So couple aftershave questions

I been using Nivea sensitive balm for over a year and now switch off with arko sensitive.

What's a toner? What's Witch Hazel.

Has anyone used arko aftershave cream? How's it compare to the balm?

Slyfox , here is my take. First, there are a lot of different names for these products that seem to be used interchangeably.

There are different kinds of aftershave, though I think of an alcohol based solution that has fragrance added as aftershave.

I think of an aftershave balm as being somewhat like hand lotion.

Witch Hazel is an extract from a plant or tree that many people believe to have positive impact on skin. Aloe is another similar substance. If you are from the US, you've probably pinched off a piece from an aloe plant to put on when you've burned yourself.

So, when I have time, my routine is this:

Shave
use Alum
wash off the alum, put on alcohol based after shave
Let it dry, put on a mixture of witch hazel and aloe
Let it dry and put some lotion on.

I'm starting to make some of my own products and would like to combine steps three and four. I could add fragrance, which would cover the last three items on the list, though I like alcohol splash.

Wiki is your friend

What's a toner?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toner_(skin_care)

What's Witch Hazel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_hazel_(astringent)

You can buy straight witch hazel and its cheap but you might see this more commonly https://www.thayers.com/product-category...tch-hazel/ which contains, beyond scent, a bunch of stuff like Aloe and alcohol and costs a lot more.

Google ....

http://www.shaving101.com/index.php/shav...-balm.html
http://www.toolsofmen.com/aftershave-spl...n-vs-balm/
http://thecloseshave.com/aftershave-balm...ve-lotion/
http://www.westcoastshaving.com/blog/aft...-balm.html

endless articles

explains the rest. Many articles exist. You can find all the reading you can handle.

Lately I've been using witch hazel (Humphrey's Lilac) as a first post shave step followed by an alcohol based splash of choice. It adds to the moisturizing effect as some alcohol aftershaves can be quite drying. I rarely use balm only in the dry winter months and when I do, it's Nivea Sensitive.