Gels and Foams
Before I start I'll say up front I am no lover of shaving gels, I find them gunky, over reliant on chemicals and harsh on the skin, if you are going to use one grab something like Clinique’s M Shave Aloe Gel, I’d avoid store own brands and dodgy market stuff as many of them bear ingredients lists that have little resemblence to good quality products that you’d want to put on your face, if you are still using the thick white foam you get from an aerosol then stop now! Leave that stuff alone.

Soaps Traditional soaps come in a wooden or pottery bowl that you can buy soap refills for, they produce a thick whipped creamy lather when used with a decent badger hair brush they contain oils, herbs and plant extracts that not only leave your skin smelling good enough to eat but give a smooth shave and can help with some skin conditions.My favorite, Limes from Geo Trumper contains extract of West Indian limes for normal to oily skin, many makers now produce unscented varieties. I would tend to avoid the stick type soaps (Palmolive being a big brand) as they tend to be hard to get a decent lather with.

Creams A cross between hard soaps and gels, creams contain glycerine which helps to make an exceptionally smooth and creamy lather that holds plenty of water and leaves the skin smooth and soft. You can use your fingers to apply it to your face and lather up with a brush if needed or use it with a shaving bowl/mug to produce a thick lather. Geo Trumper and Taylor’s of Old Bond Street make some top quality creams fragranced with essential oils and extracts and made with natural ingredients, they come in tubes, tubs and jars.

Others

Oils, normal soap and other stuff should be avoided, they can clog pores, cause ingrown hairs or not provide enough lubrication for the blade.

Those not lucky enough to live in a big city where these products can be found easily have a friend in the internet, or search on ebay. There are many online stores that stock good quality products and have low prices.

back to the Shaving page