Alba Botanica Cream Shave

As part of my searches for shaving creams, I came across this “Alba Botanica”  tube on Amazon which stated “mango vanilla”.  That just sounded perfectly delicious.  The tube was also some 227 g and something like $5.  I just had to try it.

At this point, I gave little thought as to who this product might be targeted to.  There was no clear distinction as to who the audience might be. It is only when I received the tube a few days later and started reading the back of the label where I saw a campaign which alba Botanica supports that I realized that this was a women’s shaving product.

The campaign is: Educating girls, changes the world.

I was gonna go a totally different path for this review, but there is a time for everything.  The fact that such a campaign exists, is shameful.  It is inconceivable that still in some parts of our world, girls are not granted a seat and expected to be in school. Almost all of our cultures have a version of the story of Noah’s ark.  So we all understand that it takes both a male and a female to make it all work.  And wouldn’t it be best if both of them, were strong, healthy, smart and educated!  I just can’t picture Noah turning down some of the females while saying something like: “No you are too educated!  We only want the slow ones for the challenges ahead.” Let’s not fool ourselves, the world ahead is not all unicorns and rainbows.  We are facing challenges our predecessors never imagined. No, in this world we need and we want women to have an active part, specially the smart ones!

But this is well beyond the scope of Style4men.  Suffice to say that”Girls Rock”!

Back to the business of “shaving”.  Having the tube in front of me, it does look a tad feminine, but like that is going to stop me from trying this stuff out!  I want mango vanilla too! 🙂

This morning’s shave using the alba shave cream was a nice experience.

As mentioned above, this is a fairly large tube, so it’s a good value.  The product coming out of the tube is somewhere between a gel and a cream.  It’s opaque and quite thick.  Upon applying it to my mug, the product becomes transparent.  In other words, like a shave gel.  You will feel covered, but the labeling suggests that you can help the lubrication along by adding water.  In other words, apply the gel to a wet face and add water touch ups as you shave to maintain a high level of lubrication.  No different than when using a shaving soap or cream.

The ingredient list and manufacturing process statement are reassuring for anyone with health concerns.  Considering the positive experience using this shaving cream, it is a confirmation that quality grooming care products CAN be made without being a chemical fiesta!

Based on this ingredient list, I can also venture the observation that most of the items listed here are the same as what you will find in our “man” shaving gels.  The main differences being packaging and fragrances…and those didn’t even put me on the right track.

TEST STAGE:

• State: Out of the shower
• Razor: Merkur 180
• Blade: Rockwell
• Pre-Shave: None
• Shaving Cream: alba botanica
• Toner: Thayers
• After-Shave: L’Oréal Sensitive skin aftershave

I found that shaving with this product was very comfortable. Since you don’t have a visual reference of what was shaved and that you are regularly adding water and spreading it, you are also checking the quality of your shave as you go along.  I found that shaving with this cream was just as good as with any other gel I have tried so far.

While shaving the product accumulates along the blade but rinses off very easily under hot water.  On the skin, the gel has a bit of staying power so you can comfortably do 2-3 passes.  Once the shave is done, a simple wet towel wipe is sufficient to clean yourself up.  Obviously, I went that extra step and did the toner cleanup as well before applying the after-shave.

Since alba botanica makes this product for shaving legs, there is no “aftershave” companion products.  That being the case I had to mix a number of products for this shave: the alba shave cream, the Thayer’s toner to clean everything up and finally the L’Oréal after-shave cream.  I find that mixing different brands can be an invitation to reactions or irritations.  I am glad to report that it was all good and that I had no redness or reaction.

All ‘n all, an awesome smelling shaving gel at a very competitive price and offering a very decent shave.

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