Thanks to unwanted facial or body hair, shaving is a regular—or at least semi-regular—part of our grooming routines. If you wield a razor on a daily or weekly basis, you’re probably familiar with some of the annoyances that come with shaving: Cuts (who has time for that?), dry skin, and more.
Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to ease these common issues and end up with skin that’s smoother and more hydrated than ever. Here’s everything you should keep in mind.
Prepare your skin with a great exfoliant
According to Dr. Michele Green, MD and cosmetic dermatologist, the first step to a successful shave is preparing it with a high-quality exfoliant. “Exfoliating your skin before shaving helps to clear the skin of any dead skin cells or debris that may keep your razor from gliding as smoothly as possible,” she explains. “It’s easier to get a closer shave on exfoliated skin and exfoliating after shaving can make skin irritated.”
Try: The Rodan + Fields New Redefine Regimen
In addition to a gentle Kaolin Clay exfoliant that’s perfect for preparing your skin for a shave, this regimen contains:
- R+F Redefine Pore-Refining Toner, complete with vitamin B3 and sea water
- R+F Redefine Triple Defense Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 which contains an antioxidant complex, peptides, grape extract, and beet extract.
- R+F overnight restorative cream made with exclusive peptide technology, retinoid science, and vitamin B3.
To prevent cuts, use shaving cream
While it may be tempting to use regular soap or face wash or even dry shave, if you really want to prevent cuts, ingrown hairs, and keep your skin well-moisturized, make sure to use a good shaving cream or gel.
”Using a shaving cream will help protect your skin against any cuts or skin irritation that may contribute to the formation of ingrown hairs,” explains Dr. Green. “An ingrown hair is one that grows back into the skin as opposed to straight out of the hair follicle. Ingrown hairs most commonly occur in areas where hair has been removed. Shaving hair that’s dry tends to sharpen the edges of the hair, making it more likely to grow back into the skin.”
Beyond shaving cream, if you do your best to keep your skin moisturized as possible on a regular basis, that can help prevent cuts, too.
Try: The Rodan + Fields New Soothe Regimen
This four-step regimen for sensitive skin is a great way to keep skin hydrated. This regimen includes:
- R+F Soothe Calming Gel Cleanser, which contains glycerin and bisabolol.
- R+F Soothe Sensitive Skin Treatment, a lotion that contains cherimoya fruit extract, allantoin, dimethicone, dual-licorice technology, and proprietary PFp2 peptide complex, all of which help keep skin calm.
- R+F New Soothe Moisturizing Cream, which contains colloidal oatmeal and seven essential ceramides.
- R+F Soothe Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30, which protects against UVA + UVB while defending sensitive skin.
After you shave, make sure to moisturize
Moisturizing regularly is key to maintaining healthy, hydrated skin—and this is especially important after you shave.
“After shaving, rinse the skin clean with water and pat dry with a fresh towel,” says Dr. Green. “Apply your favorite lotion or moisturizer within several minutes of exiting the shower, skin should still be slightly damp when applying your moisturizer for best results. Skin can be more sensitive when it’s freshly shaved, making sunscreen a must!”
Try: Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Serum
Formulated with a proprietary 3D3P Molecular Matrix Technology, the R+F Active Hydration Serum immediately hydrates and moisturizes skin thanks to ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. This serum is a great post-shave moisturizing option.
If you’re looking for great SPF options and don’t want to commit to an entire regimen, you can purchase the Daily Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and Triple Defense Cream with SPF 30 individually.
At the end of the day, whether you’re dealing with unwanted facial or body hair, Dr. Green says there are a few important things to keep in mind for preventing cuts and keeping your face moisturized and protected.
“Exfoliating, applying shaving cream, moisturizing, and protecting skin from UV rays with SPF are essential steps in shaving no matter whether you are shaving your face or your body,” she says. “Taking these steps can help guarantee that your skin stays healthy, smooth, and safe during and after your shave.”
