When I saw this product I thought to myself, What is an Astringent?

I have really never reviewed an “astringent” before so I decided to do a bit of research. Wikapedia says:

“Externally applied astringents, which cause mild coagulation of skin proteins, dry, harden, and protect the skin. Acne sufferers are often advised to use astringents if they have oily skin. [1] Astringents also help heal stretch marks and other scars. Mild astringent solutions are used in the relief of such minor skin irritations as those resulting from superficial cuts…”

In the skin care world, astringents are used to firm and tone the skin, constricting the pores and creating a protective layer of firm tissue between the under layers of skin and the elements. A skin care astringent is sometimes called a toner, and it is usually applied after bathing but before the application of moisturizers. Aftershaves are also astringents. Using an astringent after shaving can help to reduce the pain of minor cuts while also soothing the skin.

Applying excessive astringents, especially harsh ones such as alcohol, can be drying. This is why many cosmetic astringents are followed by moisturizer, to keep the skin moist as well as firm.

Ok so now onto the Anthony Sport Astringent review. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many shaving products on the market for men. But what about shaving products for black men, African-American men, Hispanic men and men of color in general?

The truth is there really are few products that are targeted specifically for men of color. The best shaving product for black men we found was from Barc.

“At Barc, our goal is to deliver superior products for men with medium to dark skin tones who are suffering from a number of painful and chronic skin conditions including razor bumps and ingrown hairs,” said Christopher Hayes, Barc, CEO. “In developing our new shaving cream, we conducted extensive research and held numerous focus groups where we learned that African-American and Hispanic men are seeking a new shaving cream that is better suited for their particular skin types.”

It’s true, men of color want a shaving cream design for their skin which is very different from men who have lighter skin tones. Also black men tend to suffer more from razor bumps and the common irritation and razor burn. That is why Barc created a lines to better suite the needs of African American and Hispanic men of color. But enough on the details, below you can find the best shaving products for black men from Barc.

Read the rest of this entry »

First things first: Razor burn is not the same as razor bumps.

There’s a lot of confusing information on the web treating razor burn and razor bumps as the same things, when actually, razor bumps can appear as a consequence of razor burns.

Feeling confused? Let’s define what is razor burn:

In simple terms, razor burn is that feeling of irritation you get after shaving. This occurs because you’ve shaved highly sensitive areas, or because you are shaving using bad technique. Razor burn is a common issue among men but also among women, who shave sensitive areas like the bikini line and the underarms. Men’s most affected areas are the chest and face.

Razor burn usually goes away after some hours, but if it is severe it could last a few days before going away, and also can be accompanied by razor bumps if it is too severe.

What is bad technique?

• Shaving too closely
• Shaving with a blunt blade
• Dry Shaving
• Applying too much pressure
• Shaving quickly
• Shaving against the grain

If you are doing any of these, change your habits right now! and also read this interesting article on How to Shave properly. Avoiding razor burn is about doing the right things and using the right products like a quality aftershave for our face, one of the most sensitive anddamaged areas on our body. And remember- razor burn and razor bumps are not the same!