I bought this to compliment the Proraso blue shave cream and blue after shave balm
It certainly adds build to your lather for the first pass and acts as a type of barrier coat between the lather and skin. I have read that it is primarily beneficial for adding suppleness and conditioning of the skin reducing harshness of blade feeling, rashes, razor burn etc. I'm on the fence if I would buy again with any of the Proraso pre shave creams. Saying that, I never get cuts or nicks on the first pass so maybe it helps in preventing this.