Proraso Pre/Post Cream

I could be wrong, but in some of the previous reviews, the shavers who panned this as a pre-shave, also said that it lasts forever. That may be why they don't like it. I apply it liberally on my wet face immediately after stepping out of the shower. I rub it in like a face massage and let it sit while lathering up a brush. I apply lather right over the top of the proraso without wiping off any excess.This is what shaving is all about. It makes my face nearly cut-proof and is a luxurious experience. I have to order from overseas to get the big jars as I go through it pretty quickly. I use Neutrogena razor defense AS cream and finish by splashing on my favorite AS. Clubman or Old Spice used to feel like acid on my face until I started using the Proraso. Now it is pure luxury. Use it preshave and don't be stingy, it's cheap compared to a lot of stuff out there.

This is some very interesting stuff.... in that so many guys simply love it - yet so many feel it is somewhat useless - at least as a pre-shave. Well for some time I have been meaning to settle this (at least for me) so I went ahead and gave it a go.

It comes in a little box - very drab looking, and in all Itallian - that is somewhat useless and not all that nice looking - which I am sending straight to the circular file cabinet! Sure is a far cry from T&H and Trumper boxes!

Now some good news you Castle Forbes of yore lovers will adore.... the container is glass! Although it might not seem like a big deal - it sure ads a wonderfully regal experience to the morning routine to have a nice, hefty, manly glass jar. This sucker ain't light - and nor is the cream... that tiny little jar is 100ml and the glass is awful thick, but to me, a good thing.


Once you twist off the sturdy plastic lid - you are immediatly greeted with a lovely "proraso soap/cream" scent - however this pre/post cream seems to be not as rough around the edges. Very invigorating scent, really wakes you up in the morning and has a lot of character.

As a pre shave -
Forget it gentlemen... it is just "ok." Not BAD - but did not make much of a difference with a straigbht razor, de or feather razor -however it DOES greet you with that "old friend" proraso cooling effect. I will not use this as a pre-shave again, as does effect the scent of your lathered soap/cream in a negative way.

As a post shave -
Works incredibly well. To be honest, the verdict is still out - but thus far it is right up there with my favorite 2 or so aftershave balm/creams. The one tricky thing about this cream however - is that like CAR's a/s balm, a little goes a looonngg way. Do not try to arbitratily apply this upon your dry face - as it will immediatly form an uncomfortable, thick, greasy layer on your face, and within a few hours you will be quite oily and uncomfortable. Instead throughly wet your face with some water (or better yet hydrosol, a/s splash etc) and then take just a tiny, tiny amount and rub it all over your wet face (including your nose and forehead) and you will be rewarded with a glorious chilling/cooling effect as the water evaporates and the proraso sinks into your skin. It will leave ya soft, smooth and moisturized all day long. Used in the method I have suggested should get you around 1 years (or more) use out of this incredibly reasonable $12 or so product. For the money this has immediatly hit the "best value" list for a facial moisturizer/aftershave balm.

Nice stuff in my book!

After using this product only once, I would have to agree with Joel. I'm not sure it does much, if anything as a pre-shave cream, but it seems to have all of the qualities of a terrific A/S--its invigorating, smells great, is moisturizing as all get out, and leaves your face feeling nice and tingly, but no burn.

I've had the green tube of Proraso Shaving Cream for about a year. I've had the A/S balm for about 2 months. This instantly became my favorite Proraso product. The scent needs improving, but it doesn't bother me, however I can see why it would bother others. I don't see a lot of benefit in using "pre" shave, but as a "post" application, this stuff kicks butt!

Randy

I really like this stuff. I do think, however, that when used as a pre-shave treatment, it is best when used in conjunction with the other Proraso products. I can't put my finger on the exact added benefit, but I know I get a better overall shave with the Proraso cream when I use this product with it.

I can see how some guys may not be a big fan of the scent, and if this was the only cream that I could use, I would probably tire of it. I do find it to be a very nice change up to routine. After my initial 1-week evaluation of the product (using the Proraso products exclusively), I have continued to use it 2 or 3 times a week.

As I stated before, I really like this product. I will continue to purchase it and enjoy its use.

Unlike many other comments here, I *did* see an improvement in my shave with this as a pre-shave, albeit a modest one. It seems to work best if you haven't really, really hydrated your face well. If I don't take a shower before I shave, this does make a difference to me. However, as others have said, this product can really shine as a post-shave soother and moisturizer! Not as good as CAR Hydrolast Skin Conditioner, but its a heck of a lot cheaper!

--Mark

Pre/Post is absolutely fantastic (as a 'post'). It lasts forever, and it works like a charm. I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of it.

-Nick

Now that it's getting warmer, this item will see little use for quite a while. During the cold, dry months, it provides welcome relief and substantial moisturizing. A bit tricky to apply-- I find it goes on easiest on a fully wetted face-- but a jar should last years. The scent is barely tolerable, but it does a good job of soothing my ravaged neck.

If you know you tore yourself up shaving, this is the product you should reach for. Stops razorburn dead in its tracks. Fairly moisturizing as well. The scent does take some getting used to, but it's not too bad. I would liken it to Noxema. I find that the pre/post is especially effective when cut with Thayer's witch hazel. It also helps you gauge how well you shaved in that it cools more if you got a little carried away. Overall, an excellent product that I will continue to use without hesitation.

Just like all of the other Proraso products, this is simply a great product at a great price. A containter of this stuff should last ages as you only need a very small amount. I only use this as a post-shave treatment, so can't comment on its efficacy as a pre-shave.

I like the scent, so that's not an issue and think that it has excellent cooling and moisturizing properties.

Good solid container that travels well.

I used this stuff this morning in its intended manner, along with Proraso green shaving cream and some after shave liquid cream for good measure. This was by far the "spiciest" product of the three, and applying it resulted in an immediate freezing sensation. I'm afraid I won't be able to use this during the winter months when the air temperature reaches into the high single digits, and that will be sad. The smell is somewhere between tiger balm and noxema, so if you MUST have proraso post shave somethingorother but hate this smell, try this product's milder, sweeter smelling, runnier cousin, the liquid cream aftershave balm.

I will use this product as a pre shave every day from now on, though. Whether that's superstition or not, the day I used it first I had one of the greatest shaves of my life. If you don't think it helped, at the very least, it didn't get in the way.

Yeah, the Proraso pre-post as a post shave cream is great ; put cold water on your shaven area, use a LITTLE dab, and wow! (plus, water is needed to dilute the product, because it's thick and you don't want to rub the cream hard right after shaving)

considering the price, quality and amount needed (should last a year), it's the best value as an aftershave cream

I barely started trying this product and did not know you could use it as an aftershave balm.

I use it right out of the shower when my face is still wet. It goes a long way and you should massage it into your beard. It helps soften the beard and raise hairs.

The best part is the cold rinse. I'm still a victim of the Miller's Crossing/Good Morning Vietnam shaving advice and rinsed and shaved with cold water for about ten years. I now rinse with hot and do a last rinse with cold. That is when this product gives you that good sensation.

My only question is the menthol. On the "Art of Shaving" website is says not to use shaving creams or aftershaves that have menthol because it dries your skin. Any thoughts on this?

I use this daily. I like it! Great sensation. I will try using as AS balm... I really like a moist feeling and have found Kiehls Ultimate to be the best so far.
Does anyone know a better moisturizer similar to Kiehls?
Best Regards,
Conejo Bubba

I really like this stuff, the quality is outstanding (product and packaging) and to have it available at Target is a real bonus. I have only used it as a preshave and had very good luck with it. I will experiment more with it after shaving. I would definitely recommend trying it.

I use the Proraso Pre/Post Cream religiously as a pre-shave. I typically rub a small amount into my whiskers right after wetting my face and let it soak in and work its magic while I soak my brush and then mix up some lather. I find that my shaves are consistently much better when I use this as a pre-shave than when I use glycerin or nothing at all as a pre-shave.

I have grown to like the Vicks Vap-O-Rub scent, but I do find it tends to overwhelm or conflict with some more gently-scented shave creams.

I would never use it as a post-shave, though. That's what Proraso After Shave Balm is for.

the pre/post seems a little misunderstood to me.

first, it doesn't really have a scent, it has a smell. technically, it does have the parfum/fragrance, but mainly it smells the way it does because of what it has in it, because of its ingredients (mainly the menthol and eucalyptus-i think the eucalyptus is what is imitated slightly with the parfum). so, i don't find that it is to like or not like as a scent, really. that's just what's in it. it smells authentic.

and, anyway, for me, it's better than all those minty smelling shaving products that just remind me of toothpaste.

the other point is that it seems to me that the Proraso Pre/Post isn't really a preshave like a lot of others. It doesn't really even attempt to make your face slicker or more lubricated under your shaving soap/cream. about the only ingredient that could even be construed toward this end would be the glycerin, and glycerin doesn't always mean slippery. it's also in a lot of aftershave balms, for example (it moisturizes and does other things).

but it does (for me) prepare the face well and make the stubble easier to cut when applied to a damp to wet face and rubbed until all the way absorbed (re-wetting the face as soon as the water-pre/post mixture on the face is entirely absorbed into your skin). it also seems to take the edge off some razor burn and help it to heal faster.

the biggest difference the pre/post makes is when you haven't had time for a shower. of course, it makes it all the better if you for some reason have the time to take the shower, apply the pre/post and hold a hot towel over your face for a couple of minutes while it absorbs.

as a post-shave i like to use a little of it diluted in a little water (or water and a drop or two of PSO) and then sparingly use some of the Proraso Crema dopobarba. The combo of the eucalyptus from the pre/post (for healing) and the Soy from the Crema (for moisture) is great.

[must say that i do find the pre/post action of opening up the pores odd when the task after shaving is to close and tighten them.]

As a newb I still suffer from razor burn to various degrees, especially on my neck. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING soothes and heals my neck as well as Proraso Pre/Post. I have yet to try their AS balm, but this cream is fantastic.

I have also been using it as a pre-shave with a hot towel when I have the time, but this stuff really comes into its own on a roughed up neck.

I've read all of the previous reviews of this product and went out to my local Target and purchased at their fire-sale price of $3.48. I have used it the past 2 days along with the Proraso shave cream. After looking at it's consistency (like Noxema cold cream) and reading the reviews I didn't try this as a pre-shave. However I have been using post-shave, and what a great cooling effect it has. I am a little confused as to why everyone says just use a little, I tried just a finger-full amount originally and could not get it to spread around my wet face. I needed at two or three finger-fulls to get enough for adequate coverage. Am I doing something wrong?

Noticing that it does leave a filmy layer once dry, I usually apply right after my WH, and then proceed to clean up and then re-rinse my face just to remove that filmy look. I follow-up woth the Proraso ASB (which is also great).

The cooling sensation lasts quite a while and makes my face feel great.

This is a must in the rotation.

- Jeff

As an after shave product this is the best there is bar none. I would not shave without this product. A tub will last for absolutely ages so price wise it is unbeatable too. As a preshave I don't rate it but I wouldn't use it for that anyway. The only product I could ever say I wouldn't be without. The only caveat for using this product is if you react to, or don't like, menthol. Fortunately I am not in this category.