Supposedly it’s about closing the pores. I kinda think it’s a myth level thing.
It’s not.
I wet shave with a safety razor. I change my blade no less often than every 3 shaves. I use Feather Platinum blades, and Proraso shaving soap (I’ve tried a few others, but Proraso seems to do the best at making a good, slippery lather for me). I failed to use my alum shaving block–same principle as an aftershave–immediately before heading outside to do physical labor in 85F heat. My skin was burning from sweat; it was incredibly unpleasant. I’ve done the same thing before except with the shaving block, and have had no issues.
And yet, I have no signs of skin irritation from shaving, nor do I get the same reaction to sweat when I do a heavy exfoliating routine with a loofa or pumice.
Both shaving stones and alcohol are astringents. Both will strip oils out of your skin. Both prevent the burning sensation from the salt in sweat.
if your skin is burning from sweat, you absolutely do have signs of irritation. You can choose to believe whatever you want to believe, it’s your skin, idgaf.
It’s not.
I wet shave with a safety razor. I change my blade no less often than every 3 shaves. I use Feather Platinum blades, and Proraso shaving soap (I’ve tried a few others, but Proraso seems to do the best at making a good, slippery lather for me). I failed to use my alum shaving block–same principle as an aftershave–immediately before heading outside to do physical labor in 85F heat. My skin was burning from sweat; it was incredibly unpleasant. I’ve done the same thing before except with the shaving block, and have had no issues.
I hate to break it to you, but your face burning from sweat has nothing to do with your pores. It’s the skin irritation.
Know how I know this? Because your face doesn’t burn when you sweat at other times.
Know how I know that? Because pores aren’t painful, no matter how “open” they are. That’s not how pores work. Here’s the Simplest explanation I could find quickly.
Seriously, if your pores are painful, it isn’t from shaving.
And yet, I have no signs of skin irritation from shaving, nor do I get the same reaction to sweat when I do a heavy exfoliating routine with a loofa or pumice.
Both shaving stones and alcohol are astringents. Both will strip oils out of your skin. Both prevent the burning sensation from the salt in sweat.
if your skin is burning from sweat, you absolutely do have signs of irritation. You can choose to believe whatever you want to believe, it’s your skin, idgaf.