First Cella now Mama Bears.

[eelhc]

I've been DE wetshaving for a little over a month now. I started with Proraso (C.O. Bigelow Eucalyptus) and have had excellent results. I've obtained some Cella through B/S/T and tried a couple of shaves and had a burning sensation. Enough discomfort to not want to shave with it. No breakouts or rashes, just a burning discomfort. So I traded the Cella with another member for Mama Bear's Cocoa Absolute (great chocolate scent, my daughter wanted to taste it). Unfortunately, I had the same reaction the first shave with it. I tried just building up a lather and applying it without shaving and had the same burning sensation.

I have never had this reaction with any other soap, shampoo, dish washing detergent... ever and I'm well over 40 so what is it with these shave soaps that's causing me this discomfort? All 3 products contain coconut oil I believe. The Pororaso and Mama Bears is glycerin based while the Cella is tallow based (?). Is it the concentration of Fragrance? Other oils? I need to narrow this down without going through a dozen soaps/creams. It's no disaster if I have to stick to Proraso but that's eliminating most of the fun with wet shaving.

 

[Teddyboy]

I would bet it is the concentration of essential oils and/or fragrance. Try Mama Bear's Unscented, or if you want to spend $25, Simpsons Luxury Shaving Cream, which is unscented and is incredible. You may also try Razorock Classic as it has a very faint scent, is excellent, and only ~$6. Good luck, don't get discouraged.

 

[Rick1962]

I am in much the same boat as you. I had a Cella sample, and while the shave was good, there was enough "soap sting" to mark it off my list.

Mama Bear's did me even worse, decent performance, great scents, but definitely caused a burn.

Also in the "Burn Club": RazoRock Cacao, D.R. Harris Arlington soap, Indian Old Spice cream.

I, too, seem to get the best results from Proraso, I believe the menthol plays a part in it, but I've used original Green and the new Sandalwood, and it just plain works.

 

[Wcoppage]

Mama bear just put up some unscented pucks. I was able to test it. I say try that, or maybe one of hers that is just eo, instead of fragrance oil.

 

[Mick]

That happens with some products. I bought some Trumpers limes cream and when the lahter hit my face it felt like I had been hit with pepper spray. I was bright red for 3 days and could not shave.

On the bright side, some lucky B&B member got a great deal on it from me

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/270178-Geo-Trumpers-Limes-Shave-cream

Nothing else has done this to me (luckily).

 

[joshua1970]

sorry to hear that - certainly it's an ingredient present in the soaps in question. a friend I recently turned onto wetshaving is having the same issue (though Cella is one that works for him) but Cade, TOBS and a few others I gave him are no-gos. he had sensitive skin his whole life but we're trying to figure out the ingredient that's the cuplprit.

fortunately, there are so many soaps and creams out there to try I am sure you will find something that will work for you.

good luck!

 

[VT_Hokie]

You jumped right out of the pan and into the fire.

You went from Cella, whose strong Almond scent has caused a few people irritation in the past, to Mama Bears whose HEAVY doses of EO's and FO's have lit MANY people (myself included) up like Christmas trees.

Get yourself something that performs great, but for the most part is mildly scented.

Mitchell's Wool Fat, La Toja, Palmolive, Speick, Klar Kabinett, Dr Dittmar, etc would all be great options for you.

 

[Teddyboy]

I am in much the same boat as you. I had a Cella sample, and while the shave was good, there was enough "soap sting" to mark it off my list.

Mama Bear's did me even worse, decent performance, great scents, but definitely caused a burn.

Also in the "Burn Club": RazoRock Cacao, D.R. Harris Arlington soap, Indian Old Spice cream.

I, too, seem to get the best results from Proraso, I believe the menthol plays a part in it, but I've used original Green and the new Sandalwood, and it just plain works.

The Sandalwood is excellent...lucky it works for you.

 

[eelhc]

What is closest to the "goo in a can" formulation? Never had an issue with Barbasol. Arko? Palmolive?

 

[duokun]

You jumped right out of the pan and into the fire.

You went from Cella, whose strong Almond scent has caused a few people irritation in the past, to Mama Bears whose HEAVY doses of EO's and FO's have lit MANY people (myself included) up like Christmas trees.

Get yourself something that performs great, but for the most part is mildly scented.

Mitchell's Wool Fat, La Toja, Palmolive, Speick, Klar Kabinett, Dr Dittmar, etc would all be great options for you.

+1 for Speick. both the stick and cream are excellent performers. id give them a try.

 

[goatee]

AOS has an unscented cream as well. i found some at ,,,,macy's??? at a mall.

 

[goatee]

what about all you arko guys? i know you praise its performance, but how strong is the scent? (this is some seriously inexpensive stuff too) so,, no big loss if it doesnt work out. lbs. for lbs. isnt this as cheap as it gets?

 

[Face&Head]

I love Cella but had a reaction as well. I also get a mild reaction to RR-XXX and AdP. These are all very good products but sometimes your skin just says NO!

 

[musicman1951]

The cocoa might be the problem. I can't use RR Cacao, but I just tried RR XXX and had no problems. I used T&H Ultimate comfort this AM and that is some fine cream. I can't imagine that would cause a problem.

 

[Galengwath]

As others have mentioned it's likely the fragrances used in those particular soaps. Obviously they aren't the same, but it's a rare persn who reacts to only one fragrance. I second trying out a good quality unscented or very lightly scented cream or soap. If you still react to them then it's probably a reaction to a more fundamental ingredient, but that's not likely to be the case.

 

[eelhc]

OK... I've been meaning to try out the Arko creams and may have gone a little overboard.. But the stuff literally costs nothing. ~$30 delivered for 9 shave creams and 3 moisturizers, I couldn't resist. On order:

Arko Men Shaving Cream 100 gr - Comfort
Arko Men Shaving Cream 100 gr - Cool
Arko Men Shaving Cream 100 gr - Moist
Arko Men Shaving Cream 100 gr - Regular
Arko Men Shaving Cream 100 gr - Sensitive
Arko Shaving Cream 100 gr - Adventure
Dalan D'men Shaving Cream 65 gr 2.3oz - Cool
Dalan D'men Shaving Cream 65 gr 2.3oz - Energetic
Dalan D'men Shaving Cream 65 gr 2.3oz - Sensitive

Arko Classic - Natural Cream - 100 ml
Arko Nem - Pearl Touch 300ml
Arko Yagli Krem

So maybe 1 of these Creams won't be irratating.

 

[VT_Hokie]

That's a lot of cream you just ordered my friend. I'm a quality over quantity guy myself, but to each his own. That should last you a long time. Hopefully you find something in there you like!

 

[Mad Man]

When receiving any new cream or soap I always whip up a test lather and apply it to the inside of my elbow and allow it to sit for a few minutes. If I get a reaction there then I know it's gonna hurt the face.

2cents.

 

[Dave258]

The same thing happened to me with both Cella and a bunch of Mama Bears Soaps. I even started doing the test lather on my inner arm, and most did not burn there, but burnt my face like crazy.
P160 smalls like Cella to me, but does not burn my face. I wonder what is different between the two.

 

[goatee]

one can only hope!!


the irony here is,, i call out for the arko guys thinking it is a mild soap/stick. (ive never tried it myself) then sometime after that post i read about a "frankensoap" that has arko in it, and arko is the dominating scent.....oooops.