Aftershave describes a lotion

Lotion

A lotion is a low- to medium-viscosity, topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin. By contrast, creams and gels have higher viscosity.Lotions are usually applied to external skin with bare hands, a clean cloth, cotton wool or gauze...

, gel

Gel

A gel is a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state...

, balm

Liniment

Liniment , from the Latin linere, to anoint, is a medicated topical preparation for application to the skin. Preparations of this type are also called balm...

, powder, or liquid used mainly by men after they have finished shaving

Shaving

Shaving is the removal of hair, by using a razor or any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down to the level of the skin. Shaving is most commonly practiced by men to remove their facial hair and by women to remove their leg and underarm hair...

. It may contain an antiseptic

Antiseptic

Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...

 agent such as denatured alcohol or stearate citrate

Citrate

A citrate can refer either to the conjugate base of citric acid, , or to the esters of citric acid. An example of the former, a salt is trisodium citrate; an ester is triethyl citrate.-Other citric acid ions:...

 to prevent infection of cuts. Menthol

Menthol

Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...

 is used in some varieties as well to numb damaged skin, and it is an ingredient that shaving cream

Shaving cream

Shaving cream is a substance that is applied to the face or wherever else hair grows, to provide lubrication and avoid razor burn during shaving. Shaving cream is often bought in a spray can, but can also be purchased in tubs or tubes. Shaving cream in a can is commonly dispensed as a foam or a gel...

 manufacturers have started including in their formulations, too. Aftershave with alcohol also usually causes an immediate burning sensation in men who apply it post-shave—with effects sometimes lasting several minutes.

For this reason, a market consisting of highly differentiated products has been created—some utilizing alcohols, some not.

Some aftershaves utilize fragrance or essential oil

Essential oil

An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove...

 to enhance scent and differentiate themselves. Moisturizer

Moisturizer

Moisturizers or emollients are complex mixtures of chemical agents specially designed to make the external layers of the skin softer and more pliable, by increasing its hydration by reducing evaporation. Naturally occurring skin lipids and sterols as well as artificial or natural oils,...

s--natural and artificial, are often touted as able to soften the skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

. Astringent

Astringent

An astringent substance is a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast"...

s are also often used in the formulation of an aftershave, and the pH label of these astringents can be critical to understand, as they are often part of the cause when it comes to excessive dermal dryness or flaking. Many brands do not disclose the pH level of these astringents on their ingredients, nor are they required by law to do so.

Many fashion design

Fashion design

Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....

er houses lend their names to brand

Brand

The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...

s of aftershave, and thus aftershave is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Eau de Cologne

Eau de Cologne

Eau de Cologne or simply Cologne is a toiletry, a perfume in a style that originated from Cologne, Germany. It is nowadays a generic term for scented formulations in typical concentration of 2-5% essential oils. However as of today cologne is a blend of extracts, alcohol, and water...

. The fact that some liquid aftershave comes with fragrance and dye doesn't help the confusion, either. Aftershave in lotion form is making a comeback in many circles as well, due to the blended meaning of the words aftershave and EDT or EDP.

The original aftershaves were Witchhazel and Bay Rum

Bay rum

Bay rum is the name of a cologne/aftershave lotion.Other uses include as under-arm deodorant and as a fragrance for shaving soap, as well as a general astringent....

, and have been documented http://www.archive.org/details/shavingmadeeasyw0020th in shaving guides. Bay Rum is still sold as an aftershave from many distributors, made by many manufacturers; it is also a common shave soap, aftershave, and eau de toilet fragrance.

See also

• Barber
  Barber
  A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
  
  
• Beard
  Beard
  A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
  
  
• Beard Liberation Front
  Beard Liberation Front
  The Beard Liberation Front is a British interest group which campaigns in support of beards and opposes discrimination against those who wear them. It was founded in 1995 by socialist historian Keith Flett who continues to organise and represent the organisation...
  
  
• Burma-Shave
  Burma-Shave
  Burma-Shave was an American brand of brushless shaving cream, famous for its advertising gimmick of posting humorous rhyming poems on small, sequential, highway-billboard signs.-History:...
  
  
• Colognes
• Head shaving
  Head shaving
  Head shaving is the practice of shaving the hair from a person's head. At different times and places people have shaved their heads for very diverse reasons: practical, religious, cultural, or aesthetic—so a shaven head has widely varying connotations depending on the context.-Early...
  
  
• Leg shaving
  Leg shaving
  Leg shaving is the practice of removing leg hair by shaving the hair off using a razor or electric shaver. In addition, some people remove leg hair using waxing, sugaring, depilatories, depilation devices, or lasers, but shaving remains the least expensive method.It is a very common practice among...
  
  
• Razor
  Razor
  A razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of unwanted body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, disposable razors and electric razors....
  
  s
• Shaving oil
  Shaving oil
  Shaving oil is normally a plant-based oil or blend of vegetable and essential oils used as a stand-alone shave lubricant or in conjunction with shave creme, soap or gel, to facilitate the shave of facial and other body hair. Often these products require activation with water before the razor is...