Aftershave vs eau de toilette

What is the difference?

Choose eau de toilette if your aim is to smell pleasant rather than moisturize after shaving, because a French name is not a skincare qualification. Choose a moisturizing aftershave or lotion if your aim is to relieve dryness after shaving. You do not need to shave to wear eau de toilette: its purpose is fragrance, not hair removal.12

Do not apply the cologne concentration figures to every bottle called aftershave. A moisturizing aftershave and a scented splash belong to different practical categories, even when the packaging puts them under the same heading. Eau de toilette is generally stronger than a cologne style splash, but neither is an all day fragrance.23

What should you apply after shaving?

1. 1Rinse your skin with cold water after shaving, or apply a cool, damp washcloth.
2. 2Apply a hydrating lotion, gel or moisturizing aftershave to help soothe the skin. If your skin is dry or irritated, avoid fragrance, alcohol and other ingredients that irritate it.
3. 3Keep eau de toilette off irritated shaved areas. Treat fragrance as a separate choice, not the final step in treating razor burn.
4. 4If razor burn develops, pause shaving and other hair removal until the inflammation settles and your skin clears.

Shaving can cause tiny cracks in the skin's outer layer, moisture loss and inflammation. A cool washcloth and moisturizer can help soothe the affected area. Aloe vera gel can ease discomfort through its cooling effect, but it does not cure razor burn. Razor burn usually settles within a few hours to a few days; scent strength is not a measure of healing.13

Which is better for sensitive skin?

For sensitive, freshly shaved skin, prioritize a moisturizing product without fragrance or alcohol rather than choosing by fragrance strength. Sensitive skin is more prone to razor burn. If you have rosacea, avoid alcohol, fragrance and menthol in products applied to your face, and choose fragrance free rather than unscented products.134

Unscented products can contain ingredients that mask other smells, so the label describes the finished smell rather than promising an empty guest list. Natural fragrance ingredients can also cause allergy. With a known fragrance allergy, avoid your identified triggers and fragranced products; an alcohol free aftershave can still contain fragrance.25

How do you check a new aftershave?

Before using a new aftershave on your face, test the normal amount on a small area under your arm or at the bend of your elbow twice daily for seven to 10 days. Leave it on for its usual duration. If no redness, itching or swelling develops, you can start using it. Fragrance allergy can appear hours to days after exposure, so an immediate lack of stinging is not enough to judge tolerance.56

When should you stop using it?

If a product causes a skin reaction, gently wash it off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help relieve discomfort. Seek medical help for a severe reaction that does not settle, or shaving irritation that worsens, looks infected or persists beyond a few days. Repeated reactions to fragrance warrant assessment; a dermatologist can use patch testing to identify an allergy.156