Review (3/5): Useful for Travel, but Too Many Shortcomings for Everyday
The Philips Norelco 8040X electric shaver is a compact, lightweight unit that can be used dry or wet. In either case, it uses Nivea for Men shaving conditioner to smooth the razor over your face as you shave. Ultimately, it is capable of delivering a good shave, but it has too many drawbacks to recommend for everyday use.
SHAVING PERFORMANCE
Used dry, the 8040X is below average compared to other shavers that I've used (including my five-year-old Norelco which still shaves rings around this one). Its shaving heads are very compact and pivot nicely so you can easily reach all contours of your face and hard-to-reach areas, e.g. under your nose. However, the blades themselves don't do provide a close shave at all. I have a beard that's only moderately thick/stiff, and the 8040X left me feeling like I would have a five-o'clock shadow in minutes.
Used wet in the shower, its performance is much better. This is also when the Cool Skin moisturizer really shines - in fact, it's downright necessary to get the heads to glide over your face when used wet. It has a pleasant scent and does leave the skin on your face feeling refreshed afterward (even if it's also apparent that the "cool" is just from some alcohol in the formula). It certainly won't be the quickest shave that you've ever had, but if you take your time, you can get results that rival even a blade.
USE & MAINTENANCE
The 8040X comes with a cradle for storing it upright and also for charging it. Unfortunately once the razor becomes fully charged, you can't leave it in the cradle without unplugging it - doing so can damage battery life. Plus, the plug for the cradle is gigantic and ugly, so you won't want to leave the cradle on display anyway. I would have preferred a simple direct-cord charge design instead.
The Nivea conditioner that is used with the shaver is expensive in the long run - about $6 for a can that will last about a month (don't believe what the box says - it's only a month's worth). Suddenly that close, wet shave is looking pretty pricey in terms of time and money compared to simply going back to shaving with a blade. Also, the pump system that feeds the conditioner into the razor is proprietary, i.e. you can't just fill it with any skin conditioner because only the Nivea Cool Skin fits the razor's plug. So, you're out of luck if you don't like the scent or feel of the Nivea product. Also, the razor would lose just about all usefulness if/when they stop making those cans.
There is no readout to display the remaining battery life. Instead, the power light will begin to flash when the battery is getting low. Given the cost of this razor, this seems like a cut corner. I don't like the idea of guessing how much juice I have left.
The razor needs to be cleaned after each shave. Compared to most closed-head designs, this makes for even more time that the razor requires with each use. You also need to regularly check that the tubes which deliver the moisturizer haven't become clogged.
It does have a travel lock feature which will prevent the razor from accidentally turning on while you have it packed away. Coupled with its compact size, I think that the "weekend getaway (not for business)" may be the ideal application of this razor.
CONCLUSION
The 8040X Moisturizing Shave System promises too much. Ultimately, it works best when shaving wet, using a lot of the moisturizer, and taking a lot of time to do so. This, coupled with its lightweight, compact design, good battery life and travel lock make it ideal for weekend getaways. But given its cost - both immediate and in the long run - this just isn't enough return on your investment.
PROS
* Close, comfortable shave when used wet
* Compact and lightweight
* Travel lock prevents accidents while razor is packed
* Good battery life
CONS
* Unimpressive shave results when used dry
* Expensive cost-to-operate due to (very necessary) moisturizer
* Demanding upkeep/maintenance requirements
* Lack of battery gauge