Shave Sticks - Australian Palmolive Vs Arko

[razors_ej]

I'm currently using the Australian Palmolive shave stick (http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=45747).

I'm finding it works okay for shaving but dries my face leading to issues on a 3rd pass. First too passes seem to be okay, but by the 3rd pass there's no oils left in my skin and it causes gliding issues.

I've now ordered a couple of sticks of Arko and will post my impression once they arrive.

Was wondering if anyone has tried both products? What's the comparison. Note that I'm not talking about the UK version (that has tallow in it), I'm talking about the Australian version that doesn't have tallow. I understand the Arko has tallow so that will be a straight up difference.

Will the Arko help with the issues that I'm having?

 

[puffy]

I can't comment on the australian palmolive stick drying your face, as I haven't had that issue in the past, but I generally find both the stick and cream are poor performers (this may be an issue with my own technique or my water quality as I use tank/bore water). I do find that the arko stick does lather and perform very well in comparison, and has provideded a very comfortable shave when I use it, and given the many posts on this forum, it's clear many also find it a good performer. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you.

 

[Legion]

I've tried both (and vintage Palmolive, and Euro, and Fiji Mennan version, and... I have issues)

Anyway, I prefer Arko to Aus Palmolive. A bit more cushion. Some people don't like the scent, but I have no issue with it. Kind of citrus, not as trough lolly as people will have you believe.

 

[StuMcB]

Only get the UK Palmolive here in Blighty, but Arko is a little like Marmite, you either do or dont like it. For me I like it, good smell, excellent lather and easy to use. However I dont like Marmite.

 

[Luc]

I've tried both (and vintage Palmolive, and Euro, and Fiji Mennan version, and... I have issues)

Anyway, I prefer Arko to Aus Palmolive. A bit more cushion. Some people don't like the scent, but I have no issue with it. Kind of citrus, not as trough lolly as people will have you believe.

I had the same pattern but, did not yet, opened my stick of Arko... Palmolive isn't bad by itself (I'm talking the Australian version of course), it's just not the same. The Euro version is a notch above. We did a short but interesting dicussion about it not too long ago. You are welcome to share your thoughts in here or that thread: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/258838

 

[malocchio]

I've tried both (and vintage Palmolive, and Euro, and Fiji Mennan version, and... I have issues)

Anyway, I prefer Arko to Aus Palmolive. A bit more cushion. Some people don't like the scent, but I have no issue with it. Kind of citrus, not as trough lolly as people will have you believe.

is Fiji still cranking these out ? any online vendor for these ? I tried the uk and australian versions,both very good...

 

[Luc]

is Fiji still cranking these out ? any online vendor for these ? I tried the uk and australian versions,both very good...

Finding some Fiji shave sticks down under is a real hunt. I doubt that any online vendor would offer this discontinued product... Unfortunately...

 

[Legion]

Finding some Fiji shave sticks down under is a real hunt. I doubt that any online vendor would offer this discontinued product... Unfortunately...

Yes, every now and then one of the local guys uncovers a stash, but it is usually somewhere weird, like a tobacconist store, or something.

 

[malocchio]

If you guys find an extra stick please pm me,I have lots to trade..

 

[razors_ej]

Thanks guys, yeah I heard that Arko is supposed to be the bomb so I ordered a couple of sticks. However since it will take a few weeks to get here am kinda stuck with this aussie palmolive stick for a while. I've read that some people add a few drops of glycerin to their soap lather to help make it a little more moisturizing. I might give that a go tonight and see if it helps at all. Have some glycerin in the cupboard so don't have to go an buy it especially.

Even when the Arko comes I won't be throwing out the palmolive stick, so will be good to make it work for me somehow. Another thing to try is to also mix it with a little shaving cream too (with or without the glycerin). Lots of things to try, but I wish I was experimenting on the back of good DE shaving experience. Am still new to this so would have been better to get things down with a good soap and then to branch out later into mixing things up.

Luc, I checked out that other thread, very interesting. I wish I knew about the Fiji palmolive shave stick earlier, could have picked up a few sticks while I was there the year before last. When did they discontinue making it?

 

[Luc]

Thanks guys, yeah I heard that Arko is supposed to be the bomb so I ordered a couple of sticks. However since it will take a few weeks to get here am kinda stuck with this aussie palmolive stick for a while. I've read that some people add a few drops of glycerin to their soap lather to help make it a little more moisturizing. I might give that a go tonight and see if it helps at all. Have some glycerin in the cupboard so don't have to go an buy it especially.

Even when the Arko comes I won't be throwing out the palmolive stick, so will be good to make it work for me somehow. Another thing to try is to also mix it with a little shaving cream too (with or without the glycerin). Lots of things to try, but I wish I was experimenting on the back of good DE shaving experience. Am still new to this so would have been better to get things down with a good soap and then to branch out later into mixing things up.

Luc, I checked out that other thread, very interesting. I wish I knew about the Fiji palmolive shave stick earlier, could have picked up a few sticks while I was there the year before last. When did they discontinue making it?

Glycerin will help for sure, 3-5 drops should be enough. I think that Coles and Woolies sell it near the bandaids... As for when it was discontinued, I got no clue...

 

[Renato1]

I think Arko is a bit better than Australian Palmolive shave stick, though both do a reasonable job on me.

Personally though, I think other Australian made stuff is heaps better than both those two - the Windsor Cream at $7 and Natio Cream at $10 (sort of a semi latherless thing) are closer in perfromance to the more expensive Trumpers and Evelyn&Crabtree creams, than they are to cheaper stuff like Arko cream, and Australian made Palmolive cream and Faulding's "Shave".

Shave stick wise, I'm not sure why everyone is so enamoured of Arko sticks, as Derby and La Toja seem considerably better to me, and Derby smells heaps worse, for our added amusement.
Regards,
Renato

 

[BallisticBurrito]

I'm currently using the Australian Palmolive shave stick (http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=45747).

I'm finding it works okay for shaving but dries my face leading to issues on a 3rd pass. First too passes seem to be okay, but by the 3rd pass there's no oils left in my skin and it causes gliding issues.

I've now ordered a couple of sticks of Arko and will post my impression once they arrive.

Was wondering if anyone has tried both products? What's the comparison. Note that I'm not talking about the UK version (that has tallow in it), I'm talking about the Australian version that doesn't have tallow. I understand the Arko has tallow so that will be a straight up difference.

Will the Arko help with the issues that I'm having?

Try rinsing your face off between passes then padding it off with a towel a little bit then doing your next pass.. I had that problem with every soap I've used. Even Cella.

EDIT: Some people add a little bit of water to the very tip of their brush bristles instead.

 

[razors_ej]

Last night I tried adding a few drops of glycerin (about 4 I think) to the ozzie palmolive shave stick, and it made a world of difference! I was wondering how I would be able to get through my stick once the Arko arrives (if the Arko is THAT much better it would be hard to go back to the palmolive). However, with the added glycerin I now feel I could use up the rest of the stick.

However . . . the above answer from Renato1 about the Australian made Windsor has got me interested. I read the review of the Windsor shave soap: http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=47735&title=windsor-shave-soap&cat=40 (is that what you were referring to? I see you mentioned Windsor shave cream, not soap. Do they make both soap and cream?).

Wondering if anyone else has tried the Windsor shave soap? Is it really that good, or should I use up my palmolive for a while until the Arko sticks arrive? What are the ingredients for the Windsor soap? I'm guessing it's not tallow. Does that make a big of a difference? What does it smell like? There's nothing bad about the palmolive soap smell, in fact it's so faint can hardly notice any smell. Oh yeah, would I still need to add extra glycerine to the Windsor soap, or is it fine like it is? Does it dry out your skin?

 

[Luc]

Last night I tried adding a few drops of glycerin (about 4 I think) to the ozzie palmolive shave stick, and it made a world of difference! I was wondering how I would be able to get through my stick once the Arko arrives (if the Arko is THAT much better it would be hard to go back to the palmolive). However, with the added glycerin I now feel I could use up the rest of the stick.

However . . . the above answer from Renato1 about the Australian made Windsor has got me interested. I read the review of the Windsor shave soap: http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=47735&title=windsor-shave-soap&cat=40 (is that what you were referring to? I see you mentioned Windsor shave cream, not soap. Do they make both soap and cream?).

Wondering if anyone else has tried the Windsor shave soap? Is it really that good, or should I use up my palmolive for a while until the Arko sticks arrive? What are the ingredients for the Windsor soap? I'm guessing it's not tallow. Does that make a big of a difference? What does it smell like? There's nothing bad about the palmolive soap smell, in fact it's so faint can hardly notice any smell. Oh yeah, would I still need to add extra glycerine to the Windsor soap, or is it fine like it is? Does it dry out your skin?

Yes I tried that soap. It's often confused with "Woods of Windsor" which is a British made soap (and different). The one you got is the right one, "Windsor" is Australian made. Around $10 from memory. The scent is close to the Hugo Boss cologne. It works well IMO compared to other pucks of Australian made shave soaps. There are quite a few out there and many are bath soaps (unfortunately). This one isn't. I wasn't a fan of the scent so I eventually dropped it.

The tin is pretty cool and worth keeping after to host another soap.

 

[Renato1]

However . . . the above answer from Renato1 about the Australian made Windsor has got me interested. I read the review of the Windsor shave soap: http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=47735&title=windsor-shave-soap&cat=40 (is that what you were referring to? I see you mentioned Windsor shave cream, not soap. Do they make both soap and cream?).

I have that Windsor soap too, I've used it once and it worked well - but I need to use it more often before I make a conclusion about how it compares to others. Windsor do also make the big shave cream tube which I mentioned above. I tend to find it in the smaller pharmacies, and they make an aftershave balm too. The Windsor cream I can immediately make an assessment of, just by how slippery it leaves my skin after shaving and rinsing. Cheaper creams aren't that slippery. More expensive creams leave the skin very slippery, and I can easily shave over the rinsed area without a worry, without having to re-lather.

I made a mistake in my post above. It was the Natio Smooth Shave Gel that I used, rather than the Natio Shave cream - I realised my error today when I walked into a chemist and saw both side by side.

I'm glad the glycerine worked for you.
Regards,
Renato

 

[lenard]

Its been a while since I have used Arko but here is my comparison:

Arko - lathers easily, provides plenty of lubrication for the blade, interesting scent that I don't mind 8/10.

Palmolive - takes a lot more work to build lather, lather tends not to last long, ok lubricating properties, the scent is nothing special 6/10

I think you will find the Arko is in a different league to the palmolive, the only thing you may not like is the scent. But you can always trade it to someone else, enjoy.

 

[nav]

Arko lathers up if you look at it for a few seconds! The lather is thick and very protective. It STINKS though. I know it has many fans but I would never use a soap that works well and stinks when I can easily get the best of both worlds. Why settle, right?!?

OZ Palmolive stick smells to medicinal and doesn't provide a very quality lather. It's a product I would leave on the shelf no matter how cheap!

 

[razors_ej]

Thanks guys, I'll try and get some Aussie Windsor soap, I think my Arko won't arrive until about 3 weeks time, still hasn't been dispatched yet and I ordered last Tuesday. No biggie, have enough blades to get me through.

I went to about half a dozen chemists in Melbourne CBD yesterday but didn't have any luck in finding the Windsor soap. Will try some more next week. Just wondering if anyone recalls a place that sells them? Preferably in the CBD but also willing to travel if you recall another place. I went to the chemist mentioned on the Wiki (in Target Centre) but they didn't have it either, though they did have the green Proraso.

 

[gus1942]

My vote is Arko

Gus/BOTOC