Phillips Norelco HS8420 Electric Razor - Product Review

I have always enjoyed using electric razors over traditional razors. The ease of use outweighs the irritated skin and the reduced closeness of shave. Recently, I bought the Phillips Norelco HS8420 electric razor. The reason I chose the Phillips Norelco HS8420 over other similarly priced razors was one feature that the HS8420 that no other razor in my price range had: The ability to dispense shaving lotion directly from the razor onto the skin to alleviate razor burn.

The Phillips Norelco HS8420 was priced at 74.99 at my local Target store. In the past, I generally opted for cheaper options, not believing that I would get any extra benefit unless I spent over $100, and many electric razors cost much more than that. The allure of having a shaving lotion that could be dispensed onto my face directly from the razor and could be used easily in the shower prompted me to spend a few extra bucks, but was it worth it? Let's see how it compares to other electric razors I've used:

• Ease of use: The Phillips Norelco HS8420 is one of the smallest electric razors I've ever used and is extremely lightweight. It glides along easily and does not vibrate heavily and noisily like some other, larger electric razors. In addition, the HS8420 is designed specifically so that it can be used in the shower. This makes it more versatile than a lot of cheaper brands which do not work as well when used in the shower.

• Comfort: The HS8420 comes with the unique ability to dispense Nivea shaving lotion on the skin directly from the razor. This lotion is easy to load into the razor and reduces most of the burn that typically comes with using an electric razor, although it does not eliminate all of the burn. It is recommended that you wet your face before using this razor, as this also drastically reduces the amount of burn while shaving.

• Closeness of shave: The Phillips Norelco HS8420 provides a much closer shave than any other electric razor I've used, although it does not provide the closeness of traditional razors. The only drawback is that the HS8420 does not include a pop-up trimming tool, something that is standard on a lot of razor models.

• Maintenance: The HS8420 is easy to clean. Having open blades and no hidden compartments, it is possible to clean this razor simply by submerging it in hot water with the razor turned on. Those pesky loose hairs will be thrown off the razor in no time and the Nivea dispensing slots will be unclogged in seconds.

The verdict? The Phillips Norelco HS8420 is a great little razor, although it is a little expensive considering the $75 upfront price and the cost of replacing the Nivea shaving lotion. If you can afford the price, however, it's easy to overlook the few faults of this razor and enjoy the improvement in shaving quality and comfort that the HS8420 provides.