Thread: Adding Glycerin to Shaving Cream

So with the whole uber lather thing and having a little bottle of glycerin by my shaving gear I thought I'd try just adding some glycerin alone to some cream when I built my lather. So I added a few drops of glycerin to the bottom of my scuttle, put a small bit of cream on the brush and built the lather in the scuttle. I lather on the face too, but build it in the scuttle ... well it worked out quite well. I found the glycerin tends to keep the lather from drying out, it retains more of its moisture far longer. I did this originally with some TGQ cream and after noticing how long it lived in the scuttle without evaporating or drying out I thought I would try it with some Truefitt & Hill. It seems T&H cream has always had a tendency to dry out on me and flake off, little white flakes floating through the air and having to re-lather got annoying . So with some glycerin the T&H cream didn't dry up and flake off , I still noticed it tends to lose its moisture a bit faster than some of my other creams though.

Overall the glycerin helps the glide a little I think and definately helps the cream retain its moisture and not dry out so fast. I've found it helpful and instead of building uberlather I've been getting really good lather with just my creams and a little glycerin. I've done this so far with TGQ, CF and T&H creams and I think it helps a lot to prevent the lather from drying up.

There ya go ya just invented Ubercream
Seriously though, I think the same thing the glycerin changes things in the mix, keep in mind that the change is not always for the good though, some soaps don't like more Glycerin added and the lather falls apart .... But keep experimenting and find what gives you the most comfortable shave...

I found my shaves are getting much smoother since I started adding glycerin to my Poraso cream. Makes it slick as a mambo band.

Where would one acquire glycerin?

It's available at most pharmacies. It's usually an inexpensive brown bottle on a lower shef. Ast the pharmacist and (s)he will point you in the right direction.

I use Trumper's shaving cream, and I thought that was already glycerin based?

Most shaving creams have glycerin added since they're made primarily of stearic acid, a fatty acid which has no glycerine of its own. The cream would be pretty drying without it.

I think that I will have to try this with my cream. Sometimes I have the problem of it drying out and having to relather.........thanks for the tip.

I always add a drop or 2 of glycerin in the medium heated water mug where I soak my badger brush while taking a shower, before shaving off course. Really makes a difference in your lather. Don't overdo it either. To much glycerin will destroy your lather in most cases.

i have been looking to try this out and now i will for sure. i own a health food store though so i am just ordering it through the store from one of our distributors. so that is another place that people could findit thought they might have to order it in for you. it is listed under vegetable glycerin in my catalogues in case they ask. for me a good source is important.