Ready to learn about an ancient beauty secret of Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I, the higher classes of the Roman Empire and modern-day Japan?
In recent years, stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor have also confessed to making this a staple of their beauty routine.
So what is it?
Face Shaving!
Yes, shaving your face actually comes with a list of beauty benefits.
Let me explain...
Benefits of shaving:
It's exfoliating: healthy skin should be exfoliated 1-2 times a week. Our skin comes in contact with pollution, sun damage, and toxic products like makeup. Thankfully, gentle exfoliating is one way we can remedy that. A quick exfoliating shave removes a layer of dead skin, leaving your skin looking more fresh and glowy. (Be careful not to over exfoliate or you'll end up with hypersensitive skin )!
It softens your skin: who doesn't want baby-soft skin? Stripping away the layer of dry, course skin with a shave actually smooths out the texture of your complexion.
It helps your skin absorb products: turns out, peach fuzz can get in the way of our our creams and makeup. After you shave, you'll notice your skincare products and foundations will work the way they're supposed to! You'll absorb more moisture from your creams too after removing the barrier of dead skin that prevents nutrients from deeply penetrating.
It'll help makeup look more natural: peach fuzz is often responsible for giving our skin a powdery, cakey look. Blending in your products without a layer of face fuzz can give you a more flawless finish.
why it's better than waxing
waxing can irritate sensitive skin
waxing pulls our skin, causing premature wrinkling
waxing can promote unwanted acne and blotchy redness
waxing is expensive over the long term (the average woman who waxes spends an estimated $30,000 in her lifetime on hair removal)!
Does everyone have peach fuzz?
The first time you shave, you may be surprised about how much hair was fuzzing up your face- it's completely normal!
(However, if you think you have an abnormal amount of facial hair, you should get it checked out by a doctor. Anything thicker than peach fuzz might indicate hormonal imbalances in your body).
how often should you do it?
2-4 times a month is normal
(the time it takes for your hair to grow back).
& contrary to popular belief, your hair will not grow back thicker or darker!
what to use to shave your face
Here are some of the most popular tools:
1. There are face shaving razors (this is what I use).
The brand Tinkle technically calls them eyebrow rasers, but the thin, gentle blades make them the perfect razor for all facial hair. (Shop here)
The Japanese beauty mega brand Shiseido also offers their own line of shavers. The fact that the razor head has a curve to it is what makes them save for your face. Otherwise, you risk cutting yourself. (Shop them here)
2. Many girls (including celebrity aesthetician Kate Sommerville) use a men's razor in the shower. I wouldn't recommend this unless you're experienced and cautious!
3. Nowadays you can find gentle electric pocket shavers that are made to shave your face. I have one and they are really convenient and eco-friendly since they're reusable. Another plus is that they can shave other areas too. (Shop them here)
4. Dermaplanning! If you're not keen on the idea of shaving your face yourself but you want the beauty benefits, you can see a professional to do it for you. I have more on this service below.
What's the difference between dermaplanning and facial shaving?
Dermaplanning is a treatment you'd get done by a professional to treat more serious skin concerns like acne scars and fine lines.
On the other hand, facial shaving is more of a gentle, DIY method to remove some unwanted peach fuzz while getting some light exfoliation and beauty benefits.
how to do it:
Step 1: Prep your skin
Always start with a clean face. You can either employ those ever-so-handy face wipes to get the job done, or stick with a gentle foaming cleanser (click this link to shop my favorite face wash).
PSA: Make sure you don't use an exfoliating face wash! There's no need to exfoliate right before you're about to exfoliate. In fact, doing this can cause hypersensitivity of your skin, AKA suffering from symptoms like blotchy redness after being exposed to the sun.
Step 2: Shave Shave Shave
On clean, dry skin, tilt your razor to a 45 degree angle and start shaving your face. Make sure to shave in very small patches at a time.
In certain areas like your cheeks, you'll need to pull your skin back to keep it taut. If this doesn't make sense, think about how you need to bend your knees to keep the skin tight in order to shave them.
Step 3: SKINCARe!
What you do after you shave is important. Since your skin has just been exfoliated, your pores are more open to absorbing whatever you apply on it.
This is not the time to apply any makeup- just let your skin breathe for a few hours. In the meanwhile, take advantage of this opportunity to get optimal skin benefits!
It's time to apply a mask for deep hydration, a toner for a healthy glow, an anti-aging serum, Korean beauty essence with actual snail goo, or your favorite cream to enhance your complexion with skin-healthy antioxidants.
Thanks for reading!
Let me know about your thoughts in the comments!
