Osma Bloc - Alum Block 75g (Soothes Shaving Irritation)

This is great product. Like many here I had never used one of these until I purchased this from here recently. Actually I'd never heard of it before - and my friends haven't either! I happened to come across it while researching traditional wet shaving. Now I wouldn't be without it. My problem is sensitive skin and often have skin burn following shaving, my skin seems to hold heat for a while following shaving. But I also have a fairly quick bristle growth rate so have to shave regularly. I've tried various pre/during/post shaving products and methods to try and help and this has been one of the successes. The block arrived quickly in the nice box as pictured, the block is tough and cold, like a stone/mineral block, small in size but should last for ages. Following shaving I use it by wetting and wiping over my face and neck, 3 or 4 coatings. keep the block wet as it does dry quickly and is tough to use when it is drying. Leaves a very pleasant cool feeling, skin feels taut and smooth, seems to seal any nicks/cuts and leaves a nice sheen. Some prefer to wash their face once applied but I left it on because it feels really nice and protective on your skin. Seems to stop your skin becoming too oily as well; you feel clean and fresh. Very pleasant product. It's now a requirement in my shaving process, I can't recommend it highly enough. Natural products always win.

An excellent value alum block. Certain well known shops sell their own branded blocks for astronomical prices but what you get is exactly the same. I have in the past paid three times as much for a block from a certain Mayfair based shaving emporium but alum is alum and I can categorically state from a users experience that there is no difference whatsoever. There is no need to pay more. If you have not used alum before as part of your shaving ritual it is something you should definitely consider. Alum is a natural styptic and anti-septic and will seal and sterilise any small nicks in the skin. It will also help you to improve your technique and tell you when your razor is getting blunt. You can expect a little bit of stinging after applying the alum no matter what but if you are scraping the skin and causing lots of abrasion or your blade is blunt then you will really feel it. My technique is to finish shaving, wash face in warm water to remove soap, submerge face in cold water them make alum block wet with cold water and pass thoroughly over all shaved areas. Follow that with a skin tonic and a moisturiser and your face will feel smoother than it ever has. An extra benefit of using alum I find is that I hardly ever get collar burn if I shave in the morning and then wear a tie. It really settles the skin down again quickly after shaving. Tip: alum is a salt so it melts (slowly) in water. Make sure you dry it off thoroughly after use and store it somwhere dry. If you do then this small block will last a very long time - probably more than a year. Tip: Alum is an anti-septic and can be very helpful for acne even if you don't shave. I bought my teenage son one and he uses it to keep his spots under control. Tip: You can even use it as a deodorant because it closes pores and kills bacteria - you might want to get two blocks though if you are using one on your pits!

Alum blocks (Or hydrated potassium aluminium sulphate for the geeky) is a mineral block made of large crystals. The idea is you moisten your face and rub the wet block gently on your face the alum and cold water act to close pores, tighten skin, remove moisture and seal cuts and prevent/soothe razor burn. It's also used as an underarm deodorant, never tried that personally. It's an astringent (skin dryer/ pore closer), with some antiseptic properties (will reduce spot development post shave). Very very little of the alum actually dissolves and this block will last many hundreds of shaves (maybe a decade if you don't drop/lose it first). However it is small at about 12cc (thick large rubber/eraser). This brand Osma Bloc is fairly well known as alum blocks go and is a high end brand you can buy larger blocks at about half the price but it's so long lasting why bother? Still since it's rather expensive I dropped a star (while well worth it, in fact I might change it to 5 stars... mhmm). You can use this pre-shave with electrics to improve glide and post-shave instead of alcohol based aftershave. I like to use some on my fingers before I shave as it improves my grip on my skin. Overall I recommend the use of any alum block, especially this one. Especially if you have sensitive skin which alcohol doesn't help.

I love using it every morning after my shave.

I use this block as both an underarm de-odorizer and an aftershave treatment on my face. Yup. I use the same block for both. The reason it works on your pits is because it creates a hostile environment for odor causing bacteria. That's just by getting its residue on your skin. Imagine how much the bacteria would hate to live on a solid block of the stuff. Thus, it takes on no odor and does not cause any bacterial razor bumps or anything. As an aftershave treatment, it stops bleeding from tiny cuts and weepers that are not leaking much, and it disinfects the whole surface that it is applied to. For a substantial cut, it won't stop the bleeding and you will need a styptic pencil, so if you have a tendency to hack your face up, this won't be your best solution. However, you will find this soothing as a daily application, so it should definitely be a part of your tool kit. This is good for what it's good for, and the styptic pencil handles the rest. Keep both on hand. As a deodorant, it surprises me how effective this is. I use it daily, and it prevents odor all day if I don't sweat, or a partial day if I do. This is not an anti-perspirant, so if you decide to go out and chop some wood, don't be surprised if you need to reapply some alum. Or you can do what I do, which is keep a stick of deodorant around for emergencies. As it is though, I would say this works better than the organic deodorants I have had to use for years because of skin allergies to anti-perspirants. This is a solid chunk of alum, so it isn't wearing down much. I think this thing could probably last a couple years with daily use. I want to point out that this does not leave a visible residue on your face. You do not need to rinse or wipe it off. I apply it while my face is still wet after I rinse off my shaving cream remnants, and I let it dry. Then I put on an aftershave splash and lotion and head out the door.

Llegó rápido y en buen estado. La piedra no es muy grande, pero da para muchos usos. Viene en una caja como de cartón ligero. Nunca había usado una piedra de alumbre pero la verdad es que funciona muy bien. Ayuda mucho contra la irritación y si te haces algún corte para el sangrado enseguida. Estoy contento con la compra, lo recomiendo.

After switching from cartridge shaving to safety razors, I was made aware of more traditional, and most of the times, better shaving routines. I wanted an aftershave product that is natural and chemical free and something that does not have alcohol in it. I was skeptical at first but after using it for the first time, I noticed a much more pleasant feel on my skin when it's being applied. Not only does it close nicks and cools down any irritations but also tightens the skin which is exactly what I was looking for! For some reason, I feel more refreshed and overall makes the whole shaving experience more enjoyable! Highly recommend.

Anti bacterial, soothing, nice results