To guarantee your skin is left feeling calmer and smoother, no matter what your shave throws at you, it’s time to introduce a quality aftershave balm to your routine. What is an aftershave balm?

Aftershave balms are specifically designed to treat a whole host of minor to majorly-irritating skin sensitivity issues that are caused after you have gone to town with your razor.This dedicated product is something that a more all-round skin moisturiser can’t fulfil as successfully. While moisturiser can absolutely make skin feel softer in general, the ingredients used in aftershave balms are more considered towards the vulnerable state that skin is left in after a shave. This product has a lower concentration of perfume oils, around 5%. It usually lasts three or four hours and can be reapplied if necessary, but won't deliver the same effects of an eau de parfum or eau de toilette. Aftershave A lot of people unknowingly use the terms interchangeably, but they actually refer to different things. The best aftershaves contain less perfume oil (around one to four per cent) and typically feature soothing ingredients such as aloe vera. The oil concentration here is perfect for post-shaving, when you’ll likely be adding a moisturiser into your skincare mix as well alongside a lotion or after-shave balm. The scent, as a result of its low oil level, lasts around three hours.

Armani’s Acqua di Gio (launched in 1996) defined a generation by being one of the first and subsequently one of the most successful aquatic masculine fragrances. This new interpretation, in an intensified eau de parfum concentration, shows the Italian designer’s commitment to sustainability; eco-conceived, refillable and composed of consciously-sourced ingredients. Aromatic and luminous, it ingeniously captures the original fragrance’s marine signature with a new molecule that allows its freshness to last infinitely. Master perfumer, Alberto Morillas, who has shaped all of the Acqua di Gio fragrances chose natural and sustainably-sourced sparkling green mandarin from Calabria, radiant and reminiscent of the designer’s Mediterranean roots, to open the crystalline scent. Clary sage heart from Provence (aromatic, warm and mineral), lavender and geranium bourbon heart from Madagascar, give it a masculine-floral facet. Patchouli Guatemala essence, with woody, balsamic and earthy qualities, cedarwood Atlas essence, vetiver heart (sustainably sourced in Haiti) complete this brave and evocative edp. All Tom Ford creations share something in common: they have a characteristic confidence, a luxe appeal and the inherent ability to unleash the provocative. Cherry Smoke, a new addition to the designer’s top-tier Private Blend collection, is a spin-off from the successful Lost Cherry fragrance, launched in 2018. A more masculine take on the original amber/floral scent, it intriguingly balances bitter with sweet and lends itself more to evening wear. Opening with a dark sour cherry flavour, enhanced with exotic saffron notes, you are immediately transported to somewhere ‘forbidden’. The heart develops through a bouquet of fragrant and velvety Chinese osmanthus white flowers, supported with facets of apricot, olive and leather. A precious smoked wood accord anchors the base, accented with earthy and spicy cypriol oil. As with all TF productions, the perfumer for this tantalising EDP is undisclosed, adding to its mysterious and simmering persona.What sets Aesop apart from other brands is that their focus isn’t on anything ‘anti’, so you won’t find any products promising anti-ageing or anti-acne. Instead, this forward-thinking beauty brand strives to complement a balanced lifestyle, helping you to grow old gracefully and love the skin you’re in.