Waves & Waves of Aftershaves
How to Give and Receive this Holiday Season?
Aftershave can make a great gift or stocking stuffer for the man in your life. From teens to Grandfathers, everyone appreciates a good self care ritual, especially if it comes from a loved one.
After shaving, skin has tons of tiny abrasions, irritation, possibly bacteria, and your moisture barrier has been disturbed. Aftershaves to the rescue:
- Disinfect / antiseptic
- Soothe / reduce inflammation and irritation
- Rehydrate / restore moisture
- Tone / close the pores
- Leave a pleasant scent
This last point is perhaps the gateway to popularity, and why it sells so well this time of year. Aftershaves take many forms (splashes, balms, lotions, toners, milks, sprays) with key ingredients that have PROs & CONs that you may want to consider:
ALCOHOL: Disinfects, closes pores (astringent), delivers fragrance (helps evaporation & spread). Potential drawbacks are that it can sting, dry out or irritate sensitive skin, especially in cold or dry climates.
WITCH HAZEL: Natural Astringent, which is a less harsh alternative to pure alcohol. It tones and helps reduce irritation.
ALOE VERA, GLYCERIN/HYLAURONIC ACID, ETC.: These types of products hydrate, soothe, rehydrate as they soften post-shave discomfort.
ALLANTONIN, CHAMOMILE, BISABOLOL, OAT/OAT PROTEIN: These products reduce inflammation, support healing and calm redness.
ESSENTIAL & FRAGRANCE OILS: Primarily provide scents, moods and may also have soothing or antiseptic properties (depending on the oils), however synthetic fragrance oils can irritate sensitive skin and strong scents can clash or linger.
BUTTERS & OILS: (shea, cocoa, jojoba): They moisturize and rebuild a lipid barrier, but can be too heavy on oily skin and there is a risk of clogging pores if used improperly.
MENTHOL, COOLING AGENTS: Have a cooling, fresh feeling and helps with that stinging feeling, however they can add to the sting and may irritate sensitive skin if the concentration is too high.
How to pick the right aftershave
Above we've featured some of our top brands and sellers, but westcoastshaving.com has over 200 available at any given time, with new ones arriving each week! Whether on your wishlist or giftlist, here are some things to consider when purchasing or asking for an aftershave:
- Know your skin type & climate
- Dry / sensitive skin → softer formulations (balms, lotions), avoid high ethanol alcohol, avoid strong menthol or harsh fragrance.
- Oily or acne‑prone skin → lighter splashes, maybe with witch hazel or gentle astringents; avoid overly rich oils or heavy butters.
- Cold or dry climate → more moisturizing ingredients; warm / sweet base notes help with comfort.
- Hot or humid climate → lighter scents, cooler notes (citrus, aquatic), lighter texture so skin can breathe.
- Consider when you’ll use it
- Daily / morning use → something refreshing, clean; maybe a subtle splash + balm.
- Evening / special events → richer, deeper scents; maybe something from the luxury side.
- Multi‑use: if it doubles as a fragrance, you might pick something more wearable and less overpowering.
- Scent profile preferences
Think in layers: top (what you smell first), heart, base. Some people prefer citrus + aquatic in the top, woods or amber in the base. Others prefer spicy or leathery profiles. Try sample sizes or testers. - Avoiding irritation
- Patch test new aftershaves.
- If you get irritation, avoid heavy fragrance or high alcohol content.
- After shaving, rinse with cool water, optionally use witch hazel, then balm.
- Budget & value
Luxury always costs more — but sometimes less expensive options mimic scent profiles well. Decide how much you care about brand, packaging, exclusivity vs just smell, performance, comfort.
