Both Beard Lube and Supreme Cream offer an exceptional shave. They both incorporate Macadamia Nut Oil and Jojoba Oil as pre-shave oils to help with razor glide as well as Glycerin to help create a cushion of protection against razor burn and irritation.

The choice boils down to personal aesthetic preference. Beard Lube is a translucent lotion-like product that allows you to shave with relatively little water. Its clear form is great for guys who have facial hair or shave their heads because you can easily see where you are shaving.

Supreme Cream, on the other hand, is an opaque, rich lather shave cream. It offers the same great shave as Beard Lube, but is formulated for guys who like a more traditional, white cream that whips into a lather. The Supreme Cream is available in an 8 oz jar that makes it a great companion product to use with our Pure Performance Shave Brush.

Additionally, Supreme Cream is a PureScience® Formula which means it has been formulated with without parabens and contains certified organic ingredients. It is ideal for sensitive skin, because it does not contain menthol or peppermint oil, two ingredients that are in Beard Lube Conditioning Shave. These ingredients give a very refreshing, tingling feeling and a nice aroma, but are not always tolerable on sensitive skin.

Jack Black has a cruelty-free philosophy, no animals are harmed in the development, testing or manufacturing of Jack Black products. For the most part, our products do not incorporate any animal derived ingredients. The only exceptions are the limited use of Beeswax, Lanolin and Silk Amino acids. Jack Black does not engage in animal testing, nor do we ask outside parties to do animal testing on our behalf.

There have been a number of articles and Internet rumors over the last couple of years that have reported an association between parabens and breast cancer. It is implied in these reports that parabens can cause breast cancer by acting like estrogen, the female sex endocrine hormone, through a process called endocrine disruption. The simple fact is that the parabens are 100,000 times weaker than natural estrogen in the body - far too weak to have any effect in humans. Based on these findings the U.S. FDA and the European Cosmetic regulation agency have classified parabens are safe for use in cosmetics.

There is a very small percentage of people in the population that has either a real or perceived allergy to parabens. By formulating without these preservatives, wherever it is feasible, we will continue our tradition of offering a range of choices for every customer.

However, having parabens in a formula does not in any way mean the product is not safe or is irritating. In fact, they have been used for a long time in cosmetics and treatment products and are recognized as safe and very effective in preserving the product.

A group of commonly used cosmetic/personal care product ingredients generally referred to as “Parabens” are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl and isobutylparaben. They are ingredients known as preservatives that are highly effective in preventing the growth of fungi and bacteria and are used to preserve products and greatly extend their shelf life. Thus, they contribute directly to the quality of the product and, more importantly, its safe use for the consumer. They are the most widely used group of preservatives found in cosmetics. It is estimated that more than 99% of all cosmetic and skin care products contain some form of paraben-based preservative system. They have been used for decades as preservatives in the food, drug and personal care and cosmetic industries.

Physical sunscreens contain extremely fine particles of minerals such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and iron oxide that stay on the skin’s surface, creating a barrier that reflects the sun’s rays. Advantages include its ability to keep skin cool, the protection is natural, and it’s unlikely to cause skin irritation because it doesn’t get absorbed into the skin.

Chemical sunscreens contain chemical compounds like Avobenzone and Octinoxate as active ingredients, and they absorb ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn, damages DNA and can lead to skin cancer. Advantages of chemical sunscreens include its ability to defend the deeper layers of skin—including collagen fibers and other tissue—against the aging effects of UVA rays, and prevention of penetration by the UVB rays responsible for tanning and sunburn. Formulations containing chemical sunscreens are usually more pleasant to use, as they are lighter weight, less heavy and greasy, and do not leave the “whitening” effect on skin that some physical sunblocks do.

Jack Black’s Sun Guard Oil-Free Very Water/Sweat Resistant Sunscreen SPF 30+ contains both physical and chemical sunscreens.

Glycolic Acid, an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is perhaps the best-known of a group of chemicals called fruit acids. It is derived from sugar cane, so it can be considered a natural product. Citric acid, from oranges and other citrus fruits, and Lactic Acid, from milk, also fall under the same classification as Alpha Hydroxy Acid.

Glycolic Acid works as an exfoliating agent because of its high acidity but easy solubility. When placed on the skin as part of an exfoliating cream or gel, Glycolic Acid goes under the damaged upper layers of skin and destroys the 'glue' which holds dead skin to the surface.

Glycolic Acid has a sloughing effect (removal of dead cells) on the skin. By accelerating the normal rate of sloughing it helps the regeneration of your skin by growing new cells faster. Jack Black’s Line Smoother Face Moisturizer contains 8% glycolic acid.

Salicylic Acid is the only Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA).

The main difference between Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acid is their lipid (oil) solubility. Alpha Hydroxy Acids are water soluble only, while Beta Hydroxy Acid is lipid (oil) soluble.

This means that Beta Hydroxy Acid is able to penetrate into the pore which contains sebum and exfoliate the dead skin cells that are built up inside the pore. Because of this difference in properties, Beta Hydroxy Acid works very well on oily skin with acne, blackheads and whiteheads.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids work well on thickened, sun-damaged skin where breakouts are not the main problem. In theory it penetrates the skin faster. For acne, Salicylic Acid (BHA) is with no doubt the best choice.

Salicylic Acid is also effective in treating ingrown hairs. Jack Black’s Clear Complexion Razor Bump & Acne Treatment contains 2% salicylic acid and lactic acid, to treat ingrown hairs, and acne blemishes.

Antiperspirants are classified as over-the-counter drugs by the FDA. They contain an aluminum based chemical compound that reacts with the electrolytes in sweat to block the duct of the sweat gland, stopping the discharge of perspiration. No sweat, no odor. (To be classified as an antiperspirant the product must contain an FDA approved aluminum based active ingredient)

Deodorants cover the smell of perspiration with a fragrance. They do not stop sweat production.

Jack Black’s Pit Boss™ is both an Antiperspirant and Deodorant.

Let's start by understanding why you're having these problems. Ingrowns and razor bumps are pretty much a cause-and-effect deal—when the shortened hair does not grow straight out of the follicle opening, but instead curls around and re-enters the skin (the ingrown), it creates a bump. The culprits? Coarse, thick, curly hair or products that are either overly drying or contain harsh ingredients that can cause irritation.

For those prone to ingrowns, we recommend two products. First, add Jack Black's Face Buff Energizing Scrub to your shaving routine to open congested pores and sweep away oil, dirt and dead skin cells. In addition to allowing for a closer shave (and fewer ingrown hairs by lifting the whisker from the skin's surface), regular use of an exfoliating scrub will improve skin's appearance and texture by removing old cells to expose newer, younger ones underneath.

Secondly, after cleansing skin, apply 3-in-1 Clear Complexion Solution directly to bumps on the neck and face to help heal and clear skin. This unique product has a powerful combination of 2% Salicylic and Lactic Acids which exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells, unearthing the skin-trapped facial hairs that cause razor bumps. The hairs are then free to grow up and out, instead of below the skin. In addition, Clear Complexion Solution will also dissolve pore-clogging facial oils that can cause acne and blackheads. One note: When first starting to use Clear Complexion Solution, avoid use immediately after shaving; the active ingredients may cause slight irritation until your skin becomes acclimated to the product.

You can also help avoid ingrown hairs with these simple shaving techniques:

If you have existing bumps, warm the face before shaving which is less irritating. Try shaving in the shower or directly afterwards—the warm water and steam soften your beard, making it easier to cut. And when possible. you'll want to shave with the grain, in the direction of your hair growth. Make sure your blade is sharp (if you shave daily, you'll probably want to change it after four to five uses).

It’s also important to use a high quality shaving product. We recommend Jack Black's revolutionary Beard Lube Conditioning Shave. The unique formula offers three benefits in a single product—it's a pre-shave oil, shave cream and skin conditioner in one. The lightweight, lubricating lotion penetrates whiskers to soften even the toughest beard, allowing for an extremely close, irritation-free shave. Plus special conditioners provide a cushion between the razor and your skin, penetrating below the surface to soften new, coarse, thick whisker growth and helping to relax hair as you shave for less risk of future bumps.

Finally, avoid tight-collared shirts which can irritate existing razor bumps.

Razor burn is the result of removing too much skin when you shave. The wrong product (one that doesn’t provide enough protection from your blade) or applying too much pressure may be to blame.

Start by using Face Buff Energizing Scrub to cleanse the face before shaving. The small scrubbing particles help to gently but effectively remove dead skin cells and oil, so your razor can get closer to your skin. This means you can shave with less pressure, which means less chance of irritation.

Next, shave with revolutionary Beard Lube Conditioning Shave to help end your razor burn troubles. The unique formula offers three benefits in a single product—it's a pre-shave oil, shave cream and skin conditioner in one. The lightweight, lubricating lotion has high-quality conditioning oils and special silicone technology to form a superior cushion between the skin and blade. The unique formula penetrates whiskers to soften even the toughest beard, allowing for an easier, less stressful shave. Finally, soothing anti-irritants like Heather help reduce the chance of irritation.

An alcohol-free, fragrance-free after-shave treatment will also help alleviate razor burn and irritation—try Jack Black's Post Shave Cooling Gel, which soothes skin and minimizes redness. Plus, the non-oily formula provides lightweight moisturization without burning or stinging.

And don’t forget, always use a light touch when shaving and make sure your blade is sharp (if you shave daily, you'll probably want to change it after four to five uses).

A lot of men suffer from oily skin, so you are not alone. And while extremely oily skin requires special care, the great advantage is that it tends to age at a slower rate than other skin types.

To care for oily skin. special cleansing will help prevent pores from becoming clogged. Avoid harsh products that can strip your complexion of oil and encourage flakiness, as this paradoxically causes your skin to produce even more oil than usual. Harsh cleansers can also cause the oil glands to work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils. Use Clean Formula Face bar & Shave Soap both morning night; this 2-in-1 facial cleansing bar and lathering shave soap effectively cleanses, normalizes oiliness and nourishes the skin. One of our PureScience formulas, this soap also locks in nature’s best to please even the most sensitive skin—using a blend of fragrance-free, colorant-free natural coconut and oat derived surfactants and certified organic ingredients, it provides a rich lather that cleanses without over-drying. Plus, it's dermatologist tested (as are all Jack Black skin care products).

Next, control facial oiliness with All Day Oil Control Lotion, a non-comedogenic, oil-free product specifically designed for oily skin. Its unique formula contains superior oil controlling ingredients—Cotton, Nylon 12 and China Clay—that help reduce sebum production, absorb excess facial oils and control oil throughout the day without over-drying.

At night after cleansing, but before applying a moisturizer, treat skin with our 3-in-1 Clear Complexion Solution. The powerful combination of 2% Salicylic and Lactic acids are effective astringents for oily and acne prone skin. Clear Complexion Solution also removes and dissolves excess oil and pore clogging residue to help keep blemishes and blackheads under control.

Using a shave brush is not necessary to get a great shave, it really comes down to personal preference. We have recently added a Shave Brush to our line in order to offer those who like the more ritual shaving routine an option. Our Pure Performance Shave Brush is revolutionary because it gives the same great shave that a traditional silver tip badger brush would, but it’s cruelty-free effectively offering a superior alternative to the old guard.

The Pure Performance Shave Brush benefits:
Ultra-hygienic. Our PureTech bristles have a solid, non-absorbent core and antimicrobial coating, preventing bacteria growth and the rigorous cleaning required with animal hair brushes.

Precision control. Each hand-crafted brush delivers the PureTech bristles in an optimal, cupcake-contour shape--ensuring precise application and control of your shaving cream.

Cruelty-free. PureTech bristles are designed to perfectly mimic the soft, flexible results of an animal-hair brush. No animals are harmed in the making of your comfortable, reliable shave

The bottom line is–it's still a matter of personal preference whether or not to use a brush. If you do opt to try our brush, it was designed to work exceptionally well with our rich lather Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather.

Alcohol is not all bad. In fact, most skin care products do contain some type of alcohol even if they claim to be "alcohol-free".

This is because there are both moisturizing alcohols and more drying alcohols. When skin care product labels read "alcohol free" it means they are free of the stronger, harsher types of alcohol called ethyl alcohol (aka: grain alcohol), SD Alcohol, or Alcohol Denaturant. These alcohols are considered harsh because they can dry and irritate skin.

However, "Alcohols" in general are a huge, diverse family of ingredients (with different names and varying effects on the skin), and there are many types of very beneficial, moisturizing, non-irritating alcohols used in skin care, hair care and shaving products. And just because a product claims to be "alcohol-free", it may still contain emollient alcohols called fatty alcohols–like cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl and lanolin alcohol–which provide skin and hair benefits. Rather than dry or damage, these alcohols actually provide beneficial moisture and hydration.

Our advice: check to see what type of alcohol a product contains before making your decision.

The fact that you know enough to ask puts you way ahead of the game. And once you start incorporating the corresponding techniques and products into your routine, we guarantee you'll notice the benefits.

First, let's talk about exfoliation. Put simply, this is the process of scrubbing the skin to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, exposing newer, fresher cells underneath. Why bother? Because removing the dead cells (and accompanying dirt and oil) helps your razor get closer to the skin for a smoother, easier shave. And as an extra bonus, you're helping to prevent ingrown hairs.

What to use: Jack Black Face Buff Energizing Scrub. Small, highly uniform scrubbing particles work gently yet effectively to improve skin's overall appearance and radiance. Click for product details.

To understand the importance of antioxidants, we need to discuss free radicals—unstable oxygen molecules produced by ultraviolet light, pollution and stress. The effect? Healthy skin cells are robbed of electrons and collagen is corroded, causing wrinkles. The solution? Skin care products containing antioxidants, which work to help neutralize free radicals and minimize their damage.

Let's take a closer look at some of the antioxidants found in Jack Black products and what they do: Vitamin A, also known as Retinyl Palmitate, which helps improve skin's appearance and treat the effects of aging. Found in: Line Smoother Face Moisturizer, Eye Balm Age Minimizing Gel
Vitamin C, with anti-inflammatory properties, which helps repair sun-damaged skin and encourage collagen production. Found in: Face Buff Energizing Scrub, Eye Balm Age Minimizing Gel
Sea Parsley, containing a combination of naturally occurring vitamins (A and C) and minerals which help improve skin's appearance. Found in: Double Duty Face Mositurizer SPF 20
Vitamin E, also known as Tocopheryl Acetate, which helps fight damaging free radicals and slow the natural aging process. Found in: Line Smoother Face Moisturizer, Eye Balm Age Minimizing Gel, Cool Moisture Body Lotion, Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
Blue Algae Extract, a rich source of Vitamin E. Found in: Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20
Balm Mint, which helps protect skin from UV-induced free radicals. Found in: Post Shave Cooling Gel
Green Tea, which contains anti-inflammatory properties. Found in: Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25.

And finally, alpha hydroxy acids, derived from fruit and milk sugars, work gently and naturally to slough off the top layer of skin cells, revealing younger, smoother skin underneath. With regular use, alpha hydroxy acids can help improve wrinkling, roughness and uneven pigmentation—all important for a more youthful, radiant complexion.

Some of the AHAs in Jack Black products include:
Glycolic Acid, which helps stimulate cell regeneration to treat the effects of aging. Found in: Line Smoother Face Moisturizer
Grape Seed Extract, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by removing the top layer of skin cells. Found in: Eye Balm Age Minimizing Gel, Line Smoother Face Moisturizer
Apple Fruit Extract, which helps promote and maintain elasticity. Found in: Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20.

At last men are realizing what their wives and girlfriends have known for a long time—the right skin care products really do make a difference. But what to use (and how much to spend) can be tricky.

Should you share? That depends. First, consider what's different about a guy's skin. It's thicker than a woman's and in most cases, produces more oil. But even more importantly, a man's skin care needs revolve around a daily shaving regimen, which has its own unique set of requirements. Jack Black's Beard Lube happens to be the ultimate guy product, offering three benefits—pre-shave oil, shave cream and skin conditioner—in one easy-to-use product.

That said, there is an important point to be made in the case of sharing products in the anti-aging category. According to an NBC news report, prices for these creams and lotions are generally higher on the women's side of the counter, based more on who they're marketed to (women or men) rather than their effectiveness. In fact, a comparison of Jack Black's Line Smoother Face Moisturizer and a comparative women's anti-aging cream showed the Jack Black product to contain more beneficial ingredients—and it was less than half the price. With that in mind, it makes sense to us that she should be using your products. (Similar results can be found comparing men's and women's eye treatments.)

We'll end this discussion with a few more recommendations, continuing in the spirit of what's yours is hers. Other Jack Black products we think she'll like include our Eye Balm Age Minimizing Gel, Industrial Strength Hand Healer, Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 and Sleek Finish Texture Cream.