Proraso has made quite a name for itself through its impeccable shaving line. They recently made a shaving cream for the C.O. Bigelow company which is marketed as Bigelow Shaving Cream.
On Bigelow vs. Proraso comparison, we check out the possible similarities and dissimilarities between the two to understand which shaving cream is the winner.
A good shaving cream makes all the difference in your everyday shaving routine. Keep in mind that both these formulas are known to work brilliantly.
A Quick Comparison Table
Before we go over the descriptive comparisons between the two products, let’s take a brief look at the differences.
| Specification | Bigelow | Proraso |
| Package | Bright green metal tube; can come off as tacky | Darker green metal tube; sleek packaging |
| Formula | Contains SLS | No SLS |
| Performance | Smooth and moisturizing | Nice and satisfactory |
| Lather | Lather better than Proraso; lubricates the skin more | Dries out faster |
| Skin Feel | May make skin drier as it contains SLS | Leaves skin smooth and soft (and a bit tingly from the menthol) |
| Ingredients | Contains a few extra irritants than Proraso | Relatively simple |
| Economy | $0.05 per shave | $0.05 per shave |
| Scent | Fresh and invigorating | Fresh and invigorating |
In-Depth Differences Between Bigelow and Proraso
- Performance
Users are quite ambiguous when they talk about the “cushioning” or “gliding” properties of shaving creams.
Thanks to their rich ingredient list, Bigelow and Proraso keep the skin smooth and safe from cuts while you work the razor.
As they have very similar ingredients in them, they do tend to perform similarly.
In fact, had you done a blind testing, it would be difficult to differentiate between the two. We enjoyed the performance of both these creams the same.
- Lather
As mentioned before, you can use a brush or your hands to generate lather from these formulas. To do a hand lather, dab a little amount onto the palm of your hands and add water.
Rub your hands together and you will notice a slick and thick lather forming onto your hands.
For the brush method, drop an almond-sized amount onto your brush and work it through your entire face.
We loved the cushioning feel delivered by both these formulas. But we found that C.O. Bigelow is more lubricating than the Proraso and does not dry out as fast.
- Skin Feel
One issue that you may experience with C.O. Bigelow Shaving Cream is how it leaves the skin a little dry after the shave.
This happens due to the inclusion of SLS in the formula.
Apart from that, it is visible that Proraso made the Bigelow Shaving Cream from the C.O. Bigelow company because the products perform the exact same.
Neither we nor did regular customers on the Internet experience irritation when using them (for the most part). The skin does get a bit tingly and cool after use, thanks to the menthol.
We did not find the scent of these shaving creams to be too overpowering but more invigorating.
- Package
Both Proraso and Bigelow come in a green metal tube. A few things to note here:
- These shaving creams come in 5.2 oz. (150ml) containers, which makes them non-compliant with TSA travel restrictions. This basically means that you cannot carry either of these in your carry-on storage when flying through the US. There are travel-friendly options to explore if needed.
- A single tube of either Proraso or Bigelow will last you two months (a vigorous amount used every day).
- Both the creams are made in Italy.
- The metal packaging does a good job at protecting the contents inside.
- You can use a shaving brush lather or hand lather to use these shaving creams.
As you can see, there is not much difference between the packaging of these two. If you aren’t nitpicky, these shaving creams may seem interchangeable from the looks.
Personally, we like the packaging of Proraso as it’s sleeker than the Bigelow. Bigelow’s bright green tube may be off-putting to some.
- Formula
Interestingly enough, these shaving creams have a very similar ingredient list. Objectively, Proraso features a somewhat “clean” label.
Upon close inspection, the lists reveal that the shaving creams have a lot of common key elements.
- Formula of C.O. Bigelow Shaving Cream
Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Menthol, Fragrance (Parfum), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Camphor, Sodium Metasilicate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Geraniol.
- Formula of Proraso Shaving Cream
Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Menthol, Fragrance (Parfum), Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Metasilicate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Geraniol.
The common ingredients include:
- Coconut oil: Provides a nice, natural lubrication for the razor to glide along the slick and smooth surface.
- Eucalyptol: Reduces pain and inflammation when applied topically; decreases the chances of discomfort when shaving.
- Glycerin: Increases hydration in the skin, reduces dryness, and rejuvenates the skin’s surface.
- Eucalyptus oil: Gives the shaving cream a nice scent.
- Camphor: Decreases irritation and has natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Menthol: Gives a nice and fresh scent.
Bigelow raises a few eyebrows with the addition of SLS – a known skin irritant. Proraso does not contain SLS and has a more natural ingredient list.
As both shaving creams contain coconut oil, an ingredient with a high comedogenic rating, they might not be the best choice for people with acne prone or oily skin.
That being said, there is notable debate on the credibility or trustworthiness of the comedogenic skin.
We recommend testing out all shaving creams through a patch test before applying it on your face or other body parts.
- Ingredients
It’s difficult to differentiate between two products so closely related. In this case, the smallest details make all the difference.
C.O. Bigelow might need to consider scrapping SLS from their ingredient list as this irritant has much better, greener alternatives now. Hydroxyethylcellulose in the Bigelow formula helps the shaving cream to “gel” and lather faster, which may also be why it dries out slower than the Proraso.
Note: Both formulas are vegan.
- Economy
These incredibly similar shaving creams come at the exact same price-point for the same quantity. Used logically, one shaving tube can last you up to six months.
It’s important to note that neither of these formulas is cheap. The price per shave is $0.05.
- Scent
The scent of menthol and camphor might be too much for many. However, the formulas, in this case, have maintained a balance between “fresh” and “powerful.” The smell does not overpower your senses, nor does it make your eyes burn.
What Will Be the Suitable Choice for You?
When two products are so similar, choosing one over the other is a task in itself.
Customers have confidently claimed that there is close to zero variations between Proraso and Bigelow Shaving Creams when it comes to performance, and we found that claim justified.
However, if you are rather picky about what you are putting on your skin, maybe you would not want to put SLS on your face.
Then go for Proraso. Keep in mind that it might dry out faster. Apart from that, there are not many notable differences to base the choice off of.
In comparison, the formula of Proraso is simpler.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, Proraso only makes the Bigelow Shaving Cream. Check if the label mentions paraben in the ingredients list. If yes, it’s the old Proraso formula. If not, it’s the formula of the green Eucalyptus one.
One tube of Proraso shaving cream will last you anywhere between two to six months depending on usage.
The transparent formula of shaving gel would be easier to work with for newbies. As it does not lather, you can clearly see the razor moving along your skin and do a more precise job.
The obvious alternatives to shaving cream are hand soap, body wash, and body soap. All generally readily available in homes, these products will not do as good a job at smoothening and softening the skin as a shaving cream (for shaving purposes – not moisturization).
Bottom Line
That’s all on Bigelow vs. Proraso. Overall, these closely related products will leave your face feeling soft and smooth after a shave. Personal preference is the biggest differentiating factor in this case.
It’s quite evident that Bigelow Shaving Cream was formulated by Proraso because of the stark similarities between the two products. To a certain extent, the products themselves are interchangeable.