Whether face, arms, legs, or other body parts, everyone’s hair has a different growth duration, depending on their skin type. Most men and women think that often shaving their face or body will make their hair grow faster. However, this is a misconception, and no evidence or study supports this theoretical concept.
Likewise, some believe shaving more frequently can prevent razor bumps and burns. Again, this isn’t true! The reality is that shaving correctly is a vital factor in preventing dryness, redness, itchiness, irritation, discomfort, inflammation, and rashes.
Hair grows from specialized pores in the skin called follicles. Visible hair you see on your face, head, and other body parts is dead keratin cells. So this means the growth occurs below the skin surface, also known as the epidermis.
Follicles have numerous blood vessels that feed the hair root and push the hair through the skin surface. Men and women with sensitive skin experience various problems when shaving their faces or bodies.
Today’s article will discuss sensitive skin, how shaving affects it, how to shave properly for men and women, and avoid side effects or complications. Read on!
What Is Sensitive Skin?
People have different skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin. The primary cause of sensitivity is genetic or hereditary differences and alterations in the epidermal and dermal cells, making the skin more prone to irritation, redness, and itchiness.
Similarly, sensitive skin can quickly become inflamed, causing the immune system to overreact to external stimuli, such as dirt, dust, irritants, allergens, and pollutants. So, how do you know you have sensitive skin and how shaving incorrectly affects it? Let us discuss this in the following section.
How Do You Know You Have Sensitive Skin?
Most men and women believe sensitive skin is more prone to irritation, redness, and inflammation. Yes, this is true. Although the primary cause of this skin type is genetics, environmental factors and skincare products can also make your skin more sensitive. So, you may experience redness, itchiness, and acne breakouts.
Reactive
Skincare products, such as shampoos, soaps, perfumes, fragrances, shaving creams, gels, aftershaves, and other products, may cause your skin to react, causing redness, dryness, and itchiness. Environmental triggers, such as heat, cold, and wind, can also cause skin flares.
Redness
Not using quality shaving products can cause redness on your skin. For instance, you may notice a red rash, bump, flushing, and blushing on your face, underarms, bikini line, and other body parts. Chronic skin conditions can also dilate your blood vessels with a reddish appearance.
Dryness
Sensitive and dry skin go hand-in-hand, leading to the cracked epidermis and acne breakouts. You will experience more dryness due to strong winds if you live in a cold climate. Likewise, if you have sensitive + dry skin, you are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.
Rashes
Men and women with sensitive skin react with a dry, red, flaky, and bumpy rash when exposed to environmental pollutants and low-quality skincare products, such as shaving creams, gels, aftershave, and moisturizers with chemical ingredients.
In addition, you may develop a harsh rash after using a low-quality razor blade. For instance, if you use the same razor blade multiple times, the allergens and bacteria accumulated on the blade can cause an allergic reaction.
Acne Breakouts
Sensitive skin is more likely to develop acne breakouts, making your skin appear less healthy and youthful. You may notice acne with red bumps and pustules. Using acne rash wash and creams with chemical ingredients can worsen these symptoms.
How Frequently Should You Shave?
Although people with normal skin can shave daily without experiencing side effects, men and women with sensitive skin must create a schedule based on their skin’s problem, hair growth rate, and reaction to shaving gels/creams.
High testosterone levels are directly proportional to thicker, healthier, and faster hair growth. For example, men who consume a healthy diet observe speedier hair growth. Although a healthy diet is essential, this does not determine how often you should shave.
How frequently you should shave depends on various factors, but people with sensitive skin must not shave daily. On the other hand, shaving every three to four days can maintain your skin’s health and prevent allergic reactions.
Moreover, if you want to maintain a clean-shaven appearance or don’t prefer stubble, you can shave every two days. Daily shaving can increase the risk of redness, itchiness, and inflammation.
In contrast, men who prefer medium to long beard styles must create a good shaving schedule. Choosing the correct shaving products is essential because men with different beard lengths require tailored care.
We recommend using a stubble trimmer or electric shaver to trim your beard and maintain a handsome look. Remember that shaving removes your skin’s top layer and dead skin cells, causing significant dehydration.
Although this is an excellent way to eliminate dead cells, it may cause your skin to feel dull, raw, and rough. Shaving too frequently can strain your skin, rapidly losing dead skin cells and causing redness, irritation, and dryness. Therefore, you must develop a suitable schedule depending on your skin type and sensitivity.
How to Shave Sensitive Skin? – For Men
Shaving becomes daunting, frustrating, and tortuous for men and women with sensitive skin. For instance, when you complete the process and see in the mirror, all you see is redness, bumps, and ingrown hairs. At the same time, you feel irritation and itchiness.
Some men feel an intense itch after using a low-quality razor because it causes skin burns. So, how do you reduce the harsh side effects of shaving on your sensitive skin? Here is everything you need to know!
Cleanse With Face Wash
Shaving requires a proper routine and step-by-step process. Start your shave by cleansing your face with an all-natural face wash before even looking at the shaving cream or razor.
A quality face wash with plant-based ingredients cleans dirt, dust, dead cells, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. The purpose is to prepare your skin for shaving and prevent post-shave irritation and redness. Here is the best cleansing face wash for men.
NIVEA is a reputable skincare brand that produces many products, including face wash for men and women. However, this face wash is exclusively formulated for male individuals with sensitive skin.
The product contains natural ingredients, including vitamin E, chamomile, and Witch Hazel extracts that go easy on your skin and relaxes the epidermis. It gently cleanses your skin and ensures your face appears fresh, radiant, and rejuvenated.
The best thing about this product is that it does not contain chemical ingredients, such as soap, dyes, alcohol, parabens, etc. So, you can use this face wash daily or before shaving your face.
Exfoliate Your Face
Although exfoliation is an excellent way to soothe your skin, it can cause irritation and dryness if you exfoliate too often. However, exfoliating your face with a natural product can do wonders for your skin, reducing adverse reactions, including irritation, redness, and allergies. It removes dead skin cells, dirt, dust, debris, and bacteria covering the epidermal layer. Here is the bestselling exfoliating face scrub for men.
M3 Naturals Activated is a face scrub for men to apply before shaving. It contains charcoal, an activated ingredient that exfoliates your skin, removes dead cells, and eliminates toxins. In addition, M3 face scrub contains coconut oil that maintains optimal moisture levels and restores your skin’s natural glow.
The product is a rich source of essential ingredients, such as collagen and elastin proteins, increasing natural collagen production to streamline skin cells’ structure and function.
M3 also cleanses your skin and scrubs away harmful toxins. It balances the skin’s PH by removing bacteria and minimizing pores. So, if you want to prepare your skin for a hassle-free shave, nothing is better than this all-natural and soothing scrub.
Apply Shave Cream or Gel
Applying a shaving cream or gel before removing hair from your face is essential. Mix a small quantity of cream with a few drops of water in a bowl. Next, use your fingers or shaving brush to swirl the mixture. The purpose is to create a healthy, thick, and suitable paste.
Men with sensitive skin must avoid too watery and foamy cream. So, we recommend mixing the cream until you achieve a smooth and thick paste. Wet your skin before applying the cream to your face. Every man knows using the cream on the face is a straightforward process.
However, if you have sensitive skin, avoid overdoing it because too much cream will drown the hair and flatten it against your facial skin. You will find it challenging to move the razor blade on the hair flattened against the skin.
Use your fingers or a brush to apply a dime-sized dollop on each side of your face. Swirl the cream in circular motions to cover the shaving area. Here is the best shaving gel for men with sensitive skin.
Edge Shaving Gel contains natural ingredients that protect and relaxes your skin. The product reduces irritation and nourishes the epidermis with plant-based antioxidants and vitamins.
It also contains lubricants and moisturizers that smoothen the hair, making it easier for the razor blade to move without rubbing against the skin. Thus, this reduces the risk of post-shave irritation, redness, and acne.
NIVEA Shaving gel is another high-quality product for men with sensitive skin. NIVEA gel soothes your skin and protects the epidermal layer against redness, irritation, stubble itch, dryness, micro cuts, burning, and tightness.
In addition, we recommend this product because it softens the stubble by streamlining the razor guide, ensuring a comfortable, soothing, and relaxing shave. The product contains natural ingredients, including chamomile and Vitamin E, to keep your skin rejuvenated for an extended period.
Shave With A Quality Razor
While face wash and shaving cream/gel are of great importance, the most critical thing to consider is a quality razor. A safety razor is an excellent choice for men with sensitive skin because it ensures smooth shaving with reduced redness and irritation risks.
On the other hand, if you use a disposable razor, replace it regularly because the cartridge is a breeding ground for microbes, including bacteria. A razor with an old blade can worsen your skin’s health by not removing dirt, dust, and dead skin cells. At the same time, you expose your skin to harmful bacteria due to open pores. As a result, you will suffer from skin redness, irritation, and razor burns. Here are a few factors to consider when selecting or buying the best razor for men with sensitive skin.
- Number of Blades
While the number of blades depends on the razor or shaver type, you must determine whether you want to use a razor or an electric shaver. You can find products with up to five blades, including traditional razors and electric shavers.
However, most health professionals, including dermatologists and aestheticians, recommend double-blade razors. Your hair’s intensity/thickness also determines the number of blades in a razor or electric shaver to select or purchase.
For example, a single-blade razor is suitable for men with sensitive skin if the hair is soft. A single-blade razor can cut soft hair below the epidermis. On the other hand, if you have coarse and thick hair, we recommend selecting a razor with three or five blades.
The purpose is to achieve a neat, hygienic, and safe shave. Remember, you can get a close shave from a single-blade or multi-blade razor. However, this primarily depends on your shaving skills.
Multi-blade razor is an excellent choice for men with a lot of hair on the face. You can use the product to cut more hair simultaneously and achieve comfort. At the same time, multi-blade razors do not require a lot of effort.
Skin sensitivity also determines the choice of a razor with the number of blades. If you have susceptible skin and are more prone to redness and irritation, choose a razor with a single blade because it is lightweight and easy to use to achieve clean and smooth cuts.
- Blade Size
The blade size holds a lot of significance when selecting or purchasing a razor for men with sensitive skin. A suitable size ensures which facial or body parts you want to shave and avoid. However, a small-size blade may prevent you from achieving a smooth shave or removing hair from hard-to-reach areas.
On the other hand, if your razor has large-sized blades, you will find it challenging to shave the hair around your ears and under the nose. A razor with small blades takes more time to shave your face. So, make sure you focus on the blade size when purchasing a razor. Experts recommend choosing a razor with a 5/8-inch blade size.
- Blade Sharpness
Sharpness is an essential factor to consider when determining razor quality. Neglecting the sharpness will significantly affect the razor’s quality, especially if you have sensitive skin.
A dull razor blade won’t smoothly cut your facial or body hair because it will harm the follicles and pull your hair, irritating the skin. A razor with sharp blades improves the product’s performance and helps you achieve a smooth and comfortable shave.
Gillette Mach3 is a premium-quality razor for men with sensitive skin, featuring three blades for glide and comfort. It has a high-quality lubrastrip that turns white, letting you know that you can’t shave with the razor any longer.
The product is an excellent choice for men with sensitive skin, and the lubrastrip releases more lubricants to keep your skin soft and supple. The razor also has a solid pivoting with excellent angling, allowing you to remove hair from the epidermis with optimal control.
Are you looking for the best-wet-electric shaver for sensitive skin? If yes, look no further than the Philips Norelco electric shaver. The rechargeable single-blade electric shave stays comfortable on your skin without triggering post-shave irritation, itchiness, and redness.
It comes with two blades: one for the face and the other for the body. Whether dry or wet, this product works perfectly on sensitive skin. Philips Norelco electric shaver has a click-on skin guard that protects your skin from bumps and cuts.
In addition, it has four stubble combs and one body comb, making it an all-inclusive product for men with sensitive skin. The product has a premium-quality rechargeable lithium-ion battery, ensuring a one-hour smooth and comfortable performance. The product comes with accessories, including:
- One handle
- One blade for the face
- One blade for the body
- One skin guard for the body
- Four stubble combs for the face
- One body comb
- One protective cap
- One power charger
Use Aftershave or Balm
A high-quality aftershave is essential for men with skin prone to itchiness, redness, and irritation. However, selecting the wrong product can aggravate the issue, causing more sensitivity. An aftershave with natural ingredients can soothe your skin and protect it from harmful bacteria.
Avoid alcohol and menthol-based products when looking for an aftershave because these ingredients can dry your skin and cause severe irritation. A product with plant-based ingredients can:
- Reduce itching and inflammation from ingrown hairs and skin damage
- Close pores to prevent dirt, dust, bacteria, and other environmental allergens
- Reduce the risk of razor burn, bumps, and acne breakouts
- Speed up healing of cuts from shaving
- Prevent folliculitis, a condition that causes inflammation in hair follicles
- Promote skin cell repair and tissue regeneration
- Add a pleasant smell to your face
Selecting the best aftershave for men with sensitive skin is daunting and time-consuming because you will find dozens of brands and hundreds of products. However, we recommend looking for an aftershave with ingredients like:
| Shea Butter | It moisturizes Your skin |
| Witch Hazel | An excellent alternative to alcohol that prevents skin irritation |
| Lavender Oil | It soothes your skin and increases blood flow to the tissues |
| Vitamin E | It strengthens the skin barrier |
| Aloe Vera | It enhances skin hydration and reduces side effects from razor bumps and cuts |
| Chamomile Extract | It soothes your skin tissues |
| Natural Scents | They produce a relaxing effect. Look for scents like oatmeal, anise, cedarwood, or green tea |
| Glycerin | It improves hydration levels and balances sebum oil |
In addition to aftershave gel, you can use an aftershave balm to soothe your sensitive skin after shaving. Unlike a gel or lotion, a balm does not contain menthol or alcohol and has plant-based ingredients to improve hydration. At the same time, the balm is creamier and thicker than aftershave gel or lotion. Here are a few best products to consider for men with sensitive skin.
NIVEA MEN Post-shave balm has excellent soothing and moisturizing properties, making it a perfect product for men with sensitive skin. It contains natural chamomile, Witch Hazel extracts, vitamin E, and antioxidants, improving your skin condition and preventing irritation, redness, and inflammation.
Besides, it combats micro cuts, dryness, burning, tightness, and stubble itch. The product is lightweight and easy to apply on the skin without feeling stickiness on the skin. NIVEA post-shave balm is free from alcohol and menthol.
So, even if you shave every two days, you can apply this post-shave balm to protect your skin from harmful side effects. Finally, it moisturizes your skin, balances sebum oil, and removes bacteria.
If you prefer aftershave gel, nothing is better than buying Biotique Bio Wild Grass, a product with an excellent anti-irritation formula. It contains aloe vera, grasses, and turmeric with soothing, healing, and protective properties.
In addition, Biotique Bio aftershave gel eliminates skin burning, redness, razor bumps, and cuts, giving you a more rejuvenated, relaxed, and refreshed appearance. It also smoothens your skin and protects it against harmful microbes.
Moisturize Your Skin
While a razor with multiple sharp blades is a reliable choice, it can remove too many dead skin cells, making your skin more prone to dryness and irritation. If you have susceptible skin, the problem worsens because your skin loses more moisture and dehydrates.
Therefore, we recommend applying a moisturizer to hydrate your skin and prevent too much dead skin cell elimination. Shaving also causes more irritation when not done correctly.
The primary function of a premium-quality face moisturizer is to hydrate your skin, strengthen the epidermal layer, and prevent aging by targeting dryness, fine lines, and other imperfections.
Moisturizing your skin after shaving improves its appearance. It leaves your skin smooth, youthful, and healthy while decreasing the risk of acne breakouts and other issues by restoring balance to sebum oil production.
A moisturizer also retains moisture levels on a deeper level and prevents the skin from exposure to harmful environmental allergens, irritants, and pollutants. So, applying a moisturizer after shaving can encourage skin cell turnover and leave pores clearer and less visible. Here is the best moisturizer for men with sensitive skin.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is the bestselling product on the market, featuring natural ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, which improve skin hydration and balance sebum oil production.
It has a rich and velvety texture that smoothens your skin and makes your face appear smoother, softer, and fresher without greasiness and stickiness. In addition, the product is a rich source of natural ceramides that strengthen the epidermal layer, preventing harmful bacteria and allergens from penetrating the barrier.
Moreover, ceramides in this moisturizing product prevent dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. Therefore, using this product is an excellent choice for men with sensitive skin. The best part is that this product does not contain the following:
- Parabens
- Fragrances
- Alcohol
- Menthol
- Other chemicals
How to Shave Sensitive Skin? – For Women
Shaving becomes an ordeal for women with sensitive skin. Irritation, redness, razor bumps, and cuts become inevitable when using low-quality shaving products. To achieve smoothness, use premium-quality products designed for sensitive skin.
There are numerous myths about shaving most women don’t know about, and as a result, they fail to prevent harmful side effects. Remember, a minor mistake can increase the risk of painful and irritating razor burns. However, you can avoid the complications by following the tips below.
Apply A Moisturizing Shaving Cream
Moisturizing shaving cream works optimally on sensitive skin, lifting the hairs and allowing the blade to cut them quickly and efficiently. Besides, a high-quality moisturizing shaving cream improves slip and glide over the skin without causing friction.
We recommend looking for a shaving cream with natural formula instead of focusing on gel or foam. For instance, the product must have ingredients that strengthen and support your skin and improve slip. So, consider ingredients like botanical/essential oils and humectants like shea butter or glycerin.
Some women achieve optimal results with an oil or conditioner. However, we believe shaving creams with moisturizing properties are the best choice for women with sensitive skin.
In addition, you must consider the best time to apply the shaving cream. We believe using it in the shower is a reliable way to achieve the desired results. The reason is that your skin and hairs become more saturated, softer, and smoother with water.
However, applying the shaving cream requires you to smooth it over the sensitive area and go against the grain. The purpose is to lift your hair and achieve a smoother, more comfortable shave. Here is the best moisturizing shaving cream for women with sensitive skin.
EOS shaving cream is a gynecologist-recommended product for women with sensitive skin. It smoothens your bikini line, armpit, and pubic hair, allowing the razor to slip and glide quickly and efficiently.
In addition, the product is perfect for hydrating your underarms, arms, and legs. In fact, you can apply it on numerous body parts, thanks to the moisturizing properties of shea butter and the conditioning effects of aloe.
EOS shaving cream can prevent nicks, bumps, and cuts. It contains 100% natural shea butter without parabens, gluten, and phthalate. The manufacturer has not tested the products on animals, making it an excellent choice for vegans. The Leaping-Bunny-certified EOS shaving cream can prevent irritation, redness, itchiness, and acne breakouts.
Use a Premium-Quality Razor
A premium-quality razor for women with sensitive skin is a must-have, meaning you can neglect it. Otherwise, you will experience severe problems and worsen your skin’s wellbeing.
So, invest in a quality razor with sharp blades to quickly cut hairs without tugging and pulling on the skin. The purpose is to reduce the risk of razor bumps, cuts, and burns. You can buy a razor with multiple blades to achieve optimal pressure distribution through hair lifting.
Thus, you can shave with fewer passes and achieve a smoother, closer, and more comfortable shave even when you do it with the grain. Similarly, a razor with a lubricating strip can moisturize your skin and hair and allow the razor to glide effectively, quickly, and smoothly.
Most women cut themselves or experience razor burns when shaving sensitive areas like bikini lines and armpits. However, tightly holding your skin with one hand and using the razor with the other can prevent these problems. Here is the best razor for women with sensitive skin.
If you want to prevent shaving bumps and ingrown hairs, the Gillette Grooming razor is an excellent choice for women. It is a certified and patented product made of quality materials that reduce the risk of itchiness, irritation, redness, swelling, and inflation. It has sharp blades that cut through hairs efficiently and quickly without complications.
The product is explicitly designed for women with sensitive skin, allowing them to shave hairs from tricky areas. It has a small head and premium-quality trimmer on the blades’ backside to remove hair from hard-to-reach areas. On the other hand, if you prefer a modern shaving method, you can consider the following product.
Panasonic is a reputable brand, and this product is the best electric shaver for sensitive skin, allowing women to achieve the desired results without hassle. Panasonic elective shaver has a lightweight and ergonomic design, making it easier for women to shave hard-to-reach areas.
The product is suitable for all body types, including slim or overweight women with sensitive skin, because it reaches tricky areas and removes hair quickly. At the same time, Panasonic electric shave reduces the risk of skin irritation, redness, and inflammation.
The product has four ultra-sharp floating blades that help you achieve a smooth, reliable, and comfortable shave. It also has two ultra-thin outer foils, enabling you to remove hairs from sensitive body parts via back-and-forth motion.
The blades are made of high-quality stainless-steel material with excellent hypoallergenic properties, preventing adverse reactions and allergies while ensuring the safe grooming of sensitive skin.
You can use the product on dry or wet skin, depending on your preferences. It has a lightweight design with simple-to-use handles. The product comes with a pouch and cap, making it a travel-friendly electric shaver. It can work for up to 35 minutes on a single charge.
Avoid Hot Water
Most women believe that hot water is suitable for shaving. However, this is a misconception because no study, report, or evidence supports this theory. Some women think hot/warm water softens the hairs and dilates the follicles, making the shave comfortable. Again, this is a myth and has nothing to do with reality.
In fact, shaving sensitive skin with dilated pores can weaken the skin’s epidermal layer, allowing bacteria and other microbes to penetrate the barrier and reach the deeper layers. So, hot water damages your skin, causes dehydration and strips it of natural oils. We recommend using lukewarm or cool water for a reliable experience.
Shave With the Grain
Although most women find it challenging to shave against the hair grain, it gives a closer shave. However, shaving against the hair grain will increase irritation, itchiness, and redness if you have sensitive skin.
Likewise, a minor cut can cause bacteria to accumulate on the skin and develop an infection. The problem worsens when shaving sensitive areas like the armpits and the bikini line.
On the other hand, shaving with grain is the best way to avoid these problems. For instance, if your pubic, armpit, arm, or leg hair grows downwards, shave it in this direction. In contrast, if the hairs grow upwards, shave in that direction.
Moreover, we recommend shaving in short strokes to avoid accidental bumps and cuts. Depending on the hair thickness and coarseness, you can shave with the grain in single or multiple passes.
Change Razor Blades Regularly
Women with sensitive skin must not use a razor multiple times because the old blade does not cut hair easily and quickly. On the other hand, a new blade smoothly slips and glides over the skin and removes hairs efficiently.
Remember, even if the blade remains sharp after a single shave, you must not use it for the second time because it can irritate your skin. Likewise, the old blade is a breeding ground for bacteria and microbes, causing itchiness, acne, redness, psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions.
So, always use a new blade when shaving your sensitive skin in areas like the armpits and bikini line. Here are the best blade refills for your razor.
Gillette Venus offers five-blade refills for your razor, providing smoother, more comfortable, reliable, and long-lasting shaves. Each blade is premium quality with a sturdy design and lasts up to one month. However, we recommend replacing the used blade with a new one for women with sensitive skin.
Each refill has a cutting-edge pivoting head design that adjusts to your body curves, including your bikini area, knees, and ankles. In addition, each refill has a moisture ribbon that makes slipping and gliding easier and comfier with short and long strokes.
Exfoliate Your Sensitive Skin
Exfoliation is essential to keeping your skin free from ingrown hairs, razor cuts, bumps, and irritation. Not exfoliating your skin after shaving your body can lead to harmful side effects and may cause allergies and infections. Therefore, you must exfoliate your skin before or after shaving.
Most women opt for homemade body scrubs. However, if your skin is sensitive to homemade scrubs, make sure you choose a product with plant-based ingredients. We recommend the following body scrub for women with sensitive skin.
M3 is a reputable brand and is loved by millions of women worldwide. M3 Naturals Himalayan salt body scrub is the bestselling product on the market, featuring plant-based and natural ingredients like lychee oil, Himalayan salt, vitamins, and antioxidants that restore your skin’s natural barrier while removing dead cells, bacteria, and toxins.
The product also contains collagen proteins that boost your skin cell structure and function and prevent epidermal tissues from damage. It also contains grapeseed oil that produces excellent antiaging effects on the skin.
If you want to minimize pores, remove toxins from through the epidermal layer, and balance skin PH, nothing is better than using this product after shaving your sensitive skin. Finally, it is an American-made vegan and cruelty-free skincare product for women with sensitive skin.
Moisturize Your Sensitive Skin
Moisturizing your skin and balancing hydrating levels are essential for women with sensitive skin. Well-hydrated skin performs better, strengthens the epidermal layer, and promotes intracellular and intercellular functions.
The purpose is to trigger cellular and tissue-level mechanisms that fight against irritation, redness, and other symptoms caused by environmental pollutants, irritants, and allergens.
Moisturization smoothens your skin and makes the shave easier. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can moisturize your skin before or after shaving. When you do it before shaving, the razor blade glides easily and reduces the risks of nicks, cuts, and bumps.
Although you can buy a chemical exfoliant, a plant-based moisturizer benefits your skin’s overall wellbeing without causing acne breakouts, psoriasis, and eczema. We recommend the following moisturizer for women with sensitive skin.
Alleyoop post-shaving moisturizing contains natural ingredients that keep the skin hydrated and smooth the razor bumps. It contains tea tree oil with excellent soothing, moisturizing, and healing properties. Not only does tea tree oil relaxes dry, sensitive skin, but it also reduces redness and swelling.
The product has 100% natural Witch Hazel extracts that clear and soften the skin. It also contains essential oils, including jojoba oil with vitamins A, C, and E, minerals, and antioxidants to fight free radicals and nourish the skin with essential fatty acids.
Avoid Frequent Shaving
Most women have intense sensitive skin, meaning they experience irritation even after using a quality shaving cream/gel, blade, exfoliator, and moisturizer. The primary reason is that you frequently shave your sensitive skin, straining and traumatizing the epidermal cells.
We recommend giving your skin at least a week or ten days between shaving sessions. The purpose is to promote healing and allow the skin cells to restore their normal functions.
Remember, this does not mean waiting too long for another shave. For example, if you do not shave after three or four weeks, your hair will grow longer and make it challenging to shave, causing irritation, redness, itching, inflammation, and infections. You can use a trimmer to shorten your body hair before using a razor or electric shaver to streamline the process.
Apply a Natural Sunscreen
Invest in mineral sunscreen if your skin irritates in outdoor conditions. Women with sensitive skin opt for sunscreens with essential elements like titanium oxide and zinc to protect the skin from harmful UV rays.
On the other hand, buying a commercial sunscreen with chemicals, byproducts, and artificial fragrances or colors can worsen your skin’s condition and make it more susceptible to UVA and UVB rays.
Chemical sunscreens can absorb UVA and UVB rays and cause a burning sensation in the skin’s upper and middle layers, irritating the epidermis. Sunscreen with titanium oxide or zinc oxide offers instant protection to your skin after shaving because these ingredients absorb in the skin within 15-30 minutes. Avoid sunscreen with the following ingredients.
- PABA
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone
- Octinoxate
- Retinyl Acetate
- Retinyl Palmitate
- Retinol
- Artificial fragrances
On the other hand, the sun radiates UVA and UVB rays that can harm your skin, make it saggy, and cause wrinkles and age spots on different body parts. These UV rays can also cause sunburns.
Opt for board-spectrum sunscreen if you have highly sensitive skin and want to protect it against harmful sun rays. Here is one of the best sunscreen products for women with sensitive skin.
EltaMD is a high-quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen for women with sensitive skin. It protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays, rosacea, acne, breakouts, discoloration, and hyperpigmentation, thanks to vitamin B3, lactic acid, and hyaluronic acid.
The product is silky and lightweight and won’t make your skin feel sticky, greasy, or itchy. The best thing about EltaMD sunscreen is that it works optimally on sensitive skin because it does not contain parabens, oils, fragrances, and other harsh chemicals.
Moreover, it contains a rich zinc oxide that reflects and scatters the sun’s harmful rays, including UVA and UVB. Vitamin B3 reduces the risk of inflammatory skin conditions after shaving, restores suppleness, and promotes tissue-level repairing mechanisms.
Final Words
We have talked about itching, redness, irritation, burning sensation, eczema, bacterial infections, etc., in this post. Men and women with sensitive skin are more susceptible to these problems after shaving incorrectly using a low-quality, dull razor or chemical-based shaving cream gel.
Likewise, neglecting preparation and aftercare are the most significant reasons for experiencing these adverse reactions. The bottom line is that a thorough approach with step-by-step preparation and adding quality products to your shaving regimen improve the symptoms and maintain youthful, rejuvenated, relaxed, calmed, and problem-free skin. Until Next Time!