Finally, I got around to trying the Panasonic ES-8068 with shaving cream. The ES-8068 is a former top model from Panny. It still performs very well even after 8 years of use (that is about once a week use coming to something like 1.5 years daily use).

I used the Tabac Original Shaving cream (not the stick) which gives me great results when used with brush and blade. The only difference was that I didn't whip up a thick foam with a brush but I put some cream on my washed/wet face and massaged it in with the fingertips. I had a 48 hour scruff. It took longer than dry shaving and I had less control of where I was shaving. It was necessary, or I felt so, to rinse the shaver twice. It took about 5-6 minutes versus 3 for pure dry shaving. I still cannot understand how some guys take 15 minutes for a shave. So in terms of time savings, this takes me as long as an oil shave or a foam can shave. A self-made brushed lather takes 10-12 minutes for me. I think in a travel context when one is often in a hurry these things do matter.

Now, all the reviews say that Pannys really perform best when used with a bit of foam or even with just water. Strangely enough, I got AGAIN more irritation than using it just dry. I think I might have pressed to hard. I actually cut myself under the chin. That has never happened with an electric razor before for me. And on my neck I got a bruise that looks like a hickey. The funny thing is that one Amazon reviewer says EXACTLY the same thing about the hickey and use of an electric Panasonic shaver with foam. It was probably at least as bad in terms of irritation as using the Panny with the KoS oil. I must be doing something wrong.

Was it worth it? No! But in the spots where it didn't miss hair, it was indeed very, very close to a wet blade shave. I was quite amazed. Missing hairs is not only a shaver problem but can be attributed to how well the user handles the shaver. As usual the neck area is difficult.

I will give it another chance with foam and might even try just plain water. Normally, plain water will produce more drag but some have reported good results.

Tomorrow is the scheduled delivery date of my new electric razor: the Panasonic ES8243K. It is the ARC IV Nano model and supposed to be terrific. The thing has caused a real ruckus with the shaving nerds on their forums. It is also lighter than my current model (255 vs. 189g) and about the same weight as My Philips Norelco Arcitec 1090 which I also kind of bought for traveling but use mostly back home in Germany (it's stationed there so I don't need to even bring an electric shaver).

I'll let you know how it performs. Also, if you are interested go back to the original article on OBOW for my short review of the Norelco 1090. I would like to do a comparo of these models on Amazon.