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Regular Shaving
July 11, 2008
Gillette Mach3 Turbo Razors On Sale At Amazon
If you're still somewhere between old-school and new-school, shaving with a Mach3, here's a great deal on Mach3 blades at Amazon. $13.65 for an 8-pack, and shipping is free. Not too shabby. Yeah, yeah, I know all you razor blade shavers are paying pennies per blade, but some of us have bought into the Gillette business model and won't give up our cartridges.
Mach3 blades will fit any of the Mach3 razors, powered or unpowered, original, Turbo, and Grease Lightin'. If you're still tripling down with Gillette, stock up now.
I gotta admit this looks a little sketchy, but sometimes these things are legit. We received this email from a marketing specialist today about Shave4Cash.com, a site looking for male shaving test subjects. "Hey guys, you have to shave anyway. Why not get paid for it?" Looks like you can earn between $100 and $250. Not a bad haul. The deal is you have to get yourself to Andover, Massachusetts.
If you're interested, you can take the mini survey on the site, but in the end you'll need to call their toll free number 1-800-874-7550. That's all the info we've got.
Who knows? Maybe you'll test shave the latest mutliblade high velocity razor from Gillette. World Shaving Headquarters is only a few miles south on 93.
Thinking about putting in a ZIRH order? Today's your lucky day. Buy $75 worth of ZIRH products and receive a free Shave Gel and Soothe for your troubles.
We're fans of ZIRH Shave Gel. Allow me to quote from our September 2006 review, which went a little something like this:
Even though SHAVE GEL appears to have a bluish tint, it goes on totally clear - perfect for today's facial sculpteur. But it's thick enough for you to feel where you've applied it and where you might need to add a little more. Also, doesn't gunk up your razor head. Works great with or without PREPARE, but honestly I'd do the one-two combo over the solo mission. Your face wants all the protection it can get.
If I remember right, we likened ZIRH Shave GEL to some B-Movie blob special effect, with A-list movie star results. Didn't get a chance to try ZIRH Soothe, but based on track record we bet it would rate highly. Stock up on ZIRH today.
[A plea to my humble reader - please read this entire review. What may seem like a lost cause turns into a happy ending.]
There's a reason they call John Allan's Splash After Shave "an old school after-shave splash with a bite." Alcohol. And lots of it. What looks like a friendly bottle of bubbles turns out to be a harsh wake-up after your shave. Splash some Splash on your freshly shaven face and feel the bite.
[Note to humble reader: keep reading]
But then something magical happens. Your face actually feels good. And it doesn't need any more love. Last time around we after-shaved with John Allan's Calming After Shave Balm, and if you remember, we often needed to supplement with a little heavier cream. Splash is the total package. Could be the Chamomilla Extract & Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice. Could be the Willow Bark and Cucumber Extracts. Could be that anything feels better after being slapped by an alcohol induced rage. Whatever it is, I came to really like John Allan's Splash.
I'm recommending this after shave whole heartedly. I had no redness or irritation from this product. In fact my skin seems clearer and healthier than before. I fully expect to get some feedback about the horrors of "the bite", or the use of alcohol in after shave, but I'm standing by my man John (or J.A., as I like to call him). He's made a believer out of me again.
Every so often we get the chance to go back and visit an old favorite. Such is the case with John Allan's. A couple months ago we got a bunch of new products in and we've been steadily working our way through them.
Some history, for those new to John Allan's - starts in Europe, studies with the best, comes to New York, opens membership club, starts his own product line, products are awesome. What? Too much for you in today's information overload world? (Full history is here.)
I've been shaving with John Allan's Shave for about a month now, and it's like seeing a good friend after a year's absence. Great shave, great scent, great to catch up. In fact, my old review still holds true. Allow myself to quote myself, (unless of course the A. P. objects):
John Allan's Shave Cream is a white, almost fluffy cream, which smells like oats. Reminds me of those Molton Brown Oatmeal Soaps you sometimes find in fine hotels or restaurant bathrooms. The cream goes on easily and remains visibly white on your face, although it doesn't foam up so you can still easily see your skin underneath. Best to use your fingers when applying. It's a little too thick for a brush, and despite your best efforts (with fingers or with a brush), the cream will never look truly uniform on your face. I was initially concerned about this, but it turned out to be a non-issue. The shave is great. Far fewer nicks and cuts than other shaving creams. Great lubrication - no razor burn whatsoever. Also, John Allan's did a great job of lifting even my stubborn hairs up, so I always got a smooth, close shave.
Like I said, it's good to see you again, Mr. John Allan. Over the next few days we'll check out some other John Allan's products which are new to Shaving Stuff. In the meantime, John Allan's Shave is $14.50 for a 4oz tube. Get some.
Reader Review of Barbasol Ultra Sensitive Skin Shaving Cream and Balm
Shaving Stuff reader Keith recently wrote in with this review of Barbasol Ultra Sensitive Skin shaving cream and balm.
I switched to the Kiss My Face line of shaving lotions a number of years ago after trying a sample because I felt it did as good a job as my current shaving cream and better prevented razor burn. I chanced across this Barbasol shaving cream by accident and necessity and was impressed with how much nicer the shaving experience was. I felt it was both a smoother and more effective shave and haven't had any razor burn issues. It is now my new shaving cream. Oh - and the moisture balm is nice at conditioning the skin without any sting or discomfort which is a nice added bonus. I'd recommend these products to anyone with sensitive skin trying to avoid razor burn while getting a nice close shave.
Nice! Sounds like we've got a winner. You can find Barbasol Ultra Sensitive Skin at most major supermarkets and drugstores, typically for under $5.
All of the items we've been reviewing over the past week have come from Ritual's The Kit, which includes full size containers of all their products - Nature Calls, Razor Rinse, The Whip, The Balm and Trifecta. Plus, The Kit comes in an old-school wooden box (pictured) with Ritual's logo burned and branded on the top. All-in-all it makes for a sweet presentation.
Oh! Did say present-a-tion? Huh, Father's Day is coming up. The Kit might make a dad very happy.
Your face needs a little healing help after you've taken The Whip to it. Good thing Ritual has you covered with The Balm post-shave gel.
Stand by the ritual. The Balm has fresh cooling Aloe and Lidocaine to extinguish your face after a shave. The Tea Tree Oil and Witch Hazel will continue to work throughout the day (or night) to soothe your skin and prevent irritation from shaving. It's the perfect ending to your Triple S.
(For those of you who missed a day in class, "Triple S" is shave, shower, and sh!t. Not necessarily in that order.)
The Balm works well as a post-shave gel. It's a great way to finish your shave and leave your skin rejuvinated and re-moisturized. Of all the Ritual products, though, this one was my least favorite. The scent was again a little too lemony and medicinal. And for me, there's an ingredient that I'm allergic to. Makes my lips and mouth go a little numb for about 20 minutes.
It's unlikely you will be allergic to it too. Several other shaving products have given me this type of reaction (Pacific Shaving Oil was one) and I've given them to friends and they've had no problem. I know, I'm delicate. One pea under my mattress and I'm a bruised mess. Guess I won't be the star of the ShavingStuff action-hero movie.
The Balm post shave gel from Ritual is $19 for a 4 oz tube. If you're interested in The Whip shaving cream, get the Balm to finish your shave off right.
Finally! We've been shampooing, disinfecting, and even masking the smell of our sh!t business with products from Ritual. It's about time we shaved. Say hello to The Whip.
Abide by the ritual. The Whip is a richly lathered shave cream, which spreads easily across your face and neck no matter how thick your facial hair. It calms with Aloe, Chamomile, and Cucumber extracts and contains just enough Lidocaine to reduce the burning and redness that result from shaving.
I was totally happy with the shave from The Whip. Nice and close. No nick or cuts. No irritation. And even though they describe it as "richly lathered", the Whip doesn't foam or lather on your face, which is a plus in my book. It's white, not clear, but you can still see a fair amount of your skin underneath if you're trying to avoid a blemish or existing facial hair.
I think the only mark against The Whip from me would be the scent. Somewhere between medicinal and lemony, although not altogether unpleasant. This isn't a recommendation against The Whip. Just saying I've smelled better.
This Just In - The Recycline Preserve Triple Razor
What do you get when you cross old Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups with renewable wood sources? You get the Recycline Preserve Triple Razor, and handy travel case.
An innovation in shaving, the Preserve® Triple Razor provides an eco-friendly shaving option that doesn't sacrifice performance. With our titanium-coated blades and lubrication strip for comfort, Preserve's Triple Razor delivers a clean, close shave for both men and women.
And, to reinforce their commitment to recycling, if your community doesn't have a recycling program you can simply print out one of these free postage-paid labels and send it back to them when you're done. Also you can move. Or you could call your local city hall and say "Hey, why aren't we recycling?"
Everything about the Preserve is recyclable, with the exception of the blades. To good news is that the handle fits "Personna® Acti-Flexx® and Gillette® Sensor® blades", so you can buy your blades just about anywhere.
We'll be trying out the Recycline Preserve Triple Razor ($7.49) over the next week or two. Tune back in soon for our review.
Believe it or not Father's Day is only about 6 weeks away, and John Allan's is not wasting any time. They've sent over five grooming products they think would make a great gift for dad:
About a year ago we had a chance to review a couple John Allan's products and we found them to be "top shelf". (Is it weird to be quoting myself?) If these new products are anything like the previous ones, we'll be singing their praises in no time. Check back soon for our review, plus other Fathers' Day gift ideas. Six weeks may seem like an eternity, but it'll pass before you know it.
Go ahead and make fun of my lack of manliness. I read the directions:
Massage a thin layer onto damp skin.
Wait 30 seconds. Contemplate the goat... feel the kick!
Using short strokes, shave with the grain of hair growth.
Repeat (for you Grizzlies, repeat against the grain).
Have you ever really stared at the picture of a goat? I have. Many times now. In 30 second increments. Here's my free association:
My wife and I had our first baby nine months ago. The boy is awesome. He's staring at me. He likes it when I shave. I remember when he was born. That was an awesome day. We learned a lot about childbirth. Huh... Look at that picture of a goat. You know, that kind of looks like a uterus. And two fallopian tubes. And a... Ok, must be time to shave now.
Where was I? Oh yeah. Shaving with Sharps.
The pluses - easy to apply; clear, so you can see what you're doing; very few nicks and cuts.
The minuses - not the closest shave. Not the worst shave by far, but solidly in the middle. I recommend following step 4 (from above) and doing the repeat shave. Maybe not necessarily against the grain, but perpendicular.
I'd rate Sharps' shave along the lines of Anthony Logistics for Men. A good first step out of the world of drug-store shaving creams. But like anyone trying to expand their horizons, you won't truly appreciate the finer things in life if you jump straight to the end. So consider Sharps for the man who needs to learn there's a better shave out there.
Review of Sharps Kid Glove Oil-Free Pre-Shave Stick
Been shaving with products from Sharps these last few weeks. Sharps - whose website is sharpsusa.com. USA! USA! I love freedom. And so do they.
Anyway, first up is a unique product - Sharps Kid Glove Oil-Free Pre-Shave Stick. While several brands have a pre-shave oil meant to accompany their shaving cream, Sharps is the first line of products I've tried which has a pre-shave stick.
The perfect sidekick to layer under Kid Glove Shave Gel for the closest shave possible. Oil-Free Pre-Shave Stick is a clear protective barrier and a botanical-rich blend of soothers providing up close, comfortable, skin-to-blade contact. Prep skin. Soften whiskers. Never a greasy moment. A lifesaver for guys with sensitive skin, brawny beards and ingrown hairs.
Same basic concept as a pre-shave oil - an undercoating for extra protection - although in non-oily form. And while I'm totally sold on products of a pre-shave nature, I miss the oil. Frankly I didn't see much of a difference with or without the stick.
That said, Sharps Pre-Shave Stick definitely wins on ease of application and neatness. Pre-shave oils can be a bit of a challenge to apply to your face, especially if the bottle containing them isn't designed well. Sharps' stick is like a giant container of chapstick for your face. And it kind of smells like an ice cream cone. There are worse things to get on your face.
In this corner... weighing in at a "reassuring" six ounces... with a retail price of $270... forget the brains, this thing is all brawn... it's the Braun Pulsonic!!!
And in this corner... weighing far less... with a retail price of $13... harnessing the power of the atom... it's the Gillette Fusion!!!
Gentlemen, start your vibrations. It's shavin' time!
Sure, some men prefer the convenience of an electric shaver, in which case we'd recommend the Pulsonic, the gold standard of face mowers. But for a flawless shave that won't mar your mug, we'd opt for the Fusion. One caveat is the steep cost, as with most razors, of the replacement blades: $14 for a package of four. In the long run, the Fusion could end up costing you more than the Pulsonic, so it's no bargain: just a better shaver.
Read a full account of the bout at this Business Week article. (Pulsonic v Fusion starts on page 3.)
Gillette Mach3 Turbo Razors On Sale At Amazon
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