It's time for some hard facts about most aftershave lotions:
- They often contain alcohol which can damage the skin.
- They use harmful synthetic chemicals, which can increase irritation.
- Most men don't know the dangers of synthetic aftershave lotions.
So should you just avoid aftershave products altogether and suffer a dry and irritated face post-shave? Well, that's one option.
The other is to invest in a high-quality and natural aftershave balm that WON'T irritate and damage your skin. Enter aftershave balm – the perfect way to soothe the face and complete your shaving ritual.
In today's article, you'll discover:
- What Is Aftershave Balm?
- What Is Aftershave Lotion?
- Toxic Ingredients You Need To Avoid
- Natural Ingredients That Benefit The Skin
#1. What Is Aftershave Balm?
Technically speaking, the difference between a balm and a lotion is consistency. Balms are traditionally much thicker and richer than lotions.
In the case of aftershave balms, it gets a bit more detailed than that.
An aftershave balm does the same job as an aftershave lotion – it soothes the skin after shaving. The differences between these two products become apparent when looking in more detail at the ingredients used to formulate them.
Unlike lotions, aftershave balms typically use less alcohol and synthetic fragrances. Instead, a balm's softer aroma comes from its natural ingredients (like citrus, lavender, or aloe) rather than artificially inserted scent agents.
Why is this important? It means that a balm can provide the benefits of a lotion without exposing the skin to harmful and unnatural ingredients.
VITAMAN's Shaving Balm is an excellent option for guys looking for high-quality, natural shaving products. No alcohol, no chemicals, no additives – just organic Australian ingredients specially formulated to soothe your face and banish razor burn for good!
Click here to discover VITAMAN's natural men's shaving balm and get the best deal you'll find online – plus get free US shipping over $75 and a 100% money-back guarantee!
#2. What Is Aftershave Lotion?
An aftershave lotion is a thinner, more fragrant product used to soothe the face after shaving. However, as mentioned above, this style of after-shave product carries some pretty serious baggage.
Aftershave lotions are usually heavily scented and often alcohol-based. This means that it can disinfect any nicks and cuts that may occur during shaving.
However, alcohol and synthetic scent agents can hurt the skin despite this benefit. While they help disinfect cuts, they can also worsen surface-level irritation and do the opposite of soothing your face!
Sure, scented lotions can take the place of aftershave cologne. However, it's better to apply a naturally scented aftershave balm to the face and then cologne to the wrists and behind the ears. You should never apply cologne to the face, for the record – it's terrible for your skin!
#3. Toxic Ingredients You Need To Avoid
As a rule of thumb, there are some ingredients you should simply avoid if you're in the market for a high-quality, natural aftershave product. These particular ingredients can harm the skin and worsen the long-term effects of poor skin care.
Alcohol
Here's the reality – many aftershave lotions contain the same types of alcohol found in hand sanitizers and household cleaning products.
So I ask you: would you rub a kitchen disinfectant on your face and expect good results?
Of course not! However, alcohol ingredients such as isopropyl and ethyl are very similar to these products – and they're included in A LOT of big brand skin care products.
To avoid alcohol, simply look at the ingredients list and avoid products that contain the following:
- Methanol
- Denatured alcohol
- Ethanol
- Isopropyl alcohol
- SD alcohol
- Ethyl alcohol
Scent Agents
You'll typically find the vague term ‘fragrance' in a lotion's ingredients list.
Whenever I see this, I think – ‘what are they hiding?'
Fragrance can quite literally mean anything that has a smell! They're not specific about what ingredients they're using, and you can bet there's a reason for that. They're probably using toxic and harmful components that could lead to some severe skin irritation.
To avoid this, look for products that list their scent agent as ‘fragrance derived from natural ingredients.' If you see this in a product's ingredient list, they're using essential oils to create a pleasing scent rather than harmful chemicals.
Phthalates
Phthalates (specifically Bisphenol A – BPA ) are used to soften materials like plastic in the industrial world. Does that sound like the sort of thing that you should put on your face? I'd say not!
Okay, so phthalates can be used to soften the skin, but there are far better ways of doing this by using natural moisturizers! If you didn't know, phthalates could cause some pretty severe damage to your body. There have been reports of it reducing men's sperm count!
If I were you, I'd run to my bathroom and chuck anything containing the following ingredients straight in the trash:
- DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate)
- DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate)
- DMP (dimethyl phthalate)
- BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate)
- DBP (dibutyl phthalate)
- DINP (diisononyl phthalate)
- DEP (diethyl phthalate)
- DIDP (diisodecyl phthalate)
#4. Natural Ingredients That Benefit The Skin
With all of these harmful synthetic ingredients, it's a wonder that a man can buy any product without the chance of harming his skin! That's the case for most brands found in supermarkets.
However, plenty of specialist skincare companies use natural ingredients that positively affect the skin. You just need to know where to look and what ingredients to look for!
Witch Hazel
So alcohol is terrible for the skin but does have antibacterial properties. If only a natural ingredient existed, that could kill germs without irritating the skin!
Enter Witch Hazel – Mother Nature's answer to antibacterial alcohol. This yellow flower has the same germ-killing properties as alcohol but won't dry out your skin or aggravate irritation.
Vitamin E
You've probably heard the term ‘antioxidant' before. Well, Vitamin E is the king of antioxidants. It helps prevent oxidation and removes harmful oxidizing agents from the skin.
What's more, it's well known for its ability to rehydrate and soothe the skin – exactly what a man needs after a good shave.
Aloe Vera
For starters, Aloe Vera smells fantastic.
Fragrance aside, this ingredient is excellent for soothing minor cuts and wounds on the face. It promotes healing and helps to moisturize dry skin – what more could you ask for?
How about a natural collagen boosting agent? Aloe Vera also helps increase collagen levels which helps maintain a healthy and youthful appearance on the skin.
Want to know more about essential skincare products? Click here to discover my ultimate 7-step skincare routine.
The post After Shave Balm Vs Lotion (What Is Aftershave Balm?) appeared first on Real Men Real Style.
0 Commentaires