Dove Men+Care Shave Gel and Post Shave Balm
The claim: Dove Men+Care Shave Gel helps prevent irritation and offers a smooth-skin feel. The rich, creamy lather foams quickly and is mild and gentle on the skin. The Post Shave Balm contains soothing Vitamin B5 and instantly helps relieve irritation caused by shaving. Each is available in Hydrate+ and Sensitive+ formulas.
Cost: $4.49 for the shave gel; $6.49-$6.99 for the post-shave balm
Where: Drug and grocery stores
I'm not much of a gel guy when it comes to shaving, so I wasn't too excited about trying Dove's new shave gel. I've tried the gels before, and never liked them. I always ended up sticking with the foamy stuff from Barbasol or Gillette. They're also more affordable, as some of those gels can cost quite a bit. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by Dove's product. It's a gel, but it lathered up nicely. It also stuck to my face pretty well as I prepared to shave. Some of those gels have to be really rubbed in so they don't fall off too easily.
I used it on my face and my head, and it worked quite well. It was a nice combination with my Quattro, and it didn't cake up the razor too much. The other thing I liked about it was it didn't feel like it had too many chemicals in it. Some shaving cream products carry awkward smells and cause irritation in some parts of the face or neck. This shaving cream did a good job.
I also was impressed with Dove's post-shave balm. I've moved away from aftershaves over the years for a couple of reasons. First, they burn when you put them on. If you cut yourself shaving and you put on aftershave, it's going to hurt. Secondly, the smell is overpowering a lot of the time. I've taken to shaving and jumping in the shower, and I hadn't bought aftershave in years. Dove's product alleviated both of my concerns. It didn't burn when I rubbed it on my face, neck and head, and it didn't smell either. It was a refreshing feeling, and I think it was the perfect ending to a fresh shave.
I've been shaving for 25 years now, and I can recommend Dove's shave gel and balm. They make the shaving experience that much more enjoyable.
I only have to shave a couple of times a week, so I never cared much about what shaving cream or gel I used, and I never used any post-shave products either.
But this hydrating gel actually seemed to make a big difference. I got a closer shave than I normally seem to, and I've noticed less beard-related acne, as well, a day or two after shaving.
And the hydrating shave balm also seems to work pretty well. It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn't feel greasy.
When I'm getting ready in the morning, I like as little fuss as possible. But I would take a couple extra moments to continue to use these products.
After not shaving my upper lip for the past 15 plus years, I decided to try another route for my normal shaving routine and give the new Dove Men+Care shave gel and balm a go. I have been using my hair conditioner as my shaving medium, and I wondered if Dove's products would help to stiffen my upper lip, so to speak. I had noticed how sensitive it had become and sometimes the shaving burn was rather severe. I tried using the gel heated and not, and I did not notice a difference in the end result, just the pleasure level of warm gel on my face to lather up. The balm had a nice soothing feeling on my skin, as well, and my shaving burn has subsided. However, I am not sure if that is because of the continued shaving or the product itself. Quite frankly, I believe I got just as close of a shave with my hair conditioner, and my skin was soothed and hydrated just as well with the Vitamin E lotion I was using at a considerably cheaper rate. All in all, it was a nice experience for a change.
