Reddit reviews Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl, Sensitive Skin, 5.2 oz

Safety razor, real shaving soap, and a after lotion. I use method shaving which is just the best way IMHO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSv_0MpKJU4

Watch his whole series. They're awesome.

EDIT: I should explain some of the process in method shaving is that you should first have a moist surface to shave as to reduce irritation. Second, attempt to reduce the number of passes over the same area to reduce the chance of razor burn. And third, probably the most important USE GOOD PRODUCTS! Don't cheap out here you're going for a good clean shave.

Personally I like Proaso products, my shaving kit has the following items in it:

• Shaving Soap
  
• After-Shave Lotion
  
• Merkur Razor
  
• Shaving Brush
  
  I'm not saying drop a ton of money into this but don't cheap out. Get stuff that will last you a lifetime it will be well worth the investment and you'll enjoy the shaving experience.

I wash my face in the shower with this

Then I lather up with this using this

Shave with this or if I feel like being a gentleman this

I then rinse my face with cold water and apply this which feels like the gods just came on my face

Let that dry for a minute and apply this and I am good to go

Was using this but found it too harsh for my face so left it out

I've never been one for a skincare routine, but with the help of some guys at a high end barber shop in my city I hammered out this setup over the past year or so. The improvements have been significant.

Plus the bitches get wet when they see the straight razor. I like wet bitches.

For me, the type of shaving soap turned out to be critical. It took me a surprisingly long time to discover that many soaps and creams irritated the heck out of my skin, including some that were specifically recommended for shavers with sensitive skin (!). I bought Taylor of Old Bond Street ("TOBS") Avocado and it irritated me severely. Being a clueless newbie, I blamed this on imperfect technique / wrong blade / wrong razor, and kept foolishly trying to learn to DE shave, with irritating lather, for several weeks.

Eventually I had a "Well Duh, Goober!" realization that . maybe . the . problem . might . be . the . lather . So I went back to the old Gillette multiblade cartridge razor (Mach 3) and gingerly tried a bunch of different soaps and creams. Eureka! For me, Proraso Green (menthol) and TOBS Avocado and CO Bigelow were all very irritating. However, I found that J M Fraser and Mama Bear's Unscented and Proraso Ultra Sensitive were just fine for me - wonderful in fact. Irritation gone.

Armed with this new discovery (whatever my problem may be, I now KNOW it ain't the lather), I was able to work my way through a blade sampler pack, and found two or three brands that gave me very close shaves. DFS/BBS shaves.

Contrary to the usual wetshaving forum advice, for me the most important factor was choice of soap or cream. #2 was choice of DE blade, #3 was method of prep, and #4 was choice of razor. As everyone warned, my mileage DID vary!

Now that I've got a setup that works well, which reliably & repeatably gives irritation-free, BBS shaves, I experiment with new soaps and creams. TOBS Avocado and Proraso still irritate me severely, but I have found several dozen soaps and creams that don't. Diety be praised, one of the ones that works well for my skin is Mitchell's Wool Fat and another is Castle Forbes. I am very happy about those two!

Final note: in case your face happens to be exactly like mine (UNlikely), here's a piece of trivia: my favorite lather of all the 75+ that I've tried, comes from Ingram cream in a tube. I find Ingram's transcendently wonderful. I bought several more tubes as a safety measure, in case a Zombie Apocalypse interrupts the normal lines of supply.

*Edit- and oh by the way, one of the soaps that does NOT irritate my sensitive skin, is VULFIX SANDALWOOD SHAVING CREAM , curiously*

I highly recommend that subreddit, it has helped tremendously in dealing with my sensitive skin and irritations due to bad shaving techniques/products. As for shaving soaps I would recommend trying Mystic Water Soap's Sensitive Skin and Proraso White, I have very sensitive skin and those soaps have worked very well for me. Also for aftershaves try using Thayer's witch hazel. Hope this helps!

Soap is exactly what it sounds like, no trick language here... just plain soap. It's a hard puck of soap similar to a bar of soap, but with special ingredients to give it extra lather / glide (specialized for shaving.) They can come in a bowl (normally lathered in a separate bowl or in your hand) or as a stick (applied directly to the face.)

Cream comes in a tube like toothpaste

Some Italian soaps like Proraso and Cella brands are somewhere halfway between a cream and a soap. Proraso makes a good soap for sensitive skin which I'm using and would recommend. It also lathers easier than any other soaps I've tried.

For a $60 budget I would pick up a $10 soap, a $10 Omega boar shaving brush, an Edwin Jagger or Parker razor, and an Alum block (Alum is a naturally-occuring astringent & antiseptic mineral block, applied to the face after shaving to close pores and prevent irritation -- it helped reduce redness/pimples/ingrown hairs for me.)

You will also probably want to invest in a blade sampler pack soon after you start shaving, so you might as well pick one of those up with your first purchase to save on shipping. If that makes the price too high for you, you can swap out the Edwin Jagger / Parker razor for a $2 Sodial DE razor.

Awesome man, I'm glad you had a good shave. I've got hard water too, and I've found that Proraso lathers very well despite being a soap. As for a new razor, I think an adjustable may be a good second razor, I personally adore my Gillette Slim, but look around.

Using a sharp blade and shaving with the grain is what is going to make all the difference.

I have a double edge safety razor that I bought from amazon. The blades for it are SUPER cheap and way more sharp than cartridge razors. There is a higher initial higher cost with using a DE razor because you have to buy some more expensive hardware, but it's cheaper in the long run.

Use good soap
http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shave-Soap-Sensitive-150ml/dp/B001JHEY14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382915459&sr=8-1&keywords=proraso+white
You will need to get a brush to make lather with that soap, but it's pretty good for sensitive skin. The aerosol stuff doesn't come close.

also check out /r/wicked_edge/ for everything there is to know about shaving.

Proraso makes one for sensitive skin that gets great reviews.

I don't think you'll get any good straight razor from Amazon, especially at that price point. You can get a straight handle with disposable blades (look for Shavette) from there. Amazon has one or two good brands but they're most likely not properly sharpened by Amazon and I can almost assure that you'd have to send it out to someone before using it.

You can check out this article on Straight Razor Place about getting items on a budget. I usually suggest these full straight razor kits, which start at $160 and include a proper straight razor (sharpened), strop, brush, brush stand, soap, mug and styptic.

Things you can get on Amazon are this brush for $11, and Proraso soap for $9. This $32 strop would work well. If you get a strop from Amazon make sure it's Fromm as some of the other brands I saw on the first few pages were made in Pakistan and probably lousy.

Lastly you can check out the SRP classifieds for deals. Most of our vendors are active members who also sell through their websites: Dylan, Ben, Glen, and Larry should all have affordable shave-ready razors listed.

I went on amazon bought a brush for 10.00, a relatively cheap DE razor for about 27.00 a stand for 10 and a soap for 10.00, I would recommend trying a soap sampler to find one you like. You can find starter packs as well, and I would do that. I was trying to be somewhat frugal but ended up needing more than I thought. Most razors come with a free pack of blades, usually at least 5, and that should last you approximately 15 shaves, so at least two weeks. After that I recommend going with some kind of blade sampler since a lot of packs come with a hundred blades and if you buy the wrong blade you might be out the 10 or 15 that it cost.

It takes longer than a cartridge razor to shave, and requires more skill and attention, but the whole process is much more enjoyable with better results.
I recommend going the cheap route until you're sure you like it, and as you wear out the items you buy (bristles comes out of my brush almost every shave, a couple at a time) then buy the next level up. It can be extremely expensive, but like anything there's also regular people versions of all the expensive stuff too.

For your reference:
Razor
Soap
Brush
Stand
Blades

This, especially regarding the stages.

I had the same problem, OP. Make sure you do a proper shave.

Using a preshave cream, a sensitive skin shaving soap (Proraso Ultra Sensitive works wonders for me), with a patient shave and a good aftershave solved almost all my problems.

There are a lot of different kinds you can get American Crew has one that I use when I do hot shaves. Aveda has a good all purpose oil you can use for shaving (and as a moisturizer, bath oil). The oil acts as a lubricant and reduces irritation. I have had a lot of sensitive skinned guys try using a shaving oil and Proraso shaving soap with a shaving brush with positive results.

Try this stuff I've been using it for months now and I actually forgot I used to find it painful to shave because of how well this works.

Shaving with a DE razor. A good razor is about twice or three times as much as a cartridge razor, but the long term savings are nuts.

Merkur 180 Razor $33

Omega Shaving Brush $13

Proraso Soap $8.50

Optional Razor Stand $22

Optional Alum $5

100 Pack of Astra Blades $10.50

Total cost of 100 DE shaves including startup costs: $92

Total Cost of next 100 shaves (blades and soap): $19

Gilette Fusion $11

100 Cartridges (8 packs) $362

Shaving Cream $20

Total cost of 100 cartridge shaves including startup costs: $393

Total cost of next 100 shaves (blades and shaving cream): $382

A couple thoughts:

• A Simpsons wee scot brush. This thing is awesome, it's not that expensive, and it will be different from the brush he has. It also makes a nice travel brush. If nothing else, the teeny-tiny brush will be a conversation piece. (It's about the size of a man's pinky finger.)
  
  
• Since he has sensitive skin, Proraso White formula. I'm a big fan of the tubs. I never thought I had sensitive skin until I tried this stuff. It's smooth like butter.
  
  
• Pre-shave oil. The link is to my all-time favorite kind.
  
  
• A travel razor
  
  
• A travel brush. This one is cheaper but also good
  
  
• If you want to build him a travel wetshave kit, the Arko soap in a screw-close tub is my favorite travel soap.

Hey, I dealt with the same thing. Proraso white label is the best for sensitive skin and coarse hair. I won't use anything else.

https://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Soap-Bowl-Sensitive/dp/B001JHEY14/ref=sr_1_11_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518890069&sr=1-11&keywords=proraso

> Est-ce que vous auriez des conseils sur les lames, marque, matière etc.

J'utilise des Astrạ, achetées sur Amazon.

>A quelle fréquence vous les changer? Pour info j'ai pas besoin de me raser plus de deux fois par semaine et j'ai pas le poil dur.

Je prends plaisir à les changer plus souvent que je ne le devrais. Ça fait partie du rituel et du plaisir.

En période de rasage quotidien ou tous les deux jours : j'attends deux rasages minimum.

Lorsque je laisse passer plus de temps entre deux rasages, je les change à chaque fois.

>Gel ou mousse à raser ?

Savon proraso pour peaux sensibles, à étaler avec un blaireau et pierre d'alun. Après ça, j'applique un baume Proraso.

These are a few I have tried/liked:

Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn Street Luxury Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VZPTAC/

Proraso Shaving Cream, Refreshing and Toning: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00837ZOI0/

Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl, Sensitive Skin: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JHEY14/

The others are fairly new so I have not tried them much.

I ended up going with the Merkur Heavy Duty #34C, some Proraso Shaving Soap, and a well-rated Badger brush.

I guess the only thing I can recommend is what I use.

I use this body:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NL0T1G

I use this shaving soap:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JHEY14

I use a brush that came in a set from walmart back when I started using these 5 years ago.

And for the actual blade, I recommend getting a variety pack and deciding which one works best for you. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038KA5RC) is an example of one.

I personally like stainless steel blades, but that comes down to personal preference and your facial hair type. If you are just starting I recommend getting a cheaper razor body (my first was some set I got for real cheap, thinking under $20, that came with a soap, a bowl for the soap, a brush, some blades, and a body.)

I had the same reaction to Maggard's Barbershop. The few soaps that didn't give me any irritation include Proraso Sensitive (the white one), Sterling's Sandlewood, and TOBS Avocado. Maybe one of these may work just as well for you as they have for me, but it seems like everyone reacts differently to each individual scent and/or brand of soap if there is any sensitivity issues. Best of luck hunting down what works best for you.

The soap is the soft soap that is found in Proraso bowls. I am Canadian. Buying a hard soap might be something interesting to do, but I'm inclined to hold off on that one for a little bit; I've got three-quarters of a tub left and should budget myself for school. When I do eventually get a hard soap, I'll be sure to do a long load time. I'll also note that If I get the 90 pack blade sampler and the Edward Jagger 8x, I'll be above the 60 dollar mark.

I've been DE shaving for about 3 weeks and I pretty much have no trouble attaining the BBS shave every day. Of course I did watch tons of online videos (geo fat boy and mantic) and read up on WE for weeks before jumping in to DE.

My routine is simple: hot shower with conditioner in beard, warm brush and bowl in sink, build lather, WTG, XTG, XTG opposite direction, ATG on remaining spots.

Equipment:
Proraso sensitive skin soap,
Parker Badger Brush,
Edwin Jagger DE89L, and a $2 bowl from the Goodwill
Working my way through a blade sampler: Derby was weak, Shark nicked me a lot, Astras were good, and I'm liking the Bic Chrome Platinums. Next up are BlueBirds, Gillette 7'oclock super stainless, and the (in?)famous Feathers.

I just use barbasol with aloe (the green can). It's not the best but it's super cheap and lasts forever. Fairly neutral smelling too. It globs on thick straight out of the can so I just work it with a bit of water til it's the consistency I want.

When I wanna be more fussy with it I use proraso shaving soap that I lather up with a brush (I wet the brush itself and work it into the soap. I press a bit of soap into the lid that it comes in, no need for a dedicated bowl). I'm still on the first one I bought like 3 years ago, that stuff lasts forever too since you need very little soap. It's nice cause you can really control how wet/thick you want it to be. Apparently they have a "sensitive skin" version now too. proraso soap

A lot of guys swear by shave butter. That stuff is nice cause it's clear so you can see what you're doing. They tend to be odorless and perform really well from what I've heard. That stuff might be up your alley. I don't use it just cause I'm cheap; between the barbasol and proraso I probably spend $1/year on shaving supplies.

Brush, soap, and blades. Greyser gives you some good ones. Some other soaps/creams to look at:

• Proraso Sensitive - $10.95
  
• TOBS Sandalwood - $11.81
  
• TOBS Eton College - $13.87
  
  >Tired Old Ass Splash
  
  I'm afraid to know what it smells like.

I shave using Proraso Sensitive Shaving Soap and a DE blade. Then, immediately shower, don't use any facial cleanser or anything. Get out of the shower, put BP 2.5% on my face, then moisturize using Neutrogena Oil Free SPF 15.

My skin feels dry when I get out of the shower (winter in the midwest is especially prone to drying), and then put BP on, and my skin actually feels less dry. I let it absorb for a bit then put the moisturizer on.

I've experimented with removing the BP and don't see much of a change in oiliness but my acne does get worse. The closed comedones don't seem to be affected, positive or negative, by it either.

>Last, please do your research! This community is made up of people who have taken control and refused to continue listening to the BS promoted by companies who care nothing for solid science. There is a lot, I mean A LOT, of helpful info here if you take the time to read through it all.

There's so much info here it's pretty intimidating

• Edwin Jagger DE89
  
• Omega 10049
  
• Proraso Sensitive
  
  You pay a premium for certain things on Amazon, but those are good options. The price of blades is quite high on Amazon, so get a couple of packs of Astras (or a sampler pack) on Maggards before sampling a larger selection from tryablade.com.
  
  Maggards also has build-your-own DE starter kits which you may find to be better value. Also they sell excellent artisan soaps which are better quality than massed produced soap like Proraso, (and much nicer on the skin). Their own soap is very good quality and affordable.
  
  Brands to avoid on Amazon are Escali brushes and Van der Hagen.

I'm a big fan of Proraso products myself. They are easy to lather, smell great, and last a long time. I've had my most recent tube for over 6 months. They do make a soap for sensitive skin here. It's also available in a tube if you prefer that. You might could try Sephora in the mall as well. Supposedly they sell some decent shave soaps but I've never checked myself. Hopefully that helps you out! :)

I have a very similar situation, a wire brush for a beard and fairly sensitive skin. I found that more than any particular blade (I use straights or a Feather shavette and rarely a DE) that face prep is the biggest single factor in irritation and closeness of shave.

What works for me (others will have different recipes, you should experiment):

1. Start either immediately after a shower, or use a hot-washcloth for a minute or two (hot as you can tolerate, hold it to your face with your hands over the sink). This softens the beard, and is a super important step.
   
2. I use pre-shave oil. You don't need much, just a few drops, work it all over your wet beard with your fingers. I hear that oil doesn't make any difference for some, but it helps for me.
   
3. Use a brush and whatever soap you like, although I'm partial to Proraso sensitive skin (the white tub). It lathers well in our very hard water. I do change it out from time to time, just for fun, but usually come back to it.
   
4. Whether or not you're using a straight, a shavette, or a DE, keep the blade sharp! I get 4-5 shaves out of my Feather Professional shavette blades, but only 2 shaves out of a DE, and of course the straights have to be stropped and periodically rehoned. Don't use too much pressure when shaving - if the blade is as sharp as it should be, it will get very close and smooth and take off your beard without using much pressure. Blade angle matters, too, try adjusting a bit at a time and evaluate your results.
   
5. I like to use alum block after wiping my face when finished. Cold water splash on your face, wet the block, then rub it all over where you shaved. I have an electric toothbrush that runs for 2 minutes, so I brush my teeth afterwards, and when that's done, I use a cold washcloth to wipe my face.
   
   Of all the steps above, having a moisturized face and a sharp razor of whatever type are the most important points.
   
   On the rare occasion I do get a bit irritated, I like to use Anthony Logistics After Shave Balm. It's a bit expensive, but I find it works pretty well to soothe irritation.
   
   Good luck!

I'm using this one by proraso and always plenty of it. Use a brush to create some foam in the bowl and then apply it

OMG! I HATED shaving, asked for that razor/brush kit for my birthday and got it. I was shaving one day and my wife was like "What the hell are you doing? You're on vacation!". I love it so much I shave even if I don't have to! GET IT. PS: I use this soap for it... I also will say the feather razors above in the link are the very best I have tried.

For the soap, I prefer Proraso's Ultrasensitive with Aloe. I have the same brush kit, and think everything but the soap is fantastic (the one it comes with is okay, but there are better one's out there). Also, Witch Hazel!

http://imgur.com/05VH10o
here ya go:3
i love my puppy, shes so fricking adorable!s he falls asleep right on my lap, and she has the cutest little yawn!

shes such a snuggle bunny, and i love her:3



[id love this] (http://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Mothers-Beach-Texturizing/dp/B004UL0GTK/ref=sr_1_131?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396685&sr=1-131) or maybe [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shave-Soap-Sensitive-150ml/dp/B001JHEY14/ref=sr_1_231?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396763&sr=1-231), [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Gillette-Venus-Embrace-Womens-Cartridges/dp/B000XVSNTQ/ref=sr_1_275?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396825&sr=1-275), or [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Jelique-Pure-Instinct-Pheromone-Cologne/dp/B000LCETUO/ref=sr_1_290?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1371396868&sr=1-290)

thank you!

If you haven't looked into it, I would highly recommend shaving soaps. I can personally vouch for [Proraso Sensitive Skin] (https://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Soap-Bowl-Sensitive/dp/B001JHEY14). It also comes [in a tube] (https://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Cream-Refreshing-Toning/dp/B00837ZOI0) for those who don't want to bother with shaving brushes, but I don't think
that would last as long. Obligatory plug for /r/wicked_edge and /r/ladyshavers.

My shave of the day (night?):

Brush: an Art of Shaving "genuine badger" brush:

• Got it for free from a friend who never touched it, but it came from one of the starter packs that I assume can be bought online or in store. I believe it is a variation of the brush in this starter kit
  
• I have no idea whether or not this is a "good" brush to be honest, but it's the only one I've ever used since I started DE shaving about 6 months ago. Works well for me!
  
  Shave Soap: Proraso sensitive soap
  
  
• Bought from amazon for $10
  
• Bought this after reading a bunch of reviews here. It's been great so far although I have nothing to compare it to except for the canned Brut I used to use before (this is miles better)
  
  
  Pre/After Shave Soap: Brickell Men's Charcoal Face Cleanser
  
  
• I got this from a Brickell Men's starter pack that was about $8
  
• I can't really complain. It smells of peppermint and does a good job, but the full-priced bottle is $25 on their site here...I can't really justify spending $25 on face wash when the black charcoal soap you can see in the background does the exact same thing minus the peppermint scent (for those interested: bought it from amazon for ~$10 for a pack of 3)
  
  Razor: what i believe to be a Gillette Ball End Tech
  
  
• Bought this for a good price from an antique shop
  
• Honestly I have no idea if this is actually a ball end tech, but from what i've read the lack of production code on the bottom of the head means it's from the 50's or so
  
• Works great! The only thing I have to compare it to is a Merkur Futur clone (I think it's called Q-shave) which also suits my needs very nicely. Only complaint is that it seems to get clogged up quickly.
  
  Alum: Phoenix accoutrements alum block
  
  
• Got it from amazon for about $6 (can't find the link sorry)
  
• Comes with a rubber band so the rock doesn't slip from your hands. It started to crumble pretty early on so I won't be buying again. I have a RazoRock alum stick waiting for me so hopefully that lasts longer
  
  Aftershave: Nivea sensitive after-shave
  
  
• Bought from a CVS
  
• Haven't really tried any other aftershaves, but this one suits my needs perfectly and doesn't feel too sticky afterwards. Will definitely buy another one when this runs out
  
• Should note that the brickell men's sample pack does come with a really nice aftershave, but again it's $25 and I'm sure I could find something better
  
  Shaving Beer: Creature Comforts Tropicalia
  
  
• Easily my favorite IPA. Very tropical flavor (as per name) and goes down pretty easy. If anyone has recommendations for other IPAs I'd be happy to search them out and give comparisons
  
  
  Edit: I apologize for the redundant SOTD tag in my title just. Also sorry that the image was linked as an album

http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Model-180-Handled-Safety/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323027847&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Soap-Ultra-Sensitive/dp/B001JHEY14/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1323027900&sr=1-4

Double edge safety razor and a good shave soap. Will last you forever and give you the best shave of your life. Some things simply don't get upgraded through technology advancement and the razor is one of them.

Merkur Long Handled Safety Razor (MK 23C) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_O90CzbSJ0E07Y .
.
Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl, Sensitive Skin, 5.2 oz (150 ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JHEY14/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Y-0CzbYSCM0MT .
.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn Street Luxury Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin, 5.3-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VZPTAC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bb1CzbP65TJRP .
.
100 Astra Superior Premium Platinum Double Edge Safety Razor Blades Personal Healthcare / Health Care https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EXPTR0W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7b1CzbPDNCYAR .
.
Perfecto 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush-Black Handle- Engineered for the Best Shave of Your Life. For, Safety Razor, Double Edge Razor, Staight Razor or Shaving Razor, Its the Best Badger Brush. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VF1NI5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zd1CzbRXDRTVE .
.
Crown King Victorian/Western Style 12 oz Shaving Scuttle - Durable Porcelain - Hierloom Quality - Dishwasher Safe - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTF145J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9e1Czb0XEH37V .
.
Proraso After Shave Lotion, Refreshing and Toning, 3.4 Fl Oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085UECY2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4f1Czb32JE3AZ