Thread: Soaps vs. Creams

I use soaps exclusively. In my mind, I see the creams as a DE area of expertise and soaps as a straight razor area of expertise...it doesn't have to be so, but that's just me.

I keep no less than six soaps ready to go with a couple more pucks ready in reserve. My soaps generally consist of Conk, Mama Bear's, and DR Harris.

When I first started out, I thought lathering up with a cake of soap in the bottom of my shaving mug would be the most authentic way do do it. However, I quickly became frustrated by amount of the time it took to work up a decent lather. Even more annoying was how it would quickly dry out and disappear from my face as I began shaving, requiring me to constantly re-apply the stuff. I was using that cheap Williams soap at the time, so I thought these problems were the result of a not-so-great product; but after trying a couple of more expensive brands and experiencing more or less the same problem, I decided to switch it up. I knew that a lot of people added glycerine to thier soap and that there were tricks to make it last longer, but doing so was only going to mean more money and even more work.

I found creams to be uch easier and much better. Thick, rich lather every time, with no need to constantly re-apply. To this day I don't really see how soap has any advantages over creams. They're just not for me.

I guess I probably fall on the soap side of the fence. I just find they feel a little slicker than creams do, though they do take longer to lather!

I still have a couple of creams (CF Lime and GFT Sandalwood), but I have eight soaps..! I've got a slew of Mama Bears soaps, which are awesome, MWF, Tabac and GFT Sandalwood.

I also found it easier to make soap lather in a mug, or on the face. When I tried to make lather in the same container as the soap, it dried out really fast and was far too thick.

Yep, I like soaps!

Well, I'm zero for four on being able to get a decent lather / cushion with soaps.

I'm a rookie, but it looks like I'm going to be a CREAM man.

Originally Posted by leadduck

Recommendations?

Try Tabac. It's so easy to lather it appears it could lather itself alone.

I'll check it out. Thanks.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I like combining soap, usually MWF because it has no scent, with a cream. I also like scented glycerin soap and about any quality triple milled I've tried so far.

Interesting... the MWF smell while subtle is one of the things I love about it
and it lathers super once I learned how to work with it. It is one
of the soaps that I bought only the refill puck to try. Inside of month
I bought the spiffy special made container so it would be displayed
front and center.

The fragrance is subtle and the smell may depend on other smells
in the shave den. Bath/ shower soap, the wife's perfume, aftershave....
any of which could overpower it.

Bottom line: so many great products but only one face.

Originally Posted by Leon

Try Tabac. It's so easy to lather it appears it could lather itself alone.

+1 it does lather quick and easy, astoundingly so.
It belongs on the short list of soaps to try sooner
not later. Too bad I only have one face to shave....

Creams: J.M. Fraser's-it's got to be one of the best values out there; Musgo Real and Proraso are good too. I haven't tried any of the super premium creams from the UK.

Soaps: Arko or Speik shave sticks, Valobra, P160 or Cella Crema Sapone Extra Extra Purissima soft soap. Arko sticks are the best bargain around.

I'm mostly a face latherer with these, except the Italian soft soaps.

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Uberlather... As much as I'm opposed to it on a fundamental level, I'm going to have to try it just to see what the fuss is about...

Paul,

Believe me, once you experience uberlather you'll never want to go back to ordinary shaving lather.