Face Wash - More important than I thought

[Infotech]

About two weeks ago, my shaves took a turn for the worse. I tried thinking about anything that I'd changed which would cause this, but came up empty. I was doing everything the same. Finally, about 5 days in to the bad shaves I found out what was going on.

About the time my shaves started really coming together my wife started using Cetaphil Daily Face wash, so naturally I did too. We liked it so much she bought some from our local warehouse store so we'd have plenty of it. On a chance comment, she said that the Cetaphil from the warehouse store was actually a general body wash that could also be used as a face wash. Before my next shower I snagged the small bottle of daily face wash from the other bathroom and after about 3 days of use, my shaves returned to the BBS, irritation free shaves I'd become accustomed to.

Personally, I wouldn't have thought that a face wash could have such an impact, but this one did. We have hard water and I had problems with DE shaves until I started using it.

[moviemaniac]

Yeah, washing your face is important to get rid of the oils that hinder the penetration of the beard by the lather. I use a bar of soap to do this :)

[JayKay]

But it has to be a delicate balance. Remove to much oils (like using a body wash on your face) and your face will become dry, raw, irritated, and possibly over compensate with lots of oils.

[Infotech]

I've used soap, nothing but water, and a few other things but none of them made any difference.

It doesn't make much sense to me, but the Cetaphil made such a big difference I thought I'd post about it. I mean, it transformed my shaves from decent to excellent. And this is one of those rare instances where I know what happened for sure.

[rick]

a few months back I started using a scrub on me mug whilst in the shower......

Been getting the best shaves ever since.

[Sejanus]

I ALWAYS face my face with either a scrub of a special facial cleanser I have before I shave. Never leave home without it!

[Reformation Student]

I use a Nivea face wash (not a scrub). It is a great product for daily use

[thevelvet]

The Gentlemens Refinery also suggests washing after you shave. You can do both before and after, or you can just wash after like they suggest. Its an old barber school trick.

[moviemaniac]

Well, sure I wash my mug after shaving, don't wanna run around with bits of lather still in my face :D :rofl

Oh, and welcom eto The Shave Den, thevelvet! ::

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to The Shave Den, thevelvet!

Don't miss the Newbie Give-Away (http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6214)!

[mercV12]

I have used an avacado soap from a small local soap manufacturer in Temecula and have really noticed a difference!

:happy005

[moviemaniac]

I have used an avacado soap from a small local soap manufacturer in Temecula and have really noticed a difference!

:happy005
I too use slightly superfatted, handmade soaps for washing my mug prior to shaving and have found those to be the best for this purpose.

[tjgriffin]

I've started using Johnson's baby shampoo to wash my face prior to a shave. About 1-2/week I use Sharps scrub for a post-shave wash. I also water down whatever lather I have left over and slather it on my face. I let it sit while I clean up, then rince with cold water.

[wkodgzeke]

I used Nivea facewash too, works pretty well for me always results in a better shave than if I just use bar soap

[rick]

I have used an avacado soap from a small local soap manufacturer in Temecula and have really noticed a difference!

:happy005

DONT LEAVE US HANGIN, MAN !!!
Whose is it ??

[fritz]

I've used soap, nothing but water, and a few other things but none of them made any difference.
It doesn't make much sense to me, but the Cetaphil made such a big difference I thought I'd post about it. I mean, it transformed my shaves from decent to excellent. And this is one of those rare instances where I know what happened for sure.
There are at least two ways to remove oil from whiskers. Soap is one, and oil cleansing is another ("Oil dissolves oil"). The Cetaphil has a lot of oil. One advantage of oil cleansing is that it removes the dried-out crusty oil (which some people are prone to) easier than soap does. The other advantage is that it doesn't dry out your skin as much as soap does.

[sturgeon]

OCM is the bomb. I oil cleanse 3-4 times out of 7 and my face feels great!

Tim:D

[Duckster]

OCM is the bomb. I oil cleanse 3-4 times out of 7 and my face feels great!

Tim:D

OCM?

[rick]

Oil Cleansing Method ??

[sturgeon]

OCM = oil cleansing method. Also, I use 75% olive oil/25% castor. Rub it on my face and rinse off while in the shower. When I use the hot towels, my face got too dry. I think the trick to the hot towels is very little rubbing after steaming. You don't want to scrub the oil off, only soak up the extra.

Tim

[mastermute]

Welcome Tim!

[soulshine]

I am most certain I am an oddball when it comes to washing my face. At age 40 I still have occasional breakouts on my forehead so I use Acne Free face wash followed by Baxter's scrub. If I skip the scrub I get a less than stellar shave.

[sturgeon]

I'm 37 and I fight the same battle. In addition I have a curly beard and have to deal with ingrowns. Since I started the oil cleansing, all of these issues have mostly resolved. At the end of the day, my skin isn't oily! But if i wash my face with soap, i'm mr. greasy at the end of the day :(

Tim

PS. Thanks for the warm welcome!

[The Chebb]

Looks like there might be some OCM in my future!

[rafikz]

I use a gentle face wash, but ONLY on my non-beard area

[Exeter]

you guys are really going to be messing up your skin if you are using a scrub every day...

[Sunburst Six]

I was eyeing both a Nivea and Neutrogena pre-shave scrub yesterday, looks like it might be time to try one out. However, I most of the time shave right after a shower, so it might be a moot point.