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- #21
I'm going to continue with the Tesco blade until it gives up. Boots blade will be in after that to compare. Have you tried the Boots blade in a different razor? The Tesco blade has worked very well in my EJ DE89 so far.
The Supermarket Shave and a PIF
- Thread starter elverdiblanco
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I'm going to continue with the Tesco blade until it gives up. Boots blade will be in after that to compare. Have you tried the Boots blade in a different razor? The Tesco blade has worked very well in my EJ DE89 so far.
The trick I've found with the shave stick is wet your face really,really good and then really work a good base coating of soap on your face(dip the end of the stick in the sink if need be) and have your brush a little wetter than you'd normally have it for cream and start to work your lather on your face.
I've also found I tend to get better results with my badger brush over my boar brush.
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- #23
Shave #3 update
Another 4 pass shave with the Palmolive cream, same DFS close to BBS above jaw and DFS or close below. Still no cuts or irritation worth mentioning. This blade is a good one. So far it has outlasted and outperformed the Astra SP and 7OC yellow and equalled the Feather. Will I manage to get 4 shaves out of it? For me that will be a first.
Another 4 pass shave with the Palmolive cream, same DFS close to BBS above jaw and DFS or close below. Still no cuts or irritation worth mentioning. This blade is a good one. So far it has outlasted and outperformed the Astra SP and 7OC yellow and equalled the Feather. Will I manage to get 4 shaves out of it? For me that will be a first.
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- #24
Shave #4 update
Much the same as shave #3. This is unknown territory for me, I've never had 4 good shaves from a blade and this one doesn't feel like it is giving up any time soon
I wonder if it is the Palmolive making the difference, the lather feels really slick. After this little experiment I'll try the same blade with my usual software, and my usual blades with the Palmolive to see what difference if any it makes. But so far this humble Tesco blade is quite possibly the best blade I've used yet! Will it make it to 5?
Much the same as shave #3. This is unknown territory for me, I've never had 4 good shaves from a blade and this one doesn't feel like it is giving up any time soon
I wonder if it is the Palmolive making the difference, the lather feels really slick. After this little experiment I'll try the same blade with my usual software, and my usual blades with the Palmolive to see what difference if any it makes. But so far this humble Tesco blade is quite possibly the best blade I've used yet! Will it make it to 5?
This makes for some pretty interesting reading. I think I'm stocking up during my next Tesco run.
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- #26
Shave #5 update
Yet another DFS/BBS above the jaw and DFS or close below. Still no cuts, nicks or irritation and no sign of any tugging or the blade going off yet. When I started this little experiment I thought I might get one or two shaves from the blade, never in a million years did I think I'd get 5 with the blade still going strong.
Yet another DFS/BBS above the jaw and DFS or close below. Still no cuts, nicks or irritation and no sign of any tugging or the blade going off yet. When I started this little experiment I thought I might get one or two shaves from the blade, never in a million years did I think I'd get 5 with the blade still going strong.
You're going to be doing a Turtle with this blade!
Got my pack of ten blades last night in Newtownbreda Tesco along with a tube of Palmolive Shave cream (£1.90 + £1.80 respectively). Can't wait to try this out once my Shark blade gives out. I've been thoroughly enjoying the Shark and Proraso Green combo and want to see the difference between that setup and the budget Tesco offering. Judging by your review(s) I might be in for a treat.
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- #29
Just make sure you don't skimp on the cream. I lather it up in a bowl and about a 1.5 inch squirt gives me a slick lather good for 4 passes and touch-ups with some left over.
Wow, that's some incredible longevity! Really looking forward to trying these out!
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- #31
Shave #6 update
It died
Still a DFS but not quite as close, smooth or comfortable as previous shaves especially with the ATG pass where it didn't feel like it was cutting as well as before. I also got a couple of tiny weepers and the alum was a little more stinging than the first 5 shaves too. Still, this is a great blade that has far exceeded my expectations.
Next up tomorrow is a Boots blade to see if it is indeed the same as the Tesco blade.
It died
Still a DFS but not quite as close, smooth or comfortable as previous shaves especially with the ATG pass where it didn't feel like it was cutting as well as before. I also got a couple of tiny weepers and the alum was a little more stinging than the first 5 shaves too. Still, this is a great blade that has far exceeded my expectations.Next up tomorrow is a Boots blade to see if it is indeed the same as the Tesco blade.
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Shave #6 update
It died
Next up tomorrow is a Boots blade to see if it is indeed the same as the Tesco blade.
How many do you get out of your usual blades?
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- #33
3 from a Feather, 2 from a 7OC yellow and 1 from an Astra SP
So the Tesco is a Huge improvement for you? Do you think they will become your regular blade?
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- #35
Possibly. I've still got nearly 100 Astras left and over 100 Feathers in my stash to work through
I've also ordered a pack of 20 Vikings Sword which are also Israeli Personnas to try out. If they work as well as (or indeed are the same as) the Tesco blade they will be cheaper to buy in bulkhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Israe...815?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7051b467
It is just nice to know that if I'm ever caught short I can get a decent blade from the supermarket.
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Today I did a 50% Supermarket shave. Shark blade on its third visit to the face, usually get 4 shaves out of the Sharks so well within its operational optimality, paired with the Palmolive cream. Have to say, it gives off some slick lather. I used about an inch and half of cream but went four passes (3 and a touch-up) of super-thick and creamy lather. Very impressed with the cream. Practically no scent, very unoffensive, which could either be a good or bad thing, for me I found it quite pleasant.
Ultimately the shave was very good. The Shark went through very well. I did miss the Proraso's menthol tingle but for £1.80 per tube, I'm impressed.
DFS definitely, BBS ~99%.
Half the testing is complete. I like the Palmolive cream which is nice considering I really dislike the stick. If these unbranded Personna Tesco blades are good, I'll not be bothering to send blades and cream ahead when I'm traveling in the UK (Belfast) for short stints, I'll just stock when I get there.
Chuffed with the cream. Thumbs up.
Ultimately the shave was very good. The Shark went through very well. I did miss the Proraso's menthol tingle but for £1.80 per tube, I'm impressed.
DFS definitely, BBS ~99%.
Half the testing is complete. I like the Palmolive cream which is nice considering I really dislike the stick. If these unbranded Personna Tesco blades are good, I'll not be bothering to send blades and cream ahead when I'm traveling in the UK (Belfast) for short stints, I'll just stock when I get there.
Chuffed with the cream. Thumbs up.
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- #37
The lather from the Palmolive cream really is slick, far slicker than anything I've managed to whip up with my usual creams and soap (DRH Arlington, T&H No.10, T&H Lavender, Proraso green tub). I'm wondering if the slickness of this lather has extended the life of the Tesco blade compared to the others in my stash, so after I've tried a Boots blade I'll be trying my usual blades with the Palmolive and my usual software with the Tesco blade. If the Palmolive extends the life of my usual blades I guess I need to fine tune my lather building skills with my other software to see if I can get as slick a lather. Either that or stick with the Palmolive, but that would be a bit boring 
Have to agree here. The Palmolive has everything you could want in a shave, but it is boring. It works, it's cheap, efficient and all-round excellent. But somehow it is boring. Without any menthol or fragrance... It will be from now on my back up or reliable and trusty fall-back but not my go to cream, unless I can whip up a custom formula that is edgier somehow.The lather from the Palmolive cream really is slick, far slicker than anything I've managed to whip up with my usual creams and soap (DRH Arlington, T&H No.10, T&H Lavender, Proraso green tub). I'm wondering if the slickness of this lather has extended the life of the Tesco blade compared to the others in my stash, so after I've tried a Boots blade I'll be trying my usual blades with the Palmolive and my usual software with the Tesco blade. If the Palmolive extends the life of my usual blades I guess I need to fine tune my lather building skills with my other software to see if I can get as slick a lather. Either that or stick with the Palmolive, but that would be a bit boring
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- #39
I meant boring as in it would be a bit dull to use the same cream all the time, but yeah, I agree with what you're saying.
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- #40
And so on to the Boots blade. This blade is supposed to be the same as the Tesco blade, and going by the generic blade insert in the box, the plain blade wrapper and the unmarked blade itself it certainly looks like the same blade. Shave #1 was just like the Tesco blade with the Palmolive; a comfortable, blood-free 4 pass DFS/BBS and very little irritation or sting with the alum block when done. I'll report back if the blade performs significantly differently to the Tesco blade.
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