... I decided to take a closer look and picked up a bottle of Somersets Original Shaving oil. The instructions said it was suitable as a pre-electric so I thought I would give it a try.
What is it?
To find out I went to the Somersets.com web site and they say “cooling moisturising oil that ... Read review
Shaving oil for women, essential oils moisturise and protect your skin. Gives a smoother ... more
shave than foam or gel. 100% Natural Protects from razor burn Ideal for travelling Enhanced with Aloe Vera Ideal for sensitive skin. For legs, underarms and ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.00 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
For razor and Pre-Electric shaving. Gives a smoother shave than foam or gel. 100% Natural ... more
Protects from razor burn Ideal for travelling Enhanced with Aloe Vera Sufficient for up to 90 shaves 3 drops enable you to shave closely without nicks or raz...
Postage & Packaging: £1.00 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Gives a smooth shave lubricates the skin and doesn't dry it out Disadvantages: You need slightly more than it says.
...in 1991 when the David Somerset Skincare Company was founded in Henley-On-Thames.
What’s in it?
Apparently it is a blend of pure plant oils and soothing essential oils: - Lavender, Tea Tree, and Rosemary which they say helps prevent razor bumps and irritation. On my pack it says enhanced with Aloe Vera. On the list of ingredients there is also menthol, which you can smell when you put it on and is a cooling agent. They say this ... ...
Are they natural ingredients?
They claim they use the purest natural ingredients. I decided to investigate some of them, as there is a long list of 20 ingredients.
I did not recognise benzyl benzoat but apparently it is an ingredient of Sudo cream for babies bums and has healing properties. I found this information here on Ciao.
See: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Sudo_Cream__Review_5417422 by Sit2020
Tocopherol is Vitamin ... more
Why did I buy it? My normal pre-electric lotion was not available and was apparently being re-packaged. I had looked at shaving oils when in Sainsburys and assumed they were only for a wet shave. I decided to take a closer look and picked up a bottle of Somersets Original Shaving oil. The instructions said it was suitable as a pre-electric so I thought I would give it a try.
What is it? To find out I went to the Somersets.com web site and they say “cooling moisturising oil that lubricates the skin for an extra close shave”. I thought from the word original they would be a very old firm but in fact the shaving oil was introduced in 1991 when the David Somerset Skincare Company was founded in Henley-On-Thames.
What’s in it? Apparently it is a blend of pure plant oils and soothing essential oils: - Lavender, Tea Tree, and Rosemary which they say helps prevent razor bumps and irritation. On my pack it says enhanced with Aloe Vera. On the list of ingredients there is also menthol, which you can smell when you put it on and is a cooling agent. They say this leaves the skin fresh and smooth.
Are they natural ingredients? They claim they use the purest natural ingredients. I decided to investigate some of them, as there is a long list of 20 ingredients. I did not recognise benzyl benzoat but apparently it is an ingredient of Sudo cream for babies bums and has healing properties. I found this information here on Ciao. See: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Sudo_Cream__Review_5417422 by Sit2020 Tocopherol is Vitamin E, which is good for the skin and is used for skin treatments as it promotes healing and it allegedly helps with eczema. This information was from anyvitamins.com Cananga odorata also known as ylang ylang has medicinal properties and it is used in aroma - therapy.
Ethical standards. Somersets do not test their products on animals and disapprove of this method of testing. They also do not use animal products. It is therefore suitable for vegetarians.
What do I think of it? I can only comment on its use as a pre-electric shave as I don’t wet shave. I have only used it for a week but I am very impressed. They recommend only 2 drops but I use 4 perhaps it’s because I don’t think that it will cover. You can smell the menthol, which is very fresh. The oil should be dropped onto the hand and rubbed together and then applied to the face. This is then left for 30 seconds to allow the beard to soften. When I shave the razor slides over my face and there is no sensation of burning or dragging. I obtain a very smooth shave, which has passed the kiss test. The smell of menthol is retained on the skin but as I always shave before showering it is washed off. I think my skin feels healthier but will not know until longer use. It is superior to my usual pre-electric as that contained alcohol, which dries the skin. The essential oils and plant oils are apparently good for the skin. I did find at first it was difficult to get the drops out of the bottle as it is so tiny and compact but after use it seems to be easier
What does it look like? The bottle looks like a bullet or cone and contains only 12ml of liquid which is supposed to last 90 shaves at 3drops/shave so if you shave once a day it’s 3months. It is about 6cm high so will be very easy to take on holiday.
Where can you I get it? Boots, Sainsburys and John Lewis or direct from www.somersets.com
Cost: it is £3.50 on the web site but I only paid £2.99 at Sainsburys.
Additional Information There is a sensitive skin version, which has added Rose hip seed oil and Alpha Bisabolol to heal and soothe. There is also a shaving oil for women, which can be used in the shower or bath. I was tempted to shave my legs to try it out but decided I would leave that one to the ladies. Web link www.somersets.com
Advantages: You can see where you're shaving Disadvantages: Girlfriend stealing it to do her legs etc
For many years I have been plagued with very sensitive skin. Every day, I went through the pain of razor burn and dryness caused by shaving. I have tried all the shaving gels, creams and potions available, but for some reason, I had never tried shaving oil. To be honest, I thought it was just another marketing gimmick, but now I know it's not. This stuff is good.
The particular Somerset's product I'm talking about is Extra-sensitive version. It ... ...£2.60. Pricey you may think but no, this stuff is good value. I've been using it virtually every day for nearly two months now and I'm not even halfway down the bottle yet.
For those not familiar with shaving oils, here is a rundown:
Wet skin in the usual way,
Put 3 - 4 drops in the palm of your hands,
Massage into your beard and shave.
The immediate advantage over other preparations such as gels and foams is that you can actually see what you ...
ChrisBishop 07.06.2002 (14.06.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Somerset Shaving Oil
Advantages: Price, effectiveness Disadvantages: Size of bottle
I was introduced to this stuff during one of my ill-advised decisions to grow a goatee. Fed up with slicing chunks of it off as my face was obscured by foam, resulting in a lop-sided look, it was pointed in the direction of this stuff. Originally in a boring black bottle, its now re-packaged in a very funky cone shaped squeeze-y thing that comes in a case of its own. 3 drops (just 3, ladies and gents) worked into your mush (or legs) will soon result ... ...this with a decent razor (mach 3 for preference) and you'll be as aerodynamic as is humanly possible. Its closest competitor would be the King of Shaves stuff, but I've always been a bit wary of this, as they produce a whole slew of products which to me seem identical (do you really need both an exfoliating pre-shave scrub or a post shave balm as well as the oil? - if you're that delicate, I don't think you should be going outside, let alone shaving.......;) ...
Andrew19111 16.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Somerset Shaving Oil
Advantages: no more shaving rash Disadvantages: gunks up your razor a bit
Women's shaving product's aren't a patch on men's, FACT. So go over to the men's aisle in Boots and pick up some of this. It is just about the best product you can buy if you suffer from shaving rash, and the places girls get shaving rash are a lot more awkward than the places guys do. It's really easy to use, about 5 or 6 drops is enough to do a leg, just wet the area, massage in some oil and then shave. You get a really close shave because there's ...
curlytop 23.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Somerset Shaving Oil
How does it affect your...
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Quick review of Somerset Shaving Oil
Whereas I really like the product, the packaging is no good. It is difficult to apply into the hand and makes a mess when standing after use. Why don't you adopt simple & effective packaging similar to
THE REAL SHAVING Co. I like your product; but will probably switch
because your packaging is NOT user friendly.
Trevor Evans ...
TrevorShaverEvans 13.11.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Somerset Shaving Oil
Advantages: Portable, easily applied, visibility, clean to use, good close shave, no irritation. Disadvantages: None
I bought this product after getting frustrated with shaving foam; messy, opaque and most of it ended up on my razor handle after the first pass. I tried another shaving oil, but the design of the bottle made it very hard to judge the amount i was using, leading to very dry/over lubricated shaves.
Somersets has all the advantages of the other oil, i.e., compact, allows you to see your face's contours properly and clean to use, with the twin advantages ... ...squeezy plastic bottle means that there are no worries about travelling with the product and that you can accurately dispense 2 or 3 drops of the oil. This is quite enough to deal with my stubborn stubble and I am left with a close shave and none of the irritation I used to get with foam. Though £1.80 may seem quite a lot for 12ml, that is enough for 60-70 shaves with the small amounts used each time.
I would recommend this product to anyone with ...
boija02 05.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Somerset Shaving Oil
How does it affect your...
How easy is to apply?
Does it smell good?
Quality of shave
Value for money
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Advantages: No Razor Burn Disadvantages: Expensive
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Advantages: Smells nice funky name space aged etc etc Disadvantages: bloody expensive and the menthol...she burns she burns
.wilkinson-sword.co.uk. I once heard Nikki Clerk or someone say that it is best to use a razor only once as they are too blunt the next time around. I follow this advice and rarely use a razor more than twice. So with my proffered razor a shave with out shave foam or gel is about 40p a pop.
The Shave Foam, Gels and oils
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I have used a lot of different shave foam and gels, from traditional shaving soap and a badger hair brush right through to what might seem the most space aged of shave lubricants, King of Shaves (KoS) Kinexium Mentholated Advanced shave gel. I've even tried Somerset's shaveoil. For those how aren't familiar with this, SomersetOil comes in a weenie little bottle with strict instructions to use no more than two drops in warm water and apply to the face, (being of that prodominatly male school of thought that says ...
