Do soaps possess any real advantages over creams?

[Christoph]

I have always said that a any good cream beats any soap any day.

I think this would almost always be true. And certainly if we said "any great cream beats ANY soap any day" then this would become impossible to dispute.

Still, I enjoy using soaps. I go through phases were I will use certain creams for months, and then I will go back to soaps for an entire season.

So here is my question...

Do soaps possess any one real advantage, however small or specific, over creams? Is there any one thing that they do that is easier, faster, or more effective?

I am not sure what the answer is. I do however know that soaps are, most of the time, cheaper, and that I tend to have a more liberal approach when lathering up, because I know that the contents of my soap mug are cheaper and will last longer. Something this actually makes for a more satisfying shave on a deeper level.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[SiBurning]

disputes.

c&s

cheaper?

 

[SliceOfLife]

I think this would almost always be true. And certainly if we said "any great cream beats ANY soap any day" then this would become impossible to dispute.

How do you figure?

 

[shmeegs]

I personally don't like the "slickness" that creams have. I like the creamy feeling of soaps plus with soaps there is the ability to mix soaps. It's more of a traditional classic feel with soaps. I like the smell of soaps more than creams. Soaps are easier to lather. With soaps, face lathering is easier.


I think that is enough for now.

 

[insomniac]

Easy to travel with - the fluid/cream limit doesn't apply if you are flying in the States. And the bottle or tub won't get squeezed.

 

[superbleu]

Soaps are generally cheaper per shave than creams. Also I find creams tend to dry my skin out more than a good soap. One thing creams have going for them is they can be less messy(especially in tube form), and tend to be easier to lather than soaps.

 

[kg4ghn]

I like both.

I tend to use soaps more bc it goes well with the "traditional" and cool reason why I started wetshaving. I don't like the look of creams in tubes. That is just a weird mental unfounded prejudice that I just can't seem to get over. Kind of like how I think that rose and lavender are girly scents and I won't use them.

I do have some TOBS Mr. Taylor cream that I really like. I also used the almond Trumpers cream sample that came in the sample pack I ordered to try skin food and I used the EJ sample that came with my brush. Both of those worked fine for me. I probably wouldn't order them, but their performance was up there with the rest of my (limited) supply of soaps and creams.

 

[LordTyranus]

It is funny, I tend to think the opposite, any soap is better than any cream...

 

[mdunn]

i much prefer soap - much slicker.

I think guys who use straights generally prefer soaps, as they need the slickness. whereas DE guys can use the cushion that cream gives

 

[thunderball]

Soaps last much longer.

 

[houlejames]

I like both equally as well. Right now I'm hung up on TOBS Avocado and Shave Shop creams in the tub, but MWF soap, Palmolive and Tabac and Arko and Boots shave sticks, Wars and RSC creams in a tube have all held my attention for a time. It is nice to mix it up and keeps the shave interesting having all the different forms of soap to go to. If I only could use one I would be hard pressed to decide between MWF soap and TOBS Avocado, but I like all the others almost as much.

 

[Gustav]

I use both and I still have not made up my mind about what I like best. However soaps do have an edge on creams since some of them are made from tallow and to the best of my albeit limited knowledge, there are no tallow creams around. So when I want to pamper myself with a nice slick shave, with lots of cushion and a no post shave dryness, I reach for my tallow soaps.

 

[Dpflaum]

After about two years of going at this, I have decided that soaps are superior.

The one downside is the lack of strong scents, but that allows me to go with whatever EDT I feel like using.

And if I'm honest, my $5 Speick stick gives a better shave than the $40 Pens BB cream did.

 

[media]

I generally use soaps. I like both though. I hate using a lather bowl, it feels metro. No one used them back in the day. If it ain't broke, why fix it.

I face lather everything.

I like soaps the best, but there are some creams I wouldn't be without like Godrej (Menthol Mist in the summer) and Musgo (If they made this scent in a soap I would be in heaven).

 

[kingfisher]

I use both and I still have not made up my mind about what I like best. However soaps do have an edge on creams since some of them are made from tallow and to the best of my albeit limited knowledge, there are no tallow creams around. So when I want to pamper myself with a nice slick shave, with lots of cushion and a no post shave dryness, I reach for my tallow soaps.

I guess I'd have to dispute this just a little, on two fronts. First, most soaps do NOT contain tallow. The number of tallow soaps is dwindling.

Second, tallow-containing creams ARE available. The creams sold at The Gentleman's Refinery, for example, contain tallow.

Having said all that, I prefer soaps to creams.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

Longevity
Traditional Nature
Easier to regulate amount of lather
Preference to more subtle scents
These are but a few reasons. Once you adopt a soap regimen, it is hard to justify cream use. (IMO)

 

[T.Ryan]

Soaps are my preference. Rarely do I use a cream. Slickness and more subtle fragrances are reasons for choosing soaps. It seems the Feathers d/e blades paired with Trumper or T&H soap give me the smoothest, closest shaves.

 

[nwman]

...and to the best of my albeit limited knowledge, there are no tallow creams around...

hi gustav,
the best tallow creams i have ever used are currently made in berlin by olivia, postage should be reasonable for you:
http://www.olivia-seife.de/shop.php?action=herren&subAction=crema

she makes shaving soaps as well but they are not tallow.
g'luck & happy tallow shaving.

 

[Go West Young Man]

I generally use soaps. I like both though. I hate using a lather bowl, it feels metro. No one used them back in the day.

I fear that your are dreadfully misinformed on this matter
Mixing lather in a bowl was a standard part of the traditional barber's shave going well over 100 years.

 

[markb]

Do soaps possess any real advantages over creams?

I use both and for me, soaps consistently produce a superior lather in every way.

As with everything, YMMV.