Gillette recently introduced a shave cream that is not only widely available but also free of many unwanted additives…and brush friendly to boot! Is it any good? I picked some up at my local mega-mart to find out.
A Trip To My Local Mega-Mart
At a recent visit to a local large grocery/department franchise I discovered that Gillette may be trying a “skin friendly” angle to promoting their products. They have a new razor called SkinGuard that features a two blade (!) cartridge that fits into Gillette Fusion handles.
They also introduced a couple companion products, Gillette Pure shave cream and shave gel. Reading the label on the shave cream got my attention, as it specifically mentions it can be used with a shave brush! I decided to pick some up and give it a try, too.
Gillette Pure Shave Cream
“PURE by Gillette is 0% alcohol, dyes, parabens, and sulfates. PURE shave cream is infused with aloe and helps your razor glide smoothly over your skin. Our specially designed formula will help protect against irritation on sensitive skin during the shave and lightly cool to soothe.”
Ingredients: Water, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Coconut Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Triethanolamine, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Menthol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil
“Directions: Wet skin with warm water, then lather up the cream with hands or a brush and spread evenly on skin. Shave and rinse.”
My Experience With Using Gillette Pure Shave Cream And A Shave Brush
The first thing I look at with a product like this is…does it lather at all? Some “brush friendly” creams work fine with a brush but don’t lather particularly more than used brushless: Cremo shave cream is like that for me. Others build a more voluminous lather–Pacific Shaving Caffeinated shave cream (Amazon affiliate link) builds almost as well as a traditional lathering cream for me. Gillette Pure falls in the middle. I can get a bit more additional lather out of it when used with a brush, but not much.
Even though there is Peppermint oil in the ingredient list, I did not detect any kind of scent (though admittedly I have a notoriously insensitive nose). Nor did I experience any kind of cooling sensation.
Which brings me to performance. Where the rubber meets the road, a shave cream needs to protect and lubricate well–whether a brush is used or not.
For me Gillette Pure shave cream performs pretty well–better than most mass-market “goo in a tube” products like, say, Neutrogena, and way better than canned stuff. Pure may actually work a bit better for me brushless but the difference is subtle.
I don’t think you will get the luxurious experience you may be used to with many old school lathering shave products. But for a comparatively inexpensive, widely available, mass-market product Gillette Pure shave cream (Amazon affiliate link) is worth a try.
Have you used Gillette Pure shave cream? How did you like it? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
First time user of the Gillette Pure Shave Cream. TOTALLY Impressed! Lathered up OK with just using my hand, more messy than usual, but OK! Lubricated all the whiskers/face for a clean smooth shave.
I have come back to Gillette after using Harry’s Blades for a couple of years.
ALL American over the German Blades.
Buy American 🇺🇸!
Again, thank you Gillette for an All American Shave!
The after effect of the Pure Shave Cream is GREAT! I have never in my SIXTY (60) years of Shaving experienced such a comfortable feeling on my face, it’s FANTASTIC!
Good job Gillette!
I tried Gillette Pure Shaving Cream for the first time today. It lathered up adequately with an Omega Synthetic Shave Brush. I had to add more product that I expected. The lather was very wet and slick. It provided good razor glide for my ATT M1 with a Feather Blade on its last use. I got a great shave. I agree with the above poster, that at the price point, it is certainly worth having around. I thought it looked a lot like Cremo Cream, but for me, it performed better than Cremo ever has. I will continue to use it with a brush. As a side note, my favorite brushless cream is Trader Joe’s Honey Mango.
I like this product. I don’t use a brush, and I think it lathers up just fine on my wet face. I also really like the smell. It’s not as greasy as Cremo, rinses off easily, and competitively priced. I first bought it at my local Wal-Mart, but then they stopped carrying it. Now I don’t know where to get it.
Hi Greg,
I have revised my opinion of the shave cream. I find it excellent. I must have originally bought one from a bad lot. I find it gentle, soothing, little fragrance, and great post-shave feel! I use a SkinGuard razor, which seems ideal for my aged, easily irritated skin. I pay $24.00 for an eight-pack of blades, and get 15 shaves to a blade. Seems very reasonable for a top of the line cart for me. You can get it at Target, Amazon, Gillette.com, and almost every drugstore. Happy Shaving!
Just got this shaving cream. I didn’t know you made a review on it. Mantic is my go to for everything shaving. Thanks Mantic.
I like Pure for what it is, an easy to get product that is decently priced. Make no mistake, it’s not going to be the equal of something like a Castle Forbes, but if you get it with realistic expectations it’s a good cream to have around.
I have been eyeballing this tube with suspicion,on the grocery shelf for a few weeks. I thank you for saving me some $ with that review.
You’re welcome, Larry. But as is often wisely said here, YMMV.
Not a fan of the shave cream or gel. I might have had a one from a bad batch, but it smelled awful. I don’t use brushes, so I can’t comment on how well it lathers. Mine went straight to the trash. I have been used the SkinGuard razor for about 40 shaves, and, for me, it is the best razor I have ever used. (I am solely a cart user, so I am interested in the experiences of DE shavers.) I like to think of it as a Sensor on steroids: only two blades are cutting your skin, while your beard area is stretched by a non-invasive plastic strip. Target sells an eight-pack for $24, and I get 12 shaves to a blade, which means I am only spending about $.26/shave. I alternate it with my Mach 3 Turbo, which has always given me 7 shaves. SkinGuard glides across my face with no redness, even on my last shave.
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