I still think cream beats soap.

[m139]

Well, yesterday I took a leap of faith and thought I'd give QCS Shaving Soap another effort before making up my mind to stick with creams.

I loaded my 50mm loft silvertip for about 30 seconds with good pressure then I proceeded to face lather for about a minute to 90 seconds. I got a good lather but it still did not feel as thick as the lather I get from any of the creams I've used (GFT, TOBS, AOS, Proraso, Speick).

Still I went forward to the shave with a day old Personna in an R89 Muhle head. I did not feel the same amount of cushion that I got from any of the aforementioned creams. While it provided a decent glide, I didn't feel the same protection and the same "confidence" I have with the creams. I finished the first pass without any nicks or irritation but when I splashed some warm water in preparation for the second pass, my face felt very dry as though I had just washed it with a bar of Irish Springs! Then I decided that life is too short for anything less than enjoyable so I rinsed off my brush and did the second pass with my TOBS Jermyn Street.

QSC is one of only three soaps that I've tried. The other two were AOS Sandalwood and Wilkinson Sword. The AOS smelled fantastic but when compared to the cream, I still liked the cream better. The W/S smelled nice but again I prefer the cream.

I had started another thread about my search for a luxurious cream or soap and many suggested MdC soap and Boellis Panama 1924 soap.

To all you soap guys out there, is there really a big difference between these two and QCS? Is there a soap out there that will change my mind?

 

[nymtber]

I'm a Proraso cream fan. I get the smoothest, most comfortable shaves with it, and its EASY to lather. I will be getting the unscented proraso for winter (no need for menthol then!) and for when I want a different AS than Osage Rub.

Ive used VDH, Arko, and I know one other soap, but they just don't build the cushioning lather that I want. Proraso and Musgo Real cream hands down blow away soap for me. I think I might sell off my soap and mugs, in fact, and spend the money on more creams! Maybe higher end soaps work better, but cream is also far easier to use.

 

[dushea]

In my experience, imho, ymmv, etc., you're comparing some of the best creams to some of the most mediocre soaps. I don't think anyone will disagree that TOBS, GFT, AOS, etc are great performers, but QCS is known to be quite finicky.

I'd give either Mike's, Barrister and Mann or DRH a try before you completely write-off soaps. There is definitely a larger learning curve, but after a half dozen attempts, you should start to understand what the hype is with soaps.

Personally, there's room for both in my den. I have a TOBS and a CF cream along with Mike's, B&M and DRH.

 

[m139]

In my experience, imho, ymmv, etc., you're comparing some of the best creams to some of the most mediocre soaps. I don't think anyone will disagree that TOBS, GFT, AOS, etc are great performers, but QCS is known to be quite finicky.

I'd give either Mike's, Barrister and Mann or DRH a try before you completely write-off soaps. There is definitely a larger learning curve, but after a half dozen attempts, you should start to understand what the hype is with soaps.

Personally, I think there's room for both in my den. I have a TOBS and a CF cream along with Mike's, B&M and DRH.

Your response is exactly what I was looking for.... perhaps it's an unfair comparison that I'm making and perhaps there are a handful of soaps out there that could change my mind... and I actually hope there is because it would be nice to have some variety.

I did order a Mike's sample and am awaiting delivery. Since that is considered one of the "best" soaps out there, my plan is to shave with Mike's for at least a full week and if by the end of the week I'm still not happy then at least I know that I've tried.

If on the other hand, I like Mike's soap, then I'll start looking into others such as Panama 1924 and perhaps DRH and maybe MdC.

 

[Luc]

If you have a shave stick, try spreading the product (stick) directly on your face instead of charging the brush. Make sure that you wet the stick first and if you go ATG to rub the stick, more product will remain trapped in your whiskers. Wet the tip of the shave stick often until you covered the whole surface, then proceed to build the lather. See if it makes a difference.

 

[Cricket1]

If you have a shave stick, try spreading the product (stick) directly on your face instead of charging the brush. Make sure that you wet the stick first and if you go ATG to rub the stick, more product will remain trapped in your whiskers. Wet the tip of the shave stick often until you covered the whole surface, then proceed to build the lather. See if it makes a difference.

I'll echo what Luc said, but suggest a slight twist to it. Fully hydrate your beard, I always shower before shaving. While in the shower, have your brush soaking. Once out of the shower, take the brush and run it all over your beard. THEN take the shaving stick (arko etc) and run it all over your face, a few passes. Then shake/ squeeze most of the H2O out of the brush. Fill your sink with water, then lightly dip the tips of the brush in the water. Then go at your face with the brush. Should take you a good minute or two to fully build the lather. I tried this method this week, after 6 months of bowl latering, both with creams (Kiss My Face) and various soaps- Tabac (awesome), PannaCreama (also awesome) and find it provides the MOST cushioning of any method. I had tried to bowl lather Arko a few months ago, and its perfomance was very average, kinda meh. Used as a stick, the slickness and protection are amazing. If the lather is clogging your razor, you might need to add a bit more water. Or I find that using my Gillette NEW- open comb- it doesnt clog with the thick lahter like my Muhle R89 or other closed bar razors.

 

[dushea]

One other note, when you get your sample of Mike's, press it into the bottom of a bowl. When you're ready to shave, pour about a teaspoon to a tablespoon of warm water over it and let the soap absorb it for 5 minutes or so (or while you shower). When you're ready to charge your brush, dump out any remaining water (or keep it on the side to add later), and go to town.

From there, the soap paste will act just like your cream; paint your face with it, dip your tips, build lather, etc.

 

[wagstaff]

I think there are great soaps and great creams. Since I calmed down on rotating things and have stuck with Mike's for the past couple weeks, I've found less irritation, and more shaves per blade with less irritation.... I'm landing in the "soaps" camp. But I do well with creams and still have a few full tubs on hand.

The difference that matters to me is not so much how the shave feels, but how my face feels later. Other qualities like how quickly I can build a serviceable lather when harried, or how easily it rinses, might be better on other soaps or creams. But just straight up protection and moisturizing have been best with Mike's soap and Devon and Spencer cream. So far. And the soap comes out ahead, for me.

 

[musicman1951]

I have had the same experience. I've been pulling out the QCS about once a week and I've gotten the water ratio pretty close now (it does seem fussy), but I don't find it better than my CF (or even QCS cream).

Please let us know how you do with the Mike's soap.

 

[Coler]

I suggest you try Tabac. Doesn't cost a bomb. Hard to match the performance. It will give you a feel for what an exceptional soap is all about.

 

[Rumwood]

I don't like soaps at all. I'm a cream guy.

 

[Haggises]

QCS is a damn good soap. I'd suggest loading a little longer than 30 seconds to ensure you're comparing like with like.

 

[bryan1980]

I suggest you try Tabac. Doesn't cost a bomb. Hard to match the performance. It will give you a feel for what an exceptional soap is all about.

I'm a 100% cream guy, but I'm thinking about grabbing a puck of Tabac to see if it sparks my interest in soaps again. Plus, I have an empty Old Spice mug that needs a tenant!

 

[Coler]

I'm a 100% cream guy, but I'm thinking about grabbing a puck of Tabac to see if it sparks my interest in soaps again. Plus, I have an empty Old Spice mug that needs a tenant!

Do it and I can absolutely 100% guarantee you won't regret it. The scent is a bit challenging - I personally don't mind it at all - but the performance = exceptional (and I have tried e.g. MdeC and others)

 

[JayEddie]

I lean toward cream because of the lather that I've been able to get from it, but I think that it's due to the ease in which cream gives up the lather. I'm currently giving soaps more of a try simply because of how many others like it and how many use only soap. I figure there's probably something I'm still not getting quite right, that may come with a little more practice.

 

[m139]

OK, here's a practical question...

If cream is much easier to lather (i.e. less time and less technique) and cream provides the same protection/cushion, then why use soap? I know it's very simplified but from a practical aspect, why use something that takes longer to lather, and requires more skill if you don't have to? What does soap provide (in excess of cream) in return for the additional effort?

 

[shaverjoe]

QCS is a damn good soap. I'd suggest loading a little longer than 30 seconds to ensure you're comparing like with like.

+1 on QCS. One of my top 3 soaps. But I have moved in the opposite direction of the OP. I only use soaps now as I feel they give a better shave, at least for me, than any cream I have tried, including CF, TOBS, GFT, NB, etc. The only remaining cream in my den is KMF and it will not be repurchased when it's gone.

 

[wsteineker]

In my experience, imho, ymmv, etc., you're comparing some of the best creams to some of the most mediocre soaps. I don't think anyone will disagree that TOBS, GFT, AOS, etc are great performers, but QCS is known to be quite finicky.

I'd give either Mike's, Barrister and Mann or DRH a try before you completely write-off soaps. There is definitely a larger learning curve, but after a half dozen attempts, you should start to understand what the hype is with soaps.

Personally, there's room for both in my den. I have a TOBS and a CF cream along with Mike's, B&M and DRH.

+1 to every single thing about this. I didn't get soaps at first, but I found that great products can combine with a little patience to give me a really remarkable shave.

 

[shaverjoe]

OK, here's a practical question...

If cream is much easier to lather (i.e. less time and less technique) and cream provides the same protection/cushion, then why use soap? I know it's very simplified but from a practical aspect, why use something that takes longer to lather, and requires more skill if you don't have to? What does soap provide (in excess of cream) in return for the additional effort?

First, I wouldn't say creams are much easier to lather or that they provide the same protection/cushion as soaps. Those variables seem to vary product to product and are also "operator dependent." Many soap users, myself included, would argue MdC, Arko, and Tabac, just to name a few, lather as easily as any cream and the latter two listed have outperformed any cream I have tried. You'll also find a number of members here who have no problem with QCS soap, myself included. Thats' why each post ends with "YMMV"

Regarding your original post, I would not recommend MdC as a "cream killer" for you. I have both the scented and fougere varieties of MdC and I enjoy them very much, but in regards to performance, it is middle of the road for me, well below QCS, Mike's, Tabac, and Arko. "So why keep it around?" you ask. Well, I find the scent of both intoxicating. I can get a great shave with MdC but IMO, there are a number of soaps which outperform it, particularly for the price tag.

If I were to recommend you a commercially made soap which may give your creams a run for their money, I would recommend Tabac. If you let me recommend two, I would add Arko. Both have scents that can be polarizing, but in regards to performance, both lather very easily and both provide a high quality, slick, cushiony lather.

One of the primary advantages for me in using a soap is better facial preparation. I'm in no hurry when I shave. It is my "me" time. I can achieve an excellent lather with about any soap I have used in 2 minutes or less while face lathering. I always shave post-shower and face lather 100% of the time. I like using the time it takes to face lather a soap, 1-2 minutes for me depending on the soap I am using, to help prepare my beard for the shave.

 

[azshooter40]

I use creams more then soaps but will have always have a couple of soaps on hand. Love using DRH almond for making a superlather with proraso creams.
The scents of some of the soaps of Mike's and MW are second to none. Give soaps another try!