Proraso "Green Tub" Shaving Soap

Attachment 138516
Attachment 138515

Proraso Sapone da Barba "Ciotola Verde"
(Proraso "Green Tub" Shaving Soap)

Producer: Ludovico Martelli, Florence, Italy

Type: Shaving Soap.

INCI (List of Ingredients): Aqua, Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Sodium Lauril Sulfate, Eucalyptus Globulus, Propylene Glycol, Menthol, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Eugenol, Geraniol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Eucalyptol, Boric Acid, Camphor, PEG-150 Distearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Borate, BHT

A lots of ingredients in this soap and, in my opinion, many of them are of disputable quality for a shaving soap, in particular Propylene Glycol, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Boric Acid, Camphor, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Borate, BHT and, to a lesser extent, Amyl Cinnamal and Hydroxyethylcellulose. Also "parfum" is not better specified and therefore of unknown origin, Score: 6

Pakage: Green plastic tub, very handy and functional, Score: 9

Quantity: 150ml (5.2oz)

Smell: Menthol and eucalyptus, it could be said "Proraso" mark, not very strong or excessive, Score: 8

Lather: It makes a fairly abundant quantity of lather with a moderate quantity of water, however creamy and pretty fat, with tiny bubbles with some bubbles of larger size, pretty good water retention, Score: 8

Shaving: It gives a mild refreshing sensation to the skin and the razor can easily slide, however I noticed some spots of dryness and minor signs of irritation, Score: 7

Conclusion: This soap has a very good reputation in Italy and, as far as I can tell, in many countries of the world. This is probably the shaving soap every Italian wet shaver has used at least once in his life and it certainly is the best selling soap in Italy. Not the very best soap in my opinion, although its very low price can be right for its quality, but the fact it leaves some minor irritations on the skin, the tendency to easily get dried and the presence of some ingredients not agreed by many (including me, of course) are, in my opinion, serious faults. A soap loved by many but, in my opinion, Italy has better soaps to offer to wet shavers, Score: 6

Unlike the Proraso "Green" shaving cream, the shaving soap lather tends to dry-out on my face, and requires re-hydration (i.e., later face, shave right cheek, re-lather left cheek due to dryness, etc.)

But the aroma, and the feel on my face! Regardless of the season or the temperature, I love it.

Was wondering if this is the old formula Proraso as it contains Propylene Glycol and various Parabens? I had heard that Parabens were banned now. I have a new formula Proraso red tub and the list of ingredients shows no Parabens or Propylene Glycol.

Bob

Another very helpful review, razorguy!

The C.O. Bigelow website lists the ingredients. I looked at the soap and cream(Proraso green tube, Proraso green tub, Bigelow labeled tube) and they do not list Propylene Glycol nor parabens.
The ingredient list for my Bigelow tube matches the ingredients in razorguy's review. My tube was given to me by a friend so I don't know when it was purchased. Judging by the dust on the box I am guessing it was not a recent purchase.

Very nice review razor guy. If the picture is a picture of his tube then yes it is the old formula. The new formula has new packing that has white and green barber strips through the name.

I would rate this slightly higher then razor guy probably a 7.5. It is one of my go to soaps and actually the one I go to when I already have some irritation as it helps calm it and I almost never have irritation after using it.

I haven't had the drying issue that you mention. However I use a lot of the Italian soft soaps and found them to all be water hogs so I use a lot of water and make a very wet lather.

Well I have to agree that though Proraso isn't the best soap in the world it is very easy to work into a lather (I daresay one of the easiest) and I can't say I've had problems with dryness. IMO it's a shave den staple, good without being fantastic, one of the top "cheap" soaps out there.

Thank you gentlemen for your replies. The tub of this review has been bought about three months ago while I was traveling and was in need of a quick shave. In Italy Proraso is available at any shop and I knew I would have bought that. It can be it was an old stock. However I will buy another tub soon and post a new review.
Since the day I started shaving, Proraso green tub has always been part of my shave den, although I found out, about ten years ago, that is when I started using straight razors, it is not my favorite soap.
Like all Italian soaps, it needs quite a lot of water and, in my opinion, this is very good for any soap. After all, we are talking about wet shaving and water is everything. :)

razorguy, have you reviewed what your favourite soaps/creams actually are?

i'd like to see what you think the best performers are

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bombay

razorguy, have you reviewed what your favourite soaps/creams actually are?

i'd like to see what you think the best performers are

---

Among the soaps/creams I reviewed I consider to be very good the ones made by Valobra, Geo F. Trumper and Truefitt. However I still have many more to review and, yes, including my very best which is Elberel P.160, a soap which is unfortunately not being produced anymore, that's why I am keeping from reviewing it.

Hi Razorguy,

it's great to see such an old classic reviewed again. I've always regarded Proraso as the standard by which other shaving creams and soaps should be judged. Just whip up that lather and get a load of the aroma: you're back in old Napoli as Dean Martin used to sing:)
In Australia we've recently been treated to the new parabens-free Proraso -still the same smell and certainly the same lathering properties. Here are some pictures of the new packs.Attachment 138541Attachment 138542

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Maladroit

Hi Razorguy,

it's great to see such an old classic reviewed again. I've always regarded Proraso as the standard by which other shaving creams and soaps should be judged. Just whip up that lather and get a load of the aroma: you're back in old Napoli as Dean Martin used to sing:)
In Australia we've recently been treated to the new parabens-free Proraso -still the same smell and certainly the same lathering properties. Here are some pictures of the new packs.

---

Thank you so much for the pictures and for the INCI of the new formula. Now it is clear the soap I bought was an old stock. Not so bad, at least I know there is something new I have to buy and test. :)
Your pictures have also allowed me to update my personal shaving soap INCI database. I see they removed all the parabens (and this is great to see!) but I still see not truly good ingredients such as Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and, to a lesser extent, Hydroxyethylcellulose.
I will buy this one and I will review it soon. Thank you for your support. :tu

thanks razorguy, i think i will get geo f trumpers coconut next.

just found out now that my proraso bianco is the old one full of parebens, oh well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bombay

thanks razorguy, i think i will get geo f trumpers coconut next.

---

Geo F. Trumper Coconut Oil is a great shaving cream. I really like it and it is very effective although it contains Triethanolamine and Propylparaben.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bombay

just found out now that my proraso bianco is the old one full of parebens, oh well.

---

That's why a forum like this is useful to all of us: to share and to grow up all together. Sharing information in order to have of all us know. :)

Just shaved with this old formula Proraso Green this morning and the shave confirmed much of what was said in the review and other posts. To me it is a good soap in that price range. Other soaps I have used seemed to be slicker and provide better glide. I get no irritation from this soap and it did not dry out while I was shaving. I think it is a good solid middle tier soap and deserving of it's popularity.

Bob

Great review, very detailed. I know this is about Proraso, and I don't want to hijack the thread, but Musgo Real has swapped to very natural ingredients and that certainly is also very easy to lather.

Attachment 138552

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Great review, very detailed. I know this is about Proraso, and I don't want to hijack the thread, but Musgo Real has swapped to very natural ingredients and that certainly is also very easy to lather.

---

Thank you Carl, I am glad you appreciated my review.
Unfortunately I never had the chance to try Musgo Real Shaving Cream and as soon as I get a tube of it, I will. The INCI seems to be very good, except for benzyl benzoate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by razorguy

Thank you Carl, I am glad you appreciated my review.
Unfortunately I never had the chance to try Musgo Real Shaving Cream and as soon as I get a tube of it, I will. The INCI seems to be very good, except for benzyl benzoate.

---

I'd very much look forward to your review of it, actually.

I'll have to check out benzyl benzoate. Why can't they all be made from just sunflowers, sunshine and lollypops?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd very much look forward to your review of it, actually.

---

Thank you!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'll have to check out benzyl benzoate. Why can't they all be made from just sunflowers, sunshine and lollypops?

---

Benzyl Benzoate is the ester of benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid. It is used in cosmetics for enhancing balsamic aromas as well as being used in many other fields including insecticides. Unfortunately, it can also be used as an additive in foods as well as being part of the "famous and generic" artificial flavors. It is also used as a solvent in many chemical reactions and it is a plasticizer for some chemical polymers. In a word, a truly chemical product!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd very much look forward to your review of it, actually.

I'll have to check out benzyl benzoate. Why can't they all be made from just sunflowers, sunshine and lollypops?

---

As long as the lollypops arent blue, blue colouring makes my daughter crazy, wouldn't want to absorb that through your skin and go all hyper with a razor to your face.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by razorguy

Thank you!



Benzyl Benzoate is the ester of benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid. It is used in cosmetics for enhancing balsamic aromas as well as being used in many other fields including insecticides. Unfortunately, it can also be used as an additive in foods as well as being part of the "famous and generic" artificial flavors. It is also used as a solvent in many chemical reactions and it is a plasticizer for some chemical polymers. In a word, a truly chemical product!

---

There seems to be a move away from shaving soaps and creams that contain animal fats and this is what we get. Seems you can't win either way. OTH, I will say that Musgo Real shave cream works just fine for me too.

Bob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobH

There seems to be a move away from shaving soaps and creams that contain animal fats and this is what we get. Seems you can't win either way. OTH, I will say that Musgo Real shave cream works just fine for me too.

---

I don't think this is really the case. Most of shaving soaps and creams contain tallow and, in case we want to stay away from animal fats, we should consider stearic acid is, most of the times, made from animal fats. It is however true stearic acid can also be made from vegetable fats only, but most of it is of animal origin.

While I don't agree that tallow is necessarily the main issue. I do think we are seeing a trend for companies to re formulate their products based on public outcry about some ingredient in it.

Some company's just are not good at that and ruin great products or just don't put enough time into r and d of the new formula and ruin great products.

As it goes with Proraso this is not the case at all they put a good amount of time in and did a great r and d of the new line of products to the point that the only difference between the original and the new is that the new needs just a bit more water in the mix.

Just as an aside I am nether for or against reformulating by company's.

I also believe we got a better awareness about chemistry and chemical products. With time, after a wide acceptance by many of us, we found out chemical products in cosmetics and soaps were not that healthy for the skin. That's why we now doubt about most of the products of evident chemical origin. I guess we learned the lesson some way and now we simply ask for different and better products.