My Billie Razor Review
Is Billie the Best Razor for Women?
Billie is a shaving subscription service that caters to women and allows you to choose the frequency of deliveries and cancel at any time. They outright bash The Pink Tax which is the premium amount that brands charge for “women’s” products or services. NPR’s report on the Pink Tax referenced a study that suggested women pay 13% more than men on equivalent products. Billie seeks to eliminate this unfair practice via their product development and pricing. They also donate to women’s causes around the world (although they don’t specify which ones on their site). In addition to shaving products, Billie has recently launched some beauty items like facial wipes, lip balm, and dry shampoo.
ACTIVE DEAL: 10% off your order of $20+
CODE: MSA10
About this Women's Shaving Subscription
The Subscription: Billie
The Cost: $9.00 for the starter kit and $9.00 for each 4-pack replacement cartridge delivery. You choose the frequency.
The Products: The Starter Kit includes a razor handle, mag(net)ic holder, and two 5-blade razor cartridges. There is also an option to buy body care like shave cream and body wash and new beauty products like dry shampoo, lip balm, and facial wipes.
Good to Know: Billie only has one level of razors, unlike other shaving subscriptions with multiple razor options. The razors are 5-blade and surrounded by charcoal shave soap.
Ships to: The US for free (including P.O. boxes)
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more.)
Billie Starter Kit Review
I first reviewed Billie about a year ago when I was taking a look at several of the razors available through subscriptions. I was attracted to their rejection of The Pink Tax, as well as making shaving a more fun and colorful experience without seeming condescending. Recently I noticed that they rolled out a gang of new beauty products that aren't as closely connected to shaving and I wanted to try them all out. This led to an overhaul of my older review with additional thoughts on the new products on the block!
The first thing you'll do when signing up is choose which color you'd like out of 5 rather pleasing hues.
Next, they ask how often you shave to estimate when they think you'll need more razors auto-shipped to you. Since I chose once a week (haha, IF THAT), my replacements will come every three months. You can always change it, too.
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They include a small booklet to walk you through your new razor. It starts with what comes in your kit, then goes into how they are trying to stop women from overpaying for razors. Their shave products are vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and also free of paraben, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. They also don't test on animals. There's a short how-to on replacing your blade cartridge as well as using your magnetic holder.
Billie Starter Kit - Retail Value $9.00
Here's what comes in the starter kit:
- 1 Billie handle in color of your choice (I chose "Blush")
- 2 x 5-Blade Razor Cartridges
- 1 Mag(net)ic Holder
*I also ordered the travel case which was an extra charge and came in the package with my starter kit.
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My first complete razor came in a colorful box, with one of two cartridges attached to the handle color that I chose (blush).
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Handle with 5-Blade Razor Cartridge
The handle is made of lightweight plastic and has a single button you'll use to eject the old razor once it's time to replace. The underside of the handle is coated in a thin rubbery material to help you keep a grip while using. Each 5-blade razor cartridge comes encased with shave soap (infused with charcoal) that surrounds it, making my shave all that more comfortable. I thought I'd miss the weight of my heavy rubberized metal handle from Dollar Shave Club, but it was actually kind of nice to have a lighter one in my hand.
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Additional Razor Cartridge
Here's how the extra cartridge comes, packed safely in a plastic case to wait until needed. It's good to note that the blades are nickel-free, rust-free, are precision-sharpened, and made in America.
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Mag(net)ic Holder
The next item seems a little silly at first, but I learned quickly how useful it is. It's a simple plastic triangle with a sticky back that holds your razor to the wall in the shower. This little fella has a magnet inside that keeps your razor snuggly held. I was afraid it wouldn't stick properly because I have porous tiles in my bathroom (which suction cups refuse to stick to), but it held like a champ. I found this small detail to be sort of a game-changer since it keeps my razor off of the wet ledge of my tub while not taking up space in my shower caddy. In turn, my Billie razor isn't sitting in water and I found that that prolonged the life of it.
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The mag(net)ic holder even comes with "back-up sticky stuff" if you need to replace it later.
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The Razor Travel Case - Retail Value $5.00
Another product that Billie offers and can be added to any order is their travel case. This plastic case comes in five colors and snaps around the head of my razor so that I don't accidentally cut myself while digging around my toiletry bag on a trip. I decided to choose the "DreamPop" color that is a duotone pale lavender and pink because I am a fun person. What's great about this case is that it uses a magnet just like the holder so that my razor sort of floats inside, preventing it from sticking to the inside if still wet, and also has perforation so that it can dry while safely enclosed.
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Billie Shave Cream, 6.5 oz. - Retail Value $8.00
I think it's important to try the shaving cream a razor brand has to offer since it's something I'm going to need and it's more convenient to have it sent with shipments of blades. This full-size bottle was not included in the starter kit and cost me $8.00 to add. At the time I added it, it also asked me if it was just a one time purchase or if I'd like to have it sent every 3 months with my new 4-pack of blade cartridges. I like that I have options. Their formula is made with aloe vera and sage, and like the booklet mentioned, it's free of a lot of nasty stuff. I like the consistency of this cream and it's wonderfully slippery which allows the 5 blades to really effortlessly glide across my stubbly legs. It also smells realllly nice. I think it's... grapefruit? Yes, it is grapefruit-forward. This shave cream is great, but I do think that $8.00 is a little steep and that I could probably get something comparable at Trader Joe's for a better price.
Additional Products from Billie
Recently Billie has expanded its product line and come out with a few other non-razor-related personal care products. The brightly colored packaging makes me really happy and I was excited to try these out!
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Billie Floof Dry Shampoo - Retail Value $14.00
One of the new products from Billie is a dry shampoo, aptly named "Floof." The shampoo comes in two colors: dark and light, inside a cute, round, chubby bottle. I went with the light since I have ash blonde/light brown hair. For one, I appreciate dry shampoos that don't use aerosol cans since it's more earth-friendly and I do my best to lean towards that. Admittedly, I've been skipping showers a bit more lately since I am working from home and don't leave the house much. That means my hair isn't getting washed and I depend on dry shampoos to reduce oil when I have a video call with friends or coworkers. Floof even helps give my fine hair more body even when it's clean. I lift up a chunk of hair (beginning at the top of my head) sprinkle some of the powder onto my roots, then give it a tousle. It can be a little messy while getting the hang of the tapping, but the biotin, rice starch, and plant-based fibers all work together to lift and balance my hair. So far, I've been pleased with the results!
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Billie Wonder Wipes - Retail Value $9.00
Billie also has facial wipes that come 25 to a pack. It looks like a subscription is required which ships every month or every other month, but you can cancel it at any time. The wipes are serum-infused with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to soothe your face while removing dirt and makeup from the day. Truth be told, I wasn't too impressed at first, but after using these a few times, I've come around. One side is a bit textured while the other is smooth so you can scrub off off the dirt and makeup first, then flip it to wipe off. They have a light lemon scent to them as well which I find pleasant. While I think their cleansing properties could be a bit better, I found my skin feeling super duper nice after use and not dried out. That serum-infusion really works.
As a lip product addict, I was pretty excited about Billie's new balm. It comes in five variations: three that are flavored with tint (fig, rhubarb, sorbet) and two that are sheer (classic which is unflavored, and parsley).
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Super Salve Daily Hydrating Lip Balm in Parsley - Retail Value $9.00
First, I wanted to try a non-tinted balm in the flavor "parsley" since I generally enjoy the herb. While I didn't get much a flavor out of this, it does have a faint scent. I have more balms than any one person needs, but I like to keep them in every coat I own as well as in every corner of my house and office. This one glides on really nicely and I can tell that it's hydrating my lips on a surface level although it does seem to just sit on top instead of fully absorb. This leaves me wanting to reapply sooner than later.
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Super Salve Daily Hydrating Lip Balm in Rhubarb - Retail Value $9.00
Next, I tried one of the tinted balms in "rhubarb." Again, I had a hard time detecting any real flavor and there is perhaps a light scent but not one I could identify as the tart vegetable it's named after. The color is very subtle which is just what I want in a tinted balm and it gives my lips a little boost of natural-looking red without making them feel cakey or overdone. Sometimes I just want a touch of color and this is perfect for that. Similar to the non-tinted balm, this relieves my lips of temporary dryness but over time it did feel like it just sat on top, rather seeping in and really hydrating them. A nice tint for warm weather but not the savior I would need in the more chappy months.
Verdict
As someone who typically is too lazy to shave my legs and even keep my armpits completely smooth, I did really enjoy the shaving experience that Billie extended to me. My legs were so ridiculously soft and smooth after running this razor over them that I wanted to keep touching them throughout the day and even three days later, they're not that bad. I like that this company was co-founded by a woman (Georgina Gooley) and calls out body hair shame and Pink-Tax BS. Do I need a razor specifically for a woman? No. Is it kind of nice to be catered to and not completely up-charged to take care of the body hair I sometimes want to get rid of? Yes. Billie seems like a solid razor with equally solid shaving products that will just show up at my door so that it's one last thing I have to think about every few months for a reasonable price. Comparing Billie ($2.25/razor) to a similar product like the Bic Soleil Balance ($2.99/razor), I'm saving $0.74 a piece and a trip to the store. I'm also happy to see them expand their products beyond shaving and appreciate the fun packaging. The balms didn't give me anything to write home about, but getting the wipes auto-shipped will be one less thing I need to worry about and the dry shampoo performs well!
If you’re curious to see how Billie stacks up to the women's razor, Flamingo, you should check out our Billie vs. Flamingo post!
Or if you want to figure out which razor subscription is right for you, head over to this post where I compare the leading brands!
ACTIVE DEAL: 10% off your order of $20+
CODE: MSA10
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