Dan's Blog

Keeping razor blades sharp – dunk in jojoba oil?

Jojoba Oil ShavingThere are two things that dull razor blades: (1) water, and to a lesser extent (2) simply using the blade. What causes the most damage is oxidation from water, but blades also get microscopic nicks in them from the act of shaving itself.

I’ve been experimenting with methods of keeping my razor blades dry for about a year now. I’ve tried keeping them dry by rubbing them on a towel after I’m finished shaving, rubbing them several times against denim like a few YouTube videos suggested, and always keeping the razor in a sunny window so it stays dry.

Nothing works. My razor blades still get dull after about two weeks.

Last week, my friend’s cousin’s husband came over to the office to say hi. Good ideas can come from the most interesting of places 😉 He pulled me aside and said he’s been putting his razor in jojoba oil after each shave and his razor blade is staying sharp for months at a time.

I started doing this a few days ago. I don’t know if it’s going to work yet, but the shave itself is extra nice with jojoba oil coating the entire blade. Have any of you guys tried putting your razor into oil (jojoba oil or any other oil)? If so, how has it worked for you?

Dan's Blog

L’Oreal go 360 Clean…also = irritation

l'oreal go 360 clean

The L’Oreal go 360 Clean is a product that came out recently which has a scrubber that pops out which you can then use to scrub the cleanser into your skin. I tried it, and much like the Clarsonic, Wavesonic, and Olay ProX, it is fun to use, but creates unnecessary irritation. No matter how soft a scrubber is, it is no match for your bare hands.

To make matters worse, the second ingredient in this particular cleanser is Sodium Laureth Sulfate. While Sodium Laureth Sulfate is not as drying as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, and can be a welcome addition to a cleanser if it is lower in the ingredient deck, the addition of Sodium Laureth Sulfate as the second ingredient is a concern. Dry skin is irritated skin, and especially if you are trying to clear up acne, you want to use only very gentle, non-overdrying cleansers.

But hey, props to L’Oreal for making such a fun product. If someone is not acne-prone, it could be a fun diversion to a daily cleansing routine.

Dan's Blog

Clarsonic, Wavesonic, Olay ProX = irritation

cleansing devicesI’ve been saying for years never to use a washcloth because it can be irritating. The same holds true for hand held cleansing devices. I tried a few of them recently and while I do have to admit that they are quite fun to use, the irritation they present is unwelcome when it comes to acne-prone skin types. If you want exfoliation and like how a hand held device physically exfoliates, a better option is chemical exfoliation. 10% alpha hydroxy acid will exfoliate without the irritation and will improve the texture of acne-prone skin. My strong advice: leave cleansing to bare hands, and never use a device, washcloth or otherwise, to wash.

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We are so legit

Acne.org is now listed in one of the main textbooks given to pharmacy students, The Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, amongst “selected sites that appear to provide accurate information.” I’m partly excited and partly wondering why it took them so long.

pharmacy textbook
Dan's Blog

Halfsies every night: 1/2 Moisturizer and 1/2 AHA+

halfsiesFor the past month or so I have been moisturizing every night with 1/2 Acne.org Moisturizer and 1/2 AHA+. I mix them up in my palm before applying. It’s been great. My skin is staying even toned and perfect and because the AHA+ is diluted by the Moisturizer, it is not too strong for nightly use. If you decide to try it, let me know how it goes for you. I’d like to get some feedback.

Note: I usually add 5-6 drops of jojoba oil in there too, but this is not necessary.