Shaving soap vs cream, which one is the best? What differentiates them from each other? Such an argument has been going around for centuries since the existence of wet shaving. They both do their job of giving a smooth and safe shave. Still, which to choose depends upon their usage and your experience and preferences.
However, for a beginner, it can be challenging to choose only one. There are different products to choose from and not to mention the various recommendations from friends and family. It creates even more confusion.
This post is about shaving soap vs. cream to help those going for wet shaving rather than shaving machines. It will include pros and cons, types, and how to use shaving soap and cream to help you choose the best one.
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Shaving soap vs. cream
Shaving cream
Shaving cream is probably the most used product for shaving than shaving soap. As it is more convenient and easy-to-use, many people pick it as a favorite. It is softer, produces a rich lather efficiently, and comes in a tube. Since it has water in it, it creates more lather quickly. With its creamy lather, it moisturizes and protects your skin from rashes and irritation when shaving. Still, some people may experience some minor rashes and irritation because of their sensitive skin.
Plus, shaving cream doesn’t cost much. If you go for high-quality shaving cream, you need to add extra few dollars. Because of its creamy and thick leather, shaving becomes easier. It helps the razor to slide smoothly across your neck and face when shaving, saving you from cuts, and giving you a clean shave. Moreover, it comes with a pleasant fragrance.
Most importantly, do not go for low-quality shaving cream as it contains chemical ingredients that can harm your skin. But not every shaving cream is harmful.
Types of shaving cream
Shaving cream mainly comes in two different variants: traditional and canned.
A traditional shaving cream comes in a tube with pre-lathered cream. It is water-soluble and has a creamy form, producing a thick lather with a little water.
Canned shaving cream, as its name suggests, contains cream in an aerosol can. Like traditional shaving cream, it also produces a thick and creamy lather.
How to use shaving cream?
You can either use shaving with or without a brush. First, wash your face to make it wet. Then, dip your brush in water to make the bristles soft, saving you from scratches. This way, the brush can absorb more water and produce a thick lather. Now, put some cream on the brush as per your needs and apply it gently to your face in a circular motion. Once the lather is good enough, shave with a razor carefully.
Another way to shave with cream is by using your fingers. You will be shaving with a razor, obviously, but you don’t need a brush. First, wash your face and put some cream on your fingers. Rub the cream on your face in a circular motion as you do with a brush. Then, shave with a razor once thick and creamy lather is produced.
Pros
Some of the advantages of using shaving cream are:
Water-soluble: It already has water in it, so it doesn’t need much water to produce lather.
Thick lather: Since shaving cream is pre-lathered cream, it produces a thick and creamy lather.
Quick and easy: It is quick and easy to apply as you can use it with your fingers.
Natural ingredients: Most of the shaving cream are made from natural ingredients like aloe vera, natural oils to protect your skin. It moisturizes your skin.
Convenient: Shaving cream is readily available anywhere.
Fragrance: The fragrance it produces stays longer, giving you a pleasant smell after shaving.
Better protection: Since it is usually made from natural ingredients, it provides better protection to your skin.
No need for extra equipment: You don’t need additional equipment like a brush to apply shaving cream to your face.
Time-saving: It is time-saving and requires less effort to produce lather.
Cons
Some of the disadvantages of using shaving cream are:
It doesn’t last long: Since it comes in a tube, it is used up faster. You might end up using more shaving cream while shaving.
Expensive: As it uses natural ingredients and comes in a can and tube, it can be costly for some people.
It is not eco-friendly: Most shaving cream doesn’t last long. The tube and can, if not disposed of or recycled correctly, can harm the environment.
Skin problems: Some people may experience skin rashes and irritation initially. It usually happens when you are not used to shaving cream. Some shaving cream may even contain chemicals that might not suit some skin.
Some of the best shaving cream for men
It can be hard to select a shaving cream since you can find varieties of shaving cream in the market. So, here are some of the best shaving cream to make it easier for you to choose.
- Cremo Original Shave Cream
- Barbasol Thick & Rich Original Shaving Cream
- Bevel Shave
- Cremo Classic Shave Cream
- Bulldog Skincare
- Lab Series Cooling Shave Cream
- Gillette Pure
- Fulton and Roark Shave Cream
Shaving Soap
Like shaving cream, shaving soap is used for shaving but is hard and semi-hard. It doesn’t come with pre-lathered cream. It softens your facial hair before shaving with a razor, making it easier for you to shave. After shaving, it gives you smooth and elegant skin. Unlike shaving cream, it comes in a wrapped bar and a box.
Moreover, shaving soap usually contains glycerin as an ingredient to keep your skin hydrated and provide nourishment to your skin. Because of its slippy nature, the razor slides more smoothly than shaving cream. However, you need a brush to lather up since it comes in a solid form.
Interestingly, shaving soap had slowly faded away because of the increasing popularity of shaving creams and gel. Fortunately, it came into the radar of people again, and now its use is rising. The wet shaving helped shaving soap to rise again.
Types of shaving soap
Generally, there are two types of shaving soap: glycerin-based soap and triple-milled soap.
Glycerin-based shaving soap contains glycerin in it, which is good for your skin. It is cheaper, softer, and doesn’t last long, unlike triple-milled soap.
Triple-milled shaving soap is a higher quality soap that produces dense and richer lather than glycerin-based soap. It goes through a mill three times to make it harder and create a thick lather, so the name triple-milled soap.
How to use shaving soap?
Unlike shaving cream, you absolutely need a brush. First, you need to dip the brush to make the bristles soft. Then, rub your brush on the soap in a circular motion so that soap is stuck on the brush. Do this for 30-45 seconds or until dense lather appears. Then, gently apply it to your face evenly in a circular motion. That way it will create a more creamy lather. Once your face is covered with foam, shave with a razor.
Pros
Some advantages of using shaving soap are:
Better lather: Shaving soap produces a better lather than shaving cream. Sometimes, there is a tie between them.
Last longer: Shaving soap is thicker than shaving cream, so it lasts longer.
Better protection: It produces thick lather, giving you an extra layer of protection from cuts when saving.
Less expensive: Usually, shaving soap is cost-efficient. However, the price is more or less like shaving cream. High-quality shaving soap can be costly for some people, though.
Fewer skin problems: It also uses natural ingredients to have fewer skin problems like less irritation and rashes.
Cons
Some drawbacks of using shaving soap are:
Not easy-to-use: It can be difficult for you to use it initially since you need to use a brush for almost 30-45 seconds to get a dense lather.
Time-consuming: It is hard and comes in solid form, so it takes time to get thick foam, unlike shaving cream.
The fragrance fades quickly: The scent in a shaving soap fades away quickly.
You need extra equipment: You need additional equipment like a brush to shave. You might also need to buy a container to store shaving soap safely.
Some of the best shaving soap for men
Like shaving cream, you have tons of shaving soap to choose from. So, here are some of the best shaving soap for men.
- The Art of Shaving Soap
- Proraso Shaving Soap
- Van Der Hagen Scented Shave Soap
- Viking Revolution Store Shaving Soap
- Haslinger Schafmilch Shaving Soap
- Henry Cavendish Himalaya Shaving Soap
- Sir Hare Premium Shaving Soap
- Gentleman Jon Sandalwood Shave Soap
Shaving soap vs. cream: Points to remember
Shaving soap and cream has its advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, which is ideal for you comes down to your preferences. Some may choose shaving cream, and some lean towards shaving soap. So, how to choose the best one? Which one is suitable and best for you?
Choosing the best one depends on many factors, like convenience, ease of use, skin types, lather, etc. Too much confusion, right? Don’t worry. Here are some points to make it easier for you to decide.
- If you are a beginner, then we recommend you to go for shaving cream. It is much easier to use than shaving soap.
- If the price isn’t the issue, you can choose either of them. You pay more for high quality. Yet, you can select shaving soap as they are cost-efficient.
- Some people have sensitive skin, so they can suffer from minor skin problems. At the same time, some are allergic to fragrance as well. If it is the case, then we recommend you go for a shaving soap.
- If you don’t care about the scent, then you can go for shaving soaps. The fragrance lasts longer in shaving cream.
- Both shaving cream and shaving soap offer smooth and clean shave as well as better protection. However, if you want extra slick and safety, you can go for shaving soap.
- If time is an issue for you, then we recommend you to choose shaving cream.
- If you shave regularly, then go for a shaving soap. A shaving soap lasts longer than shaving cream. Shaving cream tends to dry quickly if not used for a long time.
- If you travel frequently, then we recommend you to choose shaving cream. It doesn’t take time to lather up, and you can easily shave faster than shaving soap.
- If you are anxious about the environment, then choose saving soap. Since shaving cream finishes faster than shaving soap, the tube can cause harm to the environment if not disposed of properly.
So, who is the winner of the “Shaving soap vs. cream”? Shaving cream is the best choice for a beginner. But, it doesn’t mean that shaving soap is not ideal for you. If you look at the points above, it is a win-win situation. They both have their own pros and cons. Both of them are best on their own.
In the end, it comes down to your needs and preferences. Whichever you choose will be the suitable one for you. If possible, try out both the products and select the best one.
Both of them provide a perfectly clean shave. So, which one are you choosing?