Gillette’s new NFL campaign is all about the importance of precision in shaving and sport. New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is a spokesman for the campaign. He values precision on the field and knows why the right equipment makes the difference.

Victor Cruz is an example of tenacity and determination. In 2010 he arrived at the New York Giants training camp as an undrafted rookie. Today his signature salsa dance at the end zone is a football staple and after signing a six-year contract extension last summer he became the highest-paid receiver in Giants history. Cruz’s deal including a signing bonus of $9.5 million, $43 million in “new money” and the $2.879 million he was already guaranteed in 2013, totaled $45.879 million and insures his family is financially set for life.  He’ll remain a Giant at least until 2018, when he’ll only be 32.

Style and grooming is extremely important to the star athlete. Sharing a common factor with 70% of U.S. men – sensitive skin – Cruz knows that when it comes to sensitive skin, the razor you use does matter.  His precision equipment of choice men for unrivaled comfort on sensitive skin is the Fusion ProGlide razor, with 5 blades  thinner than a wavelength of light.

HOMBRE: What is your grooming technique?
Victor Cruz: My grooming technique begins first thing in the morning when I take a look at my face to see if I have any growth, any stubble.  If I do I start shaving my face with the Gillette ProGlide, especially because I have sensitive skin and I get ingrown hairs.  The Fusion ProGlide cleans it up nicely and it gets deep without giving me irritation so it’s definitely the perfect blade for me. I use it every morning or every other day, no matter what.

H: You’ve used other blades before, what makes the ProGlide better?
VC: Because of the precision and the way it shaves as close as possible without cutting, without giving you that razor burn that I used to get.  It definitely sets itself apart from all the other razors, just the way it performs.  No matter how many times I use it, it’s always consistent and uses its precision to a T every time.

H: Moving on to your performance on the field, to what do you attribute the success over the past few years?
VC: Just hard work, and the belief in my teammates and my coaches to put me in positions to win, put me in positions where I can catch the football and do what I love to do and get up field and score a touchdown. I just try to continue that, and as long as they have faith in me, I’ll be able to do the things and not let them down.
I just try and work hard each and every day and it’s paying off  for me so far.

H: What does you being the face of Gillette mean for Latinos?
VC: It means a lot for me to be the face for all Latinos. When they see me in magazines or commercials – or in HOMBRE – or they see my face, it sends them a message that they can do it too.  That they can go and achieve their goals and be someone that’s held accountable in their community and someone that gives back and works hard and reaches high plateaus. They can even surpass the things that I’ve done.  I just want to be a person that everyone in the Latino community can look at and be proud of, and someone that they want their kids to be like as well.

H: What advice would you give for someone that looks up to you and the success that you’ve had?
VC: To continue doing what yo want to do. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.  Don’t let them tell you you’re too small, you’re too big, you’re not fast enough, you’re not smart enough. Choose what you want to do and make your own goals and achieve them and surpass them. Don’t let someone else’s idea infiltrate your goals that you set for yourself. Make sure you’re on top of your game at all times.

H: How do you translate the precision on the field to your personal life?
VC: The precision I have on the field is there on my personal life also. It’s in the way I carry myself. Even the way I clean up my home. I like everything in place, done at the right time, done as quickly as possible. So I guess the way I am on the field and my grooming goes hand in hand with my personality and the way I like to keep things in order, in a precise and timely way. I like things done properly.

H: With the success you’ve had using Gillette personally, what other products would you recommend men try?
VC: As far as Gillette is concerned I think people should try the aftershave, that’s tremendous.  People should try the gel, they have a great deodorant that I use everyday. I mean everything. You cant go wrong. Those are some of the products that I use, but everything,  the body wash. They’re definitely tailored to men.  But woman too.  They have a really great women’s line so ladies should definitely give it a try.

H: What can we look forward to with the Giants?
VC: We’re looking to continue our winning ways.  Everyone is pretty healthy and feeling good about themselves. We just want to continue that and continue playing in a positive way and continue going forward and continue going up.  We just want to take it one game at a time and see what happens..

H:  Do you have a message for your HOMBRE fans?
VC: Continue to watch Victor Cruz, continue to be excited about the Giants, continue to be excited about everything I am doing individually  for the Latino community.  There’s a lot more in store.  Continue to grow and be your own person,  use everything that I’m doing as a base for what you want to do. And try to supersede it and do double the things that I’ve done.  You have the capabilities and I’m just here to serve as a catalyst to show you the way.

New York Giants’ Victor Cruz with HOMBRE Magazine’s Francisco Romeo