Proraso Pre-Shave Conditioning Cream for Men, Refreshing and Toning with Menthol and Eucalyptus Oil, 3.6 oz

Long story short, I'm 58 years old and have never had a better shave in my life, ever, than with Proraso shaving products. I recently stumbled across Proraso when the shaving soap I normally use was sold out on Amazon and boy am I glad I did. It is an amazing experience to use such high quality shaving soap and products. From the pre-shave cream, to the tubed shaving creme, to the after shave lotion, never before have I enjoyed such a close and comfortable shave. The pre-shave cream is amazing and sets the stage for a perfect shave. It gives an initial "freeze" of menthol and eucalyptus that invigorates and provides a base lubricity that really helps your razer glide. The tubed shaving cream is absolutely opulent in texture. So smooth and velvety, a pleasure to use, and a real luxury. The after shave lotion not only smells great but leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. I like the fact that the scent doesn't linger as I have cologne that I use if I wish to "wear" a scent. I use the "Refreshing" blend and love the menthol and eucalyptus properties of these products as they make shaving a pleasure and leave my skin in excellent condition, feeling great. I am definitely a Proraso customer for life!

**updated in 2020**I have enjoyed Proraso products for both wet electric and blade (DE safety razors and cartridge razors) shaving and as such, have tried other things in their line-up. This Pre-Shave (Green, Classic) is the underperformer of the bunch. The White (sensitive) and Red (nourishing) are *much* better products. While I do have sensitive skin, I find the Red line to be the best. It smells a bit strong (sandalwood) but it is very thick and creamy. Unlike the waxy feel of Green, a small amount of Red really helps soften the face pre- and post-shave. Although not marketed this way, many people use Proraso Pre-Shave as a "soothing" post-shave balm and I will attest that it works great. After a shave, I will use a very small amount (barely a fingertip's worth) and rub it in and then use a normal aftershave lotion on top. The combo is great for keeping my skin soft and smooth. Based on my experience with the Proroaso Red Pre-Shave, I would likely recant my below comment about using Noxzema instead.I have used electric shavers for many years as I have to shave daily for work, yet my beards falls in the unfortunate grey zone between "thick/long enough stubble to shave with a blade daily" and "can skip a day." If I use a blade daily, my face is OK but my neck looks like I have been attacked, so electrics just work better for "looking professional." I recently switched to wet shaving with an electric and a website recommended the combo of Proraso pre-shave and shave cream. With a Panasonic ES-LV9N-S this works great and I can say it is as as close as a blade as any electric can get without any irritation. I am very pleased with the performance.Worth mentioning: this product looks and smells a lot like Noxzema and my first impression was "uh..is this just Noxzema that is overpriced?" My wife agreed it looked and smelled the same as well. I can state with confidence that it is not exactly the same- the Proraso pre-shave is a little thicker (waxier feeling?) and definitely stronger, with a far more intense smell and cooling feel. It is also harder to apply evenly due to the thicker feel. I used this for a month with great results and then on a whim decided to try a bottle of Noxzema in its place. For $1.50 I grabbed a travel size jar and gave it a test run. Due to its creamier texture, it applied more evenly. It blended well with the application of the Proraso shave cream after, and my shaves are just as close. Bottom line- for $1.50, the Noxzema works just as well as a $13 jar of this pre-shave. It is not the same product, but the ingredients are similar enough that when used in this application, the results are the same.I have seen several posts on shaving sites addressing this, some with very aggressive "that is impossible, one is a ladies' face wash and one is a man's shave product" but bottom line- they work equally well with Noxzema being much cheaper.I would recommend this product to anyone, but also recommend they do the same experiment I did and see what is best for them and their wallet.

If you have a coarse beard, suffer from irritation, or any other shaving malady, you need to try this product. I've tried other pre-shave preps and nothing compares to this. The shave oils are too greasy and make my skin break out. Proraso is a unique cream.It is easy to apply. Just a little dab and rub it well into your face. I love the tingling sensation and the menthol. It just feels great going on. More importantly, this stuff is really softening your beard. I let it sit for about a minute before applying shave cream. Of course, I also use Proraso in the tube with a bowl/brush. Nothing fancy or expensive. Put the lather on top of the pre-shave and proceed as normal. You will find that your razor glides effortlessly. Your skin is not only hydrated but does not get roughed up.Using this daily can result in much softer and smoother skin. I use a DE safety razor, and the pre-shave routine has changed my shaving experience dramatically. Softening the whiskers is a challenge, especially if you live in an area with hard water. This product really does weaken the whiskers so your blade can just mow them down. I get a much closer shave now, no irritation, seldom a nick. Plus, your skin is so soft and shiny when you are done.When I am done shaving, I don't feel the need to use any aftershave. Just an alum block and a splash of cold water, and I'm good to go. (buy quality alum made in France, not made in India or China). Some folks even use this pre-shave as a post-shave, but I don't. Depending on your skin type, you'll have to decide on your post-shave routine.Not really important, but I just love that the jar is glass, not that packaging really matters. The glass jar indicates how committed Proraso is to quality throughout the entire product experience. Quality packaging emanates the feeling of luxury.A jar will last you several months with daily shaving. This is a small price to pay given how much it improves the shave experience. This product is so good, I wouldn't care if I had to buy it twice as often at twice the price.Save your face for pennies a day, and look your very best.BTW- I am a bonafide buyer of this product and have voluntarily submitted this review. No inducement or compensation from anyone.

This product is amazing! I have very dry and sensitive skin, and after each shave, I used to experience itchy skin. Because of this dryness, I often had small bleeding spots on my face. However, this product, along with their shaving soap, has made shaving much easier. My face stays moisturized for a while after each shave, and I don't need to change my shaving blade as often.