Thread: Institut Karite Aftershave Balm

I recently purchased the Institut Karite aftershave balm simply because I like the design of the label. I know, it is very shallow of me, but what can I say. I'm pleased to report that the I.K. Aftershave is very, very good!

Packaging: Some could care less about packaging. I am not one of those people. I like my products presented to me in an interesting way as it gives each individual product its own character. The I.K. aftershave comes in a very attractive white plastic bottle with a flip top black cap. It is affixed with the I.K. label on the front. Simple, but attractive.

Price: At first, the price of the I.K. aftershave may seem mid-range compared to other products. However, the bottle has 8.45 oz. of balm so it is rather large. In comparison, a bottle of Nivea only holds 3.3 oz of balm. So, while a bottle of I.K. may cost you three (3) times more than a bottle of Nivea, it also holds almost three (3) times the amount of aftershave.

Burn/Bite: There is little to no burn/bite with this aftershave balm. It is not alcohol based and it is a balm, so I would expect no burn/bite. It has a nice cooling, calming effect.

Moisturizing: This is the most important aspect of an aftershave to me. I use balms instead of splashes because my skin is sensitive, dry and occasionally gets irritated. The I.K. aftershave is very moisturizing without being greasy. The calling card of the I.K. products is that they are formulated with Shea Butter. According to the label, the aftershave is composed of 25% concentrated Shea Butter cream. However, the balm is not thick at all. The consistency of this balm is almost exactly the same as Nivea. It goes on very light and seems to absorb well and calm the skin.

So, the Institut Karite aftershave balm has become my go to everyday aftershave. I was previously using the AOS sandalwood, but at their insane price points, I almost feel guilty applying it. The I.K. is very similar to Nivea in many ways including price, consistency and performance. I would give the I.K. a slight edge as it definitely calms the skin better, has a nicer scent and has a better ingredient list. This is a good, solid everyday aftershave balm.

It has been over a month since I wrote this review and I have been using the Institut Karite Aftershave Balm almost daily. I say 9 out of every 10 shaves I have used this balm. I have changed my opinion on this balm and I actually like it more now than I did a month ago.

I originally thought that the IK Balm lacked the moisturizing properties that I like in an aftershave. My problem was, that this product must have settled and I was not getting the full benefit of the balm without shaking it prior to use. Well, after a good two months using this product correctly, I have to say that I was wrong and this stuff is amazing and I don't think I will be purchasing any other aftershaves to test. This is the one for me!

It goes on greasless, clean and fresh with that powdery/floral I.K. scent. At a relatively inexpensive price, the I.K. balm leaves your skin repaired, refreshed, soft and smooth.