Back in the days when powered flight was still a pipe dream, and the horse and cart was the height of transportation technology, one man, in the depths of his barbershop basement, created a hair tonic that was so popular it’s still in use today.
The company he started, Lucky Tiger, branched out into every aspect of hair and face care for men, the full suite of brushes, creams, razors, and most importantly, aftershaves.
It’s their premium aftershave that we’ll be looking at today. Read on to find out exactly why you should care about a product that’s probably older than you are.
Things to consider when you’re buying aftershave
When you’re looking for an aftershave, there’s a few things you’re gonna consider.
First off, an aftershave is primarily for looking after your skin once you’ve finished shaving. After all, you’ve just dragged a razor blade across your skin and forcibly cut all of your beard and ‘stache hairs free. Considering how tough your beard hair is, (or at least, how tough mine is,) is it any wonder your face feels a bit tender after you’re done? Especially if you’ve left it a few days before you shave.
Most good aftershaves have three components. There’s an antiseptic, which fights against infection and helps to heal the skin, especially if you’ve got any cuts. There will also be an astringent, which numbs the skin and reduces irritation. Lastly, there’ll be some sort of scent component, so you smell great after you’re done.
A good aftershave will also generally contain a bunch of stuff that’s great for the skin, too. This lets it serve double duty as a skin tonic as well as an aftershave, softening your skin and helping to keep your face moisturized and healthy.
Lucky Tiger After Shave and Face Tonic, 8 Ounce
Free shipping
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Proraso After Shave Lotion, Refreshing and Toning, 3.4 Fl Oz
Free shipping
Bay Rum Aftershave Splash for Men - Crafted with Authentic Bay Oils from Dominica Republic in The Virgin Islands - Natural and Pure Ingredients - 4oz. - from Barberry Coast Shave Co.
The Art of Shaving After Shave Balm, Sandalwood, 3.3 Fl Oz
$31.50 in stock
Free shipping
Like we just discussed, one of the major consideration when you’re buying an aftershave or face tonic is how it smells. After all, if anyone’s going to get close enough to smell it, it’s hopefully your face they’ll be close to, right?
Well, this smells good, a crisp and delicate fruity scent with hints of grapefruit and orange. Whilst that might not sound like the most masculine scent, once you’ve splashed it on your face, you’ll appreciate it a whole lot more. Because it’s such a subtle smell that fades into the background, you also don’t have to worry about it overpowering your standard cologne. You’re free to wear whatever you want, without it clashing or smelling like stale feet.
It rubs in really well, and soaks in simply, leaving your face feeling refreshed. One splash is all it takes to get it settled, then you just need to rub your hands over your whole face and feel that freshness sink in!
The huge list of ingredients make this great for this skin. It’s going to keep your skin soft to the touch, may help to eliminate any problems you might have, as well as deal with the major issues that can affect a man after shaving like razor burn and chapped skin. It’s also really good for keeping pores clean, so if you struggle with blocked pores, blackheads or even acne, this might actually help clear it up.
It’s also surprisingly gentle. Most traditional aftershaves use alcohol as their main active ingredient. Lucky Tiger uses glycerin, which helps to re-moisturise the skin as well as minimize the burn you’d normally get with an aftershave.
Then you get into the main list of ingredients, which is huge and comprehensive. It’s why Lucky Tiger works as a face tonic as well as an aftershave. It contains multiple ingredients that are great for the skin, so when you put this stuff on your skin you’ll be getting the full benefits of:
- Vitamins A and E, which are amazing for skin health
- Aloe Vera, which is used around the world for its healing and skin replenishing properties
- Calendula, for its healing and antiseptic properties.
- Chamomile, traditionally used to treat dry and itchy skin
- Borage oil, a strong anti inflammatory and skin hydration agent
- Witch Hazel, a strong astringent that’s used in damn near everything
PROS
- Alcohol-free, so no burn
- Smell is delicate but masculine
- Great for the skin
- Lasts a long time
CONS
- Smell disappears quickly
- It can leave some skin types feeling a little oily for a few minutes after use
Alternatives
Even though it’s a great product, Lucky Tiger’s aftershave might not appeal to you. You might want something that’s alcohol based, because you love the burning sensation you get. Or maybe you want something that smells a little stronger. Either way, we got you covered.
Proraso After Shave Lotion, Refreshing and Toning, 3.4 Fl Oz
Free shipping
If you want another product with a hundred year heritage, but a more traditional formula, then Proraso is your game. Witch Hazel, menthol and eucalyptus gives you a subtle burn, but still looks after the skin, and the natural formula is safe for any man’s skin, no matter how sensitive he might be.
With a subtle scent that will remind you of your dad’s barbershop and a solid Italian heritage, if you want to feel like a real, old style masculine man when you shave, Proraso’s definitely gonna help you out.
Bay Rum Aftershave Splash for Men - Crafted with Authentic Bay Oils from Dominica Republic in The Virgin Islands - Natural and Pure Ingredients - 4oz. - from Barberry Coast Shave Co.
Rum’s been used for years as the base component of aftershaves. Apparently, it originates from an old sailing practice. Part of every sailor’s daily allowance was a shot of rum, and when they found out it really helped relax the skin after they were done shaving, it became common practice to splash your face with it once you were done.
The strong burn fades down quickly, leaving your face feeling refreshed, and the bay leaf and cinnamon scent is powerful but not over powering. If you’re looking for a traditional aftershave that’s strong, with a long lasting scent, we’d recommend this one.
The Art of Shaving After Shave Balm, Sandalwood, 3.3 Fl Oz
$31.50 in stock
Free shipping
Art of Shaving make excellent products, and their aftershave balms are no exception. It’s great for the skin, with Shea butter and grapeseed extract, but the main advantage of this aftershave and balm is the smell.
It really does smell amazing. Sandalwood is one of those scents that smells great on pretty much every man, and it’s almost universally loved by every woman with a nose. It’s just a solid product, and you really can’t go wrong.
Conclusion
As an aftershave, Lucky Tiger has a lot to recommend it for. It’s great for the skin, rubs in really easily and leaves you feeling fresh for the entire day. All this with a really light smell that’s pleasant without being overpowering.
Whilst it’s not as ‘strong’ as an alcohol based aftershave, it’s still a really fantastic product, and one we’d definitely recommend, especially if you’ve got sensitive or dry skin, because this also functions as a skin tonic, too. If you want a light, easy to use aftershave that’s suitable for use day after day and also going to give you kissably soft skin, you should try out Lucky Tiger.
