If there is one area of my daily routine that I need to work on it is skin care. Making the shift from cartridge shaving and shave cream in a can was a major step. Most, if not all, of the shave creams and soaps I use now are paraben free and for the most part provide some form of moisturizing. My post shave routine until picking up a bottle of Ursa Major Fortifying Face Balm, consisted of a cold water pat down followed by my Alum Stick – a perfectly acceptable process – the only problem I guess being that the alum does little in terms of moisturizing and providing any added cleansing properties.

I got my hands on a bottle of Ursa Major’s Fortifying Face Balm a couple weeks ago and I have been using it every day since. My previous experience with Ursa Major was with their shave cream, which for the most part didn’t work for me – not because it was ineffective – but rather I didn’t like the idea of not using a shave brush to apply lather (the shave cream is latherless).

I expected to need a few days to notice any difference to my skin, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that my skin felt softer and more fresh after just the first use. I applied a really small amount after my shave, onto my dry face. Massaged it in, 25 – 30 seconds max. and moved on with my day. The cream didn’t feel sticky or heavy when applying, nor did it linger in my fingers for more than a few seconds after applying (unlike the face cream I use on my kids that reminds me of its existence for the majority of the day).

The balm has a refreshing scent to it as well – the Ursa Major web site describes it as having a Delicious and invigorating blend of whole essential oils including birch, lavender, lime, spearmint and rosemary. Which I will have to agree with for the most part; with no real dominant scent for me. At times I notices the rosemary a bit more, other times the lime, nearly a different experience every time, but with each being a pleasant. An interesting observation being that the label lists Aloe, carrot, Kendi & Myrtle (all anti-aging ingredients) – none of which appear in the description of the fragrance, mostly because they are not evident, so don’t let it throw you off, or turn you off for that matter.

I think what I like most about the Ursa Major Face Balm is its ease of use. The bottle is small enough that it doesn’t get in the way, a small amount goes a long way, and I can feel immediate results. All motivating factors to keep up with my skin care, which I would imagine most men need to spend a bit more time on.