for you, my friend . My assumption is that the skin moisturizers are less in proportion as compared to alcohol content. In first pass, you apply too little of the skin moisturizer and alcohol leaves your skin dry.