Review (5/5): Nice combo pack. Good overall value.
I like this shave kit for several reasons. First the four products you get (they say 6, but they are counting the cheap dopp bag and something else) go really well together and I think you save about ten dollars by buying it as a kit. I have naturally dry and sensitive skin. So I like a mild facial cleanser and that is what you get here. This face cleanser is not a soapy type cleaner. If you are used to a normal sudsy face wash, then this will take a little getting used to. Basically with this facial wash, a little goes a long way. You will not get a big lather from it, and it does kind of have a slimy consistency but it smells very nice to me. They say it is odorless, but I find it has a slightly medicinal peppermint smell, that I actually like. The shave cream and aftershave actually have the same smell. I like it. It smells manly to me. One warning though. There have been days where i couldn't wash my face for whatever reason and the next day I have used double the amount I normally use, and it has made my face feel extremely dry and tight. So don't use more than a quarter sized amount on your face and neck unless you have oily skin.
The pre-shave oil I use after washing my face. To me it is the pre-shave oil that is the star of this kit. If you are someone who feels that they get a great benefit from using a pre-shave oil, then you will like this oil. I have found this to be my favorite pre-shave oil, even against those that are twice the price. Again, a little goes a long way. You only need to drip a tiny bit on your fingertips for each side of your face and neck. I find using a pre-shave oil gives my face an elasticity that it wouldn't have otherwise. It just seems to make the razor glide more effortlessly than with just a regular shave cream. I also find that since it is an oil (and this is among the thicker shave oils you will find) it tends to stay on your face even after the shave and condition it. If you have dry skin like me, this is actually a huge plus. I have found my skin to have less razor bumps and a more even complexion from using these four products, and again, I think it is the shave oil which makes the biggest difference.
After the pre-shave oil you apply the shave cream. The cream is good but not great to me. It is a cream that doesn't lather, and I actually like a lighter cream with less lather when using a shave oil underneath. The cream has peppermint in it, so you will feel a tingle on your face when you use it. It does a good job on its own, but paired with the shave oil it produces a very clean, calming shave experience.
Finally the aftershave balm. I tend to like balms after a shave more than anything else. Again, that goes back to my dry skin and need for moisture. I find this balm to be soothing and not harsh. These are fairly concentrated products so you don't want to use too much, if you do, then it will feel tacky and not absorb well. If you have used the very popular Nivea Sensitive Aftershave Balm, this product will feel like a more upscale version of that product. Again a pepperminty medicinal smell that I don't mind at all lingers for an hour or so after you are done using the balm with all the other products.
Overall, I find the kit to be a good value and the products work well together to help give you a good shave and a well conditioned face. My only small gripe would be that all the packaging is gray now, except for the face wash. The white packaging looked much fresher and high end then the gray packaging, but no big deal. Just wanted to point that out, so you don't think you received the wrong order when you get a different color packaging than what it is in the pic.