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I've been buying up lots of Eastern European shaving products lately, initially just out of curiosity but once I sampled the first few arrivals I had to get my hands on more... The value for money is probably the best in the entire shaving world. I was holding off posting this thread until everything had been delivered and tried but where's the fun in that?! So, here is a little list of recent acquisitions and what I think of them... The products aren't strictly Russian, anything from Eastern Europe gets a pass.
I'll start with my favourite find of the lot: Svoboda "vitamin F fortified" aftershave balm.
Svoboda (Freedom) are one of the largest cosmetics manufacturers in Russia, with a huge factory in Moscow. This aftershave balm like most Russian products looks very basic in a simple plastic tube, the kind used for toothpaste in the west but never judge a book by its cover for inside lurks one of the most easily absorbed, non greasy, softening/moisturising and healing balms I've ever tried. I've used Harris A/S milk, Trumpers skin food, L'Occitane balm and for me, this stuff walks all over them and its only £3 for 80g! Astounding. It has a sweet mint scent that fades within 15 minutes and a light menthol kick as you apply it that doesn't linger. Purchased from eBay seller "royalty-4" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122062930914
Ingredient list: Aqua, Olus Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isopropyl Palminate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Allantoin, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Eugenol.
Next up is the partnering Svoboda "soapy" shaving cream.
It comes in a similar plastic tube to the A/S balm albeit slightly more colourful... There is some entertaining reading on the Russian myshave.ru forum about this product, the consensus is that its a "Soviet soap" and smells so bad only true patriots of the motherland are willing to use it
. I don't find the smell that bad but its certainly not pleasant, like some medicated lotion from 50 years ago perhaps. If you can suppress your gag reflex long enough to use it then a great shave awaits you, I've found a bit more product is required for the equivalent amount of lather compared to other creams so its not very concentrated, that said once lathered up it provides a really good protective lather. It only costs £3 for 75g. Purchased from eBay seller "royalty-4" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122062930914
Ingredient list: Aqua, Potassium Stearate, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Sodium Silicate, Boric Acid.
Next up is Kapo (Karo) Classic shaving cream from Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is renowned for making awesome shaving creams and this is no exception. It smells exactly like Fitjar Havn to me (which is a good thing), its a thick cream that produces absolutely tons of lather from a small dot of product... Safe to say I'll be stocking up on this one... At £2.59 delivered for a 100g tube this is one of shavings biggest bargains. Purchased from eBay seller "amzishop" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272719431006
Ingredient list: Aqua, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocamide Mea, Menthol, Sodium Borate, Boric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl, Ionone.
I've ordered a number of Colognes but only one has been delivered so far... Novaya Zarya "Arbat".
They are all manufactured by the Novaya Zarya (New Dawn) factory in Moscow, prices vary between £2-£12 per bottle. Arbat was released in the 70's and is named after a desirable street in Moscow where party officials lived. It goes on cedar and lemon but dries down to a gorgeous wood/vanilla incense, projection is low but longevity is good (6+ hours on my skin) this stuff smells far more expensive than it is, I'm looking forward to receiving the other scents I've ordered. Purchased from eBay seller "leninogorsk.eu" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152603210978
That covers software but what about hardware? Well, the razors are really rather good too.
Russia produced some beautiful straight razors, best to stick to razors manufactured between 50's-mid 70's as later ones are reputedly not so well made. The two above were manufactured by the Stiz factory in Moscow and they are quality shavers... The two of them all honed and ready to shave cost the same as just one of my vintage Sheffield's so that gives you an idea of the value they offer. Both were purchased from eBay seller "mlys7884" https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/mlys7884/m.html?item=252984271096&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
DE's aren't left out either...
Above is a "Consul" adjustable that probably looks rather familiar Yes, its a Gillette Slim rip-off. These were manufactured at the "fine instrument-making plant", Severodonetsk, Ukraine. Build quality isn't up to Gillette standards, the materials are first rate but the construction tolerances are somewhat iffy... Its got an even blade gap between settings 1-6 but starts to become a slant on anything higher Still, fun to try these things.
Thats it for now, I'll update as more products get delivered... If you have any questions on a product fire away or if you want to weigh on with your own thoughts please do.
I'll start with my favourite find of the lot: Svoboda "vitamin F fortified" aftershave balm.
Svoboda (Freedom) are one of the largest cosmetics manufacturers in Russia, with a huge factory in Moscow. This aftershave balm like most Russian products looks very basic in a simple plastic tube, the kind used for toothpaste in the west but never judge a book by its cover for inside lurks one of the most easily absorbed, non greasy, softening/moisturising and healing balms I've ever tried. I've used Harris A/S milk, Trumpers skin food, L'Occitane balm and for me, this stuff walks all over them and its only £3 for 80g! Astounding. It has a sweet mint scent that fades within 15 minutes and a light menthol kick as you apply it that doesn't linger. Purchased from eBay seller "royalty-4" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122062930914
Ingredient list: Aqua, Olus Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isopropyl Palminate, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Allantoin, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Eugenol.
Next up is the partnering Svoboda "soapy" shaving cream.
It comes in a similar plastic tube to the A/S balm albeit slightly more colourful... There is some entertaining reading on the Russian myshave.ru forum about this product, the consensus is that its a "Soviet soap" and smells so bad only true patriots of the motherland are willing to use it
. I don't find the smell that bad but its certainly not pleasant, like some medicated lotion from 50 years ago perhaps. If you can suppress your gag reflex long enough to use it then a great shave awaits you, I've found a bit more product is required for the equivalent amount of lather compared to other creams so its not very concentrated, that said once lathered up it provides a really good protective lather. It only costs £3 for 75g. Purchased from eBay seller "royalty-4" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122062930914Ingredient list: Aqua, Potassium Stearate, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Parfum, Sodium Silicate, Boric Acid.
Next up is Kapo (Karo) Classic shaving cream from Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is renowned for making awesome shaving creams and this is no exception. It smells exactly like Fitjar Havn to me (which is a good thing), its a thick cream that produces absolutely tons of lather from a small dot of product... Safe to say I'll be stocking up on this one... At £2.59 delivered for a 100g tube this is one of shavings biggest bargains. Purchased from eBay seller "amzishop" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272719431006
Ingredient list: Aqua, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocamide Mea, Menthol, Sodium Borate, Boric Acid, Parfum, Benzyl Benzoate, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl, Ionone.
I've ordered a number of Colognes but only one has been delivered so far... Novaya Zarya "Arbat".
They are all manufactured by the Novaya Zarya (New Dawn) factory in Moscow, prices vary between £2-£12 per bottle. Arbat was released in the 70's and is named after a desirable street in Moscow where party officials lived. It goes on cedar and lemon but dries down to a gorgeous wood/vanilla incense, projection is low but longevity is good (6+ hours on my skin) this stuff smells far more expensive than it is, I'm looking forward to receiving the other scents I've ordered. Purchased from eBay seller "leninogorsk.eu" http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152603210978
That covers software but what about hardware? Well, the razors are really rather good too.
Russia produced some beautiful straight razors, best to stick to razors manufactured between 50's-mid 70's as later ones are reputedly not so well made. The two above were manufactured by the Stiz factory in Moscow and they are quality shavers... The two of them all honed and ready to shave cost the same as just one of my vintage Sheffield's so that gives you an idea of the value they offer. Both were purchased from eBay seller "mlys7884" https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/mlys7884/m.html?item=252984271096&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
DE's aren't left out either...
Above is a "Consul" adjustable that probably looks rather familiar
Yes, its a Gillette Slim rip-off. These were manufactured at the "fine instrument-making plant", Severodonetsk, Ukraine. Build quality isn't up to Gillette standards, the materials are first rate but the construction tolerances are somewhat iffy... Its got an even blade gap between settings 1-6 but starts to become a slant on anything higher Still, fun to try these things.Thats it for now, I'll update as more products get delivered... If you have any questions on a product fire away or if you want to weigh on with your own thoughts please do.
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