Shaving Cream that doesn't dry up?

[adussa3]

Hello,

I'm a new shaver (only shaved 5 times) and I need some advice for shaving cream.

Currently, I apply Cremo Barber Grade Cooling Shave Cream by hand to my face and rub it in for about 1 to 2 minutes.

However, I've been experiencing issues where it dries up constantly while I shave, and it doesn't feel as smooth or slick and I often get cuts and nicks (though it might be due to my technique and applying too much pressure)

After experiencing this, I did some research and learned that it's a latherless shaving cream that requires a lot of water to be applied constantly to produce that slick effect.



I'm not familiar with all the different brands or what they offer, and I was wondering if someone could recommend some good shaving creams/gels/foams/soaps that:

- is inexpensive/cheap
- lathers on your face
- doesn't dry out
- doesn't require a ton of water
- can be applied by hand

I came across Proraso Shaving Cream that looks good, but I also want to check out other brands and creams as well

 

[LuckyGlenn]

Add a few drops water after you put the cremo on your face and when it starts to dry. If that doesn't work get a stick of Arko.

 

[Jer78]

All the high quality creams (and soaps for that matter) need water and lots of it. Everything needs water, water is what makes them slick. This is why you said that when it dries out it turns into a rough shave. It is called “wet shaving” after all. For now, try your Creamo with more water. Long term I would suggest a traditional cream that you use with a brush, the extra volume will help with slickness, hydration and nicks.

High quality and cheap are a tough combo to find in a cream. Some swear by Nivea Sensitive Shave Cream in a metal toothpaste style tube, it can be available at some drug stores.

Do you have a brush for lathering the more traditional creams?

This gentlemen may be in need of a PIF! Where are you located? Maybe someone could send you some starter items if you are somewhat close by.

If you are in Canada I can assist.

Best, Jeremy

 

[skibik]

I don't think there are all that many brushless shave creams other than canned lather. If you are looking for something to be applied by hand that is cheap would be canned shave foam. Just go with something that is available. If you have sensitive skin look for a sensitive cream. Before I found traditional style shaving with a DE razor and brush and soap lathering I used Gillette Sensitive shave cream and I really liked it for my skin. I tried Cremo and I had a reaction to it and it basically lit my face on fire. I never got into the more premium brands of canned lather since Gillette worked great.

Here in the forums most users here use the more traditional shave brush and lather. I think you can order canned foam made by Proraso, who makes fine traditional brush type creams and soaps, but a can is $9-10 which is a little high in my book.

A long time ago I saw mention of Kiss My Face shaving cream, I believe that is in a pump and applied by hand. If I recall those that mentioned it gave it good reviews. Not sure of cost of that though.

Edit: One thing I will point out is that before I found this traditional shaving with a double edge single blade razor I had only ever used twin blade disposables. I never got into the latest and greatest 4 and 5 blade cartridge razors that cost an arm and a leg. At the time I also had m Dad's Schick Injector which is a single blade single edge razor and whenever I used it I got not so great blood letting shaves until I found this forum and found out I was using too much pressure with that vintage razor. I used the same pressure as the twin blade razor and the single edge blade was not forgiving. Learn to use the right touch for the razor you are using will help a lot with nicks and irritation.

 

[sarimento1]

Welcome to B&B, Sir adussa3!
Just my 2¢, get yourself a shave brush first, then try that Proraso cream!
After a few shaves, you'll be expert at building a great lather!
And, don't forget to do some sort of prep, such as face wash or pre-shave stuff.
Enjoy the journey!

 

[Juanmosey]

Welcome to B&B, Sir adussa3!
Just my 2¢, get yourself a shave brush first, then try that Proraso cream!
After a few shaves, you'll be expert at building a great lather!
And, don't forget to do some sort of prep, such as face wash or pre-shave stuff.
Enjoy the journey!

View attachment 1855787

This is a good post. Marco should be chiming in soon I would think.

 

[Deano]

C.O. Bigelow, Salter, TOBS are some off the top of my head.

 

[skibik]

If the OP is looking for something to apply by hand and most creams that are mentioned here won't work without a brush. I don't know how many brushless creams are out that are inexpensive/cheap. Only thing would be is the cheaper canned foam like Barbasol or Gillette. You can get more expensive canned foam, Proraso makes some but think at $10 a can it isn't considered cheap in my book.

Barbasol has a 6oz tube of brushless cream for about $7. Did a Google search and there are a number of brushless creams but not many for less than $10.

JMO, but if you are looking for inexpensive and locally available, as I said in my earlier post, try Gillette Sensitive. From the few economic canned foam I used this was by far the best. I never tried the more expensive gels. Or the overpriced multiblade cartridges for that matter.

 

[Hairy Callahan]

Look for tallow based shaving soaps and cremes. Veg based soaps and cremes are water hogs. Useable, sure. Just got to be prepared to hydrate them into oblivion, and keep hydrating. Not a problem if you're only doing a face shave. But if you're combining a headshave with a face shave, drying will be a problem. Go for the tallow. It doesn't dry out as fast.

 

[Ron R]

I like to bowl lather and some excellent creams that come to mind are Taylor of old bond street(TOBS), Cyril R Salter(CRS)
Ach Brito Lavanda. I use to hand lather for over 35 years but brush lathering is much nicer for myself and prefer brush lathering.
There are lots of Croap soap (Semi cream and solid soap combined).

Have some great shaves!

 

[Captain Howdy]

Use more product and add more water, though if you want to apply by hand then try to get some body shop maca root cream. The absolute best cream I've found for hand lathering.

Now, with all that said, as a new person, you should be focusing on exploring blades... Not creams. Far, far more relevant to a good shave.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Get your face and hands wet before applying Cremo. You don't really have to use very much since Cremo is concentrated. Don't worry if you have to add some water, just wet your hand and blend in some more water. A bit of water will make the lather much slicker. The goal is a slick film, not thick clouds of lather.

 

[Juanmosey]

If you're doing a hand apply try Gabel's. I hear it smells like the old Noxzema or Stephan.

 

[mykel]

I'd also suggest shaving oil in addition to your cream. I usually use shaving soap with a brush or when traveling hand soap without a brush, so you may get different results. But if I'm in a arid region, or even home when it's particularly dry, putting oil on my face slows down the soap drying out. It doesn't take much. You can get specialized shaving oil or you can use something as simple (and inexpensive) as olive oil.

 

[abies]

Kiss My Face is a great cream you can lather by hand (aren't most that way though?):

1. My experience is it's pretty reasonably priced in physical stores (as of about a month ago, 10 USD for a bottle that lasts me about a year), but not that many places carry it. Online isn't too expensive on sale but the shipping can add up.

2. It's going to require some water? Everything requires water.

I've never really had problems with KMF drying out if it's lathered well. But then again I imagine it depends on how much time you take.

I've liked Proraso too but haven't used it in a long time. I'd probably use that more often if it were fragrance free.

There's lots of good creams out there but a lot of the ones I can think of offhand are more expensive.

 

[bubbajunk]

Kiss My Face is a great cream you can lather by hand (aren't most that way though?):

1. My experience is it's pretty reasonably priced in physical stores (as of about a month ago, 10 USD for a bottle that lasts me about a year), but not that many places carry it. Online isn't too expensive on sale but the shipping can add up.

2. It's going to require some water? Everything requires water.

I've never really had problems with KMF drying out if it's lathered well. But then again I imagine it depends on how much time you take.

I've liked Proraso too but haven't used it in a long time. I'd probably use that more often if it were fragrance free.

There's lots of good creams out there but a lot of the ones I can think of offhand are more expensive.

Are you in the US? If so, where did you find you could by Kiss My Face? Did you buy at a local retailer, or online?

 

[abies]

Are you in the US? If so, where did you find you could by Kiss My Face? Did you buy at a local retailer, or online?

I am in the US. You can purchase from their website or Amazon. They have sales not infrequently — I wouldn't say constantly but once a month or so? However, their shaving cream isn't always included in the sales.

I bought mine most recently from a local independent grocery, where it sells for the same as online. However, there's no shipping costs with that either. This grocery does replenish it with new stock, so it's not old stock or something. I used to see it at more local groceries, but when they disappeared a couple of years ago for a bit, I noticed most places stopped carrying them.

One thing about their online store is they call it "shave lotion" which is sort of strange to me, because it's really more of a traditional lathering cream. It is pretty concentrated but it's not like Cremo or something (if you're familiar with that). I think the bottle just says "moisture shave".

 

[Coler]

Proraso Red is really lovely. Great price. Nice soft, moisturised finish with the shea butter as an ingredient.

 

[bubbajunk]

I bought mine most recently from a local independent grocery, where it sells for the same as online.

Thanks, I used to see it at Jewel-Osco in the Chicago area. Just curious, which local grocery store carries it?

 

[StewB]

Get a fingertip sprayer and keep it hydrated.