Up next in our shaving soap review series is RazoRock’s XXX Artisan Shaving Soap.
RazoRock is an Italian shaving company that was formed just a little over 10 years ago, basically by accident. How so?
Well one of the founders, Joseph, was asked by his father-in-law, who worked as a barber in North America, to go acquire him some alum stones in Italy because alum was not readily available to him locally at the time. So Joseph and his uncle, Paul, did as requested and eventually found some alum stones in Tuscany.
And that’s when the two of them got curious as to why these stones were so important for a barber. So they decided to see what all the fuss was about and they used alum after a shave. And like most men that use alum for the first time, they were amazed at its post-shave benefits. Well the lightbulb clicked and they figured there must be a market for alum and RazoRock was formed.
Joseph and Paul have grown their business over the last decade into a really awesome and diversified shaving company. Their product line now includes alum blocks, shaving soaps, artisan pre-shaves and aftershaves, shaving brushes, safety razors and more.
And today we are taking a look at what I believe is their most popular shaving soap: the XXX artisan shaving soap. RazoRock makes all their soaps and creams in Italy by Italian artisan producers with special formulations just for the RazoRock brand.
So what is it that makes XXX RazoRock’s most popular shaving soap? Well let’s find out.
Pros
- One of the easiest soaps to generate into a rich, creamy lather
- Soft soap so it’s quick and easy to load on your shaving brush
- Incredibly slick and protective
- Excellent bang for your buck
- Great smelling scent
Cons
- XXX line is only available in 1 scent
Product Overview
- Scent: Italian Barber Shop
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- Key ingredients: shea butter, argan oil, aloe vera, lanolin, tallow
- Weight: 5 ounces
- Container: jar
- Made in Italy
Key Features
Very Slick and Protective
When it comes to shaving soaps and creams, the slicker the better. And that’s one of the reasons RazoRock is such a great soap — it’s incredibly slick when applied.
It really just does a great job of protecting your face from razor irritation. You still have to use good shaving form and know how to shave with the grain, but if you’re doing that you should get minimal razor burn.
Why is it so slick? Well it’s made with high quality ingredients. The new formula of tallow, shea butter, argan oil, aloe vera and lanolin do an incredible job of leaving a thin protective layer on your face.
Thick and Creamy Lather
RazoRock XXX is one of the thickest, creamiest shave soaps on the market. Pretty much all shave soaps are slick, but they dont always produce the thickest lather. XXX doesn’t have that problem.
RazoRock XXX really is almost a hybrid of a shaving soap and shaving cream, in my opinion. The thick creaminess is very similar to shaving creams and it’s incredibly easy to lather with a good shaving brush.
Excellent Hydration
One of my favorite things about RazoRock XXX is how great it keeps your skin hydrated during a shave. It doesn’t have any SLS or parabens and it is made with all natural ingredients. It’s just incredibly gentle on the face and it won’t dry out your skin.
If you have really sensitive skin, this is a great option.
Incredibly Easy Soap to Load and Lather
RazoRock XXX is one of the easiest shaving soaps on the market to load on a shaving brush. Like I said earlier, it’s almost a hybrid between a shaving soap and shaving cream because it’s a much softer soap. And since it’s a softer soap than most others, it is much quicker and easier to load.
For best results, you still need to prep your brush but don’t need to prep the soap. Also, it doesn’t require using a bowl so it’s less messy.
Doesn’t Dissipate Like Most Other Soaps
A fair number of shaving soaps and creams start to dissipate pretty quickly after being applied. That doesn’t make them bad necessarily but it is nice when they stay that nice thick lather throughout.
RazorRock has a lot of staying power. I don’t know enough about the chemistry or why it doesn’t dissipate like most others, but it stays a creamy lather on my face for an entire shave.
Scent Lingers Afterwards
RazoRock only sells the XXX artisan soap in one flavor which they describe as “Italian barber shop”. RazoRock says it has notes of orange, lavender, sandalwood and tonka beans, but all I know is it smells incredible.
Another thing I like is that the scent isn’t overpowering, but it does linger afterwards. I don’t use a traditional aftershave or cologne, and I can still get a whiff of this after shaving. Bottom line — I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the scent.
Who Do We Recommend RazoRock XXX For?
RazoRock XXX artisan shaving soap is one of my favorite soaps and I think it is very underrated and overlooked. It is an incredibly high-performing soap when it comes to slickness, hydration and lather. Add in the amazing scent, and would else could you ask for?
XXX is made with all natural ingredients and a great bang for your buck. The 5 ounce jar should last you a long, long time. Overall, just one of the best shaving soaps on the market and a great deal for pretty much all wet shavers.
What Are Some Other
Shaving Soaps & Creams To Consider?
Proraso shaving soap
Proraso is another shaving company that comes to us from Italy. But unlike RazoRock which has only been around for a little over 10 years, Proraso has been cranking out high-quality shaving gear for over a century. It sure seems like Italians know what they are doing when it comes to shaving soaps...
This is probably the most popular shaving soap on the market right now. And it is very similar to RazoRock’s XXX in both style and performance. How so? Well it’s a softer soap that is easy to load and apply, very slick and protective and great hydration for the skin.
Proraso shaving soap is available in multiple lines that vary in regards to scent and ingredients. Proraso really does a great job of providing multiple options to match your needs because they realize not every wet shaver needs the same thing. I highly recommend checking Proraso soap out and see if it’s right for you.
Lather & Wood shaving soap
Lather & Wood has only been around since 2013 but they are quickly making a name for themselves. Their sandalwood shaving soap was one of the first soaps I ever used and I’ve been hooked ever since.
This is also a tallow-based soap and is handcrafted in small batches. It’s incredibly high-quality unlike lots of mass produced shaving creams.
Lather & Wood soap is a thick lather that is very slick. The sandalwood scent is on the stronger side but it’s not overpowering. One of my favorite things about Lather & Wood is how it leaves my skin feeling really refreshed and hydrated after a shave.
Proraso shaving cream
If you want to stick with a shaving cream, take a look at Proraso’s shaving cream. It performs very similarly to their soap, but it just comes in a different container and has a different consistency. I think Proraso’s shaving cream is a little less messy to prep, load and lather if that’s important to you. Proraso’s shaving cream is also available in multiple scents.
This was actually the first shaving cream I bought and used when I switched to a safety razor and I have been a big fan of it ever since. It is hugely popular in the wet shaving community for a reason — it’s a great shaving cream.
