The Phoenix Shaving Tube 2.0 Pre-Shave: Designed to Move

The Tube 2.0

ShaveSplash tested the Tube 2.0 from creative powerhouse Phoenix Shaving for a full week, asking three simple questions:

Are the ingredients good? Is it easy to use? Does it work?

The answers were: yes, yes, and yes.

Within the wet shaving community, the necessity of a pre-shave is often debated. Many believe a well-hydrated proto-lather is sufficient, and some argue that pre-shaves can even work against your shave.

The official ShaveSplash view is more nuanced: pre-shaves absolutely have their place, but it might not be needed with every shave. On days when your face feels a bit raw, when your razor feels assertive, or when a blade begins to tug, the added slickness, protection, and skin support of a well-formulated pre-shave can meaningfully elevate performance.

Pre-shaves generally fall into four categories, each with distinct mechanisms and tradeoffs.

Oils

Method: Plant oils such as castor, grapeseed, avocado, or almond increase glide.

Pros: Minimal barrier between steel and stubble.

Cons: Can interfere with lather adhesion, feel greasy, and be difficult to rinse clean.

Creams

Method: Emulsions built on fatty acids and emollients such as stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, and butters.

Pros: Light protective layer that integrates well with lather.

Cons: Can over-hydrate lather if overapplied.

Gels

Method: Humectants like glycerin structured with gel formers such as carbomer or xanthan gum.

Pros: Support lather while adding slickness. Easy to rinse.

Cons: Applied too thickly, they can introduce drag.

Solids

Method: Concentrated glycerin bases enhanced with clays, waxes, and butters.

Pros: Controlled application, easy handling, and typically rinse clean.

Cons: Overapplication can clog narrow blade gaps or lather channels.

Phoenix Shaving arguably defined the modern solid pre-shave category with the release of the Cube in 2017, whose square format blurred the line between soap and pre-shave. Its real innovation lay in the formula, which leans on glycerin and sorbitol to provide humectant-driven slickness but also contains a thoughtful blend of skin-supportive ingredients including activated bamboo charcoal to absorb excess oil, sweet almond oil for added glide, jojoba wax to reinforce the skin barrier, cupuaçu, murumuru, and bacuri butters for moisture retention, and aloe and vitamin E to calm and support stressed skin.

The Tube 2.0 builds on and refines the Cube's design with its deodorant-style packaging, which is nothing short of ingenious. One of the hidden challenges of shaving is maintaining grip on a razor, especially heavier stainless models. Many shavers resort to alum on the fingertips to increase friction. The Tube 2.0 elegantly sidesteps the issue altogether by housing the product in a twist-up stick so your hands never come into contact with a slippery block. Even better, it can be reapplied between passes without compromising grip and the rounded head allows for an effortless rolling application and precise spot treatment on areas that need extra assistance. It is controlled, clean, and intuitive.

With formula and usability accounted for, two of our three questions were decisively answered.

As to performance, as with all shave products this is somewhat personal and "your mileage may vary". That said, the combination of glycerin, sorbitol, and conditioning butters undeniably boosts slickness and on challenging days with raw skin, assertive razors, and less forgiving blades, the Tube 2.0 clearly enhances comfort and glide.

The key is restraint. Applied too generously, any solid pre-shave can create a protective layer thick enough to accumulate in the razor head, particularly in designs with narrow blade gaps. ShaveSplash achieved optimal results with a thin, even coat, followed by reapplication between passes as needed to avoid obstructing lather flow. Of note, the mentholated version adds a clean cooling hit, roughly 10–25% stronger than Proraso Pre-Shave in ShaveSplash testing, that will feel especially welcome in hot weather or on days when the skin needs an extra layer of soothing coolness.

Conclusion

With a smart formulation and a genuinely clever delivery system, Tube 2.0 is more than an iteration, it’s a refinement.

It won’t replace the need for good technique or well-hydrated lather. But on days when your shave needs reinforcement, whether that means extra glide, extra comfort, or a refreshing blast of menthol, the Tube 2.0 is a convenient, thoughtfully engineered tool that can provide a noticeable boost in comfort and control.

For those who believe pre-shaves have a time and place, the Tube 2.0 makes a compelling case.

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