Shaving Product Review - Palmolive "Classic" and
Aqua Velva "Ice Blue"

#CreamWeek continues with this SOTD as I look at possibly the cheapest, decent shave possible in this age of $75 shaving creams and $200 colognes. How'd it go? You might be surprised...

This one's all about the software and you won't believe how inexpensive this shave was! The Palmolive Classic shaving cream was €.89 ($1) and the Aqua Velva Ice Blue cost me a hair over $4. So basically, a five dollar month of shaves easily. This is in stark contrast to expensive vegan, organic, artisanal this-n-that software that seems to be all the rage these days. It's easy to forget that not all that long ago, our fathers and grandfathers did this every morning with no fanfare - but they knew what was good.

Ironically, the Palmolive Classic (with Palm Extract) shaving , which used to be a drugstore staple in North America - can only be found in Europe these days, and where I got my stock. I suspect the palm oil, boldly exclaimed on the tube - didn't help. I felt a little guilty using it, but you'd be surprised how ubiquitous it is in products. Also, Palmolive just didn't sell enough of the stuff over here... Everyone uses goo. So in 2012 (I believe) it was "discontinued."

At any rate, the lather was very nice! Effortless to whip up, it smelled fresh, clean - soapy. Neither here nor there but totally unobjectionable. The consistency was more yogurty... Thick, but not so much dense. So cushion is on the lighter side (when compared to the higher end) but slickness... Oh my, yes. The razor glided effortlessly on and about my face, making for a speedy, comfortable shave. This is why I bought three tubes of it (that and it's cheaper than dirt). The glycerin helps both glide and moisturizing as well:

Ingredients: Aqua, stearic acid, glycerin, potassium hydroxide, coconut acid, cocos nucifera oil, sodium hydroxide, parfum, potassium chloride, sodium silicate, cocos nucifera extract, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, limonene, Cl 15985, Cl 42051, Cl 45350, Cl 47005

How about the that seems to be so popular around here lately? Good ol' fashioned Aqua Velva Ice Blue aftershave. Nothing special, nothing fancy - but nice. No alcohol burn to speak of and the menthol was barely perceptible (though I'm an incorrigible menth-head). The scent is pleasant as well. We'll see how long it lasts today... Overall a simple, pleasant aftershave. The resulting face feel of today's shave is darn good!

I kept the hardware the same as my last two #CreamWeek SOTD to rule out any (other) variables. My shimmed #Feather AS-D2 with a Feather blade on shave four, which made for an effortless BBS shave once again, the #BSB Shaving Brush whipping up the business in the #GTP scuttle to keep the lather nice and warm.

So there you have it! You could easily shave a month on a tube and bottle of this stuff and only be out of pocket five bucks! I could use this stuff everyday, no problem... Unlike some other cheap products (e.g. Williams Mug Soap, VDH, Colonel Conk, etc.) this stuff works well. You don't have to spend a fortune for a damn good shave!