If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I have incredibly sensitive skin. I’ve said the word “rash” more times than I’d like to admit in my life, and I have to be very careful when trying new products (patch test, anyone?). All this to say: no matter what precautions I take, I’m very susceptible to razor burn.
Despite being diligent about swapping out my razor heads and prepping my skin for shaving properly, sometimes I still inexplicably get pesky razor burn bumps after I shave. I used to simply deal with it, until one day I got fed up and did some research on what I could do to expedite the healing of it when it does happen. Within my research, a $25 Amazon product kept appearing with rave reviews, swearing it’s a miracle cure for razor burn. Enter: Tend Skin.
Let it be known that Tend Skin is completely unglamorous; it looks like something that lives at the back of your dad’s medicine cabinet (and to be honest, it might). But its 51,000+ Amazon reviews and five-star rating made me give it the ole college try. Here’s what happened.
What causes razor burn?
According to Cleveland Clinic, razor burn occurs due to the interaction between your razor blade, your hair, and your skin. Tiny cracks in your top layer of skin (epidermis), along with inflammation and a loss of hydration can occur when a blade moves across your skin. This causes red, irritated patches of skin, which sometimes includes small, pimple-like bumps.
Causes of razor burn include:
- Dry shaving (shaving without any water, soap or shaving cream)
- Shaving too fast
- Shaving with a dull razor blade
- Shaving against the direction of hair growth
- Sensitive skin
How To Prevent Razor Burn
According to Cleveland Clinic, there are several things you can do to help prevent razor burn.
- Make sure your skin is moist before shaving.
- Always use a lubricant, such as soap or shaving cream.
- Shave in the direction of your hair growth (shaving in the opposite direction can cause irritation).
- Use light, short strokes while shaving.
- Clean your razor blade often. You should rinse the blade with water every few strokes.
- Moisturize your skin after shaving with a fragrance-free gel or lotion.
- Replace your razor blade frequently. A good rule of thumb is to replace your blade every 5-7 uses.
My Review on Tend Skin
Even though I follow the standard shaving protocol, unfortunately, after I shave, my sensitive skin still loves to break out in the telltale red bumps. After using Tend Skin for over a year (and hardly making a dent in my bottle), I don’t know how I ever lived without it.
After I shave, I always moisturize and let my skin be for a little while. If I see signs of razor burn, I’ll apply Tend Skin on the area with a cotton pad. It does sting a bit, but minimally, and only for a few seconds. When I apply it at night, my razor burn will be completely gone by morning. The bumps, redness, irritation—poof, gone. The main area I get razor burn is my bikini line, which I didn’t photograph for obvious reasons, but the above 12-hour leg transformation is how it works for me in any area, every time.
I used to fear getting razor burn in the summer months, but with Tend Skin, I know that even if I do get razor burn, I can make it vanish within a few hours. It’s solely responsible for my skin being bikini-ready at any given time, and for that, I’m a fan for life.
