Soap or Cream

[Toughtoshave]

What are the advantages of each? Particularly where the vendor offers both. Thank you.

[jamesspo]

Well, this is a very subjective subject, to say the least. Really, you should just try some out, and discover for yourself. I prefer soaps (and tallow based in particular), as they seem to provide better slickness/glide than the one cream I've tried. But then, I've only tried one cream, so who knows. I also like the soaps for the portability while travelling, especially in stick form.

I've read creams are easier to lather, but don't have any real evidence of that myself. I get great, and easy lathering from soaps.

[1Speedster]

Prolly one of those things that are best seen for yourself. Get a soap and cream and see what you think. Hell, this is an easy AD to keep up with. I've got a pair of soaps and creams right now. Choices rock!

[Jester_Lost]

On paper the pros/cons goes something like this:

Soaps: doesn't go bad, lasts longer, hard to lather with hard water, more drying, more glide,
Creams: shorter life span, easier to lather because of moisture content, stronger scents, more moisturizing, more cushion

I'm just repeating this as that's what is usually said or believed but as other have said it's a case by case thing. I almost only use soaps and find that they are not hard to lather, not drying, strongly scented etc... so yeah, experimenting is in order. I started off with creams (GFTs) but now my almost exclusive gotos are Tabac SS and Martin de Candre. I just like loading a soap better than creams, again, very personal thing.

And in the case where vendors do offer both, you just need to read up on the quality of each. A good cream maker does not always have the best soap like Trumpers for example. So it's not just a choice between format, but formulation and quality. Same thing with Penhaligon's cream vs new formulation soap etc...

[Tomorrow]

I primarily use creams, mostly for the reasons listed above - very slick, easy to lather, and they smell great. I've only ever used two soaps - VdH, which I threw away after one attempt; and La Toja stick, which I did enjoy using, but I still don't think it works as well as my creams.

To be fair, not all creams are created equal; C.O. Bigelow, for all the praises that B&B folks sing to it, doesn't lubricate my face nearly as well as TOBS, D.R. Harris, or Cyril R. Salter creams I've tried.

[dpmtherrien]

IMHO its all a matter of personal likes or dislikes. :001_tongu

To be fair its best to try both and find what works best for you. :yesnod:

Soaps or creams, another distinct YMMV. :thumbup1:

[redrako]

Tough, welcome to B&B.

From my perspective the previous posters have outlined the pluses and minuses.

If you're new to wet shaving as well as B&B, I would recommend picking up one of each, perhaps Tabac Soap and a nice Taylor of Old Bond Street. They both are great products and are good products to learn good lathering technique on.

As James said, this is very subjective, so your mileage may vary (YMMV).

[revschuette]

Tough, welcome to B&B.

From my perspective the previous posters have outlined the pluses and minuses.

If you're new to wet shaving as well as B&B, I would recommend picking up one of each, perhaps Tabac Soap and a nice Taylor of Old Bond Street. They both are great products and are good products to learn good lathering technique on.

As James said, this is very subjective, so your mileage may vary (YMMV).

+1

[Luc]

I would suggest reading this article (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Shave_Soap_vs_Shave_Cream_vs_Brushless_vs_Canned) from the Interactive guide to lathering. (http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Interactive_Guide_to_Lathering)

[Oblique Human]

On paper the pros/cons goes something like this:

Soaps: doesn't go bad, lasts longer, hard to lather with hard water, more drying, more glide,
Creams: shorter life span, easier to lather because of moisture content, stronger scents, more moisturizing, more cushion

I'm just repeating this as that's what is usually said or believed but as other have said it's a case by case thing. I almost only use soaps and find that they are not hard to lather, not drying, strongly scented etc... so yeah, experimenting is in order. I started off with creams (GFTs) but now my almost exclusive gotos are Tabac SS and Martin de Candre. I just like loading a soap better than creams, again, very personal thing.

And in the case where vendors do offer both, you just need to read up on the quality of each. A good cream maker does not always have the best soap like Trumpers for example. So it's not just a choice between format, but formulation and quality. Same thing with Penhaligon's cream vs new formulation soap etc...

+1

[celestino]

+1 on buying both of one brand and seeing the actual difference. Enjoy! Soaps do actually last forever!