My electric shaver has saved me hundreds!
The June 2011 issue of ShopSmart, published by Consumer Reports, tested five popular women’s razors. Shaving your legs and pits is a lot cheaper than electrolysis, threading, and waxing, but no where near as economical as using a men’s electric shaver (more on that below).
Tip: Toss your razor after about seven uses, even if it’s got 7 blades, says ShopSmart. Dull razors are more likely to cut you.
Bargain buy! At $5, CVS’ Women’s 6 Blade razor was the cheapest and performed well. ShopSmart testers also liked the way the handle felt in their hands. Replacement blades are $.83 each, also cheaper than rivals.
Gillette Venus Original costs $7 for a nice quality razor with movable head, but
replacements cost $2-$3. I used this razor for years and really liked it!
Schick Quattro for Women costs $10 and did not get great reviews from testers. Plus, replacements cost $3 to $4.
Schick Intuition Plus Sensitive Care requires no shaving cream. This $10 razor, which has a bigger head that self-lathers when you shave. Replacements are $3-$4.
Gillette Venus Embrace costs $13, the most of all tested by ShopSmart. While not all reviews were positive, “a majority of testers said this was the one they would like to own.”
Razor alternative! I stopped buying razors years ago when my sister told me it was cheaper to use a men’s electric razor. These suckers are meant to last! I paid about $80 for a Norelco model at Target years ago. I calculate I made my money back in about 20 months.
Yearly cost of a razor – A $5 CVS Women’s 6 Blade lasts about seven shaves, or about two weeks. Replacement blades cost $.83. The yearly cost adds up to:
$5 for razor
$21.58 for 26 bi-weekly replacement blades
$20 shave gel
Total = $46.58
Yearly cost of an electric shaver – Target has good prices on men’s electric shavers, which are easy to clean.
$80 upfront cost of shaver (or more for fancier models).
$? electricity for razor, which needs to be plugged in every four shaves or so
Total = $80 plus electricity; cost of electricity only for subsequent years
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
What stinks is I use two different razors and I use a Man’s razor and a women’s. I use the Men’s MAC and then the Venus. I think they both perform well but I feel the Men’s Mac is better. I would just like one that I can use that can give me a better shave. I do use shaving cream but I read some where once in a magazine that you really don’t need to use it, that soap is just sufficient enough.
For the last 30 years, electric razors have been only for men’s faces. However, I remember in the 60s, there were PINK electric razors for women. Then, the concept just disappeared from advertising and therefore out of people’s minds. Great article, Babe!
I have been using the Daisy disposable for years and never get cut……I use it with soap in the shower. In the past I have gotten nicked with the cheaper disposables