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Grooming Lounge Shave Line

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A few years ago my friends at Grooming Lounge sent me a set of their shave products and asked me to put together an article (and video) about how to use them.  I finally used those products up so they recently sent me some more, and I thought it would be interesting to write about how the line has evolved.

My Shaves With Grooming Lounge Products

Grooming Lounge is a small chain of barbershops in the Virginia and D.C. areas in the U.S. that leveraged the experience of their barbers into their own line of men’s grooming products.  They’ve recently expanded their online presence to help diversify themselves from the effects of the recent worldwide health and economic turmoil.  They’re also known for their whimsical and pun-filled product names.

I’ve been using the new set of products with my shave lately, using double edge, single edge (Injector and OneBlade), and even cartridge razors.  Here are my impressions, comparing them to the previous version of the products I had originally where applicable.

Note: Grooming Lounge links are affiliate but the opinions expressed here are my own and this article was not reviewed or approved by Grooming Lounge.

Mug Cleaner Face Wash

“A gentle, everyday cleanser that removes grit and grime while preparing that mug for a great shave (or just a great day).”

Ingredients: Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-25-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Caster Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Butylene Glycol, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride

Grooming Lounge Mug Cleaner Face Wash appears unchanged from my last bottle.  It has a thicker consistency than many face washes I have, which is helpful to me when I’m applying it, though I have to massage a little more aggressively than others to get a good lather (a common thread I’ve found with the Grooming Lounge line: aggressive application).  But I have found it cleans well while keeping the skin from drying out.  It’s fragrance-free.

Beard Master Pre-Shave Oil

“Revolutionary shaving solution provides superior razor glide while helping to eliminate razor burn and rashes.”

Ingredients: Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Menthol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Isopropyl Myristate, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Mentha Piperta (Peppermint) Oil

This oil has changed a bit from the first run I’ve tried: there are fewer ingredients but it actually seems to work better for me.  I think the “refreshing clove scent” is a bit stronger than it was before.  I’m not a big fan of a single-note clove scent (I do like it as an element in Bay Rum scents) but YMMV of course.

I have used this oil on its own for a quick single-pass shave or a touch-up pass but it’s really made to use in tandem with the Beard Destroyer shave cream….

Beard Destroyer Shave Cream

“A departure from traditional shaving creams, Beard Destroyer is a rich, ultra-lubricating shaving cream formula that enables a smooth shave every time.”

Ingredients: Water, Cetyl Esters, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Rosmarinus Officianalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Oil, Myrtus Communis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea

The Grooming Lounge Beard Destroyer shave cream has evolved from my previous use as well.  I find the clove scent more subtle than the pre-shave oil, with some hints of other scent notes (citrus and wood?) in the mix.  The “rich, ultra-lubricating” formula is still low-lathering for me but the lubrication aspect seems to have improved, without a deterioration of the already exceptional cushion/protection aspect.  I think it’s a really solid brushless shave cream.

Best For Last Aftershave

“Developed in our DC Barbershop, creamy solution is the antidote for annoying razor irritation, burn, bumps and more. Non-greasy and sting-free….”

Ingredients: Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclomethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Fragrance, Lavandula Soechas Extract, Boswellia Serrata(Olibanum) Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone,Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891).

This product is unchanged for me as well.  It’s a solid-performing balm for its class.  It’s listed as fragrance free (and I don’t get any scent myself) which is a plus if you’re going to use an EdT or cologne after shaving.

The Shavior

“Barber-approved treatment provides noticeable and quick relief from razor irritation, razor bumps and ingrown hairs. Effective as both a spot treatment or aftershave supplement….”

Ingredients: Water, Glycolic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Retinyl Palmitate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

The Shavior is also unchanged for me.  I tried this when it first came out and find it really effective for some types of shave irritation.  Check out my review of The Shavior here.

Mug Scrubber

“Deep-cleansing and skin-smoothing facial exfoliator does away with oil, dirt and dead skin, helping to improve skin’s appearance while thwarting ingrown hairs and shaving irritation.”

Ingredients: Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Jojoba Esters, Stearyl Stearate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Ceteth-2, Hexylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Caprylic/Capric, Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Citric Acid

Grooming Lounge Mug Scrubber is a new product for me to try.  It has a “light and refreshing” peppermint scent.  The instructions say to use it two or three times per week but I only use it once per week-to-10-days, based on what I’ve read from experts.  It has worked well for me.

Conclusion

Grooming Lounge continues to evolve and expand their men’s grooming product line, finding a niche’ for itself between the mass-market products in the “megamart” and the high-end, expensive lines.

Do you have any Grooming Lounge men’s grooming products?  What do you think of it?  Leave a comment below!

 

 

Author

Shave tutor and co-founder of sharpologist. I have been advocating old-school shaving for over 20 years and have been featured in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Lifehacker. Also check out my content on Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!View Author posts

1 thought on “Grooming Lounge Shave Line”

  1. Hi Mark,

    I have the Mug Scrubber and I like it. I’ve been using it a few days a week as part of my shave prep. After reading your article about exfoliants, however, I am going to only use it on the days I am not shaving! I’ve also tried their shampoo, balm and shave cream. (The company is great about including samples in every order.) They are all good, but I have balms and creams I like better. The shampoo has a nice scent and I would definitely buy that again.

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