Thread: Confused

I apologize for such a stupid question but.. whats the difference between a shaving creme and a shaving soap? Which is best? I have seen both advertised, is it just the consistency?

If ya dont know, ya dont know, therefore its not a stupid question, one is a hard soap, the other is a cream. Best is a matter of personal preference.BTW Hello and welcome to SRP!

The difference is in the consistency of the initial product. Both should produce same end product, good lather. Which one is best depends on personal preference and the quality of the product. Soap is typically harder than cream. Usually creams come in tubes or tubs. Some people refer to creams as soft soaps. Soaps are solid and do not need a container to hold them, but some come molded into bowls or mugs. In a way is the same difference between liquid soap and regular soap. Both clean your skin but the liquid need a bottle... ;-) By the way, it is not a stupid question.

Al raz.

Besides what has already been said there's also the issue of the shaving brush. Some shaving brushes have a tendency to work better with soaps or creams. Some brushes do an excellent job at both.
There's so many different soaps and creams on the market each with their own scent and properties it becomes a quest until you find and settle with the soap or/and cream you really like. Usually you end up with several.

To answer your question which is best, in my personal experience an off-the-shelf (i.e. bought at the local drugstore) soap far outperforms an off-the-shelf shaving cream in the aerosol can. I have found the shave to be much closer with much less wear on the blade. If your talking about "premium" creams I wouldn't know, I have never tried any, but as far as the standard products go, I would go for the soap hands down.

And don't forget to get the best of both worlds use both for a super lather or use both plus a few drops of glycerin for an uberlather.

bj