Quick Tips
I’m 40 and Finally Figured Out How to Properly Shave My Face
For a good portion of my mid to late 20s, I made my living pretending to be in high school for television. As it turns out, part of the reason why I could pass for younger is that I can’t grow a beard to save my life. Unfortunately, this lack of growth also means that, when I try to shave my face too often, it can be painful. And while my lifestyle still affords me the luxury of only having to shave a couple of times a week, it’s only now that I’m 40 years old that I’m realizing it doesn’t have to be as irritating as I’ve been making it.
The secret? Better shaving cream. In the past, I’ve tried the regular aerosol can of cream as well as the gel that turns into cream. More recently, though, I’ve been trying different options, such as “shave butters” or just shave creams that come from squeezable tubes instead of an aluminum can. Most of these have been an improvement, but my latest has been the best.
Recently, I went on Amazon looking for top-rated shave creams (since the one I previously used seems to have been discontinued) and found the Cremo brand. Specifically, I ordered the Sensitive formulation. After it arrived at my door, I gave it a try — and was pleasantly surprised.
Magically, even though I was still using a razor blade I’ve been using for several shaves now, using the Cremo made it feel as if the blade was still brand new. I thought it might be a fluke, but I had the same experience later in the week! Suddenly, I didn’t have to worry about the sting that usually comes with shaving my upper lip and could get a closer shave sans those damn cuts.
Of course, nothing is perfect and there are some downsides. For one, I’m not a fan of how this particular Cremo cream smells. Luckily, though, it doesn’t linger on my skin. Also, trading “less than great scent” for comfort seems worth it to me.
As for the other drawback, obviously, this product is pricier than regular shave cream. I paid around $8 for a 6 oz container, whereas a 10 oz Barbosol can would probably cost you less than $3. That said, if using the Cremo allows me to cut back on how often I’m changing out my razor, then I think that the math can still work in my favor.
To recap: at long last (and at the age of 40), I think I’ve finally figured out how to shave my face the right way. What a revelation. So, if you too have issues shaving, may I recommend looking at different types of cream that might make a difference? It may cost more upfront, but it could save you money on blades — and could be a lot more comfortable along the way.
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