5.0/5
Verified purchaseAmazon
Caldera Lab is top of the line! Try it.
Caldera is excellent. This new version is updated. Try it!!
The consensus
Caldera + Lab The Smooth Certified
4.85/5
from 13 reviews
SourcesAmazon 13Updated
What you see here is a curated selection of positive, well-rated reviews, not a product’s complete or overall rating. Every review is real and links back to its original source; incentivized and bad-faith reviews are excluded. Full disclosures
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Reviewers mention
Gentle on skin7Scent7Value for money5Hydration & moisture4Visible results4
Product description
Best For: All skin types. For a clean, irritation-free shave. A lightweight shave gel that softens hair follicles, soothes and hydrates skin for maximum glide and an effortlessly close shave, helping to protect against razor burn and irritation. Unique gel texture transforms to a low lather. Ideal for sensitive skin. Fragrance-free. Soap-free.
Product details sourced from the brand’s official site.
Common questions
Is Caldera + Lab The Smooth Certified worth buying?
Based on 13 reviews from Amazon, Caldera + Lab The Smooth Certified holds a 4.85 out of 5 consensus, an overwhelmingly positive rating.
What do reviewers say about Caldera + Lab The Smooth Certified?
One reviewer (5.0/5) wrote: "Caldera is excellent. This new version is updated. Try it!!" (Steven W).
What do reviewers mention most about Caldera + Lab The Smooth Certified?
Reviewers most often bring up gentle on skin (7 reviews), scent (7) and value for money (5).
Reviews
13
5.0/5
Verified purchaseAmazon
Very smooth shave
Very smooth shave, started to shave again a hour later.
5.0/5
Amazon
I Hate That I Love This So Much!
As a guy over the years I've typically bought what's cheap when it comes to shaving cream, because I felt like all it had to be was functional enough to get the razor to go over my skin without peeling me like a potato. I'm in my 40s now and skincare is actually something I'm starting to think about (and probably should have a decade ago), so I gave the Caldera + Lab The Smooth a shot even though the price was pretty steep. I figured one bottle couldn't hurt and then I'd go back to my cheap gel when it wasn't much better. Well that plan didn't work, because it IS that much better.Without giving away the product I previously used for years, I'll stay on the Edge of giving away what gel it was and it was my trusty go to, it was cheap and reliable and got the job done without irritating my face. The Smooth from Caldera + Lab is just in another league though. For starters, it's not a cream or a gel, I used 4 pumps of what looked like a cross between a lotion and a serum. Frankly it didn't look like enough to get the job done, when you're coming from using a shave gel with much more volume, but I rubbed it into about 3 days worth of stubble and it was enough to cover my face. When I saw it applied I was convinced that I either needed more or it wouldn't work real well at all. I was wrong on both counts. My razor glided right though it and because it's not a huge foamy mess like a gel or shaving cream, you actually finish shaving quicker. Where you really notice the magic of this product is when you finish and dry your face. The shave I got was just plain and simply better than what I got with my old gel. Like a lot better. The Smooth is exactly what my face felt like.Ok, so is this stuff really pricey? Yes, and that's going to be the difference maker for some and that's fair honestly. Is it better than a $10 can of gel? Yes, by a long shot. The shave I got from this was next level and the only difference was The Smooth. I didn't even change to a new head on my razor to avoid a new blade giving me a better shave and confusing that with the product doing it.Like I said in the headline, I hate that I love this so much. I'll be buying more, it's just that good.
5.0/5
Amazon
Expensive shaving gel…but wow, what a difference…
I am a huge Caldera + Lab fan. Last Christmas, my wife did a lot of online research and gave me several Caldera + Lab men's skincare products. I had never even heard of the brand before, but I quickly realized their products are not only special, they're extraordinary.I regularly use The Clean Slate, The Good, and The Eye Serum. I never thought I would be a guy using men's skincare products on a regular basis, but they really do make a noticeable difference. These are premium products and they're certainly not inexpensive.Seeing Caldera + Lab carried at Nordstrom also says a lot about where this brand sits in the men's skincare market.Fast forward to today. I recently picked up "The Smooth" Soothing Shaving Gel + Aloe.I've been using my GilletteLabs razor for quite some time and really like it. I had also been using GilletteLabs shaving gel, which I considered their top-of-the-line shaving product.Until now.The first time I shaved with The Smooth, the difference was immediately noticeable. The gel has a fantastic scent, provides excellent glide, and my razor moved effortlessly across my face. More importantly, I ended up with an exceptionally close, clean shave.What impressed me just as much was how my skin felt afterward. It didn't simply feel freshly shaved…it felt smooth, comfortable, and conditioned. The formula includes aloe vera, karanja oil, and watermelon seed oil, and whatever Caldera + Lab is doing with this combination, it works exceptionally well for me.At roughly $30 for 3.3 fl. oz., this is arguably a lot of money for shaving gel. There is no getting around that. But this is also not ordinary shaving gel. In my experience, this is top-of-the-top shaving gel, and the difference compared with the products I've previously used is significant.Is everyone going to want to spend around $30 on shaving gel? Probably not. Your choice. But for me, after experiencing how fantastic this feels both during and after shaving, it's worth it.Super impressed with Caldera + Lab once again!Final thoughts….✔️ Fantastic scent and exceptional razor glide.✔️ Leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth and comfortable after shaving.✔️ Expensive, but the performance makes it worth the premium price for me.⭐️1 star — I don't endorse this at all, poor quality.⭐️⭐️ 2 stars — I don't endorse it: has multiple faults, or significantly overpriced.⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars — It's passable: it has some faults, some compromises, but the quality is acceptable for what it is.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars — Product quite acceptable, and it does what it promises.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars — Product that I totally endorse. Blown away. Drop everything and buy it!
5.0/5
Amazon
Shave gel is comfortable for sensitive skin
My husband has sensitive skin and normal shaving foam causes redness and irritation, even the ones that are marketed for “sensitive skin”. He’s had a couple of different gels over the years that have worked ok, but I ordered this Caldera + Lab gel because he’s used other products by this company in the past and was always happy with the quality.This shaving gel comes in the manufacturer’s retail box, with the batch number and expiration date printed on the bottom. We’ve got well over a year before this expires, but realistically I’m expecting the bottle to last about 2 months. It comes in an opaque black glass bottle with a pump style top. The top twists to lock the pump into place in case you’re traveling with it, and they also include a little cap to cover it. The bottle is just 3.3 ounces (100ml), which seems small, however it only takes 2 pumps to shave his entire face. It is truly unscented with no perfumes to cause irritation. It’s a thick, viscous formula that spreads easily with a brush or just his hands.This gel doesn’t irritate his skin at all and it gives him a clean, close shave and super smooth skin afterwards. I like the high quality gentle ingredients here, with soothing aloe Vera. It’s well worth the $30 price point in my opinion.
5.0/5
Amazon
A very nice shave, let me tell you all about it…
This is a very nice shaving elixir. The consistency is different than a shave cream, or a shave gel, and serum does seem to be a good descriptor, and I would describe it as something like a diluted creamy liquid facial soap, closer to a shave gel than a shave cream in its consistency. It goes on smoothly and spreads easily. It is comfortable on the skin and is not drying to my skin period. After shaving with this, my skin feels clean and fresh, and does not feel like I have had a more chemical based shave cream on the skin. It provides good lubrication for the shave, without being excessively slick, noting that some shaving gels makes the area so slick that the blade seems to slide over the hairs without cutting them as effectively, instead this one provides very good lubrication, while still providing a nice shave. I could not appreciate any scent. It is a very nice presentation, with a nice attractive box, and a very attractive, well-made glass bottle with a pump on top. So this would make a nice gift. This is a relatively small bottle, though a relatively small amount of the gel is needed for each shave. I appreciate the better ingredients used. I have attached a couple photos, including the full ingredient list. This is a fairly expensive shave gel, so while I can recommend this product based on its quality, I can only recommend this to those who are comfortable paying up for the quality, as one can certainly get an excellent shave with a less expensive product. Ignoring the cost, this is a very nice shave elixir; it performs well, and feels really nice to shave with. One more point, some shave gels go on clear and it makes it hard to know if you have shaved one area or not because the product is not visible, but this product does lather up nicely, by just rubbing it onto your face by hand, creating a pleasant, foamy lather, allowing one to easily see where you have and have not yet shaved. I hope some of this information is helpful for you. I like this shave elixir and I am enjoying shaving with it.
4.0/5
Amazon
A splurge for my hubby
My hubby usually dry shaved and it pains me to watch so when I saw this Caldera + Lab The Smooth Certified Exfoliating & Organic Shaving Elixir, I figured it’d be nice for him to try it out!He has never used a shaving elixir before, so he does not have anything to compare it to. He said it feels really nice and hydrating and his skin definitely feels “calm” after shaving!It has some really nice ingredients in it such as Karania Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, Microalgae and Witch Hazel Leaf. My husband has pretty sensitive skin and has had no adverse reactions to this elixir.He really is a fan but says he would never spend that much on a shaving elixir (originally 38 on sale for 32 at time of review). I’m unsure if this is the normal price for these types of things, but because of the price alone, he would not order again.
5.0/5
Amazon
Great quality shaving gel with plant based natural ingredients. Really prevents razor burn! 🪒
This shaving gel is perfect for sensitive skin. Even though this gel is marketed to men, it also works great for women. I often get razor burn on my armpits and bikini line, especially if I shave daily in those areas. But since I've been using this product, I haven't had any issues with razor burn. I've even been able to shave those sensitive areas every day with no issues.The gel leaves my skin so soft and smooth. My legs feel really nice after shaving, and the razor seems to get closer to the skin, so I only have to shave that area every two days to stay smooth. Plus, a little bit of gel goes a long way.The ingredients are very natural and safe. It is scent-free, which I love as I'm sensitive to smells. The surfactants used are gentle. There are soothing ingredients such as aloe and calming ones like oat that reduce redness. It also has antioxidants in it for skin health. The bottle is glass, which I love, and it comes with a little cap to keep it from leaking out in a bag.Overall, for the high-quality bottle, safe plant-based ingredients, and calming formula, I think this gel is well worth the price. And again, even though it's marketed to men, I think it works well for men and women. Really, anyone who has issues with sensitive skin or harsh chemicals in cheap shaving gels. 🪒
5.0/5
Amazon
Luxe premium shave gel
Caldera + Lab's The Smooth Men's Soothing Shaving Gel + Aloe delivers a truly luxurious, high-performance shaving experience tailored specifically for sensitive and easily irritated skin. Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, this plant-based formula is completely fragrance-free with only a subtle, muted herbal undertone, ensuring it will never overpower with colognes or lotions. Rather than relying on heavy amounts of water to build a foamy lather, the gel activates with just damp hands, transforming into a slick, low-friction barrier. It provides outstanding blade glide for a remarkably close shave while actively calming the skin, eliminating razor bumps, post-shave redness, and ingrown hairs.Packaged in a sleek, minimalist pump bottle, the product is both aesthetically pleasing on the bathroom counter and practical to dispense. Its 3.3 fl. oz. size is conveniently travel-friendly and bottles arrive with generous shelf life indicated by clear expiration dates. The gel absorbs comfortably to soften hair follicles yet rinses away cleanly without leaving any greasy residue, leaving the complexion noticeably hydrated, conditioned, and smooth. While it carries a premium price point, the superior skin comfort, thoughtful formulation, and consistently irritation-free results make it an exceptional investment for anyone struggling with sensitive skin.
5.0/5
Amazon
Smooth, moisturizing, fancy shave gel -- Little to NO lather just fyi
Fancy shaving gel that does almost everything your skin wants. The texture is a slightly cloudy, almost clear gel that is VERY smooth and moisturizing. It spreads easily and gives the razor a really nice glide without needing a huge amount of product. It stays more like a smooth, slick gel on the skin, which makes it easy to see where you're shaving but if you like bubble and lather, pass on this.A little goes a long way, too, so even though the bottle is only 3.3 oz, I don't think you'll go through it super quickly.My skin feels really soft afterward, and I especially like this for delicate or easily irritated skin. It has a soothing, moisturizing feel. The aloe and botanical ingredients makes sense. It is technically fragrance-free, but I can still detect a very faint smell from the product itself. It's almost unscented, so it's definitely not a perfume-y shaving product, but there's a mild botanical/plant-like scent that I'm personally not a huge fan of. It's subtle enough that it really isn't a dealbreaker.The bottle is heavy glass. This doesn't feel like an ordinary drugstore shaving gel, definitely a high-end product.
5.0/5
Amazon
Smooth, Upscale Shaving Experience
My wonderful and very particular husband has been very impressed with this. The first thing he noticed was just how smooth and luxurious it feels, and it definitely is a more upscale shaving product than the usual everyday choices.The plant-based formula is made with ingredients including karanja oil, watermelon seed oil, and oat kernel extract, which are intended to help soften the hair and give the razor extra glide--and it works! My husband found that it really does make for a comfortable, close shave, while leaving his skin feeling moisturized and calm rather than dry or tight. With sensitive skin, that is important to him.He also especially appreciates how extremely well it rinses away. There is no heavy, sticky residue left behind, which adds to that clean, polished feel after shaving. For someone with skin that can be sensitive to various products, the gentle formula and smooth glide are definite pluses.Overall, he says this feels like a high-quality, thoughtfully formulated, premium shaving product. Smooth application, excellent glide, easy rinsing, and a comfortable finish — my husband is very pleased with it.
5.0/5
Amazon
Great Shaving Gel for Sensitive Skin
The Caldera + Lab The Smooth Men's Soothing Shaving Gel + Aloe is working great for my husband. He has sensitive skin and has to be careful about the products he uses, so finding a shaving product that works well without causing irritation is important. He has had no issues with this shaving gel.It is paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, and fragrance-free. It also seems to soothe his skin, and he has noticed fewer bumps, less redness, and fewer skin issues after shaving since using it. Of course, the shaving gel also needs to do its main job, and it does that very well. His shaves are closer and just seem better overall. His skin looks and feels better afterward, which has made this a product he is happy to continue using. Naturally, individual results can vary, but he has been very pleased with his experience.The product does come with an expiration date, and mine arrived with about 1 year and 3 months remaining. That gives plenty of time to use it. The price point feels reasonable, especially considering how well it has worked for his sensitive skin. I rated it 5 stars.
4.0/5
Amazon
Good things in small packages
First off, I will say the price is a little steep for what you are getting. I think that the product might make up for the price if they were to lower it a little. If you are like most men, you just want something that won't break your skin out or at least provide a good shave. This does it but I'm not sure if it would be good for the long term due to the price. It is almost like a boutique shaving cream. It's not a gel or a foam. I can't describe it really, but a little bit does go a long way. I don't use a razor on my face to to getting ingrown hair, but I do shave my head. The shaving elixir was great and provided a smooth gliding surface and my head felt really good after. I usually apply a thin sheen of raw coconut oil to help with my scalp after a shave, but I wanted to see if I would need to use that with this elixir, but nope, it has kept my head pretty smooth. I like it, but it is expensive.
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