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Shaving Creams & Gels
July 9, 2008
Free Shave Gel and Soothe from ZIRH - Today Only
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.
Proraso Products at Bath and Body Works Under the C.O. Bigelow Name
Proraso is an old-school Italian shaving brand which wasn't seen much in the States until Target started carrying it. Then one day their shelves went empty, never to be refilled. Perhaps Proraso didn't have the same mass market appeal as a 250 count box of Hefty Cinch Sacks. Whatever.
Eagle-eye Shaving Stuff reader Scott recently wrote in with this tip:
Bath and Body Works is selling Proraso shave cream under the name "C.O. Bigelow". If you look closely under the Bigelow banner on the box it says "made by Proraso for C.O. Bigelow"
I haven't made it to my local Bath and Body Works shop to verify this, but aside from the item being listed as "Domestic" on their website, I have no reason to doubt this information. If someone out there in shaving land can corroborate, we'd all appreciate.
In the meantime, if you're desperate to get your Proraso on, head on over to Details for Men for a little taste of the Italian import.
What do you do when you've got a great new product and zero advertising budget? Bake the advertising into the product. Here's a great article from the New York Times about NXT Light Shave Gel - men's grooming products that actually light up!
To call attention to themselves, the products, which are aimed at 18- to 24-year-old men, will glow on the shelves, inviting customers to pick them up. Every 15 seconds, a light-emitting diode (LED) in the bottom of the container flares on, stays lighted for a few seconds, then fades out.
Neat idea, and well thought out.
Each NXT light is powered by two or three AAA batteries, and a rolling switch turns off the contraption when it's upside down or sideways. The light will flash for about a year, so the product is shipped upside-down from its plant in China in boxes that say "This Side Up" in five languages.
NXT Light Shave Gel is aimed at men with sensitive skin. Those who need a light shave. Get it? And for $5, NXT Light Shave Gel is light on your wallet. Look for their products at Target, CVS, Wal*Mart, and other major retailers.
Here's another idea for dad in the pricey but high-quality arena. It's the a|MEN|ity Limited Edition Gift Set, and it comes with everything you need to cleanse, shave, and moisturize:
Gel Face Cleanser
Shave Cream
After Shave and Face Moisturizer
The Balm (moisturizer)
Anti-Breakout Gel
We reviewed a|MEN|ity products way back when with very positive results, so click on over and familiarize yourself with them and their magical PRO-FORM 6 concoction. In the meantime, here's the straight dope on the dopp:
This five-product kit comes in a classic shape, sleek and sporty Italian leather dopp kit. [...] This travel kit will meet all his needs and become a staple in the bathroom and on the road. Designed by Amenity for added simplicity and convenience, style and durability for the discerning gentleman. [...] The limited edition set comes in a custom-designed black, one-piece gift box to make the presentation of this gift unique in every way.
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.
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.
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.
As we mentioned earlier in the month, ZIRH is launching a new premium brand of men's grooming products called ZIRH Platinum. And now it's here! Yup, ZIRH Platinum is online and available for your face and your skin. With eight new products to choose from, you're certain to find the right formulation for your necessitation.
Except for shaving. Hey Platinum ZIRH! What gives? You've got ZIRH R2 R-EVOLUTION Resurface and Remedy Post Shave Healing Balm, for post shaving. But no shaving cream? That's like having a toothpaste but no toothbrush. Or a buggy and no horse. Or a thing and not the other thing that the first thing needed. You know what I mean.
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.
When the TSA announced their crazy rules about liquids and gels on airplanes, who would have predicted they'd create a new market. Well, that's exactly what happened, and we're seeing an explosion of TSA-approved travel kits from all the major players in the men's grooming world.
Take Billy Jealousy's Wanderlust Travel Kit ($36), which comes complete with regulation 2 ounce containers of Hydroplane Shave Cream, Fuzzy Logic Shampoo, White Knight Facial Cleanser, ILLICIT Body Wash, Cool Medium Hair Gel, and most importantly - a Clear Vinyl Pouch.
Or, if you're a Baxter man, check out Baxter of California's Travel Kit + Dopp ($50). Baxter's gonna outfit you with 2 ounce bottles of Daily Face Wash, Oil Free Moisturizer, Super Close Shave Formula, After Shave Balm, Daily Protein Shampoo, a couple of hotel size EDA cleansing Bars, and a custom travel dopp bag. That means you're going to have to supply your own zip-lock clear plastic bag.
Finally, Anthony's in the TSA game with Anthony Logistics for Men's Grab + Go Travel Kit ($35). Two ounce bottles of Glycolic Facial Cleanser, Facial Scrub, Shave Cream, Astringent, Coconut Shampoo, Cleansing Gel, and the requisite zip top plastic bag.
Most of your favorite brands now sell these airplane-safe travel packs, so click on over to your products of choice and get set to sail through the airport.
Quick shout out to my buddies over at BuzzSkin.com, who are running a shipping special for the rest of the month of March. FedEx ground shipping is only $2.95 for all orders under $75.
But wait! What if my order is over $75?!?
Relax kid. Just split it into two. Kidding. Orders over $75 continue to be free.
So stock up on all the cool brands like Billy Jealousy, MenScience, Baxter of California, Jack Black, and more.
Free Shave Gel and Soothe from ZIRH - Today Only
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