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Inspired by the success of the last razor subscription I tried (check out my Estrid review here), I thought I would shop around a bit to see what other shaving subscription boxes were available. I quickly came across FFS Beauty, and it took literal seconds before their super popular Razor Trial Kit was in my cart… and then on its way to me.
I haven’t gone back to disposable razors since starting with Estrid, but I also didn’t want to shut myself off to the other razor subscription services that were out there. FFS seems to have sustainability right at the heart of the brand, which is half the reason why their starter kit appealed to me. A shaving subscription that’s fuss-free AND eco-friendly? Sign me up!
Who is FFS?
FFS is a UK-based razor subscription service that provides people with a simple, sustainable way to upgrade their shaving routine and shop for body care products from home. The name, which stands for fuss-free shaving, is definitely an apt acronym – the process of buying and receiving your FFS razors couldn’t be easier!
FFS is dedicated to making the shaving process as effortless and eco-friendly as possible. Their products are delivered straight to your door (in plastic-free packaging), and you have full control over how often your delivery comes and which products are included in it.
FFS’s razor handles are all made in the UK, and any parts/products that can’t be sourced locally come from suppliers in the EU.
How does it work?
FFS gives you two options when it comes to ordering your trial kit. You can either make a one-time purchase (which costs £14) or subscribe and get the set for £4.95. I went down the subscription route as I felt that it would encourage me to change the blades more often – if I wasn’t reminded I’d probably use the blades until they were completely blunt!
The website currently gives you the choice of six razor colours: Rose, Olive, Blossom, Fir, Onyx or Peony. Four of these colours – Rose, Olive, Blossom and Fir – can be engraved, which is free if you subscribe but an extra £6 if you choose to buy the kit as a one-off. I ordered the colour Ivy which oddly doesn’t appear to be on the site anymore!
To get going, choose a razor colour and decide whether you want to purchase this kit just the once or subscribe. If you do sign up for the trial, you’ll then need to pick how often you want your replacement blades delivered: every month, every two months or every three months.
FFS offers loads of other body care and haircare products so you can add these to your basket at this stage or skip this skep entirely. Once you’re happy with what’s in your cart, all that’s left is to pay and wait for your razor trial kit to arrive!
With the subscription, your four replacement blades (which cost £9.95) will be shipped out to you at your chosen frequency. If you ever find that you’re not getting through them, you can choose to delay your next refill box, change the frequency of the delivery, or completely skip your delivery.
What comes in the razor trial kit?
The FFS Beauty razor trial kit contains:
- 1 weighted zinc alloy handle
- 2 six-blade razor heads
- 1 razor head cover
- 1 plastic mountable razor holder
The standard trial kit includes the items above, however, FFS often runs limited time offers where you receive extra gifts when you subscribe. The current deal, for example, includes a free razor travel pouch along with a set of their facial wax strips.
Packaging
The razor trial kit comes in a long, thin box which would fit through most UK letterboxes. I like that the packaging is made from FSC approved recycled cardboard, although I will say that the box seems a little big for just the razor, the two blades and the wall mount. I can only assume that this is because it’s the same box they use for some of their other shaving sets, or the same box they use for sending out the refills.
Overall, the packaging is quite basic but I honestly don’t mind that so much! My focus is on the quality of the razor, not the box it’s housed in. Plus, I like that FFS have thought about ways to make sure that both the blades and box aren’t just chucked in the bin. The inside of the box has instructions on how you can send your blades back to the company so they can recycle them for you. Simply insert the blades back into the cardboard tray and send it off to the given address!
Razor rundown
The handle
If you’re used to plastic, disposable razors, the transition to reusable ones feels like such a luxury. A metal razor handle really makes the world of difference and definitely upgrades the shaving experience. What I especially like about the FFS razor handle is that not only does it have a rubber pad on the underside for extra grip, but that this pad is curved to fit the shape of your fingers. It really does make it a lot easier to hold onto!
The handle is pretty weighty, so this does take some getting used to. But I think, overall, a heavier handle makes for a more controlled shave – at least in my experience!
The holder
For some reason I expected the holder to be made out of metal (like the handle), so I was pretty surprised when I picked it up and found that it was plastic. Initially, I was unsure if the wall mount would be able to hold the weight of the razor, but it actually works extremely well. And, because it is lightweight plastic, I don’t have to worry about the holder causing any damage if it were to fall off the wall. It hasn’t just yet so that’s a positive sign!
The razor head
The thing I like most about the FFS razor heads is just how small they are. Some brands seem to make the cartridges super big, as if larger blades somehow improves the shave. FFS manages to incorporate six(!!) blades into their razor head, while keeping it small enough to target those hard-to-reach places.
Each cartridge has a thin vitamin E moisturising strip that helps the razor glide along the skin. I would have liked this strip to be a little bigger as it’s not super effective by itself. However, if you typically use a cream or gel when you shave, this won’t be too much of an inconvenience.
Overall, the FFS blades offer a much closer shave than that which you would get with a disposable razor. And, because you are encouraged to change the blades so often, this prevents irritation caused by dullness. A subscription like this really is a great way of staying on top of your shaving routine.
Where can I buy this trial kit?
You can order this trial kit from the FFS Beauty website. I recommend signing up for an account before you buy because it makes it a lot easier to control your subscription. Once you’ve done this you just need to click the ‘Subscribe and Save’ button in the menu bar and FFS will automatically show you any trial kit offers that they have on.
Alternatively. head to the ‘Shaving’ page and you can sift through some of the other shaving sets that FFS offer. The trial kit is the only one that you can subscribe to, but the Personalised Shaving Starter Set makes a great one-time purchase or gift.
What are your thoughts on the FFS razor trial kit? Or razor subscriptions in general? Would you give it a go? Let me know in the comments!
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