Updated date:

Nov 9, 2021

The Right Aftershave for Older Men: Five Excellent Grooming Choices

Author:

I have worked hard to stay fit and understand the complex relationship between aging, nutrition, and exercise.

What Makes a Good Aftershave for an Older Man?

Older men have older skin—and it needs special treatment. The aftershave that a teenage boy who is just learning how to shave splashes on his face is fine for kids and rookies, but us older men deserve better. We have come a long way, and the experience and wisdom that comes with age shows in on our skin.

In this article, I have gathered together aftershave options for men who are a little older but are still focused on looking and feeling good. I don't just talk about older men—I am one myself. Here are my personal best choices for the best aftershave options for older men like me.

1. Brickell Men's Instant Relief Aftershave for Men

This company is a fairly new one, especially in the field of men's fragrances—it was started in 2014, in the garage of one of the founders—but has quickly become one of the fasted growing men's skincare and grooming companies in the world, per the Brickell website.

Brickell makes a premium aftershave that is lighter and less lotion-like than many others. It also has a fragrance, which I quite like—I want to have a little scent in my aura when I'm meeting and connecting with people. Aftershave fragrance, in my experience, is a more subtle presence than a straight-up cologne or perfume, so I prefer to get my scent that way.

Ingredients

Aloe Vera: Soothes and repairs the skin after your shave, helping to reduce irritation. Penetrates the skin to supply moisture and antioxidants to your skin tissue.
Hyaluronic Acid: Rejuvenates your skin with fullness and volume
Coconut Oil: Strengthens the underlying skin tissue after the carnage your razor did to it and provides deep moisturizing.
A proprietary blend of other powerful, natural ingredients, including peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass.
No alcohol, sulfates, parabens, glycol, or synthetics.
Vegan; no animal testing, 100% organic ingredients when possible.

One of the features of this aftershave that I like is the attention to skin health. The idea behind Brickell's is hydration and pure ingredients. My skin has seen enough BS and harsh treatment—it may be getting older, but it still needs to be babied now and then.

I won't bother with a run-down of ingredients in English Leather aftershave -- it sets your face on fire and it smells like the back room of an Elk's Club. Enough said!

2. English Leather Classic Aftershave

A true classic. To be honest, I almost didn't include this bottle here. I splashed my dad's English Leather on my just-shaved face when I was a squeaky-voiced adolescent back in the 1970s, and I still remember the burn. This is an old-school manly aftershave if there ever was one—it's designed to sting! For some of us, that's the whole point of aftershave, which is why I ended up including English Leather in this article.

For those men who are accustomed to conclude their shave with a brisk slap in the face from a 100-proof concoction of whiskey and tobacco fragrance, then there's really no substitute for English Leather. It's a true classic, and you can't argue with a classic.

I won't bother with a run-down of ingredients—it sets your face on fire and it smells like the back room of an Elk's Club. Enough said!

3. Truefitt & Hill Aftershave Balm

One of the truly great men's grooming houses, Truefitt & Hill have been helping men look and feel great for more than 200 years. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the oldest barbershop in the world," they have taken care of the grooming needs for Prime Ministers and Kings. In my book, that means that they are probably capable of taking care of you and me.

Trafalgar is one of Truefitt and Hill's signature fragrances, and it gives their aftershave balm a kind of dignity and power that other brands can only envy. Their aftershave is made with lanolin and aloe vera, two reliable old-school standbys in the world of skincare, so it's a good choice for older skin.

4. Vera Wang For Men Aftershave

This is a more modern aftershave option that may appeal to the more fashion-forward older men among us. There's no substitute for quality, and Vera Wang has been a leading perfume house for years. Their aftershave gets high marks from reviewers and fragrance sites like basenotes.net, who offers this take on Vera Wang's aftershave:

"A lovely, elegant masculine in the same lane as Guerlain's L'Instant Pour Homme EDT, which released the same year. While it doesn't offer any single note quite as arresting as L'Instant EDT's gorgeous floating cacao, Vera Wang for Men is nevertheless an impressive expression of tasteful balance that is just as immaculately blended as the Guerlain...It's refreshing and decadent without being oppressive or heavy, and the lift from the citrus keeps it feeling youthful and vibrant."

As counter-intuitive as it may seem to choose an aftershave from a fashion house known for couture as much as for fragrance, this is an affordable, top-quality, fragrance-based aftershave that I could see working for men who already know their scents, and know what they like.

5. After Shave Balm for Men by Bevel

Bevel makes a quality, non-alcohol-based shave balm that smells great and brings your skin back from the scrapes and bumps of shaving. This lotion helps to reduce shave irritation by using Tea Tree oil and Witch Hazel, mild astringents that cleanse and refresh facial skin.Includes shea butter, which helps moisturize and reduce blemishes.

Make every shave count, my friends
Pixabay.com

Resources

Skin care tips for men | American Academy of Dermatology
When it comes to skin care, men have traditionally kept it simple. However, more men are now pursuing healthier, younger-looking skin, making it a great time for men to evaluate their skin care routine. To help men develop healthy skin care routines,
History - Truefitt & Hill US
THE BEGINNING The story of the Oldest Barbershop in the World, as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2014, began in fashionable Mayfair in 1805, the year of Nelson's victorious Battle at Cape Trafalgar, while King George III sat on E

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Mike White on November 07, 2019:

I'm looking forward to Vera Wang its look amazing, thanks for sharing :)

Ed Palumbo from Tualatin, OR on October 03, 2019:

I am 73 and I've been disappointed with many of the after-shave products that have offended my nostrils in the recent past. I thank you for these recommendations, and I will seek them out.