Do You Use a Pre Shave Oil?

There are a lot of threads out there debating whether or not pre-shave oil is beneficial.  Some seem to swear by it citing it softens their stubble or reduces razor friction while others turn their backs on it saying that it dilutes their lather or clogs their pores.

It's difficult to nail down a definitive 'yes' or 'no' to this question and may rank up there with such other age old questions like:

“Which came first, The Chicken or the Egg?”
“Coke or Pepsi?”
“Tastes great or less filling?”

I suppose that the application lies in one's actual need or one's situation.  For the majority of times I opt to shave a clean face and head (i.e. no pre shave oil). But that isn't to say that I haven't found times when I found it helpful.  Personally, I don’t find that it softens my beard but I do find that it does help to reduce razor friction. As a result, I have found that if I want to shave when my skin is irritated then I’ll use a preshave oil.  If I have winter dry skin, wind burned cheeks, an irritated upper lip from a cold, or razor burn, then I want an extra layer between the razor blade and my face.  

I have found that a small amount pre shave oil when my face’s skin is irritated to be helpful in minimizing further irritation.  I've been using the Every Man Jack cedarwood pre-shave oil lately and a little goes a long way (at least for me it does).  But as they say, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).  If sensitivity to fragrance may be a concern or if cedarwood scent isn't’t your thing, then check out the Dreadnought and Taconic oils on our site as well. 

Do you use a pre shave oil? Let us know if you do or don’t and what works for you!