Shaving Blog 3: The Revenge

Humorous titles aside, I am wondering how I got to the point where I'd be writing a third blog on shaving-related topics. However, this one will be shorter than parts 1 & 2, which can be seen here and here. Also, the titles all come from internet jokes or naming tropes for sequels to Hollywood movies. There's nothing crazy or sinister involved.

So, what's getting reviewed this time? More Barbasol products. It's amazing that this company has been around for so long, MUCH cheaper than their competitors and 100% American made. I feel like an idiot for sticking with Gillette as long as I did. It really does pay to do some market research more often. Lesson learned.

Anyway, today we review 2 more of Barbasol's shave products: the Soothing Aloe version of their classic 'beard buster foam' in the aerosol can and the new Barbasol 1919 cream. Both of them are good, but neither of them are going to replace the original formula foam as my regular shaving product. The rest of this blog will explain why.

First, the Soothing Aloe foam. I bought a 5oz. can of this product because my local Dollar Tree was out of stock on the Original formula. I used up the whole can. I think the original lathers up in my shaving mug with the brush slightly better. And when I say 'slightly', I mean the Soothing Aloe version lathers up about 95% as well as the Original. Most guys probably wouldn't even know the difference. Beyond that, it acts/works exactly the same as the Original formula.

Pictured: The 10oz. can of the
Soothing Aloe version.

Next up, we have the new Barbasol 1919 cream. I ordered this from Amazon out of curiosity. From what I've read, this product is also only available through Barbasol's own website and various online retailers. Don't know why it isn't on shelves in Brick and Mortar stores yet. Anyway, I will make this quick by listing its pros and cons.

PRO

- Made in the USA.

- Tube is recyclable and product is cruelty-free. This should appeal to the environmental types.

- I needed only 2 passes over my face to achieve the baby-butt smooth shave, as opposed to the usual 3 pass method. (With the grain, from the sides and then against the grain.) That surprised me.

- I needed only a nickel-sized amount to cover my face for each pass. The directions didn't lie about that one.

- ZERO irritation. And I mean ZERO. It's almost as if I didn't just drag a sharp razor blade across my face removing the whiskers and at least some of my outermost epidermal layer. This was actually quite impressive.

- I didn't need to go over the 'trouble spots' on my neck like I normally do with all other shaving products I've used in life. Wow!

- Pleasing scent that reminds me of Lemon or some other citrus fruit.

- Would be a MUCH better product to take with you on long airplane flights or camping trips than an aerosol can. The pressure inside of an airplane isn't going to affect a plastic tube that you squeeze to extract the product.

CON

- Using a shaving brush didn't work well FOR ME. Best to use your fingers to work it into your skin.

- Tends to gunk up my safety razor to a point where simply rinsing it under the faucet in the sink doesn't work 100%. I needed to take the razor apart and rinse off each individual piece, including the blade, when I was finished. That may not be such a good idea for guys with butterfingers to be handling a DE blade while they have wet hands. (Mine were dry while doing this, BTW.) This won't be an issue if you use a straight razor. I don't even want to know how guys still using Cartridge Razors would clean up after they're done.

- Costs considerably more than the foam in a can does. $6.99, to be exact. The foam cans cost me $1.47 for the 10 oz. variety at Wal-Mart and $1.00 for the 5oz. at Dollar Tree. However, the price for this cream is competitive with similar products from other manufacturers.

- No 'audio feedback' when shaving the whiskers off of my face. Not hearing them get shaved off was a little strange. I got used to the ASMR-like sound the razor made when cleaving/removing the whiskers with the foam. That's how I knew I was getting results after that initial pass removed most of them that were clearly visible in the mirror. Not sure if this is really bad, but it does require some adjustment on my part.

FINAL JUDGMENT

Barbasol has a real winner here. I think I'll use this for those trouble spots on my neck while using the foam for everything else, including the (almost) everyday shaves. I do feel like I can confidently recommend this product to other men. 

This stuff worked surprisingly well. I'm impressed.

- Lord Publius