Finally, a women's razor that's actually as good as a man's
From an early age, shaving always felt more like something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.
I would eye off my dad's razor brand, only to sneak one into mum's shopping trolley when she wasn't looking.
Now, as an adult, I've been known to 'borrow' my husband's men's-grade blades for myself.
They've just always felt sharper, more solid, and simply better for my thick, dark hair, which I've been genetically blessed with.
Women's razors, on the other hand, have always seemed more like an afterthought – ultralight and flimsy, not particularly sharp, and always a ton more expensive.
The condescending 'pink tax' has never felt more obvious than when looking through the shaving aisle in the supermarket.
Rows of razors in feminine shades, promising a 'smooth' and 'silky' experience, but what they actually deliver is just ingrowns.
And I'm not the only one who has been fed up with this mediocrity.
Georgia Geminder, the founder of Aussie personal care brand Gem, tells news.com.au she saw the same gap.
'There's always been this unspoken belief that men need a 'tougher' shave, and so the industry has historically prioritised blade sharpness and durability for men's razors – while women's razors focus more on aesthetics or comfort,' she said.
'What's frustrating is that women deserve both: performance and beauty.'
She wanted to bring something 'innovative, different and millennial-focused' to market, with thoughtful ingredients, beautiful packaging, while still keeping the price accessible.
And she did just that.
Earlier this month, Gem launched its 'category-disrupting razors' and shaving gels into Coles, after two years in the making.
And fans of the brand are already going crazy for them, with one product selling every minute.
When I spotted them on the shelves, I was so curious to try them out, having already been converted to their delicious-smelling deodorants.
In my eyes, Gem can do no wrong, but having been burned in the past by so many women's shaving brands, I approached with caution.
However, after using the Skin-Loving Shaving Kit, which retails for $20, I've fallen in love.
It features a durable razor infused with Hyaluronic Acid, vitamin E, and Aloe Vera, a chic holder for the shower and a blade refill.
The razor itself feels luxurious in both design and weight, and the five sharp blades and pivoting head gave me the smoothest shave I've ever had.
When used with the Skin-Loving Shaving Gel, $10, which lathered generously, my shave lasted about two weeks.
Usually, I'm back at it every few days.
My husband even commented on how smooth my legs were, which, to be fair, is a rare occurrence (that I have smooth legs, not that he complimented me!).
While you might be thinking, 'So what? It's just a razor.' For me, this feels revolutionary to my beauty routine.
If you've been anywhere on TikTok recently, you'll have seen that shaving is having a moment right now and being rebranded as 'self-care'.
And after using the Gem razor, I'm fully on board with this idea … that shaving can be something we can actually take pleasure in.
It's one of those small luxuries that can make a world of difference to your confidence, without involving an expensive, multi-step routine.
As Ms Geminder puts it: 'What once felt like a chore is now an opportunity to pause, reset, and feel good in your skin.
'The rise of self-care culture has encouraged people to romanticise the 'mundane' and shaving is the perfect example.
'When you're using beautifully-scented products, enriched with skin-loving ingredients, it becomes less about just hair removal and more about creating a moment for yourself.'
It's not just Gem that has realised women want 'tougher' shaves, with other brands also reclaiming this traditionally unsexy ritual, making it feel relevant again.
Recent statistics show the Australian shaving market valued at over $528 million in 2024 and expected to reach $785 million by 2034.
While a survey from Philips found more than half of women (53 per cent) head to the men's aisle for their shaving needs.
For me, Gem razors have made shaving less of a hassle and more of a ritual I actually look forward to.
No more waiting for my 'everything shower' to feel put together – because now having smooth legs is an everyday thing.
It's about time.
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