Cream vs Soap

[Samg1]

Hi there,

I've searched the forums and looked at the stickies and can't find the answer to Creams vs Soaps. Now please ignore me if I'm missing this on the forum somewhere and if this has already been answered and someone can post the link I'll happily delete this.

At the moment I'm using The Body Shop mac a root cream, im about to try DE shaving and wondered if I should be considering soaps or are creams generally better for sensitive skin (which I have). Before using the body shop product I can sadly say I was using the tin foam stuff so compared to that it feels luxurious, but it's all I've known.

Any pointers would be great.
Thanks
Sam

[cymric]

At the moment I'm using The Body Shop mac a root cream, im about to try DE shaving and wondered if I should be considering soaps or are creams generally better for sensitive skin (which I have).

Chances are fairly large you don't have sensitive skin, but suffer from a bad technique. Apart from that, there is no inherent property in soaps and creams which would make one of them more suitable to easily irritated skin. You'll just have to experiment. If you suspect that you get an allergic reaction despite being very gentle with the razor, then it's time to pay attention to the ingredient lists, espcially with respect to fragrances and preservatives. Not that these are in any way bad for your health ('dang those yucky chem-mic-cals, go Natural'), but simply because not all skin is created equal. There have been a few threads listing the simplest products on the market.

Before using the body shop product I can sadly say I was using the tin foam stuff so compared to that it feels luxurious, but it's all I've known.

Bodyshop cream is a fine product in its own right, and easily able to hold its own amongst the rest of the products you'll see appearing here. So by all means: if it works for you, stay with it.

[djh]

Hi there,

I've searched the forums and looked at the stickies and can't find the answer to Creams vs Soaps. Now please ignore me if I'm missing this on the forum somewhere and if this has already been answered and someone can post the link I'll happily delete this.

At the moment I'm using The Body Shop mac a root cream, im about to try DE shaving and wondered if I should be considering soaps or are creams generally better for sensitive skin (which I have). Before using the body shop product I can sadly say I was using the tin foam stuff so compared to that it feels luxurious, but it's all I've known.

Any pointers would be great.
Thanks
Sam

Welcome aboard! As you have already been told, there is no general rule that says that soaps are better than creams or vice versa. I would suggest that if you are happy with the cream that you are using, it will be a good place for your start with DE shaving. There is enough to learn with a new razor without having to learn how to make good shaving lather each time.
Good luck!

[Compaq]

I started out with using a cream. However, I am today a 99% soap guy! I think it's just much, much more practical. It's in addition cheaper, I believe.
You also save time if you face lather. It's very impractical to face lather with a cream

Less to clean + it looks better to use a soap. It's just what I associate with the "traditional" wet shave.

[Pumpkin]

Sam,

Unless you're sensitive to a particular ingredient, soaps and creams can be equally good (I know that doesn't answer your question).

Creams are generally considered easier to lather...and you can be more precise in measuring out how much to use (about an almond sized dab). Real Shaving Co do a "sensitive" cream (and they've got very few unnecessary ingredients).

Soaps can give equally luxurious lather (particularly MWF and tallow based soaps, although glycerin gives "slickness"). Some gents find that MWF can dry their skin a bit so as ever YMMV!

Personally, I find that my skin is in much better condition than it ever was with "goo in a can"...better technique plus the use of Witch Hazel after every shave probably helps there. Nivea ASB is also good for soothing skin after a shave. You'll find that you're generally going to be paying more attention to your skin and not rushing your shaves, now that you're making the switch to "traditional" wet shaving.

[El Judio Bravo]

The answer is something only the individual shaver can determine. Trial-and-error, which may seem tedious to some, is still the best way of answering such questions as these. And for must of us hopeless - pronounced "happy" - addicts it is the great joy of this whole experience.

If you do have "sensitive" skin, try an unscented cream/soap. Thing is, you probably don't have truly sensitive skin so much as a want of experience and technique. This is something which only time will tell; it's assumed we learn how to do this properly by and by.

Have you seen any of the online shave videos by, for example, Mantic? Watching his stuff showed me plenty. And referring to his collection for a refresher course will benefit even veteran wet shave veterans.

Go fer it!

[ramon]

Usually I use only soap but when I see a opportunity to buy a very good shaving cream for a reasonable price I buy it , like Tylor old bond or sometimes in fathers days in the in the shopping mall you find shaving cream like Truefitt And Hill for half a price I take this opportunity to buy to my friend gifts like aftershaves or shaving cream .
Right now am shaving with soap but sometime like 3 times in a month I use the cream . Maybe is because the soap still alive for very very long time like a year ,hard I had my last DR Harris arlington and did not spend boring me .

[Samg1]

Thanks for the info people!

With TBS product it's in a tub not a tube so i dampen the brush, swirl a bit on the brush and then face lather which seems to work well, can you explain how this works differently to that of a soap with the face lathering?

Somehow I get the feeling maybe I'm missing a step with how I apply the cream from the way it is described as taking longer.

I started out with using a cream. However, I am today a 99% soap guy! I think it's just much, much more practical. It's in addition cheaper, I believe.
You also save time if you face lather. It's very impractical to face lather with a cream

Less to clean + it looks better to use a soap. It's just what I associate with the "traditional" wet shave.

[Drubbing]

It's not impractical to face lather with creams. I do it all the time, tubes and tubs. A swirl or dab in the tub and you've got plenty. If not, dip again.

With soaps, you need a little more technique. Take a damp brush to the puck and work off soap (30 secs, depending on soap and brush used - your call when you've figured how both work together) until it's creamy and pasty. Then face lather and add water as needed. It will be too thick without water. Thin it down til your lather is yoghurty and slick.

[Samg1]

Ok well it seems from everyones advice that maybe the cream is worth sticking with at the moment while I try and concentrate on the technique of the shave.

[El Judio Bravo]

Ok well it seems from everyone's advice that maybe the cream is worth sticking with at the moment while I try and concentrate on the technique of the shave.

Well, if it feels "right" for you to do so; stick with cream. You will experiment in time, within your budget, of course.

Good hunting, mate!

[peacefrog33756]

Ok well it seems from everyones advice that maybe the cream is worth sticking with at the moment while I try and concentrate on the technique of the shave.

That's exactly what you need to do. Good luck and welcome!

[gull]

What's funny is I made a topic just like this before and I even used the same cream as you! It was also right about the time I was switching to DEs! Who are you!?!? I demand to know!!!!

Ahem,

For me, I tried out some Mama Bear sample soaps I liked them a lot more than the Body Shop cream. I don't know if it's just that I don't like the cream, but so far I know I like Mama Bear soaps.

My advice, get a cheap soap to try out like Col. Conk or some Mama Bear samples and compare them to your cream. Also get some cheap cream--I believe there is a sticky here that lists good cheap creams and soaps.

For the learning curve I just want to say that there is a learning curve for both soaps and creams. I thought I was getting good lather with both till recently and I have tried, and am still trying, to perfect my technique.

[BigSlick]

I would suggest that if you have sensitive skin to shave every other day. Also, don't do any ATG passes until you are getting good shaves without irritation (pay attention to the direction the hair grows, especially on your neck). So far this is what gives me no irritation, (no ATG and shaving every other day). As usual YMMV.

As far as Cream vs. Soap I would suggest using a cream and making the lather in a bowl (face lathering may cause some irritation for sensitive skin, especially with a scrubby brush). Notice how this guys finished lather has no noticeable bubbles and will "peak". This is what you are shooting for however you choose to make a lather.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=150737

Try one of the quality creams for sensitive skin, Trumpers, Taylors, etc.

[Samg1]

What's funny is I made a topic just like this before and I even used the same cream as you! It was also right about the time I was switching to DEs! Who are you!?!? I demand to know!!!!

Ahem,

For me, I tried out some Mama Bear sample soaps I liked them a lot more than the Body Shop cream. I don't know if it's just that I don't like the cream, but so far I know I like Mama Bear soaps.

My advice, get a cheap soap to try out like Col. Conk or some Mama Bear samples and compare them to your cream. Also get some cheap cream--I believe there is a sticky here that lists good cheap creams and soaps.

For the learning curve I just want to say that there is a learning curve for both soaps and creams. I thought I was getting good lather with both till recently and I have tried, and am still trying, to perfect my technique.

Haha! Well first up are you from the UK? As I suppose it's probably a question a lot of switchers think about as apart from the standard more traditional creams/soaps that we know of, TBS product is fairly well advertised in the UK, and also regularly featured in mens magazines (when I say mens magazines, I do mean GQ, Arena Homme etc ). So for me it was a case of, I'm seen the old school stuff in the chemists and shops (a lot of it from what I can make out from reviews that is fairly good) - but being a naive and working in design myself, the tub design and initial brand image of the old version of TBS cream appealed to me (I believe I was in there buying a present for someone originally - in general I do find TBS way overpriced for the quality of product but the cream does seem nice). To be totally honest it's probably the biggest reason why I want to get an EJ Light Horn Chatsworth for my birthday as from what I've read there are better razors but I really do like the look, its the wrong approach really but I really am a sucker for things that are aesthetically pleasing.

I do wish the older version was still around though, the more old fashioned smell (almost like cinnamon fragrance) was far nicer than the Maca Root version which as natural as it may be, smells about as subtle as white spirit :)

[Samg1]

I would suggest that if you have sensitive skin to shave every other day. Also, don't do any ATG passes until you are getting good shaves without irritation (pay attention to the direction the hair grows, especially on your neck). So far this is what gives me no irritation, (no ATG and shaving every other day). As usual YMMV.

As far as Cream vs. Soap I would suggest using a cream and making the lather in a bowl. Notice how this guys finished lather has no noticeable bubbles and will "peak". This is what you are shooting for however you choose to make a lather.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=150737

Try one of the quality creams for sensitive skin, Trumpers, Taylors, etc.

Yes I can't imagine I'll ever be a daily shaver, 2-3 days is what I tend to stick to and the same goes for my head (closer to 3 most of the time). I'm in a job where I don't need to be clean shaven and tend to find my skin is much better when not kept clean daily. Yes I was looking at the taylors product before, once I've got the hand of DE shaving, I will invest in some to see what the differences are.

Out of interest has anyone ever applied a small amount of shaving oil under a cream and if so which one, I read one post that suggest it helped with slickness. Especially with my head shave I can imagine having the blade glide more would be beneficial.

[El Judio Bravo]

I believe in keeping it simple; no oils pre- or post-shave.

On occasion will create "super-lather". A dollop of cream extruded onto my soap puck and oh my! Luxurious indeed!

[TheChefs]

I've used shaving creams for 4 years, I wasn't getting average shaves. Creams don't work for me. Then I discovered soaps 6 months ago, what a revelation! I was getting excellent shaves and I will never go back to creams. So I sold all of them. Also soaps last a lot longer. In my opinion face leather quality soaps is the best thing you can do for your face...

[Drubbing]

Out of interest has anyone ever applied a small amount of shaving oil under a cream and if so which one, I read one post that suggest it helped with slickness. Especially with my head shave I can imagine having the blade glide more would be beneficial.

Personally, I prefer to find a good cream or soap and get a good lather from it, rather than bugger around with oils and what not.

I never found they added anything the cream didn't - apart from more mess to clean up on my razor and in the sink.

[Pumpkin]

Yes I can't imagine I'll ever be a daily shaver, 2-3 days is what I tend to stick to and the same goes for my head (closer to 3 most of the time). I'm in a job where I don't need to be clean shaven and tend to find my skin is much better when not kept clean daily. Yes I was looking at the taylors product before, once I've got the hand of DE shaving, I will invest in some to see what the differences are.

Out of interest has anyone ever applied a small amount of shaving oil under a cream and if so which one, I read one post that suggest it helped with slickness. Especially with my head shave I can imagine having the blade glide more would be beneficial.

Some guys prefer to use a pre-shave oil...however, I find that decent prep and good lather seem to work (for me, YMMV) There have been a few threads recommending baby oil, olive oil, or other variations...have heard some good reports about Natural Grooming Company's pre-shave oil (full range is in Asda), they're a sister company of Real Shaving Co and Taylor's...all made by Crightons.

BTW, you don't have to spend a lot to get great shaves here in the UK...Palmolive (cream and soap), Ingrams (creams) and Erasmic (the new tallow based soap, rather than the glycerin one) are fantastic products that are dirt cheap. Keep an eye open for Arko as well (usually available anywhere with a big Turkish community).