PannaCrema Nuavia Blu
Overall Rating: 10/10
Packaging: One of the very best on the market. The jar is solid, ceramic, and very well made. The note that comes with it has a personal touch, and even the box is detailed with a fabric-like texture.
Olfactory impressions: Aromatic spicy/fresh scent with amber in the base. The scent is easily one of the highest quality fragrances that I have ever encountered in a shaving product. It also possess the virtues of being extremely strong and exceptionally complex. Some have worried that the scent is actually too strong (I can see that immediately upon opening), but I find that it mellows out a bit after normal use.
Performance characteristics: I was skeptical when I first read the advertisement. On the website, it is suggested that this soap can function as a pre-shave, in-shave, and aftershave product. Yeah, right. What a load of propaganda, I thought.
Well, I am happy to report that it does all of the above, and very, very well. This is probably because the consistency of the lather different from any other product I have yet tried. It isn't quite foamy, nor is it exactly thick or creamy. It is an interesting consistency that fits somewhere in between, but somehow can be moderately absorbed into the skin. Lathering is easy, and the excess lather is intended for rubbing into the skin after the shave. Typically, I do this after my final pass, and leave the excess lather on my skin while I am doing my cleanup and rinsing my razor. When this is completed, I wash the remainder of the lather off (almost all of it is absorbed by this point) and finish with my normal daily moisturizer. An aftershave is entirely optional, but sometimes I choose to use it anyway.
During the shave, you will notice extreme slickness and extreme protection. The razor glides very well and it is extremely difficult to nick myself using this soap. I have zero complaints about the in-shave performance. Actually, I have no complaints about any aspect of this soap. Not only does it do adequately in every performance area, but it is exceptional in every area. This is a very rare trait that will earn this soap my highest mark. Put simply, PannaCrema Nuavia is a joy to use and has quickly become one of my all time favorite soaps.
Post-shave feel and look: This soap leaves the skin moisturized and conditioned. I'd say it does very well on moisturizing the skin, but does not hydrate so much that the skin will feel at all heavy or greasy. My complexion is always flawless after using Nuavia, as the formula seems to reduce existing redness and irritation (not that I get any redness or irritation from using the soap). Two thumbs up!
Who might like this product: Users with most skin types who are willing to shell out for a pricey yet top-performing luxury product. Also, if you are a lover of fine fragrances, Nuavia is one of the best on the market. Another plus: the ceramic jar looks magnificent on the bathroom counter.
Who might not like this product: If you don't like expensive products, or products with strong, highly complex fragrances, skip this one.
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Thanks for reading gents! If you have any comments or suggestions on the format of this review, please let me know.
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