Thread: Proraso vs. Noxzema

Originally Posted by AB2ZZ

while they do seem to have quite a few ingredients in common, i wouldn't shrug off the ones listed that are not in the noxema. Look at common salt. Sodium is bad for you, chloride is poisen, mix them together and they make the world's most common food spice.

Actually, the elemental components of salt are sodium and CHLORINE, a chloride is a compound that contains chlorine (e.g. sodium chloride, potasium chloride, or calcium chloride). And, salt is more than just a mixture of sodium and chlorine, it is compound formed by combining the two elements at the molecular level.

Originally Posted by sfdtuzolto

Proraso:
......

Noxzema:
......
There you go...

They are both mostly water and Stearic Acid - a saturated fatty acid.

Since the list is supposed to be in percentage order and fragrance/parfum
is most likely a constant I suspect that Proraso has slightly more alkali (Potassium Hydroxide) in it presumably to soften whiskers. But the sum of Calcium Hydroxide and Ammonium Hydroxide might equal the concentration of Potassium Hydroxide which might make them equal on that point. A simple pH test strip can tell if this is an interesting difference.

The market for the two differs by LOTS. The volume of Noxzema
could account for the price difference alone.

For some it may come down to a green or blue jar and not much more.

It is an inexpensive comparison to make. You can always give the
Noxzema to the other half. Noxzema does have a long history as a skin cleanser and may well find its place in a well stocked shave den.

You can find a BAJ (big ass jar) of Nox @ Wal-mart for just under or just over a mere $3.

Lady got some a while back. Of course, I tried it.

Does it work as a preshave? Depends on how you use it. I used it with a DE and I used it under my lather. The Nox was not rinsed off. That method sucks. The Nox clogged the razor and the lubrication/ glide was not there. It was very waxy feeling.

I might also add that Noxzema is great as an aftershave, too. It knocks down razor burn like all get-out. I used it tonight post-shave and forgot how effective it is.

It's thick stuff, so I just take a very small (pea-sized) amount and rub it in my hands along with my aftershave splash before rubbing it into my face. Decent menthol kick and leaves my face feeling smooth as velvet.

If memory serves me correctly Noxzema used to make a brushless shave cream that came packaged in a jar and had a consistency a lot like Noxzema face cream. I have seen photos of U. S. military personnel in the South Pacific using it to shave with during WWII. I used to shave with it myself, but it disappeared from the drugstore shelves. I wonder what happened to it?

Years ago I would also occasionally use Noxzema face cream, in lieu of canned goo, to shave with. Not bad, but it wasn't quite the same as the brushless shave cream.

Looking at the ingredient lists. the Noxema is more of a cleansing (soap) product where the Porasso is more of a moisturizing product. Yes both contain various menthol additives that make them smell vary similar but they do have enough differences to warrant marketing them as different product. I am not sure I would want to use the Noxema as a preshave product, but it would be fine to use as a facial cleaner prior to shaving.

Just my $.02

Originally Posted by jhenry

If memory serves me correctly Noxzema used to make a brushless shave cream that came packaged in a jar and had a consistency a lot like Noxzema face cream. I have seen photos of U. S. military personnel in the South Pacific using it to shave with during WWII. I used to shave with it myself, but it disappeared from the drugstore shelves. I wonder what happened to it?

Years ago I would also occasionally use Noxzema face cream, in lieu of canned goo, to shave with. Not bad, but it wasn't quite the same as the brushless shave cream.

They are still making a brushless shave cream. They even have 4 different ones!

My barber mixes about an almond sized amount of Noxzema in with AOS unscented cream, puts it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and applies it on the customer with his hands. He likes a brush but he says with this method he gets a better feel for the direction of your beard before the shave.

He'll put on the initial application after hot towel #1, then the next applications for the actual shave after hot towel #2. Granted he's a barber and a maestro with a SR but 3 passes W X A, some witch hazel followed by Clubman and you come away with an irritation free 2 day shave.

My skin is extremely sensitive and I'd had mixed results with Art of Shaving's products but this is a nice combination I've adopted into my other creams/ soaps.

Just my ¢¢ thanks!

I have used Noxzema as a preshave with some (but not all) customers for many years now. I tried Proraso several times but honestly didn't notice enough of a difference to justify spending the extra money. So considering the cost difference, I have used Noxzema for years now.

My procedure is to apply the Noxzema directly to the customers face with my hand (at the same time feeling the direction of the beard) and then apply a hot towel over the Noxzema. I let it sit for about 2-3 minutes then use the towel to wipe off the Noxzema. Combined with a hot towel, Noxzema will clean,moisturize and open the pores of the skin. It also helps soften the skin making it a little easier to stretch.

Originally Posted by TuttoItaliaOnline

They are still making a brushless shave cream. They even have 4 different ones!

Sorry to say that is not the exact type of Noxzema brushless shave cream I was referring to in my earlier post. Noxzema brushless sc came in a large jar and it was pink in color.