Splash or Balm?

How about both?!! At the same time?!

For years I've longed for the love of a splash... only to know it'll dry me up like a prune and crack me like a vein in an iceberg. I'd longingly read splash reviews and sigh with longing. I've been wet shaving for 8 or so years, and never received the love of a splash.

So that was that, for years I've been a balm only guy. Then, not all that long ago, I was watching some dude on YouTube who used a splash to close the pores, and then applied some balm on afterward to smooth out the skin! NO WAY?!

EUREKA!

I have no idea why I always thought this was some sort of zero-sum thing? But since that video (some Scottish dude), I've given it a try. And by a try, I mean for a month or so religiously. I bought a bottle of Fine and had at it - LOVELY! But only because I put a little balm on later.

I have to admit that for me, using the splash even with the balm after shouldn't be done every day - it still dries me out a bit too much. But I can for sure do it for prolonged periods of time.


Anyway - for any other fools out there like me who think they can't do a splash for fear of the drying out excruciating pain, but want that lovely blast of pores closing when first applied...

Started applying both a few weeks back. Happy with the results.

Sent from my Samsung S8+

Started applying both a few weeks back. Happy with the results.

Sent from my Samsung S8+

You too eh! Nice. This will be a game changer this summer I'm thinking

I am an advocate for both aftershaves (alcohol based or no alcohol at all) and all types of moisturizing balms or lotions (whatever you can call it these days). I used to and I guess would still recommend going from thinnest texture product to then thickest product last for your post shave routine. But as of late, in an attempt to superfat my dry after the shave and before the aftershave, I apply a bit of mango butter and then finish with the aftershave. Sometimes I will do another small application of mango butter. The idea is after I have finished my (generally) 2 passes, I want my face to be exposed to something rich with antioxidants and something that will soothe and moisturize the skin. Then I can get the antiseptic qualities and other conditioning ingredients to work with the skin. I have found that I do like some of the more simple aftershaves with alcohol, but typically prefer the liquid balms, or I nickname the balsams. These are usually the skin food type aftershaves with the oils and butters mixed in with all the other yummy ingredients.

I would recommend checking out some of the threads celestino has been a part of. Maybe it is here or on TSN but the thread is about using small amounts of shea butter on the face as a stand alone aftershave. Shea is very good in terms of keeping the skin clean and keeping inflammation away if I remember correctly. Pick up a tub somewhere and see if you can use that before or after your aftershave splash Drifter and then see how your skin works with those as a combination.

I use a splash in the morning post-shave. I keep a bunch of balms at work, and usually apply the balm mid-afternoon. This morning, for example, I used Chatillon Lux aftershave splash after shaving. About ten minutes ago, I applied some Sudsy Soapery balm. I get both experiences, and two different scents to enjoy, daily. In the peak of summer, I won't use a balm, and in the dead of winter, I might go immediately to a balm post-shave. My system works for me.

I would recommend checking out some of the threads celestino has been a part of. Maybe it is here or on TSN but the thread is about using small amounts of shea butter on the face as a stand alone aftershave. Shea is very good in terms of keeping the skin clean and keeping inflammation away if I remember correctly. Pick up a tub somewhere and see if you can use that before or after your aftershave splash Drifter and then see how your skin works with those as a combination.

The threads are on TSN and I will always highly recommend unrefined shea butter as one of the best skin moisturizers you can use.

I would recommend checking out some of the threads celestino has been a part of. Maybe it is here or on TSN but the thread is about using small amounts of shea butter on the face as a stand alone aftershave. Shea is very good in terms of keeping the skin clean and keeping inflammation away if I remember correctly. Pick up a tub somewhere and see if you can use that before or after your aftershave splash Drifter and then see how your skin works with those as a combination.

The threads are on TSN and I will always highly recommend unrefined shea butter as one of the best skin moisturizers you can use.  

Sorry guys... what's TSN?

Drifter: Celestino is referencing The Shave Nook.

I will second Celestino's recommendation of unrefined Shea butter.

My approach is perhaps unconventional, but for quite a long time now, I’ll put some unscented balm on the palm of my hand, then drop in some splash, quickly mix those two together in my hands and then apply the resulting mixture on my face and neck.

The idea is of course to benefit from the best properties of both types of products. I’m not sure how “dermatologically sound” my approach is, but it seems to work rather well for me.

This is how we discovered the popularity of our unscented balm.


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