Using Shaving Oil Will Completely Change Your Hair Removal Experience
Shaving my legs has never been a fun activity—it’s maintenance work, something I do before a date or special occasion. Not only is shaving time-consuming, but it also leaves my legs feeling raw, dry, and sometimes itchy when I’m done. Thankfully though, that has changed since I learned a hot tip: Shaving with body oil is so much better than using shaving cream (or, in my case, using water alone).
I learned about this trick from Stephanie Smith, an esthetician and skincare educator, when talking with her about best shaving practices for people with sensitive skin. She explained that many shaving creams on the market have ingredients like artificial fragrances or denatured alcohol that can end up irritating and drying out the the skin rather than providing a protective barrier against the razor like they’re supposed to. Body oil, on the other hand, locks in moisture and stays on the skin even after razoring off the hair. “The great thing is that when you’re done [shaving with body oil], the skin barrier function is protected—you’re not gonna strip your skin of its natural oils and it’s already going to be hydrated,” Smith says. For the purpose of shaving, a body oil can act as a two-in-one shaving cream and post-shave lotion, and it’s also just a great product to have around for any other dry skin needs.
Smith said swapping my shaving cream for a body oil would help reduce razor burn and post-shave irritation, and I’m happy to report that she was right. Now, instead of feeling like an inconvenient chore, shaving my legs feels like a luxurious experience. Now, I’m happy to spend a bit more time shaving my legs since the experience feels more elevated and my skin feels so silky and smooth when I’m done. So, for anyone who chooses to shave, I highly recommend giving this method a try.
How to shave with body oil:
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