Updated June, 2019] Truefitt and Hill’s “Authentic No. 10” (Amazon links are affiliate ) line has made it across the pond so I thought I would pick some up to try. Its marketed as sort of an “entry level” product line to T&H, a “safe and friendly” introduction to the company for the masses.
Brush Friendly
I tried both the shaving cream and the shaving gel (gasp!). Shaving cream first. The cream is a brushless product that is “brush friendly”–meaning you can use a brush if you want to. And if you do I think you’ll be rewarded with a better experience. Because it can be used brushless, it’s very forgiving of the water/cream ratio–great for the new traditional shaver. The consistency is similar to that of most “modern” shave creams: a little “creamier” and a little less “solid” than other traditional creams (including Truefitt & Hill’s).
The scent is unlike anything else in Truefitt & Hill’s line–neither a “pure” scent like Limes or Rose, nor a “cologne” scent like Trafalgar or Grafton. No. 10 struck me as kind of a vaguely herbal, woodsy scent. Not unpleasant to my nose but it did seem kind of “generic.”
However, what No. 10 lacks in scent it makes up for in performance. It lathers quickly, easily, and generously! Lubrication is excellent and it rinses easily using either a DE or a cartridge razor. It is remarkably moisturizing: you could probably get away with a quick repeat swipe of the blade on the lather-less skin without getting rash or burn, with the residual lubrication. If you have very dry skin you will probably love this stuff.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Coconut Acid, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Limonene, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol.
Gel
Now the gel. I hate it when the performance of a brushless product is competitive with a brush/lather product. The No. 10 shave gel joins a very short list of brushless products I like (Cremo and Pacific Shaving). It performs almost as well as the cream, though I did notice it has a tendency to be a little more difficult to rinse off and it’s not quite as lubricating. I would not have a problem packing the tube with me for travel if I couldn’t take a brush for some reason.
There is more to the line: preshave, serum, cleanser, scrub, balm, etc. Based on my experience with the shave cream and gel I have no doubt that these other products are good too.
I’m gonna go on a limb here and say that, the amazing lubrication is due to the Almond Oil, yes?
It’s too bad they don’t have any samples of this stuff and don’t discount it. Otherwise it would be worth a try.
Idk, I’m not buying into their stuff just yet. I don’t want to be disappointed like I was with Trumpers.
The balm is really, really good stuff. Loaded with lots of goodies for the face. It’s really a floral scent and incredibly moisturizing, so use sparingly if you don’t have dry skin. Try it with Old Spice and it makes you realize just how floral OS is. Same with Tabac, not that it really ever fooled anyone ;). Oh, and for me, I’ll take this any day over skin food. Don’t get me wrong, I love GFT’s beloved, yet weird product. As a balm designed to soothe and moisturize, the No. 10 doesn’t just bring home the bacon, it shows up with a pig, slaughters it, cures the bacon and asks you how you’d like the rest cut up. YMMV of course, but for Nivea money, it’s a stupidly good deal. (Please forgive my mixing of American and British english phrases, I’m a yank that’s lived in the UK for about 6 years.)
Something in the cream irritates my face and that bothers me immensely as I love the lather. I don’t have much issue with the rest of T&H’s lineup though. It’s also only second to MWF as my wife’s favorite cream when I shave her legs. Da Fat’s pronounced moisturizing really ticks the boxes for her. She swears that the No. 10 is almost as good skin-care wise. She even prefers the scent of No. 10, but skin-care is trump for her. I can’t say that I blame her. They are her legs after all.
Next time I’m in the city, I’ll be picking up some of the other things in the line-up and giving them a go.
I would second what Mark / Mantic said, i tried this cream out for the first time, on September 6th, and it is very high class, especially when thinking about its SO much lower price, compared to Truefitt & Hill’s other products!!!
the whole No. 10 line, is cheaper, but should hold the same standard, and i can say, that i have also tried the No. 10 Optimum Moisturiser (50 ml.) and it is one of the best, if not THE best, Moisturizer(s) out there.
Give it a try everyone, you won’t be dissapointed for sure 🙂
So, when is this going to be available. Just what I need, another soap/cream to try. So for I’ve found nothing that outperforms my Mitchell’s Wool Fat. Nothing.
It is available now. See T&H’s website.
I’d like to know how the balm holds up against T&H’s traditional balms and GFT’s skinfood.
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