Summer Skin: Banishing Razor Bumps.

As summer is already here in most places, I decided to do a quick post talking about shaving. As my skins pretty sensitive, I have to stick to shaving, as waxing and hair removal creams tend to irritate my skin. Shaving does tend to bring about certain disadvantages as well, as a quick shave usually ends with razor bumps, which tend to look displeasing and are generally annoying. Through reading other bloggers' advice as well as doing a bit of trial and error, I have managed to practically avoid developing razor burn. So I decided to share some of my tips with you! Also, keep in mind that some of these tips aren't necessarily only for the female viewers. Share them with the men in your life and they will thank you!

Firstly, choose your tools wisely. You should never ever use a blunt razor, as that will just pull on your skin, leaving you with a not-so-close shave. It will also cause you to go over the same area many times, and that is more likely to cause an irritation, leading to razor burn after. So use a sharp razor and try to keep the number of times you go over the same area minimal. 

Now let's talk about prepping your skin before you shave. Ideally, you should leave shaving till last in your bath or shower, as that will allow the warm water to open up the pores. Also, use a scrub before shaving, as that will smooth your skin and reduce the chance of ingrown hairs developing. The scrub you choose to use is up to you, I personally like opting for something moisturizing, such as the St Ives moisturising olive scrub. It's not very scrubby, but is good enough for me. 

When it comes to actually shaving, use a shaving gel or cream. Don't dry shave, as that just asks for skin irritation. If you're traveling and you don't want to drag around a bottle of shaving gel, you can always opt for a razor with moisturising bars, such as the Gilette Venus & Olay blades. On a daily basis, however, I recommend sticking to a shaving gel. 

Once you are done shaving and are out of the bath or shower, be gentle with your skin. You may not be able to see it, but the surface of your skin is covered with tiny cuts which you have to take care of. Gently pat your skin dry, and apply an aftershave balm. This is a key step when trying to avoid razor bumps. Don't be afraid to reach for products for men, my personal favourite is the Nivea for Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm. It feels extremely soothing, disinfects the tiny cuts on your skin and allows them to heal faster, leaving no marks or irritation behind. 

Now the post post-shaving care. Shaving can make your skin feel drier than normal, so equip yourself with a very moisturising balm, body butter or body lotion. Also, scrub your skin regularly, as that will prevent any ingrown hauirs and make future shaving smoother. If you shave your underarms, opt for a more delicate deodorant. You don't want to use something that may irritate your skin, as that will just make everything you did pointless. Furthermore, when you do shave your underarms, try to do so at night, allowing your skin to breathe and heal freely overnight.