Overall Rating: ★★★★★
Price: $$ ($10-$20) – Available at Dermalogica, Amazon, and other retailers.
Scent: Subtle clove with slight traces of lavender, tea tree, and orange.
I liked: The mild yet masculine scent. The texture of the oil was light and easy to apply. I did not experience any cuts when using this product. It can be used alone or with a shave cream. This pre-shave oil does not contain artificial fragrances or color.
Suggested improvements: The camphor was hardly noticeable. I would have liked more of a cooling effect.
Dermalogica’s Close Shave Oil effectively minimizes the risk of getting nicks and razor burn. Though this product can be used alone, I usually combine it with a shave cream to create a protective buffer between my face and the razor. If you have never used a pre-shave oil before, I highly recommend trying one out – it may change the way you shave. Just be sure to use a pre-shave oil that is natural and does not contain petroleum-based ingredients, e.g., mineral oil, or synthetic fragrances. A video of me using Dermalogica’s Close Shave Oil can be found here.
Like many of you, I had minimal experience using pre-shave oil. The thought of using anything other than shave cream and a razor to shave was completely foreign to me. Pre-shave oils are much more popular in Europe. However, the hype surrounding shaving oils is growing stateside. Being the adventurous skincare guinea pig, I decided to implement a pre-shave oil into a recent shave. Here are the results via YouTube:
Note: Be careful when selecting a pre-shave oil. Make sure it is made of all natural ingredients such as grapeseed oil and jojoba oil. Avoid products with synthetic or petroleum-based ingredients such as mineral oil as they tend to clog your pores and contribute to breakouts and other types of skin irritation.
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer Ingredients List
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: $$ ($10-$20) – Available at Kiehl’s and other higher end retailers.
Scent: No noticeable scent.
I liked: how refreshing it felt around the eyes. The product did a great job at moisturizing and minimizing the puffiness around my eyes. The small size makes it ideal for carrying around at all times – fits comfortably in my pocket. Contains caffeine, Arctic Root, and hibiscus extract.
I didn’t like: that it wasn’t as effective at minimizing the dark circles around my eyes.
Overall, Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer is an effective, convenient product for moisturizing and reducing puffiness around the eyes. It also makes for a great eye refresher that can be used at any time. If you go on a bender and need help looking alive the following day, this eye “de-puffer” will come in handy.
Until recently, I never really thought about the difference between a bar of soap and a liquid face or body wash. They both serve the same function, but one has to be superior to the other. I decided to educate myself by reading a few online forum threads on the topic and found some advantages and disadvantages of each.
Bar Soap Advantages:
Convenient – good for when you’re on the go. Can be easily used without a sponge or washcloth.
Generally provides more lather when used without a washcloth.
Disadvantages:
Bar soaps are usually made with harsher ingredients which can strip your skin of oil. This often makes the skin over-produce oil to compensate for the dryness, which can ultimately lead blemishes or breakouts.
Bar soaps are less hygienic than liquid face or body washes. They are constantly exposed to moisture, which makes their surfaces ideal breeding grounds for bacterial growth. Imagine yourself sharing a bar of soap with a roommate who doesn’t have the best body hygiene habits. Just consider the places on the body a bar of soap is rubbed against.
Face or Body Wash Advantages:
Liquid Face and body washes are gentler on your skin compared to bar soaps as they don’t contain as many harsh ingredients. Liquid washes won’t strip your skin of vital oils as much as bar soaps can.
More hygienic to use than bar soaps.
Disadvantages:
Liquid washes are usually more expensive than bar soaps.
Require a washcloth or sponge for maximum lather.
Final verdict
Go with a liquid wash whenever possible. The extra money spent on liquid washes is well worth it when you consider the toll many bar soaps can take on your skin.
And remember to always moisturize after every wash!
Note: The skin on the face is thin compared to other parts of the body – which makes it more sensitive. I don’t suggest using the same soap for your face that you use for your body. If you’re going to use the same liquid cleanser for both areas, try using one that is natural and not heavily scented. Cleansers with synthetic fragrances can cause facial breakouts. For an all-in-one type of liquid cleanser, I recommend using an all-natural castille soap such as Dr. Bronner’s.
Properly preparing your face by washing with warm water and a gentle face wash can help you achieve a smoother shave. Washing your face removes the dirt and debris that can hinder the glide of your razor. Using a gentle face scrub twice a week will optimize the shaving experience.
When using shave cream, start by applying to the areas with toughest beard growth such as the chin. This gives the cream more time to penetrate and soften the beard.
Nothing can hurt your face more than using a worn-out razor. Switch out your blade(s) the moment you notice your razor becoming dull. Signs include increased post-shave irritation/razor burn and frequent cuts.
Always moisturize and condition your face with an alcohol-free aftershave balm or lotion. Don’t skimp in this department – one layer is usually not enough. Continue to apply until any sign of discomfort or irritation is gone and your face is properly moisturized.
If you shower after you shave, be sure to moisturize again after showering.
Check out the video below for a step-by-step demonstration:
A simple daily morning routine will get you on the right track.
We often forget the importance of going to the bathroom regularly. We constantly subject our bodies to foods and drinks that do more harm than good. Symptoms of retaining toxins in the body include skin breakouts, constipation, and fatigue – all of which can make life a living hell. Because of our continuous exposure to toxins, we should encourage our bodies to have “number ones” and “number twos” on a more consistent basis. I don’t recommend buying into one of the wildly popular and expensive celebrity-endorsed “cleansing” programs. The same cathartic effects can be achieved by incorporating two inexpensive, quick and easy steps into your daily morning routine. Take a look at the video below to see what these two steps are.
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