How to Shave with Acne-Prone Skin: Tips & Guide to Shaving with Acne

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.

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.

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.

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 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.