Noxzema
- Thread starter LMAN007
- Start date
Nope. Haven't found the need for a pre shave yet.
I tried Noxema for a bit as a pre-shave and found that it didn't do much for me. I figured if it didn't work, I'd only be out $4. I think it could have worked really well but it was just too much for my skin. By the time I got a bowl full of lather it would begin to burn.
I use Noxzema every morning, but only as a cleanser. I no longer use any pre-shave products, but keep them around in case I have another change of heart.
I occasionally will put some Noxzema on my beard when I'm in the shower ... yes, it makes a great pre-shave, but not something that I would use every day. Its especially nice in the summer, when that great cooling effect kicks in.
I use to work in a P&G factory where we made Noxzema shave cream. This was in Hunt Valley, MD around 1993. It was a horrible job, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have stocked up on truckloads of those little blue jars.
I use to work in a P&G factory where we made Noxzema shave cream. This was in Hunt Valley, MD around 1993. It was a horrible job, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have stocked up on truckloads of those little blue jars.
Years ago I used Noxzema as a shaving cream and it worked pretty well. Very refreshing.
DE shaving has renewed my respect and love for Noxzema, a brand of the past.
I was introduced to it as a kid - my mom used it as a makeup remover, and when I was a teen it was recommended as, and as I recall performed pretty well as, acne reduction cleanser.
Now that I've recently converted to DE shaving, and I've been exploring products, Proraso Pre-Shave green is a popular brand, which I've purchased and very much appreciate. Since Proraso Pre-Shave Green seems very similar to Noxzema, it's interesting to see Noxzema trashed and belittled in various places here and elsewhere. Proraso definitely smells nicer, more floral, probably due to higher quality eucalyptus and menthol oils, aided by the lack of camphor, which is not as enticing and floral as the others. Camphor has a lot of health benefits, and is a key part of the bath/sauna/massage/spa/barbers traditional triad of eucalyptus, menthol and camphor. I just started shaving with both as a pre-shave and thus far I can't detect any shaving performance difference between them. AFAIK the primary effective ingredients in pre-shaves are either oils or glycerin, and Noxzema is essentially a blend of sensate oils.
Noxzema performs great as a general facial cleanser, leaving my face tingling fresh, moisturized, and disinfected (see camphor health benefits, above). And, while I find both Proraso Pre-Shave green and Noxzema alone as post-shave balms (facial moisturizers) to leave my face feeling a bit tacky and stiff, a dab of either mixed into any facial moisturizer (I'm enjoying Olay these days) provides that delicious fragrance and menthol tingle plus the healing benefits.
Noxzema alone works great for me as a brushless shaving cream. While it doesn't lather, the oil + water emulsion is quite good enough to loft my beard, and I find Noxzema itself slick, lubricating and thick enough to provide buffering and quite a close yet comfortable shave. And, you get a good strong cooling-menthol face-buzz.
Importantly for those who care about cost, Noxzema is a fraction of the price. In today's (early 2013 USA Google shopping) prices, Noxzema $5/12 oz VS Proraso $10/3.6 oz.
I was introduced to it as a kid - my mom used it as a makeup remover, and when I was a teen it was recommended as, and as I recall performed pretty well as, acne reduction cleanser.
Now that I've recently converted to DE shaving, and I've been exploring products, Proraso Pre-Shave green is a popular brand, which I've purchased and very much appreciate. Since Proraso Pre-Shave Green seems very similar to Noxzema, it's interesting to see Noxzema trashed and belittled in various places here and elsewhere. Proraso definitely smells nicer, more floral, probably due to higher quality eucalyptus and menthol oils, aided by the lack of camphor, which is not as enticing and floral as the others. Camphor has a lot of health benefits, and is a key part of the bath/sauna/massage/spa/barbers traditional triad of eucalyptus, menthol and camphor. I just started shaving with both as a pre-shave and thus far I can't detect any shaving performance difference between them. AFAIK the primary effective ingredients in pre-shaves are either oils or glycerin, and Noxzema is essentially a blend of sensate oils.
Noxzema performs great as a general facial cleanser, leaving my face tingling fresh, moisturized, and disinfected (see camphor health benefits, above). And, while I find both Proraso Pre-Shave green and Noxzema alone as post-shave balms (facial moisturizers) to leave my face feeling a bit tacky and stiff, a dab of either mixed into any facial moisturizer (I'm enjoying Olay these days) provides that delicious fragrance and menthol tingle plus the healing benefits.
Noxzema alone works great for me as a brushless shaving cream. While it doesn't lather, the oil + water emulsion is quite good enough to loft my beard, and I find Noxzema itself slick, lubricating and thick enough to provide buffering and quite a close yet comfortable shave. And, you get a good strong cooling-menthol face-buzz.
Importantly for those who care about cost, Noxzema is a fraction of the price. In today's (early 2013 USA Google shopping) prices, Noxzema $5/12 oz VS Proraso $10/3.6 oz.
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I still use it to wash my face and was using it for a while as a pre-shave prep. I found the best pre-shave prep for me was to lather up my face, let the lather sit on my face a couple of minutes, go over my face again with the brush and then shave. It's simple and effective and I don't have to fuss with other products of any kind.
I'd be weary of that, layering soap on soap like that can really dry out your skin you'd be better off holding a hot facecloth to your beard and wiping it clean before reapplying your lather
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I use noxzema as a shave cream, it eliminates all razor burn completely and gives me a great shave. The greatest thing about this stuff is that if it clogs your razor it comes out in a split second with a quick run under the tap.
Yes, usually if I'm going out in the evening.
Now that you mention it, your probably right. I've been noticing lately a drying sensation, almost like putting alum on my face and then shaving. Maybe I'll go back to the Noxema pre-shave routine. I liked the cooling sensation when coupling it with the menthol/eucalyptus Proraso.
I'm intrigued have the Proraso White and Green pre-shave and love them. But I've been dying for a third choice for preshave and I'm stuck in the Gentlemanly Restraint Sabbatical. Have Noxzema in the den and use it as a facewash, but I'll be trying it as a preshave tonight. Thanks so much for the idea!
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