Thread: Soaps or Creams

During the summer, I like to use Williams shaving soap with cold water, both to make the lather and for blade and face rinsing. It seems to keep irritation in check during the warmer months. During the cooler months, I like to use Williams or Proraso soap (not the cream) in my homemade warming scuttle. I like using solid cake versus creams. Soaps just seem to work better for me. They aren't as messy and don't oil up my badger brush as much.

After more and more shaving.....I myself am leaning more towards creams. But, the smells on MB's soaps have me by the B*lls

Oh, MB's soaps are the best...I like both soaps and creams, but my "goto" would always be a soap.

I feel different days different tools. Today I used MB toasted coconut shaving cream felt very good. Yesterday was Colleens Cavendish Black also very good.

For me it's like steak I love it but would I want to eat it for every meal, no proably not.

Steak for every meal for me!

not really. I do as well find that I am using both creams and soaps now. I have perfected the lather technique so it is making all of them more enjoyable now.

I don't have a preference, though I find the creams I've used to be a bit more skin-friendly on average.

Creams all the way. Currently only three in rotation right now. The wife would loose her mind if I bought more shaving cream with out using up what I have. So for now it is T&H Trafalgar, TGQ Orange Patcoulli, and TGQ Bay Rum w/sweet Orange. Mama Bears creams are next to try on my list since she is also wonderful enough to make matching aftershave balms. I think Sandalwood Vanilla shall be next.

The T&H cream lathers quick, does not take a lot of the cream, smells great, but tends to dry out fast
The TGQ cream takes more effort to lather, uses a bit more of the cream per use, smells great, but makes a superior performing lather in thickness, glide, and ability to stay wet.

over all i thinks soaps are better... sure creams are easier to work with and i do like them ... but once you understand how a particular soap needs to be handled it will provide you with a better shave and if i need to moisturize... there are aftershave balms for that.

I do enjoy both, with a preference for soaps.

Some creams you just can't get in a soap version (e.g. Musgo Real, Acqua Di Parma, etc.) Also, sometimes soaps disappoint just because they are too old and don't work well (like a Trumper's that is demoted to a bath soap mostly)

I do find most creams I have tried a bit lacking in performance compared to good soaps (and I don't mean "expensive" soaps - some of the best imo are quite affordable)

Cheers
Ivo

I definitely prefer soaps. But as I work through my creams, there are a limited number that will remain specifically because of their scent.

RT