For us, shaving is a personal pleasure that just wouldn't be worthwhile unless using the best quality ingredients. Your face is an asset, it’s the first thing people notice and it is worth taking care of. That’s why we use a single blade against our skin and the finest in natural luxurious soaps and creams.
This month we have a great selection of products designed to keep you looking your best.
Portland England Soothing Shave Cream
Ahh the smell of the sea! We’re incredibly excited to be showcasing this superb British shaving cream from Portland England. The brand was born out of a desire to create a line of products that used the science found in women’s products and apply it to men’s skincare. All of the Portland line has hydration as the core focus which is why they feature Hyaluronic Acid in their formulations. A naturally occurring ingredient that holds 1,000 times its own weight in water and is able to penetrate the skins layer to plump, soften and hydrate the skin. This makes it perfect for use in a shaving cream where moisture is key to getting a close and comfortable shave. It also features a nutrient-rich seaweed extract to calm and soothe skin, leaving it feeling silky smooth afterwards. We particularly loved the sea salt fragrance, truly a unique product.
To use: Though it’s possible to lather up by hand, we found the results are greatly improved when using a shaving brush. Apply a generous amount into the palm of your hands, rub onto your damp face and then build up a thick lather with your damp shaving brush. Let sit on the face for at least 30 seconds before starting to shave to give it time to fully absorb.
Posh Brats Bathery 1709 Gentleman’s Aftershave Balm
We love supporting the smaller independent brands and this one is no exception. Posh Brats specialise in making small batch cosmetic products using only the finest natural ingredients. You won’t find any parabens or other nasties in this cream, making it ideal for all skin types. We’re proud to have had this gentleman’s shaving balm made up as a bespoke order especially for The Personal Barber subscribers. The balm has been made to a traditional elixir of essential oils and essences giving it a unique manly scent, often worn by gentleman of quality back in the 18th century. It is easily absorbed in the skin, soothing and moisturising after a shave and leaves a lovely matte feeling.
To use: Immediately after shaving, apply one or two pumps to the shaved area and gently rub in a circular motion until absorbed.
Cyril R Salter Styptic Pencil
Cyril R Salter have been supplying luxury men’s grooming goods for almost 75 years. They also have their own line of award-winning products and this month we are featuring their styptic pencil. Made from alum, it’s a natural aftershave treatment with astringent and antiseptic properties to help sooth the skin after shaving. Frankly, it is an essential item in every wet shaver's arsenal. It’s particularly useful for healing any nicks and cuts as it stops the bleeding.
It’s also useful for monitoring your technique or bluntness of blade. The act of shaving often causes tiny cuts all over your skin that aren't visible with the naked eye. These are caused by two things:
1. A blunt blade will skip across the skin causing these minor abrasions which is why you need to change your blade before this happens.
2. Poor technique can also result in these tiny cuts for example if you press to hard or perhaps shave at too steep of an angle.
When you run the pencil over your skin you will feel the tiny cuts as stinging on your face. It’s very satisfying after a shave to run the pencil over your face without any stinging feeling. It’s the sign of a job well done!
To use: Splash your face with cold water after shaving then run the pencil over the shaved area, rinse off with water afterwards. Be careful not to press too hard, you don't want the alum stick breaking off.
March Subscription Box Replacement Double-Edge Razor Blades
Whether it’s sensitive or thick like an elephant’s, everyone’s skin is different and requires a different approach when shaving. The benefits of using a double edge razor is that you can input the blade that is right for you. But did you know that the razor itself also affects your shave? Razors have a gap between the head and the blade which allows hair to fit between the razor and the safety bar. The bigger the gap is, the more of your skin and hair that is exposed and the quicker that hairs will be cut. Razors with a larger blade gap are known as “aggressive” because the increased gap exposes the blade more which can feel harsher on the skin. This means that different razors will give a different shaving experience, even when using the same brand of blade. Therefore, sometimes you might find a blade doesn’t really work for you and you throw it away never to be used again, however it could be that it doesn’t fit with your combination of skin and razor. Change the razor, and you might suddenly love that particular blade.
Aren't the intricacies of scraping hair from your face fun?
Topaz Platinum DE Razor Blades
Topaz are a brand from India that, to be honest, we had never even heard of. After testing, we were astounded at the quality. Like many blades, they are coated in platinum but these also feature a sputtered edge which allows it to more easily glide across the skin. These give a fantastic smooth shave for most beard types and have a respectable lifespan of between 4-7 shaves. We found that these blades were particularly well suited for The Personal Barber signature razor included in your first box. Try them out!
