That Was a Close Shave

Though my other grooming habits are fairly routine, the regularity with which I shave my face is determined only by how long I can endure a five o'clock shadow before the itch becomes so annoying that I have to resort to the blade. You can call it laziness, and that's certainly part of it, but the other reason is vanity - I just look better with a little scruff is all.

I came across the Aveeno line of shaving products only recently. The canister's light cream and powder blue color combo convinced me that the packaging is marketed for women and their legs; perhaps even the sensitive bikini area where unwanted thickets and underbrush begin to form. Whether or not this product is for the ladies only, gender specific marketing doesn't easily intimidate me. If it fits my needs, I have no shame. What drew me to the "Positively Smooth" shave gel were its three bold claims featured front and center on the canister:

"Helps prevent nicks, cuts and razor bumps". That's always good, although you never want a shave that's too close as it can aggravate the skin and contribute to those cuts and razor bumps.

"Lightly fragranced with natural soy". If you ever drank soy milk, this gel contains the same light, milky-sweet scent. It's not overpowering or overbearing in any way, so it wasn't a deal breaker, though generally I like my shaving gels to be scent neutral.

"Helps you shave less often". Bingo.

That last one really caught my eye. It spoke directly to my laziness and it was the initial purpose I dropped $5 to buy a 7-ounce can. I have used Aveeno's Positively Smooth, soy-scented shaving gel for over two months and I'm glad to report it worked just as well as most shaving foam products at this price point. For my face, I'm good with a dime-sized portion of the gel, which foams on air contact and has a slick texture. After I prepare the hairs on my face and slather on the foamed gel, I whisk away 6-day old, long thick stubble with no problem. My face feels moisturized and fairly smooth. I do get some minor bumps on my neck at the border of my stubble and bare area, just below and to the right of my adam's apple. It's nothing severe or unsightly. By later the next day, my face already cast a light blue shadow; and though I can easily go for another shave by day 3, I feel comfortable enough to go without another shave for a week.

The product copy is touted with having rich emollients and moisturizers for a smoother, closer shave, and so forth. Even though the canister emphasizes the essential natural ingredient as "moisture-rich natural soy", the remaining contents read like an inventory list at a chemical supply warehouse. Dermatologist recommended, Positively Smooth is also adequate for sensitive skin. I shaved a patch of my abdomen, just below my chest and above my belly button, and there was no visible sign of irritation.

Most shaving creams and gels don't need to have a lot going for them. For men, what you do to prepare your face before and after a shave is almost as important, if not more, than the product you use. However in a nutshell, Aveeno's Positively Smooth Shaving Gel sports a pleasant scent and works well enough.