#AmazonPrime#shave

Best Pre-Shave Oil

As of January 2020

THE JOAT'S Advice

The 90-day average price as of 8/31/2020 on Amazon is $19.93, according to data from Keepa. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.

 

If sandalwood isn’t your thing, They do offer a couple of different scents including unscented and lemongrass/eucalyptus.

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what we like

  • One of the few brands which offers pre-shave oil in a larger bottle (8 oz.) without being absurdly expensive
  • Nice dispenser included with the bottle which makes it easy to use
  • Reasonably priced under $20
  • Lasts a long time given the size
  • Great sandalwood scent

keep in mind

  • The oil itself is a little thicker and more viscous than other oils we have used in the past
  • Usually results in having to wipe hands with a towel after applying
  • Bottle is tall (almost 9″) and may not fit in the sink cabinet you would use to store it
  • Obviously can’t pack it into a toiletry kit so you may want to buy one of these for travel

review

I first got hooked on pre-shave oil after buying a bottle of Art of Shaving’s pre-shave oil from a mall kiosk over 15 years ago. It undeniably led to a closer daily shave for me while also reducing skin irritation. As a result, I routinely bought bottle after bottle of it for years since there weren’t many obvious alternatives at the time. This turned out be a super expensive process since they cost about $25/each and are sold in containers which are conducive to dumping out more than you need.

 

Other competitors figured out that pre-shave oil is really just a combination of various readily available oils, namely grapeseed oil, and can be easily replicated and sold. As a result, now there are a variety of pre-shave oils and balms available on the market. The issue is that most are still expensive and/or come in very small sizes (1-2 oz.) making them still just as costly as before.

 

Finally, a company on Amazon called Henna Guys came out with an 8 oz. bottle. At under $20, it provides, by far, the best value versus any other oil we have seen while still fulfilling the basic functions of a good pre-shave oil. There are better oils out there which aren’t as thick/viscous and don’t leave you having to wipe your hands after using, but most are like 4x the cost. All-in, I prefer using the Henna Guys 8oz. Sandalwood version as the scent, bottle size and functionality is good enough to provide me with the basic skin softening/moisturizing I’d want in a pre-shave oil.

Sizing Tips & FAQs

What is your full morning shave routine?

  1. Rub pre-shave oil across entire face to loosen up facial hair
  2. Wet shave brush 
  3. Lather shave brush with shave soap in bowl and spread across face
  4. Shave using razor
  5. Wash face using facial cleanser
  6. Apply after-shave
  7. Apply post-shave moisturizing balm

 

Can’t I just make my own pre-shave oil?

You definitely can. I haven’t tried it yet but I may at some point. The main ingredients is grapeseed oil and you can combine it with avocado oil and others to get a mixture you like. I’m just a fan of the sandalwood scent and the size/bottle/price make buying this bottle worth it for me instead of trying to become a amateur chemist.

Have another question?

Related Products & Links

As mentioned, I wouldn’t say this bottle is the best quality oil out there. There are a few better but much more expensive alternatives:

 

Lather & Wood Sandalwood Pre-Shave Oil

This is my favorite and, if price wasn’t an issue, would be the one I would use on a daily basis. Its oil blend is just a little smoother and less viscous than the Henna Guys version. It comes in a nice push spout container which dispenses the perfect amount of oil. But, at 4x the cost, it’s not worth the premium in our opinion. Pick up a bottle and throw it into your travel toiletry kit, at least, and see if it’s worth it for you.

 

The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil

This is one of the OGs in the space but it is even more expensive than the Lather & Wood version. The oil itself is fantastic but, aside from the cost, it also comes in a glass bottle with a wide spout which makes it really easy to pour out way more than you need. Smart packaging by Art of Shaving since it causes customers to buy bottles more and more frequently. But not ideal for us. They also make an 8oz bottle which costs $80 freaking dollars.

Have a better suggestion?

reviewed by

Jack

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