It's all about the edging (and making your wife say ooo!)

G'day men.  Yep, it's Scott again, taking over the reigns at Bagful of Notions for another Adventures in Shaving post.  It's been a while, and I have a few updates that Nicole encouraged me to share.

Today's review is about the Remington WETech Power Series Shaver.  

In order to help you manage your expectations from this razor, you should know that the recommended retail price of the device is $99.95 AUD (but you should not expect to pay full price).

I say this because, as you may recall, I've been incredibly spoiled by the Nicole-Procured Panasonic LV-81 (you can read a bit more about this razor at this review), which is sold for rather a huge amount more than the WETech (like about four times as much).

I know what you're thinking - didn't I just review a Remington?  Yes, I suppose I did, but, there's a huge difference between these two models -- the WETech can be used (wait for it) WET!  Yes, that's right, they've made sure that this razor can be used in the shower, in the bath (but do not fully submerge the razor) and deliver a quality shave with the wet-shaving products of your choice.

And believe me, this is an incredibly important feature when it comes to certain beard types (like, say, mine) and rotary style razors.

The model I've been trying out is the PR1245AU, and it comes in a box a bit like this:

The accessories are pretty simple for this one:

You get the razor, a plastic cover for the rotary head, the electric charger, a plastic brush to help keep it clean, and the pouch to store it all in or use for travel.  No stand.

I've been using the WETech unit for just over a week now and feel pretty confident about understanding its strengths and weaknesses.  I will add that the instructions are very clear about using it for about a month to allow your face/beard to grow accustomed to a rotary razor.  

This is important, men, very important.  If you've not used a rotary before, or it's been a while, there is very much a facial-learning-curve that you need to go through.  Put simply, the first few days will not be particularly comfortable.  Stick with it though, it may well be worth it.

So, here are my notes on the WETech:

• Better wet, much better
• Okay dry, if you go slow
• Takes a while for your face to get used to rotary razors
• Shave in small, slow, circular motions
• Takes a lot longer to shave than my Panasonic
• Edging, such as around a moustache, goatee or sideburns is not easy
• Needs face-pulling; one handed operation is not advised
• Go slow.  Did I mention that?

So, who is this product perfect for?  Because of the rotary style head, I'm going to say that those who don't have any sort of a beard or facial hair (and don't want it) are best off.  If you want to keep a bit of growth, you'll find positioning and manoeuvring the circular cutting heads and the triangular shape to the razor's head to be somewhat awkward; it's an exercise facial geometry (lines, circles, and triangles, all intersecting).

In my case, I've had a goatee for nigh on 20 years and trying to edge around that has been tricky.  Not impossible, just very time consuming.  On the plus side, the rotary motion of the blades actually did a better job of some tricky areas on my face that my Panasonic often has trouble getting a close shave with.  The Remington WETech has a trimming tool built in, and that does an okay job with sideburns and longer hair, but it's not really meant for close-shaving.

Cleaning the WETech is pretty straightforward.  There's a button at the front of the rotary head, push it in, and the top of the head tips backwards, a bit like a Canadian on South Park.  Indeed, you can pull the entire plastic assembly off, and put it back on, quite easily.  This is also where you access the blades for replacement.

Do be warned, however, the three plastic rods which control the razor blades are attached to the base of the razor in what I'd call a "ball point pen" assembly.

If you've ever taken apart a ball point pen, the sort that you click to activate, then you'll know what I mean.  Basically, there's a bit of plastic which is held inside of a slight "cage" on the base of the razor, and underneath that bit of plastic there's a very small spring, keeping the plastic rod pushing upwards and helping to create the "floating head" that the Remington has.

In practice, this assembly works great.  However, one morning I opened the Canadian's Head a bit too quickly and the plastic rod popped out of its cage and the tiny spring did what springs are great at: it boinged energetically away.

Happy to report that the landing spot was NOT the toilet.

Putting it back together was easy enough, but my recommendation is to make sure you open the razor properly and possibly not over a bottomless pit, black hole, box of pit vipers, or similar.

The most important advice I have in using the WETech is to Know Your Beard and make a careful decision about whether a wet or dry shave is better for you.  In my case, my beard seems to grow at the rate of 0.15 Grizzly Adams per day, which is pretty significant, and can create quite the challenge to a razor.  Dry shaving with the Remington hasn't been the best for me.

Now, a wet shave, with the Aesop Neroli Shaving Serum, was an incredibly great combination.  I actually found that the Neroli serum didn't work brilliantly with my Panasonic, but, something about the rotary shave and the speed of the blades on the Remington made this duo work spectacularly.

I know I've done a great job shaving when Nicole can run her hand over the shaved regions of my face and proclaim "OOO!" - this is easy to accomplish when doing a wet shave on my Panasonic, and the wet shave of the Remington with Neroli also had her impressed.

But the dry shave?  Not a chance.  Which isn't to say that the shave isn't very good, but without a doubt the best results are achieved when you're using a shaving cream or oil.

My final note on the Remington:  This is a two-handed operation, men.  My eyes are at that awkward stage where without my glasses the mirror on the wall is too far away for shaving (without leaning stupidly far over the basin in the bathroom), so I tend to use a shaving mirror, held in my left hand, whilst the razor is operated by my right.  Never a problem with the Panasonic, but, the Remington really needs you to provide ideal shaving plains and they encourage you to pull/stretch your skin accordingly.

I definitely noticed the difference between the shaves where I tried to take care of business with only one hand and those where I really went to town with two.  Ehem.

Anyway, the Remington WETech actually impressed.  Being able to use it as a wet-shave razor is where it shines for me, and at the budget price it's available for, I'd definitely encourage you to take a look.  Especially if you're not into the habit of edging, which, as we all know, takes a bit of practice.

If Nicole will allow me to borrow from Bagful and give this a rating, It'd look like so:

Pros:

• Price
• Wet/Dry shave option
• Great introduction to rotary-style shaving

Cons:

• Awkward for keeping any facial hair
• Construction is basic; a bit plasticy
• Takes a while to get used to

I'd award this a good 6.75 out of 10 bags on the Bagful of Notions rating scale.  Shaving is a personal experience, not all beards are the same, and what may be the perfect shave for me, may not be for you.

*PR sample provided - Opinions and impressions are entirely mine.

WWVT: What Would Viktor Think?

I can still hear his voice in my head.... 

Viktor Kiam was indeed impressed

It was before many of you may have been born, but, the TV adverts and the catchphrase of Remington's frontman (and CEO and owner) Viktor Kiam said it all:  His product, the Remington MicroScreen, would shave as close as a blade, or you'd get your money back.

Further, Viktor said that when his wife bought him the razor for the first time he was so impressed by the product, that he bought the entire company.

That says something.

Fast forward a few generations and here we are in 2014 and my wonderful wife's blog creates the opportunity for her to present me with PR Sample Provided Remington HyperFlex Razor.

The question is:  Will I like it so much that I'll be aiming to be Viktor 2.0 and make an offer on the corporation?

Truth be told, that's not terribly likely.  If you saw my Barber of Melbourne post, you'll know I'm pretty impressed with my current shaving setup, but the Remington brand is one I've known for years, and I was actually quite eager to try out a rotary shaver again for the first time in over a decade.

So, what's this rotary beast look like?

Remington HyperFlex

Initial impressions:  Packaging was nice, razor is nicely shaped, lightweight plastic.  Personally, I'd prefer a little bit more weight to the unit, but, the curved grip fits nicely in the hand and makes it easy to hold during shaving.

The instructions have an interesting inclusion: This razor is safe for children 8 years and older.

I don't know too many 8 year olds with a need for a daily shave, but, hey, I guess it could happen.

One key point the instructions make clear:  You really need to give yourself three weeks with this razor to get used to the circular motion you need to shave with, as well as to get your beard/skin used to it.

Unfortunately, I don't have three weeks - I only have three days.  As a result, some of what you read below must be taken in the context of "not following the directions" and if you end up with one of these widgets, you'll be well advised to do as they say.

Before I continue with the review, I hear you asking "Scott, what on earth is HyperFlex?  Some sort of acid-reflux turned up to 11?"

Thankfully not.

It's their marketing term for how the razor's head flexes and bends, like so:

The three blades on the HyperFlex can move independently, leading to an incredibly contour-fitting shave.

The razor comes complete with a charging cradle which serves as a stand and as a bit of a Razor Segway:

The stand flips around to "cradle" the base, or, opens up to serve as a base as above

The charger plugs in to the base - not directly into the razor (that's unfortunate) - which means that if you're taking this razor on travel, you can't forget the plastic cradle it comes with or you will be quite disappointed.

I wish Remington had found a way around that - indeed, I think all electric razors should use a Micro USB style connector at the bottom of their devices for charging purposes.  It would be incredibly handy.  Better yet, an  Lightning connector for an iRazor!

But I digress...

The business end of this razor is most definitely worth a close up - the Remington screen has a variety of openings, which I'm sure some marketing person could tell you leverages the synergy of pro-active facial hair success plans, through follicular stakeholder engagement:

Hair goes here

It's what is inside of these screens, inside of the razor's head, that really does the work:

Very, very, very sharp

Handling these cutting blades should be done with care.  They are sharp.  That's what you want from a blade, but, you also shouldn't squeeze them too tightly with your bare fingers.  Handle gently, replace as per the advice from Remington.

The design of the head has changed a bit since the last time I used a Remington rotary; the three cutting heads are colour coded.  Blue, grey and black.  The inside of the screen themselves has a corresponding colour - when changing blades you need to be certain to match up colour for colour.

I don't know what will happen if you don't do this, but, likely the design of the heads is such that you're going to get better results if you pay attention.

Okay, on with the review!

Day one:  Is this thing on?  As compared to my five-blade incredible Panasonic LV-81, the Remington HyperFlex is extremely quiet.  The motor isn't nearly as strong, but, the design of the head, it's ability to flex and contour around your face, and the rotary blades, more than makes up for that.

It is extremely difficult to edge around my goatee, however.  The design of the head creates a bit of an edge/lip that you can't see around when trying to figure out where the spinning blades are.  More than once I got a bit too close and an intentionally long whisker was yoinked from its happy home with an "UMPH!" uttered from me.

Here's the head close up:

Remington HyperFlex profile

As you can see, the (pivoting) head (in blue) immediately flares out wide enough for the rotary blades, but because of that flare you really can't see how close the razors are to your beard.

The razor also has a pop-up trimming tool, but it's not pop-down.  You push a button to release it, but you have to push the trimmer back down manually.  You can see the hatch for the trimming tool on the left of the image.

Result of shaving? My face is smooth.  My face is also red.  My face is also on fire.

Grabbed the Aesop after-shave lotion swiftly..it helped with the burn, but, the entire day things felt a bit sensitive and scraped.  I'm chalking this up to a new razor, rotary design, and the fact that it really does get very, very close.

Day two:  Okay, I'm getting the hang of this.  

You really can't use an up-and-down shaving stroke with this razor, you must use a circular motion, or the angle of the blades and head will do you no favours.  Lost a few more whiskers due to coming too close to the goatee again.  Ouch.

One odd thing, I have no idea how long I'm shaving for.  I think it's longer than I normally shave; but not by much - this is mostly due to the angles I have to work at around the goatee.  There are other models of the HyperFlex which come with a digital display that tells you your shave time; truthfully, I don't know why this would matter - but I do find it interesting that from day to day the required time to a smooth shave varies considerably.  Mild curiosity about the human male condition...

Very impressed by the HyperFlex's ability to contour to the face.  It does a great job along the neck/chin area, as well as under the ear and along the jaw line.

Day three:  I wish I could give this razor a bit more face-time, but I promised Nicole that I'd complete this review by today ahead of the deadline requested by the very kind firm who sent along the unit for review purposes.

Why more time?  Well, I think my face is JUST starting to get used to how a rotary works on it again.  It's been well over a decade and old shaving habits die hard.  

So, three day challenge complete, what are my thoughts?

Men's beards grow differently; some of us have very slow growth that is easy to keep in check and can go days without being shaved -- others, however, such as myself, have a pretty fast growing beard that needs daily close attention.

And close attention is what the Remington provides.  

Indeed, one of the most lasting impressions I'll have of this razor is that it reminds me a LOT of wet-shaving with a razor blade; without the mess.

For a lot of men that's a huge bonus.  If your face wants to be facial-hair free, and you can make full use of the three rotary blades gliding over your face and neck, this razor will do you well, especially for the price point.

The model I reviewed is the XR1330AU, which has a recommended price of $119.95 Australian Dollars.  

However - there's a reason that I use electric razors and not traditional safety razors / wet shaves:  My skin just can't take it.  It burns.  It gets red.  It gets blotchy in a few areas on my neck.  There's no doubt that things are very smooth, but, that smoothness never lasts and I have to weigh the benefits of that skin-like-glass feeling with the cost of ouch-ouch-ouch.

The first day I tried the Remington I knew what I was going to be in for - a super close shave that reminded me a of wet-razor shaving, and a burning sensation on my face most of the day.

It delivered.

I don't usually use after-shave lotions, maybe once every few weeks, but all three days with the Remington has required it.  The first day was the worst - second day was not nearly as bad, and today, the third day, I'm hoping will be even better (I'm writing this about half an hour after shaving with the Remington for the third time).

Don't get me wrong:  This is not the razor's fault.  This is my skin, my face, my beard.  

There is no doubt that the Remington delivers on a close-shave experience; it even did a better job of getting some particularly annoying whiskers I have that grow in two spots that are resistant to my normal razor's plying.  The rotary head and blades has a lot to do with that.

For the dry-shaving experience, it delivered remarkably well.  

For me, personally, the best shaving experience is still my Panasonic LV-81, with a wet shave.  That combination provides, for me, the ultimate close shave, without the burn.

But that's not always an option, and the Remington is a great and cost-effective alternative.

So, final wrap up....

Pro:  Very close shave, lightweight, very comfortable to hold, surprisingly quiet

Con: Not great for edging moustache, goatee, etc regions due to circular blades and head design.  Can be too close of a shave, depending upon your skin.

I can't stress strongly enough the importance of following the shaving guidelines by Remington; use the circular motion and use the razor for a good three weeks to fully see the best results.  If I had the three weeks, I'm sure many of the issues I encountered would be done away with.

As for whether or not I'll be making a play for Remington in the way Viktor Kiam did?  I think they're safe from me.  For now.

Did I just shave with Coca-Cola?

Being married to a makeup and beauty expert is an interesting experience.  I often joke with Nicole that by learning as much as I have about her world, her interests, the makeup and beauty products that she likes, I've indubitably forgot certain key bits of information from my own life.  Were it not for 1Password, I'm pretty sure I'd have learned 50 Shades of Lipstick and forgot how to check my email.

On the plus side, I've also been exposed to products which have enriched my own life...

Case in point, sure, I might have inhaled deeply whilst walking by Aesop, as their shops really do smell good, but, were it not for Nicole, I doubt I ever would have ventured past the threshold.

Rewind a couple of weeks back and Nicole and I were spending the weekend in Sydney to celebrate my birthday. During one of our shopping-wanders, we went to the Strand Arcade and stumbled across the Aesop presence tucked away within.  Their shop layout is quite nice, which is part of what caught Nicole's eye, but she's always enjoyed their products as well.

As she wandered around the store, I noticed they had a few things sitting out by a basin; one of which claimed to be a "shaving serum" -- I must admit, I have no idea what a serum is in this context.  I see the word a lot when Nicole goes wandering through makeup counters, but, I honestly didn't know what it would be when applied to shaving.

I picked up the small container, pushed the pump, and a thickish gel-like substance was produced.  Huh.  It smelled fantastic, and definitely had the right consistency to imply a great shave.  

As part of the Birthday Extravaganza Weekend, Nicole bought me the "kit" which Aesop sold - which is officially known as the Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet.  

The box, contents, and the little cloth bag it all came in.

The serum is the container in the middle.  It's not a vast quantity (60ml), but, you don't need a huge amount (more on that in a bit).  To the right you can also see the "post-shave lotion" which is included in the duet kit.

Okay, so, I have to admit, I have no idea what neroli oil is.  I'd never heard of the stuff until I actually read the label.  Which I did about 10 minutes ago as I was preparing to write this story for Bagful of Notions.  I've used the Aesop shaving serum several times already, but, it was only just now that I had any idea what it was called.

Which allows me to digress:  I can't (and shouldn't) speak on behalf of all men, but, I get the feeling that most men may not care what this (or most) products like this are called.  If I wanted to get some more of this serum in the future, here's exactly how the conversation would go:

Aesop Staffer:  Hello!  Can I help you with anything today, sir?
Me:  Yes please.  I'm looking for some more of your shaving gel stuff.
Aesop Staffer:  You mean our Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum?
Me:  No idea.  Small bottle, gel, smells nice.  Good for shaving.  (Said in voice of Ron Swanson)
Aesop Staffer: <stiffling a sigh at the Typical Male response> Yes, that would be our blah blah blah blah blah.
Me: Here's my money.  Good bye.

I feel bad for the patient staff having to deal with what I perceive to be a typical response as I'd give.  But, really, I don't care what it's called - the lovely staff assistant in Sydney no doubt told me the glorious history of this miracle shaving serum and I have already forgot it.  Nicole probably paid close attention to every word and could tell you how this stuff once stopped a war and was personally used by Marcus Antonius...

Anyway, let's get back to the review.  Here's a close-up of the serum:

Serum, with the cap removed.

So, where was I? Oh, yes, Neroli.  I had to go and look this word up on the Internets.  I'm told by Wikipedia, which is the single greatest source of truth and lies (simultaneously) online, that this stuff is, allegedly, one of the secret ingredients in Coca-Cola.  I'm not making this up.  Wikipedia might be, but I'm not.

Since Neroli is made from the blossom of a bitter orange tree, it makes sense that the aroma has a slightly citrusy slant to it.  I wouldn't call it sweet, but, you get a wisp of citrus on the nose; a bit like someone opened an orange on the train a carriage away from you, and as the connecting doors briefly opened, you caught a hint.

To me, though, the stronger scent is one of dried wood.  Like taking an exotic hardwood branch, setting it in the Australian summer heat for a few weeks, then bringing it inside.  It's not overpowering, it's not as it would smell in the forest, but it's also unmistakable.

All a fancy way of saying:  It smells good.  Masculine, but not ostentatious.  

Okay, enough on that side of it, how does it work?

First thing I have to tell you is to Learn From My Fail and don't use it this way:

Do not take two small pumps of the serum and place it on your hands, lightly coating your face, and waiting about 20 seconds before trying to shave.

That is the wrong way to do it.  The instructions are clear about this as well.

So, why did I do it that way the first time?  Largely because the only other shaving oil/gel that I've used actually recommended that approach.  A few drops, spread it over your face, wait a bit, then shave.  The important lesson here, kids, is that serum != oil.

Instead, what you're meant to do is make the face damp (I prefer hot water, and the instructions are vague on this point), then use the serum to create a "low foam" - again, the instructions are vague as to how much to use, but, I found through trial and error that four pumps was the right amount for me.  Aesop's website offers different instructions than the serum bottle itself, implying it's best to lather it in your hands, or, a shaving bowl with a brush (I might try this)...point is, whatever you do, don't let the serum dry on your face before you try to shave with it.

I use an electric razor, one that can be either wet or dry, which may also impact the use of the serum.  Aesop recommends that you only shave with the grain, and, rinse the blade after each stroke.  That's not terribly practical with an electric razor, so I used my own technique.  This serum needs moisture to keep its lubrication working right, so, I did make an effort to regularly rinse the razor head under the hot water tap.  

After using the serum four or five times now, I'd say that I've got the right combination of quantity of product, water and shaving technique nailed down.  The first few attempts were not brilliant, and I did manage to irritate my face slightly.

Thankfully, the "duet" comes with the post-shave lotion, which worked great at cooling things down.  It's not greasy, and a little does go a long way, so you don't need much of it to cover your entire freshly-shaven face.

Post shave lotion.

One other point:  I tend to shave before I shower.  I've read that this is not the preferred order of operations for certain shaving products, but, this is a routine I've had for decades and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Since I tend to use a wet-ish shave somewhat regularly, I appreciate the shower as the opportunity to get rid of anything left over on my face/neck.

To that end, the post-shave lotion ends up having to wait till I'm done in the shower to hit my face; I have put a tiny dab on right after shaving to see how it felt (recommended), but the last couple of times I waited until all was said and done.

So, wrapping it all up - I really like the Aesop shaving serum.  I don't know what about it is Moroccan, and I really won't be dwelling on the Coca-Cola secret ingredient, but I will say it works great (when used as directed) and makes for a superb shave that is Wife Approved.  

Can't get better than that!

Shaving the Fairy

I like absinthe.  I really do.  No, it doesn't make you hallucinate, it won't make you want to cut off your ear, and you should never, ever, set it on fire.  The luscious herbals and strong anise combine to create a strong, but memorable, drink.

It's also great for your beard.

Yes, you read that right.

Now, I know what you're thinking, Scott's been having a bit too much of the Green Fairy (La Fée Verte, as absinthe is sometimes known) and clearly isn't rowing with both oars in the water...but hear me out.

Two weeks ago if you would have said "Hey, Scott, how about an absinthe shave?" I'd have cocked an eyebrow at you curiously (ala Spock) and suggested that you, too, were being most illogical.

But it turns out that Korres Natural Products has gone ahead and created an absinthe shaving cream known as "Absinthe Men's Shave Cream."  During one of her shopping adventures, Nicole happened across this concoction and in a fit of encouraging me to write for Bagful of Notions again, procured a can for me to try out.  She really liked the smell of it in Mecca where she found it, and was pretty certain I'd like it as well.  (Which isn't to say Nicole's suddenly decided she'd like to share a glass of absinthe anytime soon...)

First things first, here's a picture of the box, because, um, you know, boxes!

And the box wasn't empty, look what was inside!

I must admit, I really didn't know what this was going to be like.  Some friends of mine and I are quite the fans of a good absinthe (or four) and know that the aroma can be quite powerful.  Many a hotel in many a land has smelled altogether different after we break out the Green Fairy - so some sort of a shaving cream which is meant to contain absinthe - in any form - was something that I was somewhat dubious about.

So, let's jump to the important part:  Does this stuff smell like I fell into a vat of 1797 Roquette?

In short: Not even remotely.

Indeed, I wouldn't so much call this an absinthe shaving cream as, perhaps, absinthe inspired.  A hint of the herbals, the vaguest whiff of a familiar beverage, but by no means will you reek of wormwood or anise.

What's also important to note is that this is not a foaming shaving cream, nor does it require a brush to apply (but, I do love my brush & cream set Nicole bought me for Christmas).  The consistency is quite creamy...I'd actually say it's more like sour cream than Barbasol.  

Since the product itself isn't foamy, the container operates more like a pump to get the shave cream out.  I'm still working on the right number of pumps for the perfect shave, but yesterday and today I went with 3 and that seems to be pretty close to it for my beard & face.  The instructions say to apply a "thin layer of cream to wet skin" but don't provide much more guidance than that.

What I was quite surprised about was just how slippery the cream was.  It provided superb lubrication for using my Panasonic LV-81 electric razor.  Because the consistency was so much creamier than the typical shave foam, it also felt like I was wasting a lot less product; with a lot of the foaming shave creams you end up with way more on the face than you're really going to need, unless you're trying to get rid of months or years of growth.  

In terms of use, I pretty much followed the guidelines from Korres:

• Got a bit of warm/hot water to wet my face
• Three pumps of Korres into the palm of my hand
• Used both hands to create the thin layer

From there, it was as easy as grabbing the Panasonic and buzzing away the overnight growth.  No rash, easy glide, and a very pleasant and only slightly herbal smell.  

The pump container comes with a tiny plastic cap which partially peels off the pump itself to cover the spout - I sense that if you don't do that it could dry up and clog the opening, so I was sure to cover it back up once I was done.

Korres claims that their Absinthe Shave Cream contains a milder pH than traditional creams, which helps to prevent skin roughness.  Having used it two days in a row, I'd agree that so far all of the results have been fantastic.

There's one other interesting result I've found by using this shave cream:  It permits a shave that's only slightly longer than my typical morning dry-only shave, and not as long as the brushed wet-shave that I treat myself to every few weekends.

Because the cream isn't as messy as standard foamy creams, I also don't leave the bathroom looking like the final scenes of Ghostbusters where the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man met his timely demise.

Yeah, for some reason the Stay Puft man was in Melbourne next to Crown Casino a few weeks ago.  No idea why.

Anyway - the Korres Absinthe Shave Cream lubricated nicely into my skin, didn't make a mess in the bathroom, smelled great, and did a superb job of dealing with my overnight beard.  

As for the price, well, this was a gift, but, my lovely wife forgot to remove the sticker off the back of the box, so I can tell you that it was $49.95 Australian for 150mL.  I'm not yet sure how many shaves that will equate to, but, as I'm only using three pumps at the moment, I'd like to think this could go several months of daily or near daily use.

I can't really give this a Bagful Breakdown as that's Nicole's thing, but, if I did have to rate it out of 10, I'd give it a solid 8, possibly even an 8.5 if it ends up lasting as long as I hope it does!

[ Update ]  Okay, this was my third morning using the product, three pumps again, and thanks to the digital display on my Panasonic razor, I know that my shave was completed in two minutes and twenty seconds.  That's typically on the very short side, even for a dry shave.  I didn't check how long the previous shaves were, but this definitely made the wet-shave experience a workday possibility!  Thanks Korres!