PSA: You Really Don't Want To Do This Right After Shaving — Here's Why

As the sun becomes a main character in your life again this spring, you might show more skin as you shed the scarves, coats, and other winter wear—as a result, you might consider shaving more often (if that's something you like to do, of course). How you decide to remove your hair—if at all—is entirely personal, but there are some general guidelines to follow as you navigate the world of shaving products, techniques, and routines. 

For example, you may know that it's great to exfoliate your skin before shaving. "Gentle exfoliation can help [loosen] the free edge of hairs that may be trapped under the skin," board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., previously told mbg. "This can give you a smoother shave and lower the likelihood of razor bumps or irritation." 

AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acids1, which are exfoliating compounds that are hydrophilic, meaning they are water-loving. Like other exfoliants, they are used to slough off dead skin cells, brighten, even tone, and reverse signs of aging. But because of their hydrophilic qualities, they are moisturizing as well—which sets them apart from other chemical exfoliants. 

"AHAs such as glycolic acid and lactic acid are excellent ingredients to look for in body lotions. AHAs help to exfoliate the skin by sloughing off dead skin cells on the top layer of the skin, and once those flakes and dead skin cells are out of the way, moisture is able to penetrate the skin better and perform optimally to hydrate the underlying skin," says board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, M.D. Some of our favorite exfoliating body products are the REN AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum, Soft Services Smoothing Solution, and Paula's Choice Skin Revealing 10% AHA.

Ouch, right? Irwin recommends staying away from retinol body lotions right after shaving as well, as the vitamin A derivative also promotes cell turnover (which can irritate freshly shaved skin).

Instead, she says, "You want something that helps repair the barrier layer that you just irritated." Yes, taking a blade to your skin is a form of manual exfoliation in its own right, and you don't want to overdo it. So look for a formula that's strictly moisturizing and perhaps fragrance-free, as fragrance can irritate sensitive skin right after shaving. 

Now, just because you can't use them right after you shave doesn't mean you should toss these lotions altogether. As we discussed, using a chemical exfoliant on your body can offer some pretty smooth and silky benefits. For maximum benefit, you'll want to use these exfoliating body products a day or two before you shave.

If you'd like to exfoliate right before grabbing the razor, you can use a physical scrub, which manually removes the dead cells from the surface of the skin. Just make sure to choose a very gentle buffer and use light pressure—you can also just use a warm, wet washcloth to physically exfoliate the skin pre-shave, no product necessary.

However, Marcus recommends going the chemical route, just to make sure you don't rub too harshly. "Mechanical exfoliation with scrubs can cause micro-tears in the skin," she says. "Chemical exfoliants, on the other hand, loosen the connection between dead skin cells and allow them to be rinsed away. With dead skin cells out of the way, skin is primed for a close shave, and follicles are primed for subsequent smooth regrowth with less risk of ingrown hairs."