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Peptides, preservatives, and parabens, say what? It may seem like you need a biochemistry degree just to shave your face these days. Like anything else, you get what you pay for and using products that contain quality grooming ingredients are an investment in your future health and good looks. Here’s a cheat sheet of lingo, jargon, and terminology to help you choose the best remedies and salves.

Alcohol-Free:

It’s about balance. Overindulging on a Saturday night will leave your face red and booze-blossomed. But rubbing it your face or using it in your hair isn’t great either. Alcohol is drying and pro-aging. Even if your skin is on the oily side, it’s essential to retain some hydration. For the most part, you want to avoid alcohol-based products especially if you have sensitive skin. We love Grooming Lounge “Our Greatest Pits” to keep you smelling fresh minus the irritation.

Aloe Vera:

This natural sunburn remedy is good for just about every other skin issue you may be having. Use it straight from the plant or try a product like Proraso Liquid Cream Aftershave Balm. It soothes and prevents razor burn using a powerful combination of amino acid packed Aloe with Vitamin E.

Antioxidants:

Your lifestyle could be stealing your good looks. Pollution, booze, and smokes are all oxidative stressors and will damage your skin. Antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, and E, can help. We like Urth Hydra Therapy Antioxidant Treatment to counteract the debauchery.

Botanicals:

Botanicals originate from plants and put the “natural” in your natural grooming ingredients. They are herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves, and seeds. And when combined with science these ingredients can be quite effective at cleansing, moisturizing and treating your skin. And they smell great too! Botanicals like Sage, Cypress, Eucalyptus, and Citrus are the fresh fragrances in this all-natural soap from Dr. Squatch.

Caffeine:

Love that jolt you get from your first cup of coffee in the morning? Caffeine can wake up your tired skin too. It’s the hero ingredient in many eye creams because it constricts small blood vessels and brings down inflammation. Rise and shine with Recipe Under Eye Gel with a boost of caffeine and say goodbye to puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles.

Collagen:

Think of collagen as the glue that holds our body together. You’ll find this protein in all your inner organs, muscles, tendons, cartilage and bones, and of course your skin. You can take a collagen supplement. Or you can tighten and brighten with Ursa Major Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum. It goes deep to moisturize while boosting collagen production which firms and improves your complexion.

Clay:

A mask of Bentonite Clay can work wonders on oily skin. There’s no need to scrub your face raw. This gentle ingredient absorbs excess sebum by drawing up dirt and sweat like a magnet. Got acne? Slather on this Anthony Deep-Pore Cleansing Clay mask twice a week to clear blackheads and shrink pimples.

Glycolic Acid:

It’s important to exfoliate. Sloughing off dead skin cells allows the rest of your shaving and skincare products to sink in and do their job. Glycolic Acid is considered an active compound that dissolves pore-clogging sebum, dirt, and grime. Using one will make your skin brighter and smoother. We like (Malin + Goetz) 10% Glycolic Acid Pads to encourage cell turnover, clear your pores and improve your skin’s texture.

Green Tea:

Considered one of the best antioxidants you can find, Green Tea is a superb anti-ager. It also fights redness, irritation, and inflammation. Shrink those eye bags in a jiff with Task Essential Eye Rescue 02. Infused with Green Tea this formula reduces puffiness and under eye circles.

Paraben-Free:

Parabens are chemicals added to many of the products you shower and shave with. There’s an ongoing debate among the scientific community about whether or not these additives are harmful to your health. So why not just avoid them? Choose products like Jack Black Clean Break Oil-Free Moisturizer that utilize a patented PureScience formula. Enjoy this blend of naturally derived, gentle surfactants and organic grooming ingredients without parabens, fragrance or colorants.

Salicylic Acid:

Salicylic Acid isn’t just for kids. Yep, it works well to treat teenage acne, but it also promotes collagen growth, which is one of the grooming ingredients that keeps your skin looking youthful. Use it on the regular to prevent sagging and wrinkles. And if your prone to breakouts and your skin feels like a grease pit Assassin by Billy Jealousy Bar None Salicylic Face Wash is a gentle cleansing gel that can clear up imperfections.

Vitamin E:

Probably best known for improving skin issues, Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant with natural healing properties that fight free radicals and help remedy many skin and hair issues. Get ahead of nicks and cuts. Lather up with (Malin + Goetz) Vitamin E Shaving Cream for a soothing non-irritating experience at the sink. Blending with cooling Menthol and Amino Acid Proteins it hydrates, cools and protects.