Gentlemen's Tonic Shave Cream: Photo Review

[Mad Man]

Greetings lads,

A couple of firsts today; my first ever lather of a new cream SWMBO brought back from UK and my first ever "photo review" of a lather.
(Please feel free to critique and reply; I am into my 9th month of wet shaving and believe I am finally getting a better handle on the process and technique - happy for objective feedback on same).

Ok here goes; Gentlemen's Tonic Babassu & Bergamot is a shave cream containing babassu oil, manuka honey and is also paraben free. The brand itself (according to website) is based in Mayfair and appears as a "newer" entrant into the classic grooming products arena.

My first impression of the packaging was good; impressed with the decent quality of the box and the container.

Opening the box...

First look at the contents - removed protective lid and got first "whiff" of bergamot; kinda like a really mild Earl Grey tea fragrance...

The cream has a gorgeous glossy, thick appearance - as good as the best Trumpers or Truefitt creams if not even shinier.
I proceed to load the brush - a quick couple of swirls - remember it's my first time using this cream so I loaded a little heavy IMHO...

Brush is my Savile Row 3824.

 

[Mad Man]

Photo above is at 30 seconds mixing.

This is at 60 seconds and below is at 90 seconds...



Finally ready for first application to face...

 

[Mad Man]

After first "pass"....

 

[Mad Man]

"Staged" shot with brush loaded with lather for final pass and the tub placed into the shot for "reference".

 

[Mad Man]

Thoughts and Impressions:

GT Babassu and Bergamot is SLICK; gorgeously rich and luxuriant it was a cream that appeared as good as any I've mixed. It lathered quite easily and didn't appear to be a water hog (but we DO have very high water quality here). The shave itself was comfortable and only let down by my blade (it was my second day with a Shark and I am not a fan - back to Feathers tomorrow). I do believe it was protective and offered a decent cushion for the steel. Post shave my skin did not feel tight or "grippy" in any way and as soft as from any other cream or soap I've used - not better, not the best but by no means the worst or even mediocre but above some creams including the Trumpers and Truefitt's I've tried in terms of comfort and slickness.


I am keen to retry it tomorrow with a Feather loaded. May post a quick note on how that shave goes.

Hope this has helped and thanks for staying with the thread if you've made it this far...

 

[CorAnd]

Wow, that looks great. Could you describe the scent?

 

[Vlad]

I'm a sucker for nice presentation...box and jar look great. Nice, wet lather, too.

 

[7 O Menthol]

WOW! Now that's some slick, heavy looking lather. Nice work!

 

[Mad Man]

@CorAnd.

Scent is gently reminiscent of a very weakly brewed Earl Grey with very mild herbal/woodsy tones as well. Not IMHO a polarizing or "strongly" scented cream at all.

 

[Mad Man]

WOW! Now that's some slick, heavy looking lather. Nice work!

Just for YOU 7 0!!! - I promised you I'd post some pics.

I'll try to get some of the Cade next...

Thanks for the feedback on the lather - I just did my usual routine but a little more carefully as I knew I'd be photographing it.

 

[Deacon Frank]

Earl Grey! Wow, I may have to try this...

 

[mharris127]

Gentlemen's Tonic has a website and appears to sell their own products to the shaving community. I cannot vouch for them but the product sounds impressive from what the OP has said. Here is the site: http://www.gentlemenstonic.com/

 

[Mad Man]

I wanted to state also that I'm no way affiliated or representing GT in any way. Simply posting a review.

 

[Oblique Human]

Excellent review. Thanks.

 

[eizan70]

Great...another product I feel I must try...

Thanks, nice review. The scent sounds very nice.

 

[Larsson_Power]

Nice! Can´t wait for my tube of this to get here, i won it at the swedish version of eBay called "Tradera". Price with shipping: 4$

 

[Badger]

Mad Man, you have used way TOO MUCH product (almost like a Mad Man)....I have the same cream and make double the lather in 1/3 amount of cream that you have used. You might wanna use less product and less water and work it for about a minute and you'll be gifted with lather explosion with suds flying all over the place!

 

[Reevers]

I have this cream and think the scent is fantastic when lathering and shaving. Although the scent might not last long, I see this as a plus because you can come in with an AS of your choice to finish the shave. Thanks for the words and photos!