I've been wetshaving less than a year, but I like to think I have a pretty decent list of creams that I've tried. All of the lines I've tried had something good come from them in one degree or another, but I've only come across two that provided a very noticable benefit of softening my beard whiskers. And by softening I mean that I could literally tell that my razor had a much easier time cutting through my beard.
Most of the creams I've tried do a great job at providing cushion and slickness. Two traits that are required for an irritation free shave. And while I'm sure all of the creams I've used provide some degree of beard softening benefits, none of them compared to the top two that I've found.
Keep in mind, maybe it's me and my shave routine. I don't have a particularly tough beard and my only shave prep is a hot shower and face wash. I don't lay on a layer of lather and then do the hot towel prep like some do. All I do is shower, lather up, wait a couple of minutes for the lather to marinate my whiskers a bit, and then shave away. So maybe if I changed my routine, I'd see the same beard softening benefit from all my creams.
Anyway, of the creams that I've tried, the two that noticably made my beard easier to cut came from both ends of the $ spectrum. I've found that my bear is considerably easier to shave for my razor when I use either Castle Forbes Lime shaving cream or Arko Sensitive.
I don't know what it is about these specific creams, but they really soften my beard up. When I use the lime, I can just feel how easy of a time that my razor is having slicing through, and the arko just moisturizes my whole face to the point where my beard cuts easier. I've also found that I get a great post shave feeling from the Arko sensitive but if I use a balm afterwards, by the end of the day my face feels a bit greasy.
So, has anyone else noticed this when using these specific creams, or is it just me? And are there any other creams that provide a definite beard softening benefit
I really have tried almost every brand, but not the whole line of each by any means. And I'm sure there are some I haven't considered. But so as not to get an duplicate recommendations, here are the brands I've tried.
AOS
Arko
The Body Shop
C&E
Derby
Nancy Boy
Musgo
Speick
Tabula Rasa
T&H
Trumpers
Tobs
Salters
Erasmic
Florena
Euro Palmolive
Ingram
Proraso
Mama Bear (old formula)
Toms
Most of the creams I've tried do a great job at providing cushion and slickness. Two traits that are required for an irritation free shave. And while I'm sure all of the creams I've used provide some degree of beard softening benefits, none of them compared to the top two that I've found.
Keep in mind, maybe it's me and my shave routine. I don't have a particularly tough beard and my only shave prep is a hot shower and face wash. I don't lay on a layer of lather and then do the hot towel prep like some do. All I do is shower, lather up, wait a couple of minutes for the lather to marinate my whiskers a bit, and then shave away. So maybe if I changed my routine, I'd see the same beard softening benefit from all my creams.
Anyway, of the creams that I've tried, the two that noticably made my beard easier to cut came from both ends of the $ spectrum. I've found that my bear is considerably easier to shave for my razor when I use either Castle Forbes Lime shaving cream or Arko Sensitive.
I don't know what it is about these specific creams, but they really soften my beard up. When I use the lime, I can just feel how easy of a time that my razor is having slicing through, and the arko just moisturizes my whole face to the point where my beard cuts easier. I've also found that I get a great post shave feeling from the Arko sensitive but if I use a balm afterwards, by the end of the day my face feels a bit greasy.
So, has anyone else noticed this when using these specific creams, or is it just me? And are there any other creams that provide a definite beard softening benefit
I really have tried almost every brand, but not the whole line of each by any means. And I'm sure there are some I haven't considered. But so as not to get an duplicate recommendations, here are the brands I've tried.
AOS
Arko
The Body Shop
C&E
Derby
Nancy Boy
Musgo
Speick
Tabula Rasa
T&H
Trumpers
Tobs
Salters
Erasmic
Florena
Euro Palmolive
Ingram
Proraso
Mama Bear (old formula)
Toms