Proraso Pre-Shave Cream, Green Tea & Oatmeal Review – How Effective is it?
Proraso Pre-Shave Cream (green tea & oatmeal)
Proraso has a line of great pre-shaves with a few cool scent options. Green Tea & Oatmeal is one of those scents, and the cream is made with skin sensitivity in mind.
Pros
Easy to apply
May reduce irritation
Cooling and soothing effect
Cruelty-free
97% natural ingredients
Cons
The scent is an acquired taste
Proraso is an old brand and a well-known name in the world of shaving. The company has been in existence since 1908, and has been a manufacturer of Shaving Supplies for all that time. They are a very traditional company based in Italy, interested only in making truly classic products for the discerning shaver.
Recently, I got my hands on a jar of the Green Tea and Oatmeal infused Proraso Pre-Shave Cream, and I was so impressed with the product I requested to review it for the site.
At the risk of giving it away too quickly, I really do enjoy it and think it is a great addition to any shaving ritual.
How Good is Proraso Pre-Shave?
I will swear by this product. Prior to getting into traditional wet shaving, I had a great deal of issues with razor burn, ingrown hairs, and constantly cutting myself. For me, shaving was something to be dreaded.
With this stuff, as well as the shaving soap I use, shaving has become great. I don’t have to worry about razor burn anymore. I still cut myself from time to time, but it’s never a bad bleeding cut, and the irritation never sticks around.
In addition to that, I have had a noticeable decrease in dry skin over my face. My skin feels healthier and shaving has become easier overall.
How Do I Use And Apply It?
To use it is a simple process:
- Get a small dollop on your fingers
- Gently work it into your skin
- Apply your shaving cream on top of it
- Shave like normal
The ease of being able to add it to any ritual makes it a no-brainer. This Pre-Shave Cream makes your skin so much healthier after each use, that adding it to any routine is a huge positive.
It can be used with any kind of shaving cream, whether you use canned foaming cream or shaving soap and a brush. It also works well with straight razors, cartridge razors, or safety razors. It doesn’t work well with electric razors, though. For that, you would want to look for Pre-Shave Lotions.
How Does the Texture of Proraso Pre-Shave Feel?
The texture is an important thing for me, as something that feels weird on the skin can make me feel uncomfortable all day, even when I rinse it off.
The Proraso Pre-Shave cream itself feels very much like grease or sunscreen. It leaves a layer on the skin to hydrate, nourish, and protect your skin while you shave. It doesn’t air dry easily but washes off quickly with the dregs of your shaving cream after you’re done shaving.
Beyond just the texture, the ingredients of the cream have a cooling and soothing effect on the skin. Because it is the last pass of my shaving ritual, I will often let it sit for about five minutes just to let it soothe my face.
It is one of the aspects I genuinely look forward to when it comes to shaving.
How does it Smell? Does it have a Scent?
The smell is an acquired taste. It is not bad or off-putting, but it is definitely not something you would immediately associate with shaving.
The product page for the cream states it has a lime and apple scent, and there is certainly a sweet and somewhat fruit-like smell there, but it’s mixed with some other fragrances.
There are musky Parfum bottom notes to the scent that immediately bring out thoughts of older-style colognes. That is followed by a rather sharp hit of something citrus-like that could be the lime, but is more like just generic citrus. Finally, it ends with a floral note where the green tea really comes out.
It’s not an unpleasant scent, but it is definitely one I could see people having to get used to over time. I already associate it with something good, i.e., wet shaving, so I have come to enjoy it.
What is in it (ingredients)?
Proraso shaving cream has what looks like a long ingredient list, but most of that is just chemical names for the more natural ingredients in the cream.
The product page boasts a “97 percent natural ingredients” list, but what intrigues me more is the fact that it is Cruelty-Free. There are no animal products in this, making it a truly vegan option for the discerning shaver.
There are also no harsh preservatives or mineral oils that would irritate sensitive skin types, which is always a plus in my book.
Price Point
When it comes to shaving products of all types, you really REALLY need to look into the price point overall. The market is absolutely flooded with all different product types and I would say that 90 percent of them are completely overpriced.
This pre-shave cream is priced just right. It does a great deal to help make shaving so much easier, without breaking the bank to do it.
On Proraso’s website right now it’s $13 USD for a 100 ml bottle. Plus shipping and handling, you are probably looking at $20-$25 USD for the whole kit and kaboodle.
I’ve been shaving every other day for about a month now, and I have barely even gotten into the bottle yet. This stuff is going to last me for a good while, and that’s saying something because I’ve got a pretty big face.
Overall this is worth the money.
Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints or Positive Reports?
Normally, this product does review well with most individuals, but there are a few issues I have been able to see.
The big one is something I have already highlighted above. The smell is really an acquired taste. This is pretty subjective, but there does seem to be a pretty wide spectrum of opinions on this. Though the cost is so low, if you do decide it isn’t really for you, then tossing it for something else is not going to destroy your wallet.
The only other issue that comes up is that if your skin is REALLY sensitive, this still might irritate your skin despite being designed for sensitive skin types. In that case, I would review the ingredient list really closely just to make sure you aren’t missing anything that you might have an allergy to.
There are a lot of reviews about how it doesn’t really “help” make the skin better, but based on their writing, it seems people might be using this as a substitute for shaving cream rather than as something to go on BEFORE you apply shaving cream. If you do that, you are pretty much ASKING for razor burn.
Final Thoughts and Who Is The Proraso Green Tea & Oatmeal Pre-Shave Best Suited For?
Overall, I really like this product. Before, I dreaded the thought of taking a razor to my facial hair, but now I look forward to it. This really has improved both my shaving routine and my skin health overall.
If you are looking to improve your shaving game and really get a professional level of shave while also taking care of your skin in the process, I HIGHLY recommend this product as something to add to your routine.
