I have always loved the menthol kick of Mennen Skin Bracer. Lately I have been looking for a product that can give me the same menthol blast with better ingredients . . specifically with glycerin rather than the cheaper propylene glycol. Any suggestions??
Menthol without propylene glycol
- Thread starter umgowa997
- Start date
Aqua Velva uses Glycerin.
Any particular reason you wish to avoid Propylene Glycol? Just curious.
Any particular reason you wish to avoid Propylene Glycol? Just curious.
+1 to Aqua Velva. It's nicely mentholated, and uses only glycerin. VERY nice.
Also curious why you'd like to avoid propylene glycol, since I also use many ABAS's which use it as an ingredient and have never had a problem with it.
- Thread starter
- #4
In response to your question about propylene Glycol, I have read that it is a cheap substitute for glycerin and is a kissing cousin of an ingredient they put in coolant for automobiles. As far as Aqua Velva is concerned I was not aware it had mentholin it, perhaps I'll give it a try, however, I've never been wild about the scent when I whiff it in the drug store. I was really looking for a more upscale menthol AS . . . any suggestions in that arena?
Floid Blue is quite excellent and contains both menthol and glycerin. It doesn't provide a "blast" of menthol, but more of a subtle hint. I'm sure the Proraso AS has glycerin although I don't own a bottle, nor have I tried it so I can't comment on it's ingredients or cooling effect.
Well, yes, it is a cheap substitute for glycerin and, like glycerin, is Generally Considered As Safe (GSAS) for direct addition to foodstuffs.
It is a notional cousin to ethylene glycol but its properties and toxicities are different to that compound as used in anti-freeze. With that in mind, I too have difficulty in establishing the fount of your concern.
Propylene glycol is safe to use. As Adrian pointed out it's considered is Generally Recognized As Safe by the FDA because its toxicity is so low, not to mention the stuff is biodegradable and is easily metabolized by your body. In short don't worry about it.
That said if you like menthol, by all means get yourself some Aqua Velva. The Ice Blue is great, though the Ice Sport isn't all that bad either. Best of all, they both smell better than Skin Bracer in my opinion.
That said if you like menthol, by all means get yourself some Aqua Velva. The Ice Blue is great, though the Ice Sport isn't all that bad either. Best of all, they both smell better than Skin Bracer in my opinion.
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- Thread starter
- #8
Actually, I was considering getting some Proraso and looked at the label on line and was surprised to see it contained propylene glycol. I was shocked. In fact that's what caused me to start this thread . . to see what other good stuff, with upscale ingredients might be out there.
- Thread starter
- #9
You know, it's interesting how fragrances have a life cycle with people . . . some you enjoy the scent for years and years and others you can tire of. When I first got some of the Aqua Velva Ice Sport I loved it. It was my new favorite. Then after a while the scent became less appealing . . . to the point where I am no longer crazy about it. . . . The Mennen Skin Bracer, on the other hand does not become tiresome. It's funny how scents can behave that way with people.
Upscale ingredients? If you're talking about glycerin, it's dirt cheap. So is propylene glycol. Or are we talking scent here?
Well that's why you have mix things up from time to time. Maybe it's time to revisit some old favorites.
Hell yeah. The Blue kicks harder than the Sport. I like them both, but as a menth monkey I tend to go with the Blue. Don't discount AV just yet. It's good stuff. I didn't like the scent out of the bottle, either, but on the skin it takes on a better form, at least for me. I'll likely never wear Skin Bracer.
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- #12
From what I've read, glycerin is always going to be a BETTER quality ingredient than propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a cheaper substitute . . . put in to cut costs. The other thing that bothers me about Mennen Skin racer is the plastic bottle. It seems irrational doesn't it? But to me there is a whole quality/elegant element to shaving (or can be) that makes the experience special . . . and a glass container is part of that overall quality experience. I like the scent and the menthol kick of Mennen Skin Bracer, but the absence of real glycerin (using the cheaper propylene glycol) and the plastic bottle are two things I'm looking for in (what I'm calling) a more upscale product. I think I'll give Ice Blue AV a try . . . but I'm wondering if there are any others out there? Thanks.
I think get what you're saying, but the thing is that glycerin isn't exactly a luxury ingredient by any stretch of the imagination. It's a byproduct of several industries, including the soap industry. Is propylene glycol cheaper? Yeah, but probably no more than pennies on the pound.
I definitely get the glass over plastic thing, however. It's mostly an aesthetics issue, although aftershaves and colognes definitely tend to keep better in glass. Regardless, I agree that glass just looks and feels better. I was actually somewhat disappointed when I first bought the Ice Sport. After trying both the Ice Blue and the Musk, I was expecting another nice glass bottle and well all I got was a plastic one. It's still a nice aftershave and all, but it seems like a cheaper aftershave sitting next to its brothers in my shave den.
I definitely get the glass over plastic thing, however. It's mostly an aesthetics issue, although aftershaves and colognes definitely tend to keep better in glass. Regardless, I agree that glass just looks and feels better. I was actually somewhat disappointed when I first bought the Ice Sport. After trying both the Ice Blue and the Musk, I was expecting another nice glass bottle and well all I got was a plastic one. It's still a nice aftershave and all, but it seems like a cheaper aftershave sitting next to its brothers in my shave den.
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