Thread: Soap Vs Cream

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I would imagine any shave cream would work. I like the KMF, as it is unscented.

Thanx Seraphim I tried it with a little palmolive shave cream and it lathered up better than yours
Anyway thanks!

I've been using Truefitt & Hill, and Coleen's soaps from Gentleman's Quarter. I agree with Jnich67 on the feedback I get from soap. Also the process of making lather from soap is much more fun and rewarding. And, the soaps are much more satisfying in that the ingredients are much fresher, you can smell that the essential oils are more vital and the feel of the soap is just more natural on the skin- compared to a can of Barbersol foaming Shave Goo- which I just bought on a whim. Shake the can, smuch a little of the goo out onto your hand and lather the whole face. A little goes along way! It wasn't so bad, and makes for a nice shave when you are in a hurry but the feel of the foam is kind of plastic like. It doesn't really condition the skin the way a soap like Coleen's does.
I also use Derby cream in the tube. better the the can stuff by far but in my opinion not as satisfying as soap.
Dannyr

I used to use Marsielle soap with my creams for a pseudo method shaving approach and let me tell you it produced a hellaova lather!! I stopped doing this as I got lazy and stopped buying the Marsielle soap.

I used a soap when I first got into DE shaving, and I still keep one soap around. Nearly 99% of my lather is creams. I prefer Salter's, C&E Indian Sandalwood, Vulfix Sicilian Lime, TOB's Lemon & Lime, and TOB's St. James.

The only soap I have is ClassicShaving's Violet, which is basically because Im too cheap to buy the GFT Violet cream for 25+ bucks lol

I have never used glycerin in any of my creams and I get super lather. I use an IKEA remikin that's meant for creme brulee. I soak my brush and bowl in very hot tap water, and it's like hot lather.

I am ordering a few Mama Bear soaps, as I have heard great things abou them.
For me creating lather with soap has always been super easy, the thing with creating great lather with a soap is to start off with a very brush imho, then work it circularly until you whisk away some of the excess water and begin to creates a dense thick foam.

As many others have stated soap cream is a bit thinner, but it is much slicker then cream lather imho.

I do think both give you that old work feel when creating lather in a bowl. I used to face lather just to get the scents, but now I prefer the bowl, esp when straight shaving. I find straights need slick n wet lather not dry and dense lather.

cheers
D

I use soap the majority of the time. But on days like today i will whip out the Proraso to give me a wake up call.

I was originally using soaps exclusively--Mitchell's Wool Fat and Tabac primarily. However, once I found the Santa Maria Novella cream, I just seem to always reach for it first! It is simply wonderful and the best I have ever used! It is pricey, around $55, but the tub lasts for 10-12 months depending on how you use it! Don't get me wrong though, the Mitchell's and Tabac are both great products as well. (Especially the Wool Fat Soap.) But my beard seems to respond to creams much better for the most part, as they soften my beard quickly and don't tend to dry out the way soaps sometimes can. In the end though, I love both soaps and creams and see the benefits of each. (Try the SMN cream though if you get the chance, you won't regret it!)

Originally Posted by Angeleyes

I was originally using soaps exclusively--Mitchell's Wool Fat and Tabac primarily. However, once I found the Santa Maria Novella cream, I just seem to always reach for it first! It is simply wonderful and the best I have ever used! It is pricey, around $55, but the tub lasts for 10-12 months depending on how you use it! Don't get me wrong though, the Mitchell's and Tabac are both great products as well. (Especially the Wool Fat Soap.) But my beard seems to respond to creams much better for the most part, as they soften my beard quickly and don't tend to dry out the way soaps sometimes can. In the end though, I love both soaps and creams and see the benefits of each. (Try the SMN cream though if you get the chance, you won't regret it!)

Thanks! Thanks a lot! I've managed to avoid clicking on the SMN cream for so long - Now I need to order some more MWF bath soap from leesrazors and I just know I'm going to shell out for the SMN! Ugh! What's wrong with me!

Jordan