Alum Block What is it? It is a solid block/rock of Alum and Mineral Salts. How to use? Wet with cold water and rub all over wet face. Pros = all natural, makes skin feel tight and smooth. Cons = a bit drying and if you get any near your mouth area you are going to taste it, not plesent tasting. Examples: Alum Block, Bloc Osma Lotion What is it? Usually an alcohol or Witch Hazel based aftershave splash type. How to use? Splash on wet face. Pros = cleans and tightens, heals razor burn, and has cooling effect if you add menthol. Cons = could be drying or harsh for some skin types. Can burn like lava if alcohol based (I like the burn ). Examples: Aqua Velva, Old Spice Milk What is it? It is usually a hydrosol based product with a milky consistency between a Lotion and Balm. How to use? Smooth over wet face. Pros = lighter then a balm and usually full of good stuff. No alcohol burn Cons = could feel sticky on some. Examples: DR Harris, The Shave Den Aftershave Milk Conditioner/Gel/Balm/Balsm/Skin Food (they feel the same to me but some may say different). What are they? They are thicker aftershaves meant for moisturizing usually low or no alcohol content. How to use? Massage in over wet face. Pros = heavy moisturizing and my even have SPF protection also the lack of alcohol. Cons = could be too much for some skin types may even be counter productive for oily skin. More likely to contain Parbens. Examples: Anherb, Nivea, Trumper’s Witch Hazel What is it? Hamamelis Plant Hydrosols with very low alcohol content. For relief of minor skin irritations. How to use? Like a Splash. Pros = all natural and low alcohol content good for sensitive skin. Cons = dose not have any other goodies like glycerin or menthol, can be drying. I would recommend using a Balm with it if your skin can take balms. Examples: Thayer’s, Dickinson’s Talc What is it? Is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. How to use? Rub on hands and rub on dry face, you can also use a barber’s neck duster. Pros = “dims face shine as it helps to hide nicks and blemishes”. Cons = may react to skin; breathing may make you cough or sneeze violently. Examples: Pinaud, Borotalco Roberts
Cream or balm here even before I began posting and reading here I never found liquid, alcohol based stuff any good. Something always more healing seemed in a cream or balm to me.
Please correct me if I am not correct, but this is my understanding, two types: Balms and splashes. Splashes tend to be more liquid types that you splash on to your face, while balms are more like gels that do not really splash on to your face much. Bees like the balms on my face so I tend to go with the splashes much more so. Please correct me if I am not correct.
Well alum certainly doesn't fit into those two categories. Does it? The point of Mottern Man's post was to help people understand the terminology companies use for their products.
The only ones that I think that you could be missing is pure Aloe Vera gel and pure Jojoba oil(but some milks and balms contains it on its formulas).By themselves works really good,alove vera is wonderful for hot days and jojoba oil(its not an "oil" but its called that way) its great for really dry skin.The cons are how they smell(not very pleasant,specially the pure Aloe Vera gel)
Side effects Alum just sounds bad for you...like a chemical or something. Would be most hard or difficult to market these days.
My skin is not particularly sensitive, but i do seem to have a problem every time I shave, with what seems to be ingrown hairs, but acts more like infected pimples? Is this a bacterial problem, that can be fixed with a alcohol based aftershave to cleanse and disinfect? Should I be using a more moistureizing aftershave like a milk or balm?
This is just me. Someone else may have something better. First thing I'd do is not shave for a little while if at all possible. Use Tend Skin to treat the problem. Then, when you do shave; proper prep and maybe just two passes. One if presentable enough. Just for couple of weeks until your face rids the problem. As far as an aftershave at that point--witch hazel only. Alcohol too drying and gels, etc have irritants that you may be reacting to. Also, some can clog pores which create pimples. An alum block is suggested as well.
I don't find the alum blocks drying. Alcohol is. Alums are an antiseptic naturally. Help prevent other problems.
Great post. I never thought about all these options. I'm going to try most of them just to see what works for me.
Is it ok to use a balm or lotion as well as a talc block? Once in a while I get what seems to be a clogged pore on my jawbone and/or neck that swells up and doesn't go away for a few weeks. Usually it ends up having a little infection in it and acts like an ingrown hair. Any idea what may be causing this and how I could prevent the unsightly blemishes?
I'm going to assume you meant alum block, and yes that should be fine , many folks will rinse their face after the alum and before the balm or splash. Have a look at these two videos from Mantic and see if they may help. How to deal with ingrowns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJzk4QL6iME Maintaining The Neck For Shaving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K58bekTP3nY
