Recommendations for best value old style shaving cream / soap

[Deleted User]

I recently switched from multiblade cartridges to a DE safety razor. There was a bit of outlay in finding a razor / blade combo that really suits me, but now that's done it should be saving all the way, and the shave quality is hugely improved. I'm now trying to settle on a cream / soap that both my skin and my wallet will tolerate.

So far I've tried the obviously cheap option of Wilkinson Sword's soap-in-a-bowl. That's looking like it would probably work out cheaper than even Aldi's crappy goop-in-a-can products, but my eczema-prone skin is starting to take a dislike to it. I've switched to Palmolive shaving cream which is superb in all respects and if bought in bulk reduces the price per tube to just over £2 but I've still to discover how long a tube will last.

Any old-school DE or straight razor shavers got any recommendations for a soap / cream that works out as really good value long term? I've even seen some articles on how to make your own from Dove soap (or Aldi equivalent?) and a bit of added glycerine - anybody tried that?

millie

My OH uses Palmolive Shaving Stick and a brush (the old fashioned way) The shaving stick costs 75 pence from Savers. It seems to last him for quite a long time

Tom99

I have the bowl from a soap-in-a-bowl bought years ago. I cut the corners off the small imperial leather soap bars and shove it in the bowl. Dove would work just the same.

Whitefiver

millie wrote: »

My OH uses Palmolive Shaving Stick and a brush (the old fashioned way) The shaving stick costs 75 pence from Savers. It seems to last him for quite a long time

Palmolive is by far and away the best value shaving soap that is readily available. Rub on face, whip up a lather with a decent wet brush, and you're away.


Others are better, but not on the high street (generally).

[Deleted User]

Sounds like Palmolive's stick could be a winner. I saw praise for it in various forums a while back but had forgotten about it. Seems I can get it locally for 75p from Superdrug. Comparing that weight for weight against say Wilkinson Sword's 125g bowl, it wins out easily and given that my skin is fine with the cream there's a good chance it'll be fine with the soap stick too.

Cheers everyone!

Mr_Singleton

Another vote for Palmolive.... I use the tube with a cutthroat.

coffeehound

^ Hardcore

Cella soap is reckoned to be very good for sensitive skin, though I've not tried it. Available in hard soap or creme



I found even Palmolive stick irritated my useless skin. I only wet shave once a fortnight these days with a DE razor, but tend to use one of the 'craft' bar soaps such as Little Soap Co or Faith In Nature from Boots as shaving soap. Nice rich slidey lather:

DigForVictory

It's worth letting your family know you're exploring as you'll get a range of shaving soaps etc for birthday etc.

Also House of Fraser are relaunching their stuff so a lot of their current stock is discounted to make way for the new stuff.

I bought a tub of Trumpers sandalwood for eldest, which persuaded his brothers they needed to shave too...


It isn't very MS but yet gods it cossets you & makes you a great deal more fun to snuggle up to. (Speaking as mother wife & girlfriend - a proper wet shave with a DS razor is hands down more pleasant to be on the snuggling side of!)

If sandalwood doesn't seem "you" coconut, lime, Spanish leather - go in to a proper supplier & indulge your senses. OK, not your wallet initially & maybe not your skin but experimentation is the only way.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone. The Palmolive cream gave me a rash after a few days but that's not to say the shave stick will, and at 75p it's worth a punt. I'll give Boots shave stick a go too, then if necessary work up to the more expensive options, I've read Proraso white might be worth a shot. Definitely like the idea of dropping hints to the family too

Update: I got myself a couple of Palmolive sticks and wow... no reaction thus far and the performance (once I've worked enough water into it) is really good. Certainly crazily good value at only 75p! Thanks again for all the suggestions