My Long-Term Experience With The Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit

You may have noticed Lucky Tiger advertising on Sharpologist lately (though this post is not sponsored) but my experience with their products go back for years.  Here’s my take on the products in the Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit.

Lucky Tiger

Although it hasn’t been around as long as Trumper, Truefitt, and Taylor, Lucky Tiger is one of those brands that could be considered “iconic” in the U.S., having started in 1935, and I think continues to have a philosophy of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it with their products. They seem to understand what has made them successful and generally haven’t messed around with their formulations: I started using them early in my wet shaving “hobby” (thanks to Mrs. Mantic59, who gave me my first Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit as a gift years ago) and they have been remarkably consistent.

Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit

From Lucky Tiger’s website:

“Guys, two words for your life. Grooming, and essential. Our unique Essential Grooming Kit delivers all you need to live each day like a movie star.

What’s inside?

Start with our gentle and exfoliating Face Wash, then move to a clean close shave with LT’s Liquid Cream Shave, next, splash on our After Shave and Face Tonic for an exhilarating pop and end it with our hydrating alcohol-free Face Moisturizer.”

In my own use, references to the products in Lucky Tiger’s Essential Grooming Kit made their first appearance in 2014 with Mantic59’s Favorite Shaving Products, though I had started using them well before that article.

It’s worth noting that all the products in the kit have a single, mildly citrus scent: you’ll see from the ingredient lists below that they include citrus essential oils.  I think it won’t be objectionable for most people.

Lucky Tiger Face Wash

“A gentle daily face cleanser that removes dirt and oil and leaves your face feeling clean, clear and energized. Crazy packed with natural key ingredients like Aloe Vera, minerals and enzymes so your face won’t feel dry or irritated.”

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Yucca Aloifolia Leaf/Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Citrus
Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Trisodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Citrus Essential Oils).

My use of the Lucky Tiger Face Wash has been admittedly somewhat inconsistent over the years: I’ve had flirtations with other products like ACH Brito Glyce Lime Pre-Shaving Soap (previously Musgo Real Glycerin Lime Soap–“MR GLO”) and more widely available products.  But coincidentally the Lucky Tiger face wash was what I had been reaching for more often over the past few months (even before they became a sponsor).  Two things I have noticed in particular with this product: it seems to have a definite “shelf life” for me, as the performance drops slightly after about a year of use; and the post-wash moisturization is better than other pre-shave washes I have used (MR GLO used to be better but the last puck I bought isn’t as good as previous pucks).

Lucky Tiger Liquid Cream Shave (Shaving Cream)

“Inspired by great barbershop traditions with a modern take on classic shaving cream, our Liquid Cream Shave was developed because shaving shouldn’t suck. The rich creamy lather soothes and hydrates your skin while reducing razor burn leaving your face silky smooth giving you the clean cut you deserve.”

Ingredients: Purified Water(Aqua), Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acic, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantion, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Trisodium EDTA, CitricAcid, PotassiumBenzoate, PotassiumSorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Citrus Essential Oils)

The Lucky Tiger Liquid Cream Shave has been on the “honorable mentions” list in Sharpologist’s annual Best Shaving Creams since 2014.  The only reason it’s not on the main list is because it is available in a single scent (choice of scent is a criterion of the list)–it is a very good shave cream and although it is formulated to be brushless I found it is “brush friendly” as well.

Lucky Tiger Aftershave & Face Tonic

“This modern take on classic after shave completes the cleansing and shaving process while soothing, toning and invigorating your skin. This tonic is formulated to deliver a wake-up call to your face with its balance of Borage Oil, Aloe Vera and Calendula which cools and repairs your skin.”

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Polysorbate 20, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Distillate, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate), Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol,
Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance (Citrus Essential Oils).

I think the Lucky Tiger Aftershave And Face Tonic is the hidden gem of the Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit, as it is a “multi-tasker” for me.

I mostly use it as a post-shave cleansing and toner product: I’ll soak a cotton round with it and wipe down my face to get rid of any shaving lather residue that still may be on my face, helping to avoid ingrown hairs and toning my face, too.  Then I’ll rinse with cool water and apply a balm/moisturizer.

But in the summer months here in hot, humid Texas I keep it on as a refreshing splash that is good as an aftershave “as is.”  There is no alcohol in it (other than what may be in the Witch Hazel distillate) so there’s no “burn” (which is a big plus in my book).

Lucky Tiger Face Moisturizer

“Start with all natural ingredients, throw out the alcohol and you have a moisturizer designed to soften the roughest of faces. Our unique formula is a thirst quencher that will hydrate, nourish and leave your face looking younger. “

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Butylene Clycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract,Tocopheryl (Vitamin E Acetate) Acetate, Ascorbic Acid (Orange, Citrus Limon, Citrus Aurantifolia) Polypeptides, Ethylhexyl Salicylate Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Potassium Benzoate Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Ceteary Alcohol C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.

The final product in the Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit is their face moisturizer. In some respects this could be considered their most “common” product, without a whole lot to differentiate it from the many other fine moisturizer products on the market.  It does not have parabens or alcohol though and does have some beneficial ingredients like Green Tea, Milk Thistle, and Shea Butter.  Don’t get me wrong–I think it’s a good, solid product.

Conclusion

The Lucky Tiger Essential Grooming Kit is a kind of “one stop shop” for someone looking for a set of products for their shave that not only perform well but also have some “classic cred” for the traditional shaving enthusiast.  I recommend giving it a try.