Gillette SkinGuard Review

Our Gillette SkinGuard Experience

Initially, our opinion of the Gillette SkinGuard was indifferent. We unpacked it, studied its unassuming handle, and then placed it down next to the others in our pile. It looked fine, but we were impartially skeptical of its sensitive-skin claims given our typical experience with two-bladed razors.

Then, we tried it.

Most of our testing crew's responses were the same. If we were to consolidate all of our initial reactions to how the SkinGuard performed into one simple phrase, it would be this: “Uh…Whoa. I wasn't expecting that.” In truth, we rarely had a bad shave with this razor. Even our testers with sensitive skin were singing the SkinGuard's praises after just a few days. We simply didn't think a two-blade model could do what this razor can do. It glides well, chops through most beards, and leaves behind happy skin.

During our testing phase, most of us made the SkinGuard our main razor for about two to three weeks (enough time to change heads at least once). We even got a little cheerful when it was time to lather up our faces on shave day. All of us liked its glide. We loved its cutting ability. We also loved its handle, weight, and ergonomics while moving along the curve of our chin.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Shave Quality

We used the SkinGuard for several weeks and felt it delivered a great shave that didn't require too many passes, earning it solid marks in this test despite having only two blades. It wasn't the best razor we used, but it was close to the top.

Not every pass produced a perfectly smooth shave, especially for testers with thicker or coarser beard hair. But even when there was leftover stubble, it was usually gone by the second pass.

We also loved the sharp, well-placed precision blade, which sits on the backside of the shaving head and is ideal for putting the final touches on sideburns or creating sharp beard lines.

Glide and Comfort

This is where the SkinGuard excels. Across the board, we were delighted with this razor's smooth-as-butter glide across our cheeks, neck, jaw, and chin. It earned nearly perfect marks for this test. We held back a little because we're not so sure if the Gillette would perform as well on very dense beards.

If you have sensitive skin, this razor is for you. Some blades can make the process feel more like a wax than a shave, but the SkinGuard's two blades are spaced widely apart (one top, one bottom), which helps prevent it from tugging on your hair. The shaving head is also complemented by a suite of skin guards, lubricated strips, and other technology that really works. Of all the razors we've tested over the years, we feel this one glides across skin and plows through stubble better than most, resulting in less razor burn and fewer bumps post-shave.

Handle Ergonomics

The SkinGuard is pretty ergonomic as far as razors go. We've tested several Gillette products, and most of their top models have similar handles — not perfect, but very comfortable and solid.

The Gillette has a metal handle that is nicely shaped for gripping and offers a pleasant, weighty feel rather than being light, flimsy, and brittle. The handle flares at the bottom and is covered with several rubberized contact points that offer a good grip for the fingers and hand. They even provide a decent grip when the handle is wet.

We liked that the SkinGuard's handle arches. We felt this allowed it to more naturally rest in our hand.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The flared, ergonomic handle end creates surface variety, making the handle easier to grasp and hold.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Showing the ergonomic shape of the entire razor from above.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The top-side of the handle is covered in rubber gripping with textured finger pad at the end.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The underside of the handle is nearly covered in high-grade rubber gripping, which ensures a solid hold even when wet.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Nearly every higher-end cartridge razor made by Gillette shares the same handle design. They're even interchangeable (SkinGuard, middle).   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Build Quality and Durability

We liked the overall construction of the Gillette SkinGuard; its metal handle is solid and built to last. The blade head also sports a solid build that can be used for several shaves.

Overall, we think this model is built to last, though it's not quite up to the same standard as the solid metal safety razors we've tested.

The SkinGuard (middle) shares the same overall construction quality as most of Gillette's premium razors. Their handle materials are nearly identical, but the SkinGuard's razor cartridge is made of more plastic than the others.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Minus the rubber grips, the SkinGuard's entire handle is solid metal.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The front end of the SkinGuard. The entire structure, up to the shaving cartridge, is solid metal.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Ease of Cleaning and Blade Replacement

Most of this razor's functions for this test were simple and straightforward. As stated, the SkinGuard uses the same handle as other top Gillete models, so switching out shaving heads is a breeze. In fact, nearly all of the Gillette handles are compatible with the SkinGuard. We thought this was a nice feature.

The SkinGuard didn't receive our highest scores because the blade head is jam-packed with hinges and supports, making it a little harder to rinse.

Its shaving head is chock full of additional bars, guides, and strips. Although they make for a smooth glide, they also tend to gum up the shaving cream and stubble. When rinsing, we often found a bit of leftover gunk still stuck to the blades and bars. Lastly, if you leave this blade on the counter to dry, you MUST leave it blades up, or the lubricant pads will stick to the counter and tear.

Should You Buy the Gillette SkinGuard?

If you have a medium-to-light beard and skin that is prone to razor burn, the Gillette SkinGuard offers one of the smoothest glides around. We're often skeptical about razors designed for sensitive skin and have yet to find the perfect one, but the SkinGuard is the closest we've encountered. It plows pretty well through stubble, and it passes over the skin smoothly enough that we had no problem putting our full force into every pass. So if you're looking for a razor that feels like it floats on your skin and doesn't leave any irritation behind, you should give this one a try.

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