Product Description

Make your shave comfortable, skin-enhancing and downright therapeutic with the Norelco 8040X Cool Skin Model shaving system. The rechargeable cordless razor contains a dispenser that automatically applies vitamin-enriched Nivea for Men Shaving Conditioner directly onto your skin for a moisturizing and soothing shave. A refill bottle is included to pump conditioner into the Cool Skin razor whenever the resevoir becomes empty (to purchase conditioner, look up "NCS H500" at jr.com.) The Flex Tracker maps out automatically tracks the curves of your face to protect agains irritation and the shaving heads have unique Glide Rings for a smoother, safer shave. The unit rinses clean in seconds and can even be used in the shower. The Cool Skin shaving system also includes a charging stand, travel pouch and the Precision Tube Trimmer, which allows for the deft and precise trimming of a mustache or sideburns. Nivea For Men conditioner dispensing system: enriches your skin and provides a healthy look. Refill bottle pumps directly into the Cool Skin Razor. Flex Tracker automatically tracks the curves of your face and helps to protect against skin irritation Unique Glide Rings to help the razor move smoothly over your face. Superior Lift & Cut® dual blade system Precision tube trimmer: Patented tube trimmer technology for great precision - great for mustaches/sideburns Innovative open shaving unit design allows quick and convenient cleaning after each shave. Charging Time: 4 - hour charging time for full charge Shaving Time: Up to 40 minutes of shaving time Automatic Voltage Selection 100 / 240V: Guarantees travel convenience Charging stand with trimmer and travel pouch included Full 2 year warranty

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4532 in Health and Beauty
• Brand: Philips Norelco
• Model: 8040X/18
• Released on: 2007-07-31
• Dimensions: 2.60 pounds

Features

• Unique shaver combines Nivea moisturizer dispensing system with advanced shaving technology
• The flex tracker automatically tracks the curves of your face and helps to protect against skin irritation
• The shaving heads have unique glide rings to help the shaver move smoothly over your face
• Anti-slip grip panel features advanced layered rubber gripping surface
• Charge time: 4 hours; shaving time: 40 minutes

Amazon.com Product Description

Philips Norelco Moisturizing Shaving System: The Future is Closer than You Think
	Nivea For Men Conditioner Dispensing System Nivea for Men shaving conditioner is dispensed directly onto your skin for a moisturizing and soothing shave. The formula is enriched with vitamins and chamomile to condition your skin and support a healthy look.
Improved Nivea for Men Shaving Conditioner The new line of Philips Norelco Cool Skin shavers comes with an improved Nivea for Men Shaving Conditioner that makes shaving even more comfortable and less irritating for your skin. The Lift & Cut system has been improved so that the appliance gives an even closer shave. Thanks to its new design, the shaver fits more comfortably in your hand, while new features make it easier to clean.
		Flex Tracker System The unique Flex Tracker System closely follows the contours of your face, giving you a smooth and perfect shave. The flexing action ensures that the blades are aligned with your skin to allow hairs to be cut exceptionally closer to the skin. Thus you can enjoy a remarkably smooth and fresh look.
Glide Rings The shaving heads have unique Glide Rings to help the shaver move smoothly over your face.
		Integrated Cartridge Refill System You can Simply pump the Nivea for Men shaving conditioner from the refill can directly into the Cool Skin shaver. Philips Norelco HS8040 Nivea Moisturizing Shaving System gives you the advantage of saving you time and energy by not applying any moisturizer on your face prior to the shave. Just wet your face before you start shaving then press the shaving conditioner button until a sufficient amount of shaving conditioner has been released. Each refill bottle of Nivea for Men shaving conditioner lasts up to three months under regular use conditions.
Super Lift & Cut System The Moisturizing Shaving System is equipped with a dual blade system to give you an ultra close shave. The advantage of having two blades is that you enjoy a comfortable and soothing shave. The Lift & Cut system is designed so the first blade lifts and the second blade cuts for a comfortable close shave. Easy Grip for Total Control Specifically designed for the difficult curves on the face, the Philips Norelco 8040 Nivea Moisturizing Shaving System is an ideal solution for perfect grip and optimal handling. The perfect grip ensures that you enjoy the ultimate comfort and easy shave.
Wet Use--Waterproof Shaver Shaving in the shower saves time and gives you the fresh sensation of wet shaving. The Philips Norelco 8040 is a washable so it is very easy to keep it clean and hygienic with a simple rinse under the tap. It also includes a cleaning brush to remove small hairs.
What's in the Box Charging stand, power plug, travel pouch, protection cap, and quick start leaflet.

Accessory Guide

Select the right shaving head for you! Renew for better results
series shaving head         arcitec      1050CC, 1060      1050/1050X, 1090     Smart-Touch XL      9199XL   Speed-XL      8240XL, 8260XLCC        7310XL, 7340XL      7810XL        7400 - 7800        6940LC        5400 - 5800        4000	NIVEA FOR MEN Razor 8020X/33 8040X/18 8060X/25 HS 800 Nivea Shaving conditioner for NIVEA FOR MEN razor       7700 HQ 170 Shaving lotion for Cool Skin HQ 171 Shaving gel for Cool Skin       6700 HQ 170 Shaving lotion for Cool Skin HQ 171 Shaving gel for Cool Skin   Cleaning accessory HQ 200 Cleaning solution for JetClean System

Customer Reviews

Used Without The 'Consumables'...Excellent Perfomance
I am not a novice to electric shavers, so keep in mind that I have used many different shavers over the years. I began shaving (electric always) when I was 15 years old. I am now 60 years old (young?). Keep in mind the differences in charge time, quick charge capabilty and full charge indication when comparing the three models in the line.
I have used the 8040X WITHOUT ANY conditioner to see if I could avoid the added ongoing expense(Norelco says that is no problem)and I must say that the shave is top notch. This unit has provided one of the closest shaves (if not THE closest) that I have ever had. My neck is quite a difficult area to deal with. It is difficult to shave it closely (I have no clue why...but especially on the left side of my neck!), yet from day one...and without using the Nivea...the 8040X has provided a superb (and fast) shave. In summary...I wanted a shaver that does an excellent job of shaving closely...expecially in my 'problem' areas and one that works quickly and without irritating my skin. This Norelco has performed much better than I expected on all counts. Highly recommended without any reservations.

Useful for Travel, but Too Many Shortcomings for Everyday
The Philips Norelco 8040X electric shaver is a compact, lightweight unit that can be used dry or wet. In either case, it uses Nivea for Men shaving conditioner to smooth the razor over your face as you shave. Ultimately, it is capable of delivering a good shave, but it has too many drawbacks to recommend for everyday use.

SHAVING PERFORMANCE

Used dry, the 8040X is below average compared to other shavers that I've used (including my five-year-old Norelco which still shaves rings around this one). Its shaving heads are very compact and pivot nicely so you can easily reach all contours of your face and hard-to-reach areas, e.g. under your nose. However, the blades themselves don't do provide a close shave at all. I have a beard that's only moderately thick/stiff, and the 8040X left me feeling like I would have a five-o'clock shadow in minutes.

Used wet in the shower, its performance is much better. This is also when the Cool Skin moisturizer really shines - in fact, it's downright necessary to get the heads to glide over your face when used wet. It has a pleasant scent and does leave the skin on your face feeling refreshed afterward (even if it's also apparent that the "cool" is just from some alcohol in the formula). It certainly won't be the quickest shave that you've ever had, but if you take your time, you can get results that rival even a blade.


USE & MAINTENANCE

The 8040X comes with a cradle for storing it upright and also for charging it. Unfortunately once the razor becomes fully charged, you can't leave it in the cradle without unplugging it - doing so can damage battery life. Plus, the plug for the cradle is gigantic and ugly, so you won't want to leave the cradle on display anyway. I would have preferred a simple direct-cord charge design instead.

The Nivea conditioner that is used with the shaver is expensive in the long run - about $6 for a can that will last about a month (don't believe what the box says - it's only a month's worth). Suddenly that close, wet shave is looking pretty pricey in terms of time and money compared to simply going back to shaving with a blade. Also, the pump system that feeds the conditioner into the razor is proprietary, i.e. you can't just fill it with any skin conditioner because only the Nivea Cool Skin fits the razor's plug. So, you're out of luck if you don't like the scent or feel of the Nivea product. Also, the razor would lose just about all usefulness if/when they stop making those cans.

There is no readout to display the remaining battery life. Instead, the power light will begin to flash when the battery is getting low. Given the cost of this razor, this seems like a cut corner. I don't like the idea of guessing how much juice I have left.

The razor needs to be cleaned after each shave. Compared to most closed-head designs, this makes for even more time that the razor requires with each use. You also need to regularly check that the tubes which deliver the moisturizer haven't become clogged.

It does have a travel lock feature which will prevent the razor from accidentally turning on while you have it packed away. Coupled with its compact size, I think that the "weekend getaway (not for business)" may be the ideal application of this razor.


CONCLUSION

The 8040X Moisturizing Shave System promises too much. Ultimately, it works best when shaving wet, using a lot of the moisturizer, and taking a lot of time to do so. This, coupled with its lightweight, compact design, good battery life and travel lock make it ideal for weekend getaways. But given its cost - both immediate and in the long run - this just isn't enough return on your investment.

PROS
* Close, comfortable shave when used wet
* Compact and lightweight
* Travel lock prevents accidents while razor is packed
* Good battery life

CONS
* Unimpressive shave results when used dry
* Expensive cost-to-operate due to (very necessary) moisturizer
* Demanding upkeep/maintenance requirements
* Lack of battery gauge

Norelco 8040X
A little background on me so you can understand where I am coming from with this review: Generally I shave every other day, though I probably should shave everyday, I stretch it to every other day without it being a huge problem. I'm coming from a Philishave Cool Skin, which is the same as the Norelco but I believe it is the brand sold outside the US. I'm not certain of the model number, but you get the idea that its the predecessor of this model, which used the lotion cartridges. I've owned that shaver for about 4 years and have replaced the blades a couple times. My Philishave is in perfect working condition, however required new blades; so I decided to take this opportunity to upgrade to the sleeker 8040X.
My choices. I have pretty sensitive skin, particularly around my neck so I wanted to go with a wet/dry shaver with lotion. So I chose the Norelco 8000 series. There are three models available in this series, the 8020, the 8040 and the 8060. Each of these models will give you the same shave, but the price difference comes from the additional features related to each model. The 8020 requires a longer charge time at 8 hours and gives 30 minutes of shave time, the 8040 requires 4 hours of charge time providing 40 minutes of shave time, the 8060 requires 1.5 hours and also gives 40 minutes of shave time. The 8040 and 8060 also offer a quick charge. Another major difference between the 8060 and the lower models, is that the 8060 automatically refills the shaver's bladder so the shaver is full of lotion every time you use it. Both the 8040 and 8060 have a battery full indication, which the 8020 lacks. I find that useful because I know when to remove my shaver from the charger, so as not to damage the battery by over-charging. So the big differences are in the battery and the charge stand.
My decision: I decided to go with the 8040 because I was comfortable with the 4 hour charge, though a 1.5 hour would be nice. 8 hours just seems too long to fully charge my shaver. Also, I liked the idea of the battery full indicator. So that left me between the 8040 and 8060. The big turn-off of the 8060 was the bulkier charge stand. I'm not so lazy that I would pay the extra $50 primarily to have the shaver refill itself. So, the 8040 it is; a nice middle ground and more streamlined.
Initial impressions: My first shave was extremely comfortable, with zero irritation; thanks to the glide rings provided on each model. Even with my old shaver, I would get some irritation; particularly on my neck. The new design is easier to manipulate than the bulky models that preceded it. The shave lotion also smells nicer, more like an aftershave, though it did burn a little; most likely the result of alcohol (which is used to create that nicer smell) though the burning quickly subsided. I didn't seem to be as smooth as I was with my old shaver, but Norelco recommends using the shaver for 21 days to become accustomed to it. After using is for a short time I found that I never really got that close shave. Not that its not smooth at all, its just seems a little less smooth than I was with my previous shaver. What this means for me: Now I shave everyday to maintain a smoother face; I'd probably get too scruffy if I tried to stretch it to every other day. My fiancé is probably my biggest critic when it comes to shaving and she actually prefers this model to my previous one b/c now I am shaving everyday and have greater periods of a smooth face instead of scruffy one. I can do a relatively quick shave, maybe 7 minutes or so to get the desired results of at least a clean-cut appearance.
So why 4 stars (I would say 3.5, a little better than the halfway mark)? I figure there are many factors that go into shaving, not just having a very close shave. This shaver is extremely comfortable, I finish each shave with almost no irritation, whereas my old shaver would often leave my neck red and could be quite painful. Its also comfortable to hold and the smaller design makes it easier to travel with (as well as the fact that it includes a travel lock). So even though the shave isn't as smooth as I was hoping for, its still a pretty descent shaver all things considered.