Has anyone ever tried Nivea for Men shaving gel?

[neostyles]

Im using the sensative skin one.. Since I frequently have issues with irritation, im starting to suspect that this may be the cause (im using a gillette mach 3 which has a pivot head, so i assume the angle of my strokes doesn't matter. ) Are gels meant to be used with a brush?

Another problem is that, after I shower, the mirror is completely fogged up, which makes it impossible to see what im doing..

 

[Timmy!]

Im using the sensative skin one.. Since I frequently have issues with irritation, im starting to suspect that this may be the cause (im using a gillette mach 3 which has a pivot head, so i assume the angle of my strokes doesn't matter. ) Are gels meant to be used with a brush?

Another problem is that, after I shower, the mirror is completely fogged up, which makes it impossible to see what im doing..

I have seen it, but have never used it. When did you start using it and how are the results after giving it some time?

 

[USMC]

I know this isn't exactly the answer you were looking for, however you probably won't get much sympathy around here for admitting to use a Mach 3. However, I have found that even using a Mach 3, the pre-shave prep and using quality creams or soaps. Not the canned "goo" that is mainstream in the U.S.

I would be that most of your irritation would clear up if you switched over to using a better cream or soap and doing a proper prep. For more info on the prep, just do a search on here for Kyle's Prep. It really helped me out when I was starting.

 

[Go West Young Man]

You need to use good products - which does not equal expensive, by the way, quality creams are available in drugstores for less than you pay for the Nivea stuff - and you need to learn proper shave prep and techniques. Get those down pat, and the irritation will go away pretty quickly.

 

[Drybonz]

I used the nivea gel briefly back when I was using cartridge razors. It was the menthol and the scent of it was so pungent that it literally made my eyes water.

I couldn't stand the ultra-powerful smell of it and stopped using it. That's all I can remember.

 

[Nero]

I used the Nivea for Men Sensitive shaving gel. Back then, when I tried to find the best shaving foam or gel, I considered this to be the best - I have never again touched it when I switched to shaving creme. Even the cheapest of them is far better than the Nivea gel.

 

[wimbouman]

Im using the sensative skin one.. Since I frequently have issues with irritation, im starting to suspect that this may be the cause (im using a gillette mach 3 which has a pivot head, so i assume the angle of my strokes doesn't matter. ) Are gels meant to be used with a brush?

Another problem is that, after I shower, the mirror is completely fogged up, which makes it impossible to see what im doing..

I have.
It is not a bad product.
Not meant to be used with a brush.

But as with all canned gels, they leave your skin irritated if you are receptive to the chemicals that make these gels work or are necessary to make the can work.

I found a regular soap so much better for my skin.

I read somewhere that the process of soap and gels or foams also differs.
Soaps are about letting the water do the work, whereas gels and foams depend on weakeners and so on.

If I may suggest, pick up a nice soft brush like a new New Forest 2211 or a Semogue 1305 and a neutral cream or soap, like Palmolive or Muhle's Buckthorn.

You'll find the irritation to be gone or at least less, I think.

 

[don.putnick]

When I see a shaving soap/cream/gel advertised as for sensitive skin, I think of all that advertising on TV for "all natural" and "organic". In a word, bull!@#$!

For me it was more difficult for me to find my cream than to find my blade. I've tried over 10 so far, luxury to drugstore, and keep coming back to Trader Joe's/Alba Botanica unscented. Other than straight olive oil, it's the only product that causes me absolutely no irritation whatsoever.

Ingredients to watch out for are: FRAGRANCES, methylisothiazolinone, sodium laureth sulfate, triethanolamine, and anything ending with "paraben". Also watch out for lanolin and menthol. This list is only guidance; most people can tolerate all of them, but some of us can't.

Whatever razor and blade you use, watch the pressure. If you abuse your skin, just about anything will irritate it.

 

[Speedwell68]

Another problem is that, after I shower, the mirror is completely fogged up, which makes it impossible to see what im doing..

Don't know about shave gel or Mach 3s as I have never used either. But with a steamed up mirror, simply ventilate the room and wipe it off with a towel.

 

[Optometrist]

A distant memory for me now and don't regret switching to soaps/creams for one minute. There are far more rewarding products to use out there.

David

 

[xjrob85]

Back when I used cartridge razors, the Mach 3 and Nivea Sensitive shave gel was my preferred setup. I got pretty good results from it, and I still consider Nivea to be the best canned shave gel out there.
That being said, as soon as I picked up my first puck of VanDerHagen soap, and started using the VanDerHagen boar brush, I immediately started getting better shaves than with the Nivea.
A proper badger hair brush, and a quality(not expensive) shave soap/cream, will give way better results than any canned foam/gel on the market.

 

[neostyles]

I was taking a closer look at the mach 3, and I began to realize why the razor may not be the best. It's the skin guards on the side of the cartridge that prevent the blades from making contact with your skin. The result is that you need to press harder/take more passes (as I would image.) I have never used a DE razor before, but the more I hear about them, the more they sound like the answer to my problems. There is no skin guard.. the blade makes full contact with your mug.. I can imagine that this means that the shave will be far more efficient. I have only used gillette razors my whole life because they were the only thing available to me. I really haven't been impressed with them. Whenever I do an WTG pass, none of the hair on my beard ends up getting cut. It just pushes it down. I was using a gillette fusion before but the cartriges were ridiculously expensive and now that no longer have a job, I couldn't afford spending $25 every time I needed a new batch of them.

My prep is basically
1) Take a hot shower
2) Wash face with body wash (I realize that a proper cleanser is needed, but im in college and I live in a dorm and it's kind of hard for me to get anything that isn't sold at the campus store)


Although, I believe I saw a place in town which looks like it sells some promising products.

I have seen people stretching their skin in videos and I don't know how they do this, since having the foam on your face makes your fingers slip

As for the mirror, it is kind of hard to ventilate the bathroom. I live in a dorm room and there is no window. I wonder if there is some sort of mirror de fogger that you can buy...

 

[Nero]

Do you have a hair dryer? Turn it on and hold it to the mirror. Your reflection should return soon after doing this.

 

[brg]

Im using the sensative skin one.. Since I frequently have issues with irritation, im starting to suspect that this may be the cause (im using a gillette mach 3 which has a pivot head, so i assume the angle of my strokes doesn't matter. ) Are gels meant to be used with a brush?

Another problem is that, after I shower, the mirror is completely fogged up, which makes it impossible to see what im doing..

That was the last shaving gel I used. In my opinion it was one of the best along with Williams. And yes, I did use it with a brush, which didn't seem to make much difference. But after trying Palmolive Classic, I simply never went back.

About the mirror, if you simply clean it with any window cleaner it will remain fog free for a few days. If you want more durable results, apply a car anti-fog product. I have something called Redex (Holt), I think in the Americas they have something called RainX.

 

[Go West Young Man]

About the mirror - if your bathroom is fogging up, that's a ventilation problem and you're highly at risk of mold and mildew developing. Not a big concern if you're renting, but if you own the place you need to upgrade your bathroom fan.

 

[rafikz]

Nivea gels are GREAT

But you may be sensitive to one of the natural ingredients : chamomille, soybea oil, etc....

 

[j1mmyman]

yes i have its ok good price too over in the uk

 

[Basil]

i used to use the nivea gel with a brush way back when i first started... it would always get caught in the middle of my boar brush and wouldnt lather on my face properly.

That being said even tho it is the sensitive formula it still may have some chemicals which can bother you. Like some others have said try a longer prep to soften your beard to see if that will help, or if you go against the grain just stop doing it all together.

If that still doesnt work it could just be the cream and you would need to find what works best for you.

For me i switched to dr harris shave soap and it helped with my skin, but just because everyone says you need to use soap and a DE doesnt mean its true. You can still get great shaves with whatever you use you just need the right prep and the right cream for your skin.

 

[neostyles]

I have the exact same problem with the cream. It doesn't lather up very well.

That said, I tried applying the cream with less water (I fully squeezed out the brush) and I actually got a much better shave somehow. The lather was much less thicker and it probably provided a better cusion. I guess the cream just isn't meant to be hydrated.

I've also begun to use shorter, much lighter strokes which has probably helped quite a but. I did one WTG pass and combined it with a very minimal XTG pass and then did a quick ATG pass and bingo, no more redness. I still had to go over some areas again, notably under my jaw line.

 

[quickie-cookie]

It does just a good job, but like mantic59 says:

"Have you ever look at the ingredient-list of this "gue"?