A close shave

When you shave you exfoliate your face every day. It’s like starting every day with a new face. In this article we will be looking at the method used in getting the closest, irritation free shave.
Most shaving mishaps are caused by dull, dirty razors and insufficiently prepared beards. Make sure all your equipment (and your face) is clean, warm, and wet.
Don’t be macho, be methodical: each minute of preparation is worth 10 of face scraping. Gather all of your implements before beginning, and do give your beard hairs a chance to stand to attention.
The key to getting a clean, close, comfortable shave is preparing your beard properly. Some men feel that exfoliating their skin once or twice a week makes their daily shave much more comfortable. Try Clarins Men Active Face Scrub. This refreshing gel cleanser contains two sizes of microspheres for a double exfoliating action. The larger ones unblock pores and eliminate excess sebum and then the smaller ones polish off dead skin cells and refine skin texture.
You may need to experiment a bit and find what techniques work for you, but here are the basics:
Cleansing
Wet your face and a wash cloth with very warm water. Apply your regular foaming cleanser or Clarins Men Active Face Wash, to your skin. With firm, yet gentle pressure, soap up the skin with your washcloth, moving against the direction the hair grows: coax the hairs up off the surface of the skin.
Soak the skin
After rinsing your face, soak the washcloth again in very warm water and place it on your beard (or over your entire face if that’s comfortable). The moist heat will soften the hair and make your skin supple, which will reduce razor burn. Hold the washcloth there for a couple of minutes, while you think about what to have for breakfast or what to wear to work. Relax!
Lather up
It’s not obligatory, but an undeniable pleasure is using a shaving brush. Regardless of the type of shaving cream you use, a brush is a delightful and effective way to lather up. The motion of the bristles lifts up the whiskers and softens them even further…and there’s something cheering about swirling the brush around your face. Try Clarins Men Smooth Shave — a rich creamy foaming gel which softens skin and helps the razor to glide smoothly over the face.
An alternative to shaving foam is Clarins Men Shave Ease. This shaving oil, rich in skin conditioning plant extracts, softens stubble and helps the razor to glide smoothly over the skin. Apply before shaving gel to soften stubble and help prevent razor burn or use alone for a quick, easy shave.
Get that razor swinging
The direction you shave in is important. You may seem to get a closer shave going against the grain (against the direction in which your hairs grow), but this practice actually damages the hair shaft and the whiskers grow back thicker and tougher. If you’re in the habit of shaving this way, it’ll take some time to retrain your beard. But after two or three weeks of shaving with the grain, you’ll get a closer shave that will also be easier on your skin. Any order will do, but you must shave methodically to avoid missing patches.
Stop the bloodshed
Many shaving cuts are done during the movements between sweeps of the razor, not during the actual shaving motion. To reduce the incidence of shaving cuts, avoid moving the razor horizontally against your skin. Instead, lift the razor a couple of centimeters off the surface of your skin and place down on the new location to be shaved.
Master the tug
This is a technique performed by your free hand while you shave. Although it’s not too difficult, it’s a key role in producing a good shave, so try incorporating it into your routine. Keeping the fingers of your free hand fairly dry, place them just outside the lathered area (or on a place you’ve just shaved.) Press down slightly into the skin and tug the skin taut against your face. Shave this area of skin where the ‘whiskers’ are slightly lifted off.
Rinse off and dry
Grab that wash cloth again and rinse it in tepid water (neither hot nor cold), wring it out and press it to your face.
Don’t wipe — you’ve just shaved and you don’t want to irritate your face even more. The tepid water will gently close the pores that the hot water opened. Feel around with your fingers to search out any missed patches.
Make a pass against the grain to feel for any rough spots. Spots often missed are the rear portion of the jaw both above and below the jawbone. Gently pat your face with a clean, dry towel, and finish off by replenishing lost moisture.
Moisturise
Smooth on a moisturiser or aftershave balm to prevent your skin from drying and to protect it from the elements for the rest of the day.
Clarins Men Aftershave Balm is an ultra-light post shave balm that gently soothes the skin after the aggressions of shaving. It progressively reduces the irritability of the skin after shaving and the more often you use it the calmer and more resilient your skin will become.
If you prefer the feeling of an aftershave splash then try the Clarins Men Aftershave Energiser. This is an invigorating post-shave splash which effectively soothes and calms razor burn and leaves skin smelling seductively fresh and clean.
The magic touch
Clarins Men Skin Difference: used at night, this fresh, non-oily serum penetrates the entire length of the hair follicle to progressively soften the texture of the hair below the skin’s surface, helping to slow down new growth which makes shaving easier and more pleasant the next day.
The very first product for the shave zone and skin, which you apply at night. At the same time, it hydrates the skin and renders it softer. The masculine texture is fresh and non-sticky, very comfortable. Awarded “Best Shaving Prep Solution’ from Men’s Health” 2007 Grooming Award.
Clarins men. Long live men’s skin!

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