Shoeboy’s Bordeaux Shoe Cream Pot 013 – 50ml Solvent-Free Beeswax Cream

Description

Shoeboy’s Bordeaux Shoe Cream Pot 013 — deep wine colour for premium smooth leather

Burgundy shoes go through a predictable life: gorgeous for two years, then quietly brown at the toes, and this bordeaux shoe cream pot is what turns that clock back. Shade 013 is a proper deep wine colour with enough pigment to fill in the pale, rubbed areas, and it feeds the leather at the same time rather than merely covering the problem up.

The formula is solvent-free and built on beeswax, which is exactly what you want on good leather. Solvents dry leather out over time, whereas beeswax nourishes it, keeps it flexible and leaves a breathable protective layer that buffs up to a soft, deep shine. It comes in a 50ml glass pot, which is a nicer thing to own than a plastic tub and keeps the cream in better condition.

It is made for premium smooth leather, which is where it does its best work. At £6.49 it is a very small investment against the price of the shoes it is looking after.

Why choose this bordeaux shoe cream pot?

• Solvent-free, so it feeds rather than dries. Solvent-based polishes strip moisture out of leather over the years, while a beeswax cream puts nourishment back in with every application.
• Enough pigment to rescue faded toes. Bordeaux fades unevenly, and this brings the pale, rubbed areas back in line with the rest of the shoe rather than leaving a patchwork.
• It keeps the leather flexible. Feeding the fibres regularly is what stops the flex creases across the vamp from hardening and eventually cracking through.
• A 50ml glass pot. Glass keeps the cream in better condition than plastic and the wide mouth makes it easy to load a cloth or a dauber brush.
• Buffs to a soft, deep shine. Leave it for a few minutes and then buff, and you get the warm lustre of a wax finish rather than a hard artificial gloss.
• Sensible money for premium leather care. At £6.49 a pot, looking after a good pair of shoes properly costs very little against what they cost to replace.

How to use Shoeboy’s shoe cream on smooth leather

Clean leather takes cream evenly, so never go straight in with the pot on a dusty pair.

1. Brush the dirt and dust off with a horsehair brush or wipe the shoes down with a cloth, working into the welt.
2. Clean the leather with a smooth-leather cleaner to lift off old polish and any waterproofing layer that would block the cream.
3. Let the shoes rest and dry, then wipe them over with a soft cloth so the surface is completely clean.
4. Take a small amount of cream on a soft cloth or a dauber brush, adding more only if the leather asks for it.
5. Work it in with circular movements across the vamp, quarters and heel, concentrating the colour on the worn areas.
6. Let the pair rest away from heat and direct sunlight, buff up with a clean cloth, then apply a protector spray.

My tip from behind the counter

One word of caution about this range, because the packaging is not as clear as it might be: this is a pigmented cream for smooth leather and it is not suitable for suede or nubuck. Put it on a nap and you will flatten the fibres into a dark greasy patch that no brushing will lift out. If you have a suede pair that needs colour, use a suede cleaner, a brush and a proper colour reviver or penetrating dye instead. On smooth leather, though, this is a very good cream indeed, and the solvent-free formula is kinder to good shoes than most of what sits next to it on the shelf.

Specifications

• Volume: 50ml glass pot
• Type: Solvent-free pigmented beeswax cream
• Colour: Bordeaux 013, a deep wine red
• Suitable for: Premium smooth leather shoes, boots and bags
• Not suitable for: Suede, nubuck and patent leather
• Article code: Shoeboys-cremepot-013
• Brand: Shoeboy’s
• Price: £6.49

Frequently asked questions

Can I use it on suede or nubuck?

No. You will see that claim made for creams like this one, but it is wrong and it will cost you a pair of shoes. A pigmented beeswax cream mats the nap of suede or nubuck into dark greasy patches that cannot be brushed out. Suede and nubuck need a dedicated cleaner, a brush and a colour reviver.

Will bordeaux work on my burgundy or oxblood shoes?

Very well indeed, as those are essentially the same family of shade. Bordeaux is a deep wine red, so it warms and revives burgundy and oxblood leather rather than changing the colour. Test on the inside of the heel first and judge the result once it is dry.

How often should I use it?

For shoes in regular rotation, every eight to ten wears is about right, with a brush-down after each wearing in between. Boots that face winter weather want feeding more often, and a pair that has been stored away for a season will usually appreciate a treatment before it goes back on. There is no benefit in creaming more often than the leather needs, since surplus wax simply builds up and dulls the finish. Let the leather tell you.

Where can I buy the Shoeboy’s Bordeaux Shoe Cream Pot 013 – 50ml Solvent-Free Beeswax Cream in the UK?

You can order the Shoeboy’s Bordeaux Shoe Cream Pot 013 – 50ml Solvent-Free Beeswax Cream directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy. Order before 5pm and it leaves the same day.