Your Skin Will Thank You For Picking Up a Nice Shaving Kit and Razor

You should be nice to your skin. It's your largest individual organ, after all. Your skin performs many vital roles for you, from protecting your inner organs from outside factors to making a first impression on others who see you.

Even if you're not too concerned with how you look to others, you should treat your skin well. A nice shaving kit and razor should be an essential element to your skin care routine. Everyone has different areas of their body that they might shave, and some have more to shave than others. Still, anyone's skin can benefit from a good razor.

The right razor and shaving kit can mean the difference between just minimal grooming and a clean, smooth appearance and feeling. Use one right, and you can look great, feel great about yourself, and provide your skin with exfoliation that helps it regenerate on a regular basis.

What's Included in a Shaving Kit?

The specific items in any shaving kit may vary based on the specific kit sold. Knowing what should be included helps you find the right one for you. This means that you can always assemble your own kit if you want. The following items are often considered essentials:

1. Travel Kit: Even if you don't travel with your kit, this is still a good way of keeping everything together and organized in your home bathroom.
2. Shaving Cream: This gives your skin protection from the blade. You will have less friction when you shave for less burn or irritation, and it can make your hair rise for a cleaner shave.
3. Aftershave: Either a balm or a lotion, this can minimize your burn after you shave. Your best specific choice will depend on what kind of skin you have. However, it's smart to look for something with sunscreen and vitamins C or E.
4. Pre-Shave Oil: Is your skin really sensitive? This can help. Put it on before your lathering agent or shaving cream to lubricate and moisturize your skin. It also softens tough hair for easier shaving.
5. Shaving Brush: These are not nearly as popular as they used to be. However, they can thicken shaving foam with additional moisture. They can also exfoliate skin to free it of dead cells. Boar brushes are cheap and widely available, but shaving veterans might like badger brushes for their water retention. Horsehair brushes are a good balance between the previous two in terms of softness versus stiffness. Synthetic brushes are a good substitute for anyone who doesn't want to use animal hair.

Types of Razors

The one thing that has to be in any shaving kit is the razor. Generally speaking, there are three kinds of razors that you can get:

1. Cartridge Razors: You might know these as disposable razors, although they're not the single-use items you buy in bulk and throw away. These have reusable handles, but the blade cartridges can be disposed of after you use them a few times. Cartridge razors are affordable, safe, and simple to use.
2. Safety Razors: These razors are named for what they do, as you can shave safely with them. They're intended to prevent cuts and nicks from happening to shavers of any experience level. The downside is that a portion of the blade comes covered and locked out, which means it's harder to control it. If your face is more angular, you might have a harder time shaving.
3. Straight Razors: This one is the classic. Your grandparents might have used razors like these. You won't get shaving more controlled or precise than this. Just make sure you actually know what you are doing before you try it, because this unprotected blade can do some damage to your skin if your hands are shaky.

Which one you should get is a matter of personal preference. Cartridge razors are a great starting point if you're totally new to shaving or are short on time and money. Safety razors are a moderately better shave while still protecting your skin, and straight razors are a great shave but possibly dangerous if you are lacking in experience and skill.