Decided to give this product a go since I regularly cause irritation on my neck when shaving. I've improved my technique and that helped, but I wanted a little extra protection so I decided to add the GD pre-shave to my arsenal.
I picked up the Mojito formula. The scent out of the jar is thankfully very mild. I'm quite scent-sensitive and had previously had the Mumtaz soap that was very powerful. It had a distractingly long lasting post-shave aroma. I sold the Mumtaz off to a friend. The Mojito is thankfully not that.
I showered and then apply a small dollop to my face and started massaging into four days of growth. It did develop a slight foam. I will more fully dry my face next time and only add a few drops of water through the application process as described on GD's product page. I washed my hands did notice they were quite slick, so a good sign!
I used Ariana & Evans St. Bart's K2E soap and a Razorock Bruce synthetic brush in a Timeless bowl. Bloomed soap, loaded brush for eight seconds and worked up a nice lather. I painted it on my face and let it sit for a bit while I pulled the razors out.
My first pass WTG was via a GEM Micromatic bullet with GEM coated blade. The razor movement felt on par with my last shave without the pre-shave. However, once the initial lather was removed, on subsequent movements the razor did have slightly less resistance against my skin. Usually the metal head kinda sucks itself to my skin, but I believe the pre-shave was helping break that surface tension and allowing the razor to more adaquately glide.
Second pass XTG, no rinse between, painted on lather, used my Schick I1 with Schick Chinese blade. The razor cap moved pretty well over my face, picking up some straggler stubble. I think a little bit more water in my lather would have increased the slickness and this was pointed out on GD's product page, but I didn't remember to add more.
I washed up and didn't do any post-shave treatment. I wanted to see what if any irritation there was and how the Mojito scent combined with the sun cream-like St. Bart's soap lingered. Normally I'd splash with witch hazel, but I omitted that for the purpose of experimentation.
My skin was buttery soft and no irritation flare up from the razor or reaction to the pre-shave.
Scent was very faint and I could elicit some limey aroma by feeling up my face. It was quite nice and has lingered into this morning 12 hours later despite having applied some CeraVe moisturizer before bed.
Key Takeaways:
I picked up the Mojito formula. The scent out of the jar is thankfully very mild. I'm quite scent-sensitive and had previously had the Mumtaz soap that was very powerful. It had a distractingly long lasting post-shave aroma. I sold the Mumtaz off to a friend. The Mojito is thankfully not that.
I showered and then apply a small dollop to my face and started massaging into four days of growth. It did develop a slight foam. I will more fully dry my face next time and only add a few drops of water through the application process as described on GD's product page. I washed my hands did notice they were quite slick, so a good sign!
I used Ariana & Evans St. Bart's K2E soap and a Razorock Bruce synthetic brush in a Timeless bowl. Bloomed soap, loaded brush for eight seconds and worked up a nice lather. I painted it on my face and let it sit for a bit while I pulled the razors out.
My first pass WTG was via a GEM Micromatic bullet with GEM coated blade. The razor movement felt on par with my last shave without the pre-shave. However, once the initial lather was removed, on subsequent movements the razor did have slightly less resistance against my skin. Usually the metal head kinda sucks itself to my skin, but I believe the pre-shave was helping break that surface tension and allowing the razor to more adaquately glide.
Second pass XTG, no rinse between, painted on lather, used my Schick I1 with Schick Chinese blade. The razor cap moved pretty well over my face, picking up some straggler stubble. I think a little bit more water in my lather would have increased the slickness and this was pointed out on GD's product page, but I didn't remember to add more.
I washed up and didn't do any post-shave treatment. I wanted to see what if any irritation there was and how the Mojito scent combined with the sun cream-like St. Bart's soap lingered. Normally I'd splash with witch hazel, but I omitted that for the purpose of experimentation.
My skin was buttery soft and no irritation flare up from the razor or reaction to the pre-shave.
Scent was very faint and I could elicit some limey aroma by feeling up my face. It was quite nice and has lingered into this morning 12 hours later despite having applied some CeraVe moisturizer before bed.
Key Takeaways:
- Next time I need to use less water at the start of pre-shave application so I get more film consistency and less foam
- Add more water to my soap lather to amp up slickness
- Have a Mojito cocktail at the ready for a post-shave tipple
- $18 USD shipped in the USA for a 4oz tub that purportedly has lasted many other users 2 years seems like a great deal for an added boost to protecting ones' face from less than perfect technique with definite moisturizing benefits.
- Will try with my GD Pura soap at some point and would expect a levelling off of moisturizing benefits when using some of GD's forthcoming new soap releases.
- I'm please with the purchase and am looking forward to using it again.
