Razor Burn RemeDIY -- Potatoes?

Alright I know what you're thinking. What do potatoes have to do with razor burns? Well, let me first tell you a little back story on my current problem:

A few days ago, one of my favorite YouTubers, Tati (AKA GlamLifeGuru), posted a video discussing coconut oil. I already love using coconut oil in my hair and on dry elbows and feet, but in the video, she talked about how coconut oil makes for a great shaving gel. Usually, Tati has great advice for stuff like this -- in fact, she's the reason I bought coconut oil for my hair in the first place. But using coconut oil on my legs for shaving was an absolute DISASTER. At first, my legs felt alright. They felt moisturized because of the coconut oil, and I felt pretty good about it. I went to bed, got up the next morning, and experienced some of the worst razor burn I've ever had.

Immediately, I started researching razor burn remedies. As I was looking through the different home remedies, I was hoping to find something that I already had at home. I knew that a milk and honey mixture would be a good idea, but I wanted to see if there was anything else that would be more effective. So as I was reading, I kept noticing people mention the same old things: aloe vera, milk, honey, oatmeal baths, and...potatoes? I'm a very curious person, so the second I saw "potatoes" on the list of remedies, I had to try it.

Turns out, potatoes have vitamin E and calcium which helps to soothe and restore damaged skin. Milk is a well-known remedy for burns, because the lipids in the milk coat the burn and promote healing. And then of course, we have honey, which is a fantastic humectant (meaning it draws moisture out of the skin and to the surface) and antiseptic.

I'm happy to say that this treatment really helped calm my razor burn. While I still have little bumps on my legs, my skin is no longer irritable, itchy, and hot, like it was prior to this treatment.

And luckily, making this remedy is pretty easy and only takes a couple minutes!

For this treatment, you'll need:

• 1 potato
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 1 tbsp of milk (whole milk is best, but you can use any kind of milk as long as it's cow's milk with some percentage of fat)

I'm only 5'3", so if you are significantly taller than me, you may need to adjust this recipe for you. 

The first thing you need to do is peel the potato. Don't bother cooking it or boiling it -- you want it in its raw state! After peeling the potato, just cut it into cubes. From this point, I took a small food processor (but you could always use a blender or a hand mixer), and blended up the potato cubes. After the cubes start to break down, add in your milk and honey. Continue blending until you get a chunky paste, similar to oatmeal. It will look something like this:

While you clean up the kitchen, stick the mixture in the freezer for a couple of minutes. This will ensure that it's nice and cold when you apply it to the affected area. 

I definitely suggest applying this in the bathtub, because it will get messy! You'll instantly feel a cooling sensation when you apply the mixture. I waited about ten minutes and then rinsed it off with lukewarm water. Pat it dry to avoid irritating your skin even more, and apply a lotion or body butter. It's best if it is unscented, again, to avoid irritating your skin even more.

I hope this helps anyone who may be suffering from a razor burn. Always be careful when shaving -- it's tricky business! 

What are your favorite home remedies?

- d.