Bulldog Original Shave Gel Review – It’s Good Stuff!
Bulldog Original Shave Gel
A tube of Bulldog Original Shave Gel comes as cheap as a decent shave gel can get. I found it pleasant to shave with, and it helped make shaving with a cartridge razor easy and comfortable (what more could you need?).
Pros
The scent is pleasant and not overpowering
It contains natural ingredients
The gel offered plenty of slickness for the razor to glide
It is priced well and affordable
Cons
You might have to reapply and use the tube up more quickly (possibly)
Check the ingredient list if you have skin sensitivities (potential mild irritants)
Before buying a tube of Bulldog Original Shave Gel, I was aware I had not shaved with a shave gel for a few years. I have been busy testing and using many traditional creams and soaps, so I have not found the time to test shave gels.
I do remember King of Shaves being a good gel I used a fair few years ago when I was a Mach3 user, so using the Bulldog stuff was like a revisit to older times (or my earlier shaving days).
I like the company’s natural ingredients and sustainability ethos, as it is pretty much in rhythm with what a lot of modern guys are looking for these days. Bulldog is actually part of the Edgewell Personal Care company portfolio of brands, which also includes Schick/Wilkinson Sword razors, among many others.
Description and Features
BullDog is a transparent gel that does not foam up, although you can create a little lather with it. The tube is a typical pop-open cap design and is like a fat toothpaste tube.
Ingredients
BullDog states the ingredients are 95% natural origin, and then they put an asterisk *Natural origin ingredients contain >50% material from natural sources. Does that mean 95% or above 50% in natural ingredients or what (a bit confusing)?
Aloe and Menthol are two stars of the show. Aloe is well-known for its skin properties benefits, which include moisturizing, hydrating, and soothing skin. Menthol creates a cooling effect and is more about the scent and cooling effect, but it can also cause skin sensitization, according to this source.
Glycerin is a humectant that will help the gel not dry out too quickly on the face when in use. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is mostly safe for people, but some people who are skin-sensitive can have issues with it. Other ingredients (including what makes up the fragrance in the mix) are mostly safe for all people.
Check the maker’s ingredient list if you have sensitivities.
Source: Bulldog- Aqua (Water), Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Glycerin, Coco-glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Sodium hydroxide, Benzoic acid, Parfum (Fragrance)††, Menthol, Dehydroacetic acid, Limonene, Citric acid. *Natural origin ingredients contain >50% material from natural sources. ††A blend of natural ingredients
Scent
The scent is a kind of tea tree oil with a fresh menthol smell and a little citrus. It is a mild, pleasant scent that will not offend many nostrils.
The scent does not linger. Once my shaves were done, and I was washed up, the scent was a vague memory.
Applying and Shaving Experience
I shaved with the BullDog gel on a few occasions using various cartridge razors and while head shaving. I had a few YouTube cartridge razor videos to get live and made use of this shave gel (you can check out the YouTube channel here).
While the shave gel is clear, when I rubbed it into my stubble, it did create a white film of lather, which was nice. The gel was still kind of transparent but just had some whiteness in it (if that makes sense).
The texture was not sticky and kept its gel feel with a slight lather while shaving.
I have used quite a lot on each shave session and had to top up my face once or twice during the session. I had my head shaved on three occasions, which uses a lot more lubricant than just facial shaving.
The gel was a very good lubricant when using a cartridge razor, and it reminded me that a gel is pretty good with this type of razor.
While it contains Menthol, the cooling was not overpowering, which I liked. I don’t want too much artificial heat or cooling from shaving lubricants, but other guys might wish they got more of that feeling from this gel (we’re all different, aren’t we!).
There was no dryness after the shave, and it offered some moisturizing effect.
Value For Money
This stuff is a bargain if you are from the UK and it costs less than £4, and in the US, it costs around $6 – $7. Multi-packs are also available that reduce the cost of each tube.
I am guessing a tube will last a month when shaving once every two or three days. That’s not a bad deal for a decent product.
Bulldog also offers a subscription service that saves 10% on each order delivered every month or every two or more months. However, it works out cheaper to buy a bulk pack of two or three.
Final Thoughts – Should You Buy Bulldog Original Shave Gel?
I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed my return to testing and reviewing cartridge razors alongside revisiting shave gel. Bulldog ticked the boxes for me and at a fair price.
If you use multi-blade razors and haven’t tried a shave gel out as yet, then give this stuff a go; it is a good starting point on shave gels. If you use shave gel already and like what I have experienced with it, then check it out for yourself!
I am going to be using and reviewing many more shave gels, including some of the pricier stuff, which will give me something to compare the Bulldog lubricant with.
