Black Edition Shaving Cream

I find myself only shaving for a special occasion, most of the time my barber or me doing a touch up with my clippers will suffice. But Claus Porto’s Black Edition Shaving Cream left me feeling like I should shave more often. Historically I would find my skin could get irritated, or I would break out from a shaving cream which left me wondering why I bothered shaving to begin with. This was not the case with Claus Porto, my skin felt fine in the days after my shave and no break outs or irritation showed themselves as a result.

The product itself matches the rest of the luxurious feel from the brand. The shaving cream felt dense (it stayed firm and in place as I squeezed from the tube) yet was also filled with an airy lightness as I worked it into a lather. I found that I didn’t need much to shave my neck and cheeks, maybe a little more than pea size is what I started with and felt I had some leftover. There was no drippage from the lather, and enough remained as I shaved that allowed me to go back over any necessary areas. It didn’t require an excessive face wash after to rinse off and my skin felt more nourished than I remember prior post shaves in the past.

Claus Porto's case for the cream is that lanolin and natural oils soften the beard before the razor, so the shave is smoother and the cut is cleaner. Coconut oil and jojoba are the oils they name, with glycerin in the mix, and the scent is meant to stay light. Nutmeg and cardamom, the same Black Edition family as the soap, bergamot and lemon up front, vetiver and cedar underneath. That tracks with what I got. The soap is the louder version. This one sat milder, which I wanted, and the skin after did feel more looked after than stripped. The tube is also part of their pitch. Retro, and meant to be used until it is finished, which fits a cream I will not be burning through every week.

I know for me this is a product that would last me a long time as I don’t need to shave often for work and keep a beard all the time. This makes the $38 price tag feel much more reasonable as shaving is often one of those ritual type moments, investing in things you use consistently and enjoy is usually worth it in my opinion. Like the other Claus Porto products I have tried so far I also think these make luxurious stocking stuffer gifts for friends and family. At the time of this writing the Black Edition is sold out, but their scent notes are accurate, so if you find yourself gravitating towards a bright or lighter scent you may want to try the Alto Mar or one of their many other options.

This is a Field Leader. The ritual, the comfort, and the fact that my skin was fine the days after are what I was missing from a shaving cream.