Soaps vs Creams

**mach88** · 04-24-2008, 03:20 PM

Soaps vs Creams - which do you prefer? What are your favourites? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each...? Discuss

**JET** · 04-24-2008, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by mach88

Soaps vs Creams - which do you prefer? What are your favourites? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each...? Discuss

I use SCS Almond soap with a double dab of TOBS Almond cream mixed together and love it.

**Chairman Nemo** · 04-24-2008, 03:34 PM

Preference is subjective. Some fans are die hard soap fans, some are die hard cream fans. Here are my observations for both.

Creams
Pros: Create thicker, more cushioning lather, easier to whip up. More variety of scents. Doesnt require as much water as a soap. Some can be lathered by the hands.

Cons
Tend to be more expensive initially. Go quicker than a puck. Not as slick as many soaps.

Soaps
Pros: Economically a bettter value. Will last longer than most tubes/tubs of cream. Create slicker lather. More "Old School" nostalgic vibe.

Cons:
Tend to be harder to make lather. Not as much variety for soaps than there are for creams.

I hope that helps you in your decisions! Best of luck to you!

**mach88** · 04-24-2008, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Chairman Nemo

Preference is subjective. Some fans are die hard soap fans, some are die hard cream fans. Here are my observations for both.

Creams
Pros: Create thicker, more cushioning lather, easier to whip up. More variety of scents. Doesnt require as much water as a soap. Some can be lathered by the hands.

Cons
Tend to be more expensive initially. Go quicker than a puck. Not as slick as many soaps.

Soaps
Pros: Economically a bettter value. Will last longer than most tubes/tubs of cream. Create slicker lather. More "Old School" nostalgic vibe.

Cons:
Tend to be harder to make lather. Not as much variety for soaps than there are for creams.

I hope that helps you in your decisions! Best of luck to you!

Thanks - that really helps! Great breakdown of pros and cons!

I'm using a cream atm - I love the lather I generate using this stuff compared with the foams I used to use - I'm also particularly partial to a lot of, thick, warm lather!!

Apparently soaps dry out the skin...and therefore are perhaps not advised for people with sensitive skin - true/false?

**Chairman Nemo** · 04-24-2008, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by mach88

Thanks - that really helps! Great breakdown of pros and cons!

I'm using a cream atm - I love the lather I generate using this stuff compared with the foams I used to use - I'm also particularly partial to a lot of, thick, warm lather!!

Apparently soaps dry out the skin...and therefore are perhaps not advised for people with sensitive skin - true/false?

Not necessarily. Some do. However, it all depends on your technique. If you have followed proper prep, it should not be a problem. A good eye of measure is using quality soaps.. ones that are Triple Milled (C&E, T&H, Etc) do not seem to dry me out as much as the cheaper brands (Williams, VDH, etc)

**mach88** · 04-24-2008, 04:10 PM

Still a "noob" to wet-shaving, so I think I might try a C&E soap for myself, they have a store local to me...suppose the adventure is all part of the fun of wet-shaving!!

**michaelskar** · 04-24-2008, 05:45 PM

There are good and bad soaps and creams...neither one works better than the other based solely upon its being a soap or a cream.

Chairman nemo's summation was pretty good...although I really haven't found creams to be MORE cushiony than soaps...but I suppose creams are a bit easier to whip into a lather (not that soaps are difficult, you just need to practice a few times).

As to the drying, most good soaps don't dry your face any more than creams. I would recommend Tabac soap for, IMHO, the very best lather around. As for creams, Taylor's Avocado produces an amazing lather.

Hope this helped a bit. When push comes to shove, I would pick soaps over creams (just had better luck in general with them in terms of performance).

**Bill Smith** · 04-24-2008, 05:52 PM

I used to be a cream user for almost ten years, until I switched to soap six months ago when I discovered Proraso at my local Shoppers Drug Mart. I since switched to CE Sienna and I have not looked back.

**kaldurak** · 04-24-2008, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by mach88

Still a "noob" to wet-shaving, so I think I might try a C&E soap for myself, they have a store local to me...suppose the adventure is all part of the fun of wet-shaving!!

It's definitely an adventure. I've been doing this for a year or so now, and now that I have run across B&B I have already noticed that my bank account is getting a real workout from all the stuff I read about on here and want to try :o

**OldFashioned** · 04-24-2008, 10:43 PM

When I first perfected my proraso lather and shaved, I was taken back. It was wonderful. So I kept doing it with excellent shaves. I tried Musgo Real and it wasnt as good but it was slicker but it seemed to have dried out fast for some strange reason and also I think I had a slight reaction. Then I tried TABAC soap and was blown away. It was so slick yet thick and creamy. The shave felt different than the creams. I was amazed that it could get better than the proraso. Maybe there is something out there thats better than Tabac. Im hearing Mitchell's Wool Fat soap which i will try but the Tabac is just great. It beats out any shave I ever had...so far.

**mach88** · 04-25-2008, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

Then I tried TABAC soap and was blown away. It was so slick yet thick and creamy. The shave felt different than the creams. I was amazed that it could get better than the proraso.

I'm hearing a lot about TABAC soaps - think it's something i will definitely try soon!

**The Seeker** · 04-25-2008, 04:35 AM

Originally Posted by mach88

I'm hearing a lot about TABAC soaps - think it's something i will definitely try soon!

Me too! I've read so much about Tabac on these forums that I find myself thinking about it as I go to sleep. Problem is, I've got half a bowl of Proraso soap left, plus a newly-purchased tube of TOBS Avocado. No harm in buying it I guess, it will be used.

**dpm** · 04-25-2008, 10:41 AM

Just got my Tabac + jar from Amazon yesterday and tried it this morning. It's decent, but not as spectacular as I was hoping. It's definitely a solid offering and one that should be in everybody's arsenal no doubt.

I started with creams, found several I liked... switched to soaps, some were really really good and some just didn't do it for me. The more I used them the more I realized I was just getting better results easier from creams so I'm heading back now.

I think it's really a process of finding out what works for your skin, your razor, and your blade. Different tools for different jobs.

**OldSaw** · 04-25-2008, 10:52 AM

The absolute definitive answer is...

Spoiler:

Anyone have a problem with that?

**shyurngsfriend** · 04-25-2008, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by OldSaw

The absolute definitive answer is...

Anyone have a problem with that?

No. But earlier it was mentioned that soaps tend to dry. Well, two things come to mind. First, no- not if you rinse well and apply post-shave moisturizers. Second, check the ingredients. Each of our skin will respond a little differently. I love the smell of sandal-wood but it dries my skin for some reason- others have no problem. The more preservatives the more drying in my experience. (I like the creams better for reasons others have mentioned. Also, they seem easier with travel- if you find one that can be hand lathered you don't have to risk loosing one of your brushes!

**Isaias** · 04-25-2008, 11:48 AM

Welcome shyurngsfriend.
I sind soaps to be the mos convinent and easy to manage.
Still, I preffer creams

**DanOK** · 04-25-2008, 12:08 PM

As you can readily see a part of everyones fascination with wet shaving is the joy of experimenting to find out what the right mix should be for their skin type. I prefer soaps and tend to use Tabac as my standard. But I have mixed soaps with creams and thrown in essential oils when playing around with a certain fragrance I want.

I would suggest you invest in some sample packs to try a little variety for yourself. Its a lot of fun and it will help you find the mix you like best.

**OldSaw** · 04-25-2008, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by shyurngsfriend

No. But earlier it was mentioned that soaps tend to dry. Well, two things come to mind. First, no- not if you rinse well and apply post-shave moisturizers. Second, check the ingredients. Each of our skin will respond a little differently. I love the smell of sandal-wood but it dries my skin for some reason- others have no problem. The more preservatives the more drying in my experience. (I like the creams better for reasons others have mentioned. Also, they seem easier with travel- if you find one that can be hand lathered you don't have to risk loosing one of your brushes!

Hi and welcome to B&B.

**gabeyb** · 04-25-2008, 02:19 PM

The only soap I have tried (Ogallala Bay Rum) burns my skin. Not sure why. So now I have a puck of this stuff that I don't use. I guess that is why I'm a cream guy. I'd like to try soap, so maybe I'll try some of the brands mentioned here.

**OldSaw** · 04-25-2008, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by gabeyb

The only soap I have tried (Ogallala Bay Rum) burns my skin. Not sure why. So now I have a puck of this stuff that I don't use. I guess that is why I'm a cream guy. I'd like to try soap, so maybe I'll try some of the brands mentioned here.

I have also had the face burn issue with a few soaps. However, I have used many others that have produced some fantastic lather. You just have to experiment and avoid the ones that burn or you think may burn based on the experience you gain. The Art of Shaving soaps are pretty good, but pricey. Colonel Conk almond is a great low price alternative.