[Special Ringpop]

Shaving. It is something that most guys utterly despise doing, myself included. However, if you don't do it properly, you can be making it a lot harder on your skin, and a lot more of a painful experience than it needs to be. That's why, after six years of shaving experimentation, I have written this walk through for shaving. I know it sounds crazy, but give it a read. If you guys have any questions at all about where to get what products, or have any other general health/beauty questions I can try to answer (I work at Bath and Body Works), feel free to ask. I hope this is useful! I realize this seems like a lot of work to most of you guys who are used to spending a second shaving and wash with bar soap on your face, but trust me...your skin will thank you later.

The Perfect Shave:

Step 1: Shower

• Get in the shower and make sure that the water is warm enough so that your bathroom steams up. The steam helps open your pores, soften your facial hair, and allows you to get a closer, more comfortable shave.

Step 2: Wash Face/Neck

• Wash your face using a face wash designed specifically for your skin type. I recommend massaging it into your face and neck for thirty seconds to a minute to allow the soap to really get deep in your pores to remove the grease, oil, and dirt from your skin.

• It is incredibly important that you wash your face and neck well before you shave; else your shave isn’t going to be as good. By washing thoroughly, you are allowing a cleaner surface for the blade, and you will get a closer, less irritated shave.

• RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

1. Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin: Good for oily skin. Developed by dermatologists. It will leave your face less oily if you have oily skin. If you don’t have oily skin, this may dry your skin out a little bit, but that’s why we have facial moisturizers, right?
   
2. Anthony Logistics Glycolic Facial Cleanser: My personal favorite. The Anthony line is one that I sell at work and it is by far my favorite. The products really do work, and I am very picky.
   
3. Clearasil Ultra Daily Face Wash: A cheaper alternative that works very well. I don’t like the smell, but it does well in fighting acne, and does a good job cleaning the skin. I’ve used this one for a few years with decent success at fighting break-outs.

Step 3: Apply Facial Scrub

• Every other day (or two times a week if you have very sensitive skin), use a facial scrub or exfoliating product. Before the shouts of “Nope, too lazy,” or “Hells no, too ***” are shouted, allow me to explain. Using a facial scrub/exfoliating product removes dead skin cells from your face, frees clogged pores, and makes sure that your facial hair is standing up on end, not growing back into your skin all matted-like, which can cause ingrown hairs. The grit in the product removes the dead skin and you will get a far closer shave. I promise.

• Follow the same steps as you would while washing your face, only gently scrub your face and neck with the facial scrub/exfoliating product for thirty seconds to a minute.

• RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

1. Anthony Logistics Facial Scrub:This is a nice product. It’s not too harsh, and it’s developed specifically for men.
   
2. St. Ives Apricot Scrub: Your wife/girlfriend probably uses this. It’s not my personal favorite, but it’s cheap and mildly effective. Certainly better than nothing.
   
3. Phisoderm Self-Heating Daily Scrub: In addition to exfoliating, provides a nice warming sensation on your face. Kind of cool, I think. I really like it. Also pretty inexpensive.

Step 4: Shave

• After washing your face and/or exfoliating, wash your body or do whatever else it is you do in the shower. Save the shaving for the last task. Invest in a cheap mirror for the shower so you don’t gut yourself shaving blindly.

• Apply a thin (note the word thin) layer of shaving cream/gel to your face and neck if you have no little to no facial hair, or a decent amount of shave cream if you do have a beard or haven’t shaved in a while.

• Allow the shaving cream to soak into your skin for about a minute. This will soften the hairs and lubricate your skin more thoroughly.

• Using gentle, short strokes with little pressure, drag a clean blade across your neck in the direction the hair grows. Pull the skin of your neck as taut as you can. You will get a better shave by doing this. Avoid going over spots multiple times if you can. If you have a full beard, use a blade with three razors (Gillette Mach3). If you don’t, or have really sensitive skin, use a blade with two razors (Sensor Excel).

• Rinse the blade regularly, and replace it weekly, depending on how much you shave.

• Splash your face with cool water to help close your pores, then dry off your face.

• Apply a quality aftershave (without alcohol in it), wait fifteen minutes or so, and then apply facial moisturizer to your face and neck to prevent dryness.

• RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS:

1. Anthony Logistics Shaving Cream: You can use any shaving cream you want, but this stuff has a cooling, tingling sensation. You will get a really good shave with this shaving cream. But, again, use whatever shaving cream/foam you like best. Just remember that you get what you pay for.
   
2. Anthony Logistics Pre-Shave Oil: This is great for people with a full beard who are shaving it. You put this oil on your neck and apply shaving cream over it. It provides extra lubrication for the shave, so you don’t get the irritation. I don’t recommend this for people who don’t have a beard, as it will make your neck oily unless you do.
   
3. Anthony Logistics Razor Burn Repair: The cream of the crop. This product is far and beyond the ONLY product that has ever worked in getting rid of my razor burn and redness. I have used dozens of products over the years, and this is the only one that does even a remotely decent job. Use this as an aftershave.
   
4. Anthony Logistics Ingrown Hair Treatment: If you suffer from ingrown hairs (red bumps on your neck/face from hair that has grown into your skin) this is great. Exfoliation will eliminate future ingrown hairs, but this will kill the red bumps you currently have. Just make sure to wait 15 minutes or so between applying aftershave, this, or facial moisturizer from each other so that they all have a chance to work.
   
5. Dove Facial Moisturizer: I like this because it’s cheap as a fat hooker, and works decently well. Guys actually need face lotion more than women because of the beating we take to our skin due to the necessity of shaving. If you follow my regimen, you will likely need to have a moisturizer, because your skin WILL dry out.