Sep 19, 2014 04:31 PM
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Aftershave – the burning sensation which seems to be one of the right to passage to manhood. Shaving your beard and using a searing aftershave to destroy any germs leftover from any nicks and scrapes was a daily routine, and many a man partook of this without complaint. After all, that is how my grandfather did it, how my dad does it, and how I was doing it.
Until recently, when after another particular dose of stinging Old Spice, I decided that enough was enough. I was not going to endure this form of mutilation any more. I started on my quest. A quest to find an aftershave that soothed my skin.
The Nivea Sensitive Aftershave Balm
I tried to avoid any concoction with alcohol in it, as that was what caused the burning sensation. I thought I had lucked out when I purchased a bottle of Nivea Replenishing Shave Balm(Rs. 175 for 100ml). It was an improvement, but it left my skin feeling dry, especially in winter.
So I went in for another Nivea product, a bottle of white dignifying purity, and hopefully, soothing motions. Lo and behold, I purchased the Nivea Soothing Aftershave lotion Sensitive Aftershave Balm.
The Product
The Nivea Sensitive Balm is just that; a product meant for sensitive skin. Its main tagline it to sooth irritation. It does not care about imparting a manly scent or making you attractive to the opposite sex. No, it just wants to soothe your skin after a shave.
It does not contain any alcohol or colorants and contains Chamomile, a proven ingredient in soothing affected skin.
Application and Effectiveness
You open the plastic bottle and are greeted by a scent which smells a bit like Nivea Happy Time moisturising lotion. The aftershave balm is actually in the form of a lotion, and you just need to pour a small 50 paise coin size quantity into your hands.
You swirl the mixture in your hands and apply it on your skin. Voila. No burns. Absolutely not. Instead, you feel a sense of peace as the lotion fills your pores and soothes your skin. It is almost a miracle experiencing it after years of burning the skin with traditional aftershaves.
So it is soothing, but is it effective? Well, yes. The lotion works to keep your skin hydrated and any cuts or knicks are covered, thereby limiting the chance of infection. Like a good lotion, it gets absorbed by the skin quickly(within one minute) so you are unaware that you put it on. But don’t worry, it is working under the surface to keep you looking and feeling good.
The Price
Quality does not come cheap. But at Rs. 225 for 100ml, I feel that the Nivea is a tad overpriced, especially considering that it’s other aftershaves cost less than Rs. 180 per 100ml bottle. On the plus side, you only need to use a small quantity each time, so you can stretch a bottle for three months.
Verdict
Say goodbye to sting, burns and dry skin after a shave. The Nivea Sensitive Aftershave balm is an excellent product which redefines what an aftershave should be like. Yes, I wish it were cheaper, but hey, I’ll gladly pay not no burns any day.
