Art of Shaving Gel
- Thread starter jdboucher
- Start date
I'm kind of curious myself.
I think it's great stuff, but mainly for the scent (sandalwood + fir, almost a light eucalyptus note...nice for cold weather.)
As far as healing it's nice, not amazing. Good texture, moisturizing, natural ingredients, but I wouldn't go for the unscented stuff. I think the main component is a type of algae. It's a little astringent, but nothing like your alcohol-based splashes or even witch hazel.
I've only gotten it off ebay--the regular price is a bit much for my budget. My two cents, hope it helps.
As far as healing it's nice, not amazing. Good texture, moisturizing, natural ingredients, but I wouldn't go for the unscented stuff. I think the main component is a type of algae. It's a little astringent, but nothing like your alcohol-based splashes or even witch hazel.
I've only gotten it off ebay--the regular price is a bit much for my budget. My two cents, hope it helps.
- Thread starter
- #4
It's pretty potent...doesn't last as long as the EDT, obviously, but I'd say 4 hours on me. The scent stays closer to the skin than the cologne as well. After that, someone has to be pretty close to you to get a whiff.
That being said, I have the gel and the cologne and often wear the gel by itself. If you use both, you want to go light on the cologne until you figure out how it reacts to your skin. I love the scent but it can be a heavy combination.
That being said, I have the gel and the cologne and often wear the gel by itself. If you use both, you want to go light on the cologne until you figure out how it reacts to your skin. I love the scent but it can be a heavy combination.
I have not tried the sandalwood gel, but if it's anything like the balm, it's the longest lasting of the four scents. Scott's comments back this up. I've tried the other three. Lemon is quite fleeting - very bright and refreshing at the start, then gone almost by the time you blink. Lavender lasts a bit longer; I can still detect very minute traces of the scent an hour or so later. Unscented is really unscented, with minimal base product smell.
As far as the product itself goes, it's not bad, but not my favorite, either. It's got a lot of (theoretically) healing ingredients in it, but I don't find it works wonders. The finish is OK - a little tacky at first, then absorbing to a relatively matte finish. Its moisturizing properties are pretty good for a gel. In the end, though, it is not on my short list of go-to aftershave products. It's hard to pick any particular reason why this is; it just doesn't do a whole lot for me, overall. Then again, it's been a while since I've used it. Maybe I should try it again to see if my perspective has changed at all.
Funny how things work. After my above post, I decided to revisit the AOS lavender gel. I was pleasantly surprised how I like it. I used it following T&H Ultimate Comfort cream, which also has a lavender base. The two complemented each other nicely, not only in terms of scent, but function as well. The gel was soothing and absorbed well, leaving a natural finish. The scent isn't the last word in high-end lavender scent (Castle Forbes holds that honor), but it's nice all the same. It's worth a try if you're thinking you might like it.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thats really good to hear. I've heard that the gel is for summer use, while the balm is for winter use. The balm does seem to leave my face a little more greasy than other AS I've used.
Art of Shaving says that right on their website. I was just reflecting on that the other day, thinking what BS it is. I mean, it could be true for some individuals, but it really comes down to individual need and preference. For instance, for me, the balm is so heavy, I wouldn't want to wear it any time of the year, except maybe the most severe winter weather, like what I used to experience in Minneapolis when I lived there; whereas I think I could get by with the gel most times of the year here in Portland, where the winters are pretty mild. I guess my point is, pay no attention to what the makers tell you you need; they want to sell you stuff. I learned long ago that I know what my skin needs better than any company or sales rep does.
KUDOS to a man who actually knows how to use a semicolon! You, Sir, are obviously someone who paid attention in English class. My congratulations go out to you.
