ETHOS Grooming Essentials A New Line

Ok, now this discussion has me a little curious. Dragonsbeard , which order do you recommend applying the HA serum and SFS? Splash first, or HA first, or does it matter with these?

For whatever reason I've been applying the HA serum first, then the SFS... but now I'm wondering if it would be better the other way?

I’ve been using in order: witch hazel, skin food lotion, skin food splash, serum. So I should apply the splash before the lotion?

I’ve been using in order: witch hazel, skin food lotion, skin food splash, serum. So I should apply the splash before the lotion?

Hi Marko,

Yes, you would get more from the lotion if you used it after the splash.  

The lotion has a lot more EOS complex in it and it also has more hydrating properties.  The splash would have witch hazel and alcohol in it (if it’s the US Version) or just witch hazel for the international version.  100% sure you are better off with the SFL after the splash.

I agree. To me, the splash would have a hard time penetrating the oils in the balm.
So, splash/liquids before balms/creams/serums.

I use the SFS after my shave and the serum or SFL in the evening. I figure if you're using Frank's soap, it's already loaded with skin enhancing ingredients. Then if you add the SFS and the SFL and a serum it seems to me you're getting into the "If a little is good, a bunch more must be MORE BETTER." That just seems to be too much at one time.

I’ve been using in order: witch hazel, skin food lotion, skin food splash, serum. So I should apply the splash before the lotion?

Hi Marko,

Yes, you would get more from the lotion if you used it after the splash.  

The lotion has a lot more EOS complex in it and it also has more hydrating properties.  The splash would have witch hazel and alcohol in it (if it’s the US Version) or just witch hazel for the international version.  100% sure you are better off with the SFL after the splash.

Thanks

Ok, now this discussion has me a little curious. Dragonsbeard , which order do you recommend applying the HA serum and SFS? Splash first, or HA first, or does it matter with these?

For whatever reason I've been applying the HA serum first, then the SFS... but now I'm wondering if it would be better the other way?

I’ve been using in order: witch hazel, skin food lotion, skin food splash, serum. So I should apply the splash before the lotion?

Hi mates

I will share some knowledge I got from experts.

Watery products such as astrigents(toner) or ETHOS SFS make skin prepared for getting additional ingredients from other products like lotion or serum.

It is like arranging the skin grain to absorb them better.

So experts recommend using the splash first as a base and after applying it, you should pat the applied skin dry.

And then you should apply serum before lotion because the texture of serum is lighter than lotion, which is also absorbed better. Also you should pat the skin dry.

Then lotion is the last. Patting dry is also required. Lotion is for coating your skin that has absorbed good ingredients and for it to keep them inside well

However, if you don't have either serum or lotion, it is ok. Just proceed the steps for what you have.

Ok so ultimately using all 3 or 4 right after a shave in most cases would be overkill.

A few facts:

1. Hyaluronic acid serum

Hyaluronic acid absorbs 1000 times it weight in water so depending on the percentage that’s in a serum really dictates how you’d use it.  If the percentage is above 1% then it’s absolutely recommended to use on damp skin because if you put it on totally dry skin it could pull moisture out of your skin as it is so thirsty it could leave your skin feeling very tight feeling and actually dry. My Replenish HA Serum is at peak recommended percentage of 2% so it’s very important to use on damp or even very damp skin.

So if using it in combination with the SF Splash it’s just raising the percentage of HA because it’s in the Splash to begin with but there’s not a high amount in the Splash so they can be used in unison one on top of the other but I’d still use them together on damp skin after rinsing your face after using the shave soap or cream. If you use a Witch Hazel product like Thayers for example it’s a perfect base as it also contains some vegetable Glycerin so it’s a good three some. As then you can use the splash last and giving you the max scent strength.  In fact I’ve often though of making a foundation spray mist that would be applied before any post shave splash, lotion, balm or serum. It would be a kick up from a regular witch Hazel Thayers type product.  Of course everyone’s face is a little different so playing with the amounts is a bit of a trial and error thing.

2. Skin Food Lotion:

The SFL is as dtownvino  Mike said quite a bit more powerful and plentiful in Skin Care ingredients over the regular SFS ( even more so than the Hybrid SFS although the HA in both are at the the same percentage of the EOS Complex) as the lotion as many more ingredients in it but it’s a sheer lotion so not heavy feeling on the skin as let’s say a balm.  So when using it with a HA serum it’s a natural and wonderful combo but since there’s a lot of HA between the both of them they need the skin to be very damp for maximum benefits.

3. Revitalizing Serum

You can use the Revitalizing Serum  ( oil based) in multiple ways.  I’d suggest starting out using a little bit at first and increasing the amount a little at a time until it feels just right as everyones skin is different. I also tend to use more of the serum in the cold wether months of the year as my skin gets dryer compared to the warm weather moths of the year although I definitely don’t have dry skin on my face very often but when I do it does the trick immediately. I also recommend it used all by itself at a different times of the day or night. An it also works great right after a shave as your only post shave product and applied on slightly damp skin as it will spread better and the new formula is much more technically advanced and works noticeably better than the old formula which was very good for a strictly blended oil serum as there were different oil blends for different skin types whereas most oil blends out there are 80-90% Jojoba oil which is not bad for the skin at all but there are better oils out there.  If you want more scent after a shave than what the serum provides I recommend using an EDT, EDP or EDC on your trigger points. If you want to use a Skin Food Splash or a different aftershave I’d suggest you use it before applying the serum but let the alcohol burn off a few seconds before applying the serum.

4. Skin Food Splash 

Skin Food Splash and the more potent Hybrid version are alcohol based but contain multiple skin beneficial ingredients but yet maintain what an aftershave represents and it has the typical slight post shave sting or as some refer to as burn which quickly wears off. This can be combined with any of the other products above but depending on which of the other products mentioned above you should read all of the info on those first. Of course this product can be your one and only post shave product. It also provides the strongest scent strength of the products listed above. An the only difference between the regular and the Hybrid I’d the Hybrid has double the EOS Complex in it and for most that use it there’s a noticeable difference between the two products. I’m very much considering making a Non Alcohol Splash also in the near future and I’ve made a few testers and I’m liking the reactions so far. I myself have 2 I made for myself. One is Bergamotto and the other is using the ShaveMD blend and I really enjoy them. So once I get get caught up I’ll probably start out by offering a Unscented and maybe 2 or 3 scents to begin with or only have an Unscented and have a drop down with some custom scented options. 


Hopefully that explains things but I’ll also add if you have all 4 of the current post shave products I’ve mentioned have fun and play with them until you find the right combos that work best for you. 

Soon there will be more skincare products available as we move forward. Especially with the addition of more female customers that are taking notice of the brand. 


This is one I’m very excited about releasing. I call Derma Boost Super Food for the skin and I’ve had some folks testing it for a while now and there reaction has been more than positive. The labels came in so it’s close to release.




Have a great one!

Frank Dragonsbeard I've always been a fan of your SFS but this is the 1st I've heard about a Hybrid SFS. Never saw it distinguished and that there were 2 before. Guess I'll need to check the website to see what's up...Thanks for the explanation of all the products and their use.

Reviews aren't my strong suit but I did get a shave in this morning and I have to say it was a great shave overall. Along with the Shave MD soap being new to me I also loaded up a new Personna Lab Blue in the Ti Blackbird for the 1st time and other than a small weeper on my ATG pass I'd say it was a very successful 2.5 pass BBS overall...

I really like the soap and it is an awesome scent and can understand why Mark requested it and liked it so much. I'd say both pre-lather and lathered the scent was very noticeable and that's a big plus and part of the reason why I have enjoyed Stirling for years now as my sole artisan soap. The Ethos was very easy to lather and I actually think it was less soap than I normally load with the Stirling. I think I only dunked the tips 1 time and before I knew it it was a very creamy yogurt consistency and ready to shave which caught me by surprise actually!! I think I was hoping for a little more challenge but I'm more than ok with how it worked out. I'm not sure I feel the after shave effects that most have described and besides, I think its a little early for that anyway!! I'd have to say it was very similar to my normal lather I get from Stirling, but I think I will need some extensive lather time for a couple weeks to make a real determination overall. I'm thinking it will be very fun learning with this soap... Kinda bummed I only shave every other day at this point!!

Last but not least I did have the time to reminisce about some of the times Mark and I had talked and messaged at times and a few transactions we made prior to him passing. I was very lucky to call him a shave buddy and do miss his participation on the forums!!

I'm the one with very sensitive skin, especially the shaved area. So I tried so many products including astrigents(toner aka splash), balm, serum and cream(similar to balm).

I live in Korea. My country is famous for skin care and makeup products so I hadn't had a plan to purchase ones from other countries because I thought Korean products were superior. But I found that I got only just a few positive results from the products I had bought, not satisfying.

However, ETHOS broke the bias and now I think the skin food splash is the best in the world.

It would sound excessive but let me telly you. As soon as I apply the splash from ETHOS on the shaved area, it immediately soothes the area and gives it smooth feeling. Accordingly, I also can feel it is fully moisturised. No products from other brands have given this perfect feeling so far at all.

As time goes by, my skin started to be clean and a lot of acne caused by shaving has disappeared using the splash.

I'm sure you will have that same experience, too.

I'm the person who thinks that most companies advertise their products with fancy, overstating words which I have to filter but based on my experience, what Frank mentioned and explained on the website is all true.

As much as the skin food splash is great, if you try the skin food lotion (I prefer unscented) all of that EOS goodness you like will be multiplied by about 5x with the lotion. It is amazing, my skin is very sensitive and I can break out very easily.  This is the product that I don’t skip, my dermatologist asked what I changed over the past year.  I said shave products (I’m 100% Ethos soap) she said keep doing what you are.

Thank you for the recommendation. I am actually going to try lotion or serum. 
I will have my wife try it too