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Seven steps to your best shave yet

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Richard Skins

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Self-titled Nomad Barber Miguel Gutierrez has travelled the world in his pursuit of barbering wisdom, visiting and observing different places and people in a bid to hone his hairdressing skills. Here he takes time out of his busy schedule to share his top ten tips on achieving the perfect shave, wherever you are.

Begin by softly cleansing your face with a facial cleanser like Fresh Farmacy: a mild calamine and chamomile soap perfect for cooling and calming the skin. For a really effective close shave, take a minute to gently exfoliate too. A face and body scrub like Ocean Salt should do the trick; it’s packed full of sea salt to raise the stubble, while rich avocado butter, coconut oil and seaweed absolute keep your skin silky smooth.
This next step really helps to open the pores and soften the stubble. Soak a flannel in soothing Dream Steam toner tab, made from a blend of essential oils including calming chamomile blue oil and rose absolute. Place the wet flannel over your face to help soften each hair and prep the skin for a shave. Inhale deeply, taking in the fragrant blend of herbs, and relax.
Next, try applying your shaving shaving cream in upward circular motions, going against the grain of your stubble, to boost the circulation and lift the hairs further. To protect your skin from the blade, choose a rich, non-foaming shaving cream like Prince, packed with with linseed mucilage, hydrating cocoa butter and beeswax to form a protective layer on the face. Start on the most difficult side, using a sharp blade and following the contours of your face. Give your razor a quick rinse after each stroke to avoid build up and keep the blade slick and sharp.
When you’re totally clean shaven, apply a cool, wet flannel to the face to calm the skin and close your pores once more. A spritz of toner water wouldn’t go amiss either - if your skin normally feels a little touchy post-shave, opt for calming Eau Roma Water and let gentle lavender and rose water ease any tantrums.
After shaving, a dab of moisturiser will protect your skin and ensure it feels supple and soft. Cosmetic Lad is rich in cooling aloe vera and lavender honey water to ease discomfort and gently hydrate. If you fancy something richer, the fresh avocado and neroli oil in Skin Drink is sure to plump up the skin and quench any thirsty patches.
You’re never fully dressed without a dash of fine fragrance. The discerning gentleman may choose to cloak himself in the the warm and woody sandalwood notes of Smugglers Soul, the go-getter in a sunny Saturday Night Fever of vetivert and vanilla-infused Staying Alive. Find your favourite and apply to the pulse points rather than post-shave skin.
Finally, plump for your favourite styling product to get your hair looking fine and dandy.

Apply your shaving cream in circular motions against the grain

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michael.sutton16_6530877

about 3 years ago

I agree with most of this but find a good soak with water as hot as you can stand ,a good LUSH shaving cream and using a 5 blade vibrating razor gives the very best shave, even with my wiry bristles. Being a skinflint I tried using just LUSH soap but the results are not as good as the proper shaving cream. Thank you for your products over the years; used to be with "Cosmetics to Go" when i lived in Somerset.

[email protected]_2

about 6 years ago

I have recently given my boyfriend this advice and it has helped improve his skin completely! He suffers from Seborrheic Dermatitis, which is similar to scoriasis except it is only where hair tends to grow. Especially in his beard! So I have recommended this regimen, with a little tweak. He shaves every other day, but essentially he washes his face in the shower with Aqua Marina, then Ocean Salt in his beard to help with any ingrown hairs. Also, doing this in the shower ensures that it softens the skin and relaxes the pores so shaving is much easier. Then after he steps out of the shower he uses Dirty Shaving cream which has oat milk, this is super soothing for his gentle skin. After he finishes shaving he always spritzes some Eau Roma Water as an aftershave and then finishes off with some Celestial. He has not gone back to his old regiment since! Thanks for the great advice LUSH!