By: Patrick Nelson Like most men, I dread the daily drudgery of shaving my face. Such a seemingly simple activity (lather, shave, rinse, repeat) is wrought with more hazards than the untrained eye might suspect. Ask any man who suffers from razor bumps and he’ll give you an earful. When you get right down to it, shaving is microsurgery that we perform on our own faces multiple times a week; every pass of the blade not only removes facial hair, but a very thin layer of skin cells as well. Hopefully this guide will make the process discernably easier. For the record, I’ve used myself as the official EXUDE lab rat and I’ve been pleased with the results. First, some general dos and don’ts:

• Always cleanse and exfoliate your skin before shaving.
• Never use a washcloth to wash your face (the fabric can over-strip your skin and will hold onto microscopic bacteria that you can reintroduce to your face).
• Thoroughly wash your hands and use your hands to wash your face.
• When possible, shave immediately after taking a hot shower (your beard is softer and easier to shave when it’s warm and wet).
• Before shaving, always disinfect your razor by running a little rubbing alcohol over it (shaving is microsurgery, remember?).
• Never rinse your razor under hot water (it dulls the blades more quickly); use warm water instead.
• Always replace your razor when you feel the blades begin to drag along your face while you shave; your blades are getting dull and you will start to do damage to your face if you don’t replace them.
• Only shave in one direction, from top to bottom (from your cheekbones down towards your neck).  Razor bumps are the result of coarse facial hair curving back and piercing the skin, becoming ingrown hairs.  This happens when you shave from bottom to top, or “against the grain”  (a common problem with men of African descent.)

Now, the weapons you’ll need to do battle with your stubble:

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser & Purifying Pore Scrub

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser, $7 – This is the starting point of your shaving regimen.  A good, mild, everyday facial cleanser that won’t rob your skin of its moisture and elasticity; gentle enough to use multiple times a day.

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub, $7 – After the cleansing, use the purifying pore scrub to eradicate any stray hairs, dead skin cells and prepare your beard for the razor.

Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads, $38 (pictured above) – If you suffer from razor bumps, this is an important step. This will help reveal and relieve those ingrown hairs.>

Anthony Logistics For Men Pre Shave Oil, $22 or Origins For Men Easy Slider Pre Shave Oil, $20 (both pictured above)– This is a step that I’ve added to my shaving regimen in recent years.  Good quality pre-shave oil can really soften those whiskers and get them to lay down.

Cremo Cream, The Astonishingly Superior Shave Cream, $8 (pictured above) – One of the few examples of truth in advertising that you’re likely to encounter in male skincare products.  What makes this shaving cream so good is that it really is a cream and not foam.  Foams contain mostly air and don’t really coat and protect your skin like thick creams do.  You only need an almond size squeeze of Cremo to coat your entire face.  This 6 oz. tube is effectively a 90-day supply.

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Razor, $12.50 – When I started shaving regularly back during my freshman year of college, twin blades were still all the rage.  I was certainly one of those people who thought that the introduction of 5-bladed razors like the ProGlide was just a bunch of marketing nonsense.  The truth is, they really do work better than the twin or triple bladed razors.  The inclusion of power has also improved the quality of the shave you get.  I am reminded of this every time I run out of AAA batteries and have to shave power-free.  A big difference.

Origins For Men Fire Fighter, $16.50  – After your shave is complete, thoroughly rinse your skin with warm, clear water and dry it with a soft, clean towel.  You can go old school (as I do from time to time) and liberally apply witch hazel to your face.  It tightens your pores, soothes razor burn and has the added benefit of working as an astringent, all for about $1 per bottle.  But if you want a bit of luxury and want to add some moisture to your freshly shaved skin (and really, why wouldn’t you?), spring for Fire Fighter. Not only does it work like a charm and have a nice light scent, but if you’re a frequent traveler like me, the entire Origins For Men line of products come in small, TSA-friendly sizes and unbreakable plastic bottles.

Anthony Logistics For Men Deep Pore Cleansing Clay, $22 or Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, $22 – This next step is definitely for extra credit. Even though you are now taking better care of your skin on a daily basis, once a week use a good quality charcoal or clay mask to really deep clean your face and neck and give your skin a tighter and more supple appearance. Before you all start muttering “pause” under your breath, my wife clowns me when I use these products but always strokes my face afterwards and tells me how much she appreciates the fact that even at my advanced age my skin isn’t the texture of a catcher’s mitt.