The Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil Review – It Will Do!
The Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil
The Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil seems to be a steal in terms of cost with its large 100ml bottle. And it is, but I had to use more than what I would with other pre-shave oils I have used.
Pros
A large bottle for the price
It does what it should and provides added protection while shaving
It can reduce dryness post-shave and moisturize the skin
A UK brand if you want to support local brands
Very mild scent if you dont want scent clashes
Cons
The scent is so mild–it might as well be unscented
I had to use and apply more than other pre-shave oils (more expensive, though)
Next up on the pre-shave journey is the Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil.
I put the brand–The Bluebeards Revenge and its men’s grooming products in the affordable category or even cheap (not implying cheap in quality). The last product I had Robert review from the brand was their Bluebeards Revenge Cut-Throat Shavette, so I was glad I could try a product out of theirs.
The last pre-shave oil I used and reviewed was from Taconic, which was unscented and pretty good, but it could not match the previous oil used–TOBS Sandalwood Pre-Shave. I am not sure how the Bluebeards Revenge will match up with these, and that TOBS stuff is hard to beat–if quality over cost is most important.
Description and Features
The first thing I noticed is that it’s a large bottle compared to the last pre-shave oils I used and reviewed. While the TOBS stuff is great stuff, we only get 30ml.
The standard pop cap design is fine. It’s easy enough to squeeze a couple of drops out of ready-to-use.
Ingredients
The pre-shave oil ticks the cruelty-free and vegan-friendly boxes for those that this matters. The Bluebeards do not state any of the ingredients are organic, though!
Let’s take a quick look at some of the main actors:
- Castor oil is a usual suspect in pre-shave oils. It’s a moisturizer (emollient) that forms water binding film properties.
- Olive Oil is known to have various skincare benefits, including moisturizing with its nourishing fatty acids. Olive oil alone can be used as a pre-shave alternative, but coconut oil is better. Some may experience clogged pores when using olive oil as a skincare product.
- Linalool is said to contain soothing, anti-inflammatory properties but is mainly used for its light fragrance. It can cause irritation for some sensitive skin.
- Limonene is used as a solvent and fragrance, which should only be included in a product–in small amounts. While it has skin-calming anti-oxidant properties, it can cause skin sensitization.
For most men, the above ingredients should not affect their skin. Those that have sensitivities to the parfum components might need to be cautious, though.
I suggest testing the oil on a small patch of skin first if you have any concerns.
Scent
The Bluebeards Revenge states the scent is a fresh and masculine blend of Madagascan vanilla, classic sandalwood, and patchouli.
I catch a mild whiff of freshness and sandalwood. It’s very mild, though, and I don’t really pick up the scent when applying it to my face.
It’s not going to override any other scents used, but it’s also not going to give off much of a pleasant aroma while applying it.
I could quite easily go with an unscented option and cut out having parfum stuff on my skin, really.
Using Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil
I used the pre-shave a fair few times and with three different shaving creams. TOBS Oud, Taconic Bay Rum, and Proraso Red Shaving Cream.
It was best tested with the Proraso Red with one side of the face without the pre-shave and one with it applied. Proraso Red does not do much for my skin post-shave, while the other two do, so I needed something that could give me an idea of how the oil affects the skin after–if it would.
I was testing and using the Parker Adjustable Injector Razor at the time, and I did throw a shave in with the Muhle R41.
Texture
It does not have the thickness or viscosity that I get when applying the TOBS pre-shave, which means I have to apply more–maybe three times as much. So, it’s great we get a large bottle, but we have to use more than some other pre-shave oils, especially the TOBS.
It’s a thin oil.
Applying and Shave
It was easy enough to apply, but as mentioned, I found I did have to use more than others I have used before–about 3 or 4 large drops. Also, as mentioned, I did not get much of a scent, but I have no issue with that, although I could just go scentless.
After testing out one side with and one side without the pre-shave, I did not notice a striking difference while shaving, but I did feel an added protective layer (and that’s the main purpose).
Proraso Red tends to leave my skin slightly dry for the first hour after shaving–if I dont use any sort of post-shave balm, and the side that had the Bluebeards Revenge pre-shave oil applied most definitely left it feeling less dry and moisturized.
Value for Money
As mentioned at the start, The Bluebeards Revenge products are affordable, and the bottle of pre-shave I bought cost £10 for a 100ml/3.4fl-oz, which is a lot of oil for the price. It is available outside of the UK, but I do not see it in the shaving stores I use online in the USA.
It’s a good value for a large bottle.
Final Thoughts – Who Should Buy Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil?
There was nothing that wowed me about this pre-shave, unlike the TOBS stuff. However, the large bottle that does offer added protection while shaving at a very good price–makes it a good option for many.
As the scent was so weak, I do really feel like sticking with the Taconic Pre-Shave Unscented. What’s the point of me adding scent when it does not smell much?
If you are just trying out pre-shave oil to see if it will improve your shave, then this might be a good, affordable option to test out without spending too much cash.
