I've used many shave creams ranging from D.R. Harris and Truefitt and Hill for my high end to economically priced Super-Max, Arko Cream, Bulgarian Figaro and Barbon. In the middle of my shave creams there are what I call "Yeoman Creams" the good, effective - but not great creams such as Proraso, or Palmolive.
But I"m interested in some real Gems that have popped up at in the Budget. Shaving creams that may or may not have terrific scents, but leap to the top with their sheer great performance. The criteria for me of an exceptional performing budget cream is that it's very inexpensive (all purchased around $5 or less) and makes me think at least once as I shave, or after, "why am I using anything else other than this"?
My great budget performers are:
Godrej - (any scent) - I've been reaching for Godrej with it's added lanolin for a few years, at first oddly enough when winter weather is at it's worst. Year round it provides great slickness, cushion and leaves my face feeling great afterwoods, but when the temperature is dipping below zero and the wind is blowing the snow sideways, I know that after shaving with Godrej, my face is going to be more moisturized as well as almost anything else I shave with (I'm thinking Soap Commander, Mystic Waters and Soap Commander). I'm amazed that a shave cream manufactured in a hot climate, India, protects my face so well during winter's worst.
Dettol - (either of both scents available) - Possibly slightly more slick than Godrej, without the post shave benefits of the lanolin. Another really terrific shave cream from India.
Speick - Ot move to another continent - Europe. The inexpensive Speick does everything a shave cream should do and does it very well. I'd been loving Speick Shave sticks for years, finding them to be top performers, but when I picked up the shave cream at first I was blown away by the unique scent (slightly different and stronger scented than the Shave Stick). When I built my first lather and started my first razor pass, I was equally impressed with Speick's peformance as it's scent. (Do yourself a favor and spring for Speick's AS - it too has a terrific scent equally matched by skin healing ingredients).
NOS Coate's Shave Cream - Coate's Shave creams disappeared from the market shortly after the manufacturer went out of business in 2007. Yet a few years ago a long time wet shaver found a stockpile of 50 gram travel tubes in six different scents that had been well stored in a climate controlled warehouse. He snapped up this old stock and began selling them at rock bottom prices. They come in six traditional scents, as well as being a part of wet shaving history are also terrific performers.
Honorable Mentions:
Figaro and Barbon - These are Bulgarian shave creams available on Ebay, but purchased from now closed Shave-a-Buck. and then stocked up on as Shave-A-Buck was winding down. Unique woodsy scents with top performance. Really terrific shave creams. I place these two creams in the Honorable Mention category because even though they are available on the bay - their higher price EBay price, bumps them up into the Yeoman category.
Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing shave cream - Available at one time at Rite Aid, this Creighton retail brand uses the same cream base as some of the English luxury scented shave creams, but is scented with simple Tea Tree. A slick rich, thick lather come easy. I place Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing shave cream in the Honorable Mention category because it's no longer available at Rite Aid for $5.
What top performing budget shave creams have I missed?
But I"m interested in some real Gems that have popped up at in the Budget. Shaving creams that may or may not have terrific scents, but leap to the top with their sheer great performance. The criteria for me of an exceptional performing budget cream is that it's very inexpensive (all purchased around $5 or less) and makes me think at least once as I shave, or after, "why am I using anything else other than this"?
My great budget performers are:
Godrej - (any scent) - I've been reaching for Godrej with it's added lanolin for a few years, at first oddly enough when winter weather is at it's worst. Year round it provides great slickness, cushion and leaves my face feeling great afterwoods, but when the temperature is dipping below zero and the wind is blowing the snow sideways, I know that after shaving with Godrej, my face is going to be more moisturized as well as almost anything else I shave with (I'm thinking Soap Commander, Mystic Waters and Soap Commander). I'm amazed that a shave cream manufactured in a hot climate, India, protects my face so well during winter's worst.
Dettol - (either of both scents available) - Possibly slightly more slick than Godrej, without the post shave benefits of the lanolin. Another really terrific shave cream from India.
Speick - Ot move to another continent - Europe. The inexpensive Speick does everything a shave cream should do and does it very well. I'd been loving Speick Shave sticks for years, finding them to be top performers, but when I picked up the shave cream at first I was blown away by the unique scent (slightly different and stronger scented than the Shave Stick). When I built my first lather and started my first razor pass, I was equally impressed with Speick's peformance as it's scent. (Do yourself a favor and spring for Speick's AS - it too has a terrific scent equally matched by skin healing ingredients).
NOS Coate's Shave Cream - Coate's Shave creams disappeared from the market shortly after the manufacturer went out of business in 2007. Yet a few years ago a long time wet shaver found a stockpile of 50 gram travel tubes in six different scents that had been well stored in a climate controlled warehouse. He snapped up this old stock and began selling them at rock bottom prices. They come in six traditional scents, as well as being a part of wet shaving history are also terrific performers.
Honorable Mentions:
Figaro and Barbon - These are Bulgarian shave creams available on Ebay, but purchased from now closed Shave-a-Buck. and then stocked up on as Shave-A-Buck was winding down. Unique woodsy scents with top performance. Really terrific shave creams. I place these two creams in the Honorable Mention category because even though they are available on the bay - their higher price EBay price, bumps them up into the Yeoman category.
Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing shave cream - Available at one time at Rite Aid, this Creighton retail brand uses the same cream base as some of the English luxury scented shave creams, but is scented with simple Tea Tree. A slick rich, thick lather come easy. I place Real Shaving Co. Moisturizing shave cream in the Honorable Mention category because it's no longer available at Rite Aid for $5.
What top performing budget shave creams have I missed?
