Great shaving tips courtesy of Dermatologist and Vice-Secretary General of the International Society for Cosmetic Science, Dr. Florence POLI. Perfect Shave | How to Shave | After Shaving Key to a Perfect Shave is Preparation 1. Try to shave at night. Shaving removes dead skin cells and the superficial layer of the epidermis. While this process is actually healthy for your skin, it also reduces your skin’s defenses for a couple of hours. If you do shave in the morning, you are more likely to expose weakened skin to external elements and your shaved skin will feel less comfortable. Shaving at night will give your epidermis the entire night to recover its strength and suppleness to resist irritation. 2. Shave clean skin. Try not to shave any part of your body without having your skin perfectly clean. This will help prevent infection or bumps. 3. Apply hot water or shave after showering. Warm humidity increases skin elasticity and softens your hair. Hot water actually diminishes hair toughness, which can increase blade longevity. Wet hair is easier to shave. 4. Apply shaving cream or gel. Once your hair is softened, the razor will glide more easily over skin, avoiding damage. Shaving cream/ gel with Aloe Vera is preferred to normal soap as it will be gentler to your skin and lift your hair. Lather the cream/gel with back and forth motions over the area you are going to shave. Leave the cream/gel on your skin two minutes before shaving. How to Shave 1. Use a sharp blade. Keep in mind that the duller the blade the more irritated your skin will become. Change your blades regularly, especially if you have sensitive skin. On sensitive areas, such as the bikini and underarms, shaving with a dull blade can result in red spots. Legs | Underarms | Bikini Area  •  Use long and even strokes for legs/ short strokes for the most difficult parts. Although legs can be the easiest to shave, remember to be careful on bony and folded areas.  •  Stretch your skin. With your free hand, try stretching the skin on difficult areas (such as ankles and knees) to avoid cuts and ensure a good shave.  •  Go with the grain first. To prevent serious skin damage and razor burn, always start to shave in the direction of the hair growth. Once your have removed most of the hairs, you can finish the shave by passing against the grain to get a closer shave. Draw your hand over your skin to feel the direction of the hair growth.  •  Rinse shaver after each stroke. This will allow the next stroke to be more productive so you won’t have to pass too many times over the same spot, therefore reducing the risk of irritation. Always rinse your shaver in hot running water. If you shave during bathing, simply shaking the blade into the bathtub may be less productive and less hygienic.  •  Use a mirror. As this area is very close to your head, a direct view is not easy. Try placing a mirror in your shower or bathtub, so you can more easily see the area to be shaved.  •  Arms up! Lift your arms to stretch your skin for both a closer shave and less risk of cuts.  •  Shave vertically. As hair grows almost straight in his area, you can shaver either upwards or downwards. Just don’t shave horizontally as this may cause cuts.  •  Make sure this area is well moisturized. The bikini area is the most sensitive area of your body with the thickest hair, so be sure to use a good and uniform lather of shaving cream/gel.  •  Use horizontal moves. Hair grows horizontally in this area and you need to adapt your shaving moves accordingly. Draw your hand over your skin to feel the direction of the hair growth.  •  Use short strokes. Be careful to use short and even strokes to avoid passing too many times over the same area.  •  Choose frequency over closeness. Bikini area hair tends to re-grow under the skin. To avoid this, it’s best to shave more frequently, rather than shaving too closely and less often. After Shaving 1. Give your skin a break. Try not to apply anything irritating on your skin after shaving. Wait for your skin’s pores to close -- one hour seems to reduce the risk of irritation. During this time, try not to expose your skin to the sun or any other possible source of irritation (sea water, lotion, perfume, etc.) 2. Sooth and hydrate your skin. After shaving, the skin is both dry and irritated. Apply an alcohol-free after-shave to re-moisturize your skin and avoid the feeling of razor burn. 3. Underarms – Try not to apply antiperspirant/ deodorant right away. This could result in a strong irritation of the epidermis and post-shaving discomfort. This is another reason we recommend to shave at night – so you can leave your underarms free of deodorant for the entire night. 4. Treating skin damage. If, in spite of these tips, you damage your skin, you should apply an alcohol-free antiseptic. Check out our shaving products