Once I read a vendor's description of a pre-/post-cream that mentioned that the presence of menthol there helped to "shock" the pores ajar, so that one could sever the whiskers more effectively. And following this, I have been in the habit of using a mentholated pre-shave cream or lotion for this reason--thinking that it might serve the same function as, say, a hot towel prep, but with less barber-shop style drama.
In studying the entry for "menthol" on Wikipedia, I read about menthol's anaesthetic properties, but nothing about it's pore-opening ability. So I'm wondering about the truth of the latter.
In studying the entry for "menthol" on Wikipedia, I read about menthol's anaesthetic properties, but nothing about it's pore-opening ability. So I'm wondering about the truth of the latter.