Thread: Favourite brick and mortar obtainable soaps/creams?

The easiest to get anywhere I lived was - by far - Nivea shaving cream, but I do know that in some other countries Nivea does not sell their shaving creams.

We are in the process of relocating to Portugal and there I can easily find Lavanda, Nivea and Palmolive shaving creams, Musgo Real is available in dedicated Lisbon and Porto Claus Porto stores, plus some drugstores (perfumarias) and department stores, where I also find O Melhor and my current favourite, Antiga Barbearia de Bairro.

You can get Lavanda, which BTW makes a good substitute for pricey Musgo Real, Palmolive and Nivea pretty much everywhere.

Together with Mediterranean countries and Germany/Austria, Portugal is bliss for this sort of thing.


B.

Only things available in my area is.

Williams mug
Pinaud Clubman
VDH
Creamo

I enjoy the clubman, soap/ croap, nice cushion and glide.
As for the other three, I combine/ grate, the Williams mug and VDH in a mug. Build a lather, then add a dollop of cremo for an impressive uber lather, on the cheap.

The only creams we get is Qatar are Nivea and Denim. The Denim strangely enough is a quality cream, made in Italy.

A large part of travelling for me is going into supermarkets and chemist stores in other countries to see what is on offer. I have a enough soaps creams and for that matter aftershaves for a few years.

Originally Posted by easyace

A large part of travelling for me is going into supermarkets and chemist stores in other countries to see what is on offer. I have a enough soaps creams and for that matter aftershaves for a few years.

Yep, having flown for 34 years for an airline based next door in Dubai, this is pretty much what I did on my trips.
The stash that I accumulated over the years was astounding, but before I retired and we moved house it was high time to do some serious pruning.

B.

In Dubai, I remember getting adp in one of the fancy big dept stores. Also body shop maca root at the malls which was my first, similarly my first brush. Going back 12 - 13 years though.

About the only soap or cream available at local stores in the Chicago area that I will use is Cremo. Although its performance is not nearly as good as the products I use routinely, it is my product of choice for travel. I carry a synthetic brush and can whip up a lather in a coffee cup from the hotel room. Although Cremo is designed to be used without a brush, I prefer lathering it with a brush.

It does produce a very slick lather. Unfortunately, the cushion and post shave feel are just average. Overall, it gets the job done, so it is a convenient product for travel.

If only Pasteur Pharmacy was my local pharmacy!

Originally Posted by RayClem

About the only soap or cream available at local stores in the Chicago area that I will use is Cremo. Although its performance is not nearly as good as the products I use routinely, it is my product of choice for travel. I carry a synthetic brush and can whip up a lather in a coffee cup from the hotel room. Although Cremo is designed to be used without a brush, I prefer lathering it with a brush.

It does produce a very slick lather. Unfortunately, the cushion and post shave feel are just average. Overall, it gets the job done, so it is a convenient product for travel.

Looks like this place in Chicago has a lot of excellent shaving brands.

https://www.merzapothecary.com/

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Looks like this place in Chicago has a lot of excellent shaving brands.

https://www.merzapothecary.com/

Bob

Mertz Apothecary is also known as Smallflower or Q Shaves. I have purchased from them. Although I live in the Chicago area, Mertz is hardly local for me They have two locations. One is downtown. One is in Lincoln Park. I live about 45 miles northwest of downtown. However, with the normal Chicago traffic, it is a two hour drive each way.
I only make the trip downtown once every 2-3 years.

I have purchased from Smallflower, but only online. I can order and get it delivered in 1-2 days. That is a lot less hassle than trying to visit in person.

Originally Posted by RayClem

Mertz Apothecary is also known as Smallflower or Q Shaves. I have purchased from them. Although I live in the Chicago area, Mertz is hardly local for me They have two locations. One is downtown. One is in Lincoln Park. I live about 45 miles northwest of downtown. However, with the normal Chicago traffic, it is a two hour drive each way.
I only make the trip downtown once every 2-3 years.

I have purchased from Smallflower, but only online. I can order and get it delivered in 1-2 days. That is a lot less hassle than trying to visit in person.

You know I think I would make the drive at least once just to be able to walk into a place like that with all those shaving goods on display. As you say though ordering online is easier.

Bob