Has anyone tried this new product and can give a review or opinion on what it did and how you like it? I'm thinking about picking some up just to see if it's worth using.
Gillette Thermal Pre-Shave Scrub?
- Thread starter edutton
- Start date
Pass. First of all, it states on the bottle to 'keep away from eyes and mouth.' That should be enough, but just in case it's not the warming sensation was disconcerting and the stuff worked only as well as better products. The one time I tried it, a teeny bit got into my mouth when I was rinsing and the terrible taste lingered for a looong time.
It is a descent scrub, nothing more, nothing less. I bought the thermal version, but would not buy it again. The thermal feeling does not last and who knows what kind of chemicals they have used to give that hot sensation. I would buy the non-thermal version again as a scrub, not as a pre-shave product.
Chemical reaction creates the "thermal effect"...I threw it out because I do not care for chemical burns.
Wasn't Impressed with it either.
. So I put it down and bought "every man jack" not to bad I guess have never used anything like that.
The thermal effect doesn't last long enough to have any benefit.
Just another way for Gillette to get into the upper tier of shaving (price wise of course). More products at Wal-Mart equals a lot more sales for Gillette.
For reasons unknown to me I gave this stuff a try. The warming effect was very temporary but the burning irritation I felt was lasting.
I just take a hot shower. Chicks dig clean guys anyway
You're a celebrity. Chicks dig you even without a shower.
I shower post-shave. When I shave me and everything in a 10' radius gets messy
I shower post-shave. When I shave me and everything in a 10' radius gets messy
You're a celebrity. Chicks dig you even without a shower.
I shower post-shave. When I shave me and everything in a 10' radius gets messy
Tis true. I remember when I was dating Krista Allen, she use to use my safety razor on her legs. I broke up with her because of that, plus I think she was cheating on me with Brad Pitt, that slime ball.
I haven't tried the Gillette product, but The Real Shaving Company has a similar self-heating pre-shave that was THE WORST shaving item I've ever tried.
It was thick and sticky, didn't dilute with water so it was hard to spread around, the heat only lasted for a second and wasn't that hot to begin with. And remember when I said it doesn't dilute with water? So that made it difficult to rinse off. I practically had to scrape it off my face with my fingernails.
I hated this product with a passion, but just to be fair, I gave it a second chance. I re-read the instructions, found out I was using it properly, and put it on again. No better the second time around.
If the Gillette pre-shave is even remotely like the TRSC one ... stay away. Far, Far away.
It was thick and sticky, didn't dilute with water so it was hard to spread around, the heat only lasted for a second and wasn't that hot to begin with. And remember when I said it doesn't dilute with water? So that made it difficult to rinse off. I practically had to scrape it off my face with my fingernails.
I hated this product with a passion, but just to be fair, I gave it a second chance. I re-read the instructions, found out I was using it properly, and put it on again. No better the second time around.
If the Gillette pre-shave is even remotely like the TRSC one ... stay away. Far, Far away.
I tried it, but was not really impessed with it 
+1...it's all a ploy by the big G machine!
Agreed on all counts - any thermal scrub or skin heating product doesn't even come close to the benefits of a simple hot towel. I've tried it and have the tube still sitting in my drawer because i can't justify giving it to any other human.
All of the facial "thermal" products rely on chemicals that irritate the skin to produce the heat sensation - very similar to the "icy hot" products such as Ben-Gay or There-gesic. Basically, it's like getting a chemical sunburn - even if it is temporary. Not something that i would recommend to anyone.
All of the facial "thermal" products rely on chemicals that irritate the skin to produce the heat sensation - very similar to the "icy hot" products such as Ben-Gay or There-gesic. Basically, it's like getting a chemical sunburn - even if it is temporary. Not something that i would recommend to anyone.
I like it well enough. The "heating" effect is mild, but I thought it quite pleasant. The main chore of this product is to remove oils so water can penetrate the hairs and soften them. It seems to do that quite well. Hard to know if the induced warmth contributes greatly to its efficacy, however.
It is NOT "a chemical sunburn." On other threads, writers seemed appalled by the "chemicals" used in this product. Gillette's been in this business for years; they would be unlikely to napalm our faces to produce heat. The "magic" ingredient of their "heating technology" is niacinamide, basically a vitamin that also produces vasodilation. NO CHEMICAL EXOTHERMIC REACTION IS INVOLVED. All that happens is your skin flushes and becomes warm. YOU produce your own heat (the preferred method!).
High concentrations of this vitamin are present in dermatology and over-the-counter blemish/acne creams. It is HARMLESS. Men using this are at risk of having nicer looking faces, but since it is rinsed off, don't count on much.
The usual WARNINGS apply. For instance, do not trowel on with a spatula while drunk and then fall asleep under the blazing sun while pregnant. Do not scrub and shave your eyeballs with this product. Seriously, is any person here under the impression that any shaving product should be applied to eyeballs or eaten? They contain soaps/detergents, folks; that's how they remove the sebum (oils). Your tears contain very specialized oils that belong there and should not be removed. Although no poisons are present in these products, soap and detergents aren't part of most diets and are likely to cause indigestion and diarrhea. That's why they are in some pre-surgical preparations for bowel cleansing. Each to his own bad taste, I suppose.
It is NOT "a chemical sunburn." On other threads, writers seemed appalled by the "chemicals" used in this product. Gillette's been in this business for years; they would be unlikely to napalm our faces to produce heat. The "magic" ingredient of their "heating technology" is niacinamide, basically a vitamin that also produces vasodilation. NO CHEMICAL EXOTHERMIC REACTION IS INVOLVED. All that happens is your skin flushes and becomes warm. YOU produce your own heat (the preferred method!).
High concentrations of this vitamin are present in dermatology and over-the-counter blemish/acne creams. It is HARMLESS. Men using this are at risk of having nicer looking faces, but since it is rinsed off, don't count on much.
The usual WARNINGS apply. For instance, do not trowel on with a spatula while drunk and then fall asleep under the blazing sun while pregnant. Do not scrub and shave your eyeballs with this product. Seriously, is any person here under the impression that any shaving product should be applied to eyeballs or eaten? They contain soaps/detergents, folks; that's how they remove the sebum (oils). Your tears contain very specialized oils that belong there and should not be removed. Although no poisons are present in these products, soap and detergents aren't part of most diets and are likely to cause indigestion and diarrhea. That's why they are in some pre-surgical preparations for bowel cleansing. Each to his own bad taste, I suppose.
I used it for a while and have actually finished a couple tubes of it. It's actually a decent product and not nearly as bad as those above have made it out to be. I bought the Nivea version as well and don't like it as well as the Gillette one. The warming sensation is nice and the abrasives in it did a nice job clearing any dirt/dead skin etc. Maybe it was in my head but I did notice that I seemed to get a better shave after using it. Especially so, on those days when I showered in the morning and just washed my face with this and shaved at night. It's a pretty decent shave prep. Users are correct that it does taste bad, but then again so does every other soap, so try not to eat soap. You're not supposed to eat it. Now I'm just using soap and a hot shower and haven't bought this for a while.
I'll likely skip this one going forward but there was a product called Gillette Intense Cooling Lotion that I was quite fond of but can't find anymore. If you find it do give it a try, that's the product they should have kept around.
I'll likely skip this one going forward but there was a product called Gillette Intense Cooling Lotion that I was quite fond of but can't find anymore. If you find it do give it a try, that's the product they should have kept around.
"All of the facial "thermal" products rely on chemicals that irritate the skin to produce the heat sensation - very similar to the "icy hot" products such as Ben-Gay or There-gesic."
You are incorrect on both counts. The heat production induced by the Gillette Thermal Scrub and similar products has nothing to do with irritation; it is caused by flushing induced by niacinamide. The cooling produced by "icy hot" products likewise is primarily due to menthol and methyl salicylate. Fundamentally, niacinamide and menthol are neurochemicals that interact with receptors on blood vessels or in the skin, respectively, to produce perfectly normal biologic reactions which are temporary because our bodies are totally designed to deal with such things.
Niacinamide is completely harmless, even possibly beneficial. Is it a "gimmick?" Hard to say, but hot towels aren't going to get your skin all that much hotter and definitely risk overheating and damage.
You can prove all this to yourself readily enough. Put a dab of the Gillette product on aluminum foil, fold the foil over and rub the pre-shave around with your fingers. You will feel no heat whatsoever because this product does not produce heat; the heat is provided by you. Gillette's menthol shaving foam can be similarly tested.
I'm a retired neuroscientist who has happily used Gillette products for 50 years. The neuroscience underlying their thermal scrub and menthol foam has been totally revealed in the past few decades and is an interesting scientific accomplishment. No need exists to spread Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt about the "chemicals" in these products. Your precious bodily fluids are not in danger.
You are incorrect on both counts. The heat production induced by the Gillette Thermal Scrub and similar products has nothing to do with irritation; it is caused by flushing induced by niacinamide. The cooling produced by "icy hot" products likewise is primarily due to menthol and methyl salicylate. Fundamentally, niacinamide and menthol are neurochemicals that interact with receptors on blood vessels or in the skin, respectively, to produce perfectly normal biologic reactions which are temporary because our bodies are totally designed to deal with such things.
Niacinamide is completely harmless, even possibly beneficial. Is it a "gimmick?" Hard to say, but hot towels aren't going to get your skin all that much hotter and definitely risk overheating and damage.
You can prove all this to yourself readily enough. Put a dab of the Gillette product on aluminum foil, fold the foil over and rub the pre-shave around with your fingers. You will feel no heat whatsoever because this product does not produce heat; the heat is provided by you. Gillette's menthol shaving foam can be similarly tested.
I'm a retired neuroscientist who has happily used Gillette products for 50 years. The neuroscience underlying their thermal scrub and menthol foam has been totally revealed in the past few decades and is an interesting scientific accomplishment. No need exists to spread Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt about the "chemicals" in these products. Your precious bodily fluids are not in danger.
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