- Smooth, comfortable shave
- No shave cream needed
- Soft, easy-grip handle
- Gel bars can get "goopy"
- Gel bars don't last
- Nicks, cuts without gel bars
Bottom line
The Gillette Venus Spa Breeze's built-in shave gel bars eliminate the need for an extra can of shaving cream, contributing to a smooth, comfortable shave. They're also this razor's Achilles heel; some are put off by the "snotty" or "goopy" look the gel takes on after being in water, and reviewers say the gel bars wear out quickly.
Performance
Supremely smooth -- for a limited time. The Gillette Venus Spa Breeze draws high praise from experts for its built-in shave gel bars. "It glides over skin without extra shaving cream," write the editors of Good Housekeeping. A tester with Real Simple magazine writes that her skin was so smooth after using the disposable version of this razor, it felt like she'd waxed instead of shaved.
However, users say that getting the best performance out of this razor is a balancing act. When the gel bars are new, they're thick enough that it takes some pressure to get a close shave. Once the gel bars wear down, a closer shave comes more naturally -- as do nicks and scratches.
Ease of use
The handle's a favorite. The editors of Choice, Australia's version of ConsumerReports.org, describe the Gillette Venus Spa Breeze as "very easy to handle." Users say the soft, padded handle is easy to grip and to hold; that alone is enough to draw some Drugstore.com users over to this razor. If you don't like the Spa Breeze cartridges, you can use any other Venus cartridge with this handle.
Still, the cost of refills can be a little painful -- especially because the gel bars, this shaver's main feature, wear out faster than the blades. Expect to pay about $7.33 per month if you replace the blades every two weeks, or just shy of $88 per year.
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Our Sources
1. Choice magazine
Testers with Choice magazine, Australia's version of ConsumerReports.org, test 13 manual razors and report back on how well they shaved, how easy they were to use and how well they protected the women's skin. The Gillette Spa Breeze misses top ranking by just a hair and ties for the best score in skin protection.
Review: Women's Razor Reviews, Rebecca Ciaramidaro, Nov. 23, 2012
2. Good Housekeeping
Panelists with the Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 19 manual razors and shared those opinions. Of those razors, six were singled out as the best in several categories. The Venus Spa Breeze is a favorite, thanks to its built-in shaving gel bars.
Review: Best Razors, Editors of Good Housekeeping Research Institute, Not dated
3. Real Simple
An unidentified number of testers helped evaluate manual razors for use on the road. The disposable version of the Gillette Venus Spa Breeze was deemed one of the best for travel, thanks to its built-in shaving gel bars.
Review: The Best Razors, Sarah Smith, Not dated
4. Amazon.com
More than 80 reviewers give the Gillette Venus Spa Breeze a 4-star rating on Amazon.com. The primary complaints are that the gel bars turn "goopy" and that they keep you from getting a close shave -- until they wear out, at which point you get nicks instead. Still, a significant number of reviewers say this product is worth the cost and it delivers a smooth, comfortable shave.
Review: Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of June 2013
5. Drugstore.com
More than two dozen Drugstore.com users give the disposable version of the Gillette Spa Breeze a 4.5-star overall rating. Most say the razor gives an unparalleled smooth, soft shave with no shaving gel. A few do complain that the razor's shave gel bars flip up or wear out very quickly -- once that happens, the razor "skips," nicks and cuts.
Review: Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Disposable Razors, Contributors to Drugstore.com, As of June 2013
6. Drugstore.com
About 15 reviewers give the refillable version of the Gillette Venus Spa Breeze a 3.5-star rating on Drugstore.com. The biggest complaint is that the gel bars get goopy or slimy with use.
Review: Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor with Cartridges, Contributors to Drugstore.com, As of June 2013
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