Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsShaving Oils Did Not Improve Shave Quality, At Least for Me
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2012
Although I have read mixed reviews on whether the pre-shave oils actually work in the shaving forums, I decided to give them a try. The concept behind them seems sound. I have tried this brand, as well as a similar oil made by Anthony Sport
Likes
* It seems thinner than another oil I tried and easy to apply.
* Although it is expensive, because you use very little each shave. I assume that it would last a long time.
Dislikes
* Your hand will be oily after applying this. This is not a fault of the product, and it makes sense that they should. However, you really need to wash your hands once or twice with soap after application if you don't want to be handling a razor with oily hands.
* The spray top seemed to drip a little which was messy. Also, I accidently dropped the bottle on the counter. Not far, maybe a foot and the top flew off sending oil everywhere. The lid does not attach very snuggly, at least not on the bottle I have.
* Although the concept behind these oils seems to be sound, I found no benefit in using this product or the other oil I tried. I have tried to be fair and objective. For about two weeks I even applied oil to one side of my face, but not the other. Then switched sides on other days. For double edge shaving, I could detect no difference in shave quality. Both the oiled and un-oiled sides felt the same. When I shave with my straight razor, which I use on weekends, it actually seemed like the oil made it worse. Rather than gliding over the skin, the blade seemed to tug more on the skin on the oiled side. Tugging is not a good thing for a straight razor. If you are using a quality shave soap or cream, such as Taylor of Old Bond Street or Proraso, with a brush, I think those provide more than enough lubrication. If you are using shave creams or shave gels you bought at the grocery or drug store, then maybe this might help you. With those products, which seem to do nothing for me, you need all the help you can get.
Summary, if you are using a high quality shave soap or cream applied with a brush, I do not think this product will improve the shave quality based on my experience. I understand that others, with different beards, skin and shaving techniques may have a different experience.
