best buys

okie · Post by **okie** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:56 pm

I thought I start a list of products I think have great value. I' like to hear what you guys think are good buys and hopefully find some things I have not tried.
shaving cream
1. Proraso
2. Vulfix luxury shaving cream
razors
1. Murkur HD
after shave
1. Nivea for men
2. Clubman
venders
1. Lee's Razors
2. West coast shaving
These are not the best I have, but I think the quality vs. price on these makes them best buys. Ok there is my short list. Lets see yours.

Zach · Post by **Zach** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:12 pm

Shave cream:
Musgo Real

Shave soap:
MWF (lasts forever, longer than an equal value of Conk pucks)

Razor:
I hear good things about the Lord razors for 1/2 the price of the HD

After Shave:
Clubman Lime Sec (don't knock it if you've not tried it)

Brush:
Omega #48 by a mile

Vendor:
Razorandbrush

GollyMrScience · Post by **GollyMrScience** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:37 pm

Hands down without a doubt the shave creams by The Real Shaving Company - absolutely astounding results from so inexpensive a cream and available in local Shoppers Drug Marts.
They sell a sensitive and a moisturizing formula and despite the fact that I have sensitive skin the moisturizing formula gets used more.
It outdoes many high end creams costing three or four times as much.
I have been using it for over a year in my rotation and I still smile every time I use it considering the cost, availability, excellent lather, and so little cream to make it all happen.

M6Classic · Post by **M6Classic** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:26 pm

Plisson brushes. High Mountain Whites. I know, I know. However, my first one lasted for more than thirty-five years of daily use and if that isn't a good deal, I don't know what is. Yet, you must ask yourself, "Self, can you live with just one brush for the next XX years?" If the answer is, "No," then it is not such a good deal.

Buzz

jww · Post by **jww** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 3:27 pm

Razor: Undated Gold Tech

Shaving Soaps: MWF and Palmolive Classic Shave Stick

Shaving Creams: Palmolive Classic & Florena (alas, Nivea which replaced it doesn't have as nice a scent, imo).

Brush: C&E Super Badger

Post Shave Product: The Body Shop Razor Relief, & Coral Skin Food

John 5 · Post by **John 5** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:50 pm

I'll list what I think, relatively speaking, performs close to the top-shelf goods, yet costs next to nothing. If I were frugal, I'd live on this stuff:

Cream : Palmolive Red or European
A couple of dollars, and while nothing fancy, gets it nicely done

Soap : C&E
Triple milled goodness for US $8 or so

Brush : Simpsons Commodore X2
Any badger more than this one is just for us 'enthusiasts'. I defer to Zach for the Boar world.

Razor : Any first generation Superspeed
The evolution of the razor stopped here, somewhere in the 1950's

gsgo · Post by **gsgo** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:57 pm

My picks for best buys:

Nivea Shave Cream (German and Canadian versions) and Aftershave Balms - Sensitive and Energy

Speick Shave Cream and Aftershave Lotion

The Body Shop Maca Root Shave Cream and Razor Relief Balm

Swiss Pitralon Aftershave - even though it costs $20 plus shipping, it just works so well

Dominica Lime Bay Rum - big bottle for $14, I love the way this works

Thayers - Medicated Superhazel and Lavender - great skin care products

Derby Extra Razor Blades - no need to comment, great value and they just flat out work for me

This list is subject to revision as I sample and try additional items. I did not select any soaps as I am off them at the moment - getting just great shaves from the above creams in a nice rotation. As far as value/best buy I think these are some of my favorites at the moment.

Racso_MS · Post by **Racso_MS** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:57 pm

Best Buys.... Hmmmm

How about something that doesn't cost you a thing...

The friends I've acquired on this forum... Only one of whom I've met in person (Squire)... The people I've "met" are the most generous, gracious, and some of the nicest people I've had the pleasure of meeting... Some of the people I know don't come close to the individuals I've met here...

I would be remiss if I tried to mention all of you who have been kind to me, but I will say this, the ones I've dealt with are true honorable gentlemen in the truest sense of the word and it is my pleasure to know you...

You can't buy that sort of friendship... Thanks to all of you and I hope I have the pleasure of your company for a long time to come...

Very Respectfully (v/r)

Oscar...

JohnInPeoria · Post by **JohnInPeoria** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:05 pm

Racso_MS wrote:Best Buys.... Hmmmm

How about something that doesn't cost you a thing...

The friends I've acquired on this forum...
Very Respectfully (v/r)

Oscar...

Oscar, in my time here, reading and interacting, I have had the very same sort of experience.

I'm extremely thankful to and for a kindly, generous, friendly, and helpful group of gents.

Cheers to you all.

GollyMrScience · Post by **GollyMrScience** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:06 pm

Ya - what Oscar said goes for me too.
Thanks for the reminder Oscar.

PeterS · Post by **PeterS** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:11 pm

Shave cream:
Coates. Add a tablespoon of water and watch it come back to life.

Shave soap:
Tabac. Anything else and I am an English pig.

Razor:
Chatsworth. It's all in the handle, doesn't matter what head you have.

After Shave:
Listerine

Brush:
Anything made with real European farmed badger.

Cheers

Pete

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:42 pm

Well, Oscar's post is really the bottom line. But if we're talking about 'best buys' in products....
I'm going to assume the buyer is in the US, as the price structures, and what's readily available varies so much from country to country. I agree with John that the US Palmolive cream certainly qualified, but it's no longer made...pity. I also agree regarding the late '40s and '50s Superspeeds. Superb build quality, great shavers, and usually can be gotten reasonably if one looks around. Ditto for the '50s through '90s Schick Injectors if you can get the new Chinese blades, or don't mind the ASR ones. For top quality shave cream I have always thought that Taylors is a 'best buy'. Not quite Coate's, but not that far off and only $14 or so a pot....a dozen different scents, great stuff. Likewise, the Vulfix Super brushes. Lots of different sizes, great cream latherers and well and properly made ( hell, Bill used one daily for around 15 years ), and easy to use well, but not expensive. At the present exchange rate, the Kent BK4 from a UK seller would qualify as well. Hard soaps are difficult, as I'm very picky. I used to say the T&H soaps as they were very good but markedly less expensive than their competitors. But they've recently gone up in price, so I might say that Vintage Blades house shave soap instead. Granted, that's still a fairly hefty price for a cake of soap, but they last a long time and the quality is there. Most soaps could never be a 'best buy' for me because they just don't work well enough, or give me problems of one sort or another. The Israeli Personna blades bought in packs of 100 for what?...$13 or so? Decent, reliable blades. Not Swedes, but good enough, and very economical. Caswell-Massey traditional men's colognes and Taylor colognes are 'best buys' in decent scent, IMO. I could get by well enough with a pot of Taylors shave cream, a Vufix 376, a '40s SS, IP blades and a couple bottles of Taylor cologne if I had to.
Regards,
Gordon

JohnInPeoria · Post by **JohnInPeoria** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:11 pm

I should add... if "best buys" means inexpensive, good buys for performance, then my faves would be Arko Shave stick and Van Der Hagen (a very recent surprise), and Superior 70 Bay Rum.

Excellent products, those... as well as the Treet line of blades.

GA Russell · Post by **GA Russell** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:27 pm

I'm only eight months into this game, so my opinion probably isn't worth much, but I will vote for:

Arko shave stick - $2.00

Trig blades - 10 for $2.00

Omega Sintex 90049 brush - $15.00 (Large, face lathers excellently and hasn't shed a hair.)

rustyblade · Post by **rustyblade** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:17 pm

Booster Aftershaves.

D.Irving79 · Post by **D.Irving79** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:00 pm

gem

ever ready

listerine as a/s

StockShark · Post by **StockShark** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:25 pm

I have never been disappointed in anything froms SCS, and the $$ is very reasonable.

As already meantioned, you can't beat Lees for customer service and always good prices.

Always great stuff from Mama Bear!!!

Best,

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:31 pm

The variety available through the internet is considerable. But so far, here's my list of products that I consider a good value: (not the cheapest, but the best product for the money)

Creams: JM Fraser's and NancyBoy, the price is low, the quality is world class.

Soaps: Tabac & WMF, not the cheapest, just the best.

Razors: flea market finds. See what you get for less than $5. For collector-quality Gillettes and modern vintage Merkurs, buy from your fellow shavemyface and B&B members. Why pay retail?

Badger Brush: Tweezerman/Kent BK4. All pros, no cons, Tweezer's price is rock-bottom, BK4's price is determined by your willingness to shop around.

DIY Scuttle: Self-watering flowerpot.

Purpose-made scuttle: Dirty Bird

Blades: NOS vintage stainless english-made varieties.

Vendors: Based on customer service, range of product, and price. Connaught Shaving (Paul), Razor & Brush (Giovanni), The Dutch Shaving Shop, (Paul), Fendrihan (Canadian)

Brick and Mortar national supplier of routinely available consistent-quality shaving products: Walmart, Bath & Body Works, and The Body Shop.

PS: without these forums, we'd be lost. No kidding.

fallingwickets · Post by **fallingwickets** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 5:26 am

that's still a fairly hefty price for a cake of soap,

The upfront outlay may be hefty, but look how long the stuff lasts for. Yikes!! I'm still using the same puck of trumpers rose I started with more than 18 months ago and when I used TOBS they lasted about a year. Shaving soap must be the most economical purchase ever HAHAHA

Vulfix brushes

merkur blades

and twenty nine thumbs up on Mr. Oscar's comment

Clive

aircraft_electrician · Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:24 am

I may not be qualified to respond to this post since I really didn't buy anything shave-related last year, but here are my nominations (with my justifications) for best bang for the buck:

Soap: VDH Deluxe. Although it's not the absolute best soap I've tried, it is a great soap and I can get it for less than a dollar a puck, and while MWF is definitely a better soap, it certainly isn't 45-50 times better as the price suggests.

Cream: I'm sure a lot of you will disagree on this one, but my choice is KMF. It's available locally at about $6.00 a bottle, and though it may take a bit more cream than one of the high-end creams, the high-end creams cost anywhere from 2 to 6 times that much, and don't seem to last me 2 to 6 times as long as a bottle of KMF. It's not my favorite cream, but this isn't about favorite, it's about best value.

Brush: Anything made by Vulfix including the new Simpsons. My opinion on this is based solely on the level of customer service delivered by these folks. I've rarely run across service like that in any industry, and whenever I do, I reward the institution with my purchases. It really helps that they make great brushes too.

After Shave: For me, it's still Old Spice in the glass bottle. It's still available locally for $6 or less, and is one of the best performing after shaves I've ever used. No matter how badly I tore it up using a Mach 3 and canned goo while deployed to Afghanistan (that's all that was available in the BX, and the water-rationing made it impossible to use a brush), after the initial alcohol sting, it always soothed my face. I do really like the value of Clubman products too.

Tom