Shaving with acne is no easy task. How can you achieve hair-free skin without causing shaving pimples or irritation? Here’s a guide on how to shave with acne – without breaking out.
3 min read
Share with the Community:
If you have acne-prone skin, you might think shaving your skin is a no-go. But if you take the right care, you can maintain your shaving routine without irritating your skin or causing more spots.
Before you reach for the razor, make sure to follow these simple steps for shaving acne-prone skin.
In This Article
- Prep your skin before shaving
- Shaving acne-prone skin with care
- After-shave care for acne-prone skin
Prep your skin before shaving
Everyone should prep their skin before shaving, but if you have acne, it’s essential. So, make sure you don’t skip the prep when shaving with acne, or you’ll make your skin vulnerable to inflammation, scarring and – that’s right – more pimples.
1. Hydrate your skin
Wetter is better when it comes to shaving acne-prone skin. Start your pre-shave prep by wetting the skin with lukewarm water. This both cleanses the skin and moistens the hairs, making them softer to shave.
2. Exfoliate
Exfoliating lifts away dead skin cells, which makes it an essential step to prevent breakouts after shaving. With acne-prone skin, make sure you exfoliate gently. If you scrub too vigorously, you can cause irritation and inflammation.
3. Use the right shaving gel for acne-prone skin
What’s the best shaving gel for acne-prone skin? If your skin is prone to blemishes, opt for one suited to sensitive skin. The thicker the lather, the more protection as you shave.
Venus Satin Care Sensitive Shave Gel was designed especially for sensitive skin, with a formula infused with aloe vera to protect and soothe skin.
Shaving acne-prone skin with care
There’s one golden rule when shaving with acne: take care. If you rush or use too much pressure, you can irritate pimples and damage your skin.
1. Choose a razor for acne-prone skin
Before you start shaving, make sure you have the right tool for the job: shaving gel or cream, an exfoliator, and a razor designed for sensitive skin.
Razors for sensitive skin have additional protection and often fewer blades (fewer blades can equal less irritation).
The Venus Smooth Sensitive Razor features SkinElixir and SkinCushion technology for a gentle shave.
2. Shave with the grain
To avoid irritation – or worse, ingrown hairs – it’s advisable to shave acne-prone skin with the grain. This means shaving in the direction of hair growth.
3. Shave in slow steady strokes
Take it slow when shaving acne-prone skin. Use short, steady strokes to limit friction against your skin, and make sure you have plenty of time. Rushing when shaving with acne only ends with one thing – damaged skin.
4. Change your razor blades/razors frequently
How often should you change your razor if you have acne-prone skin? As a rule, razors should be changed every five to ten shaves. But if your skin is prone to blemishes, you might want to change them even more frequently.
A sharp razor is essential for a close shave, and blunt razors are more likely to catch and pull on the skin.
5. Reduce the frequency of your shaves
The longer you can leave between shaves, the longer your skin has to heal blemishes. How often you should shave with acne depends on several things: the speed of hair growth, how close a shave you want, and the severity of your acne.
After-shave care for acne-prone skin
After-shave care is just as important as pre-shave prep when shaving with acne. Without proper aftercare, your skin is vulnerable to breakouts, irritation, or blemishes.
1. Rinse your skin with lukewarm water
Rinse your skin with lukewarm water immediately after shaving. This washes away shaving cream residue which – if left – could block your pores and cause more pimples.
2. Moisturise immediately after shaving
Don’t leave your skin unprotected. It’s essential to moisturise straight after shaving acne-prone skin.
Moisturising both soothes the skin and adds a protective barrier against outside irritants – just make sure you use a non-comedogenic moisturiser suited to sensitive skin.
Shaving with acne FAQs
How often should I shave if I have acne?
How often you should shave with acne depends on your rate of hair growth, desired results and severity of acne. The longer you can leave between shaves, the longer your skin has to heal. Ideally, you want to leave at least three days between shaves.
How to prevent pimples after shaving
Pre-shave prep and post-shave aftercare are essential to prevent breakouts after shaving. This includes cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturising.
Should you pop a pimple before shaving
No, you shouldn’t pop a pimple before shaving. Popping a pimple is never recommended as it lengthens the healing process, not the mention possible scarring and infection.
Complete Your Shaving Routine
