First Cream Recommendations

do you want something you can find in a big box store locally or stuff you can buy online from 1 of the various wet shaving vendors?

c.o. bigelow was pretty popular when I was first getting started in wet shaving about 12 years ago and could be found in bath & body works stores, if memory serves me correctly. then you have stuff like Nivea and the real shaving co. creams that could be found in rite aid and other big box stores, as well as crabtree & Evelyn, loccitane, the body shop, etc..

I'm not sure what all is available locally these days though..

do you want something you can find in a big box store locally or stuff you can buy online from 1 of the various wet shaving vendors?

c.o. bigelow was pretty popular when I was first getting started in wet shaving about 12 years ago and could be found in bath & body works stores, if memory serves me correctly. then you have stuff like Nivea and the real shaving co. creams that could be found in rite aid and other big box stores, as well as crabtree & Evelyn, loccitane, the body shop, etc..

I'm not sure what all is available locally these days though..

To add onto the 'local train' here:

A lot of Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores have limited stock of various Art of shaving creams. They aren't typically in tubes, but tubs. Still a cream through and through.

You'll typically pay $30+ for AoS retail, and probably $10-15 from these discount stores. Sometimes these stores are worth a walkthrough.

I agree about the Proraso creams.  If you can find them, then these:


An Israeli cream that I still use occasionally


I purchased this in Amsterdam many years ago and it still works nicely when I choose to use it


If you are interested in a menthol cream

Of course, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo. F. Trumper, Truefitt & Hill (the 3 Ts), and D.R. Harris, which are the big British brands, are all available.

I would tend to agree with those like wyze0ne who prefer a soap to a cream.  However, given that prices of creams, like soaps, are priced from cheap and cheerful to expensive and posh, give in to your curiosity.

I agree about the Proraso creams.  If you can find them, then these:


An Israeli cream that I still use occasionally


I purchased this in Amsterdam many years ago and it still works nicely when I choose to use it


If you are interested in a menthol cream

Of course, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo. F. Trumper, Truefitt & Hill (the 3 Ts), and D.R. Harris, which are the big British brands, are all available.

I would tend to agree with those like wyze0ne who prefer a soap to a cream.  However, given that prices of creams, like soaps, are priced from cheap and cheerful to expensive and posh, give in to your curiosity.

I remember those MEM days, Freddy from the original iteration of DFS!

I agree about the Proraso creams.  If you can find them, then these:


An Israeli cream that I still use occasionally


I purchased this in Amsterdam many years ago and it still works nicely when I choose to use it


If you are interested in a menthol cream

Of course, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Geo. F. Trumper, Truefitt & Hill (the 3 Ts), and D.R. Harris, which are the big British brands, are all available.

I would tend to agree with those like wyze0ne who prefer a soap to a cream.  However, given that prices of creams, like soaps, are priced from cheap and cheerful to expensive and posh, give in to your curiosity.

I remember those MEM days, Freddy from the original iteration of DFS!

So do I, Andrew, and it is still a decent product that I use occasionally.  However, as I mentioned, I now really prefer a good soap to a cream.  You and I have certainly come a long way since those early days of discovery, haven't we?

rzrsharp, I've gone cream crazy this month. Once again it's Marko's fault. I started reading his thread on creams and it got me all jittery to try some. Here's what I've found out.

But before I make up my list, let me mention that I started off my shaving career with creams. They're so easy to lather, and they generally smell terrific, much better than their soap counterparts. But some creams seemed to lack that cushion that protects your skin from the sharp edge of the blade. And since protection is the whole purpose of a soap or cream, I gave most of my first creams away and became a "tallow or nothing" snob. Looking back now after seven years of DE shaving, I think the protection was always there. I just wasn't that good at shaving. Now that my technique has improved, I find most creams every bit as protective as hard soaps.

So where's a good place to begin your odyssey into the world of shaving creams?

Available and effective

1. Proraso (personally, I can't stand the smell of Proraso's creams, but there's no problem with their performance. Made in Italy.)
   
2. Taylor of Old Bond Street (there are over a dozen scents to choose from. Eton College is one of my favorites. Sometimes the lather comes out a bit thinner than I would like. Made in England.)
   
3. Nivea (works wonderfully, but the scent is no more than ho-hum.)
   

Harder to come by but better smelling

1. Geo. F. Trumper (Trumper's hard soaps have hit hard times, but their creams are still excellent. I like Eucris and Rose. Made in England.)
   
2. D.R. Harris (these creams smell slightly better than Trumper. I love Windsor, Arlington, and Rose. Made in England.)
   
3. Cyril Salter (French Vetiver has cult status in the world of wet shaving. It's a smoky, reeking vetiver that will test your resolve to take another breath. If this doesn't sound inviting, there are several other scents to choose from. Made in England.)
   
4. Ach. Brito (the Ach. Brito brand is the less expensive branch of Claus Porto. I like Mogno. Made in Portugal.)
   

Pricey but great smelling

1. Truefitt & Hill (same great lather as Trumper or Harris or Salter, but more complete fragrances. 1805, Grafton, & Apsley are favorites. Made in England.)
   
2. Esbjerg (this is an Austrian cream that usually has to be ordered from the UK or Europe. Vetiver & Orange is popular around here.)
   
3. Claus Porto (same cream as Ach. Brito but bolder, more interesting scents. I like Musgo Real. Made in Portugal.)
   
4. L'Occitane en Provence (I love their Cade cream. Their hard puck of the same soap was recently reformulated and now it doesn't perform too well. Made in France.)
   
5. Fitjar Islands (mildly scented but ever so clean and easy. I like them all. These creams are made in Norway.)
   

There are many other well known, well loved creams to choose from. You may want to research a few of these: Tabac cream, Omega, Palmolive, La Toya, Ingrams, Godrej. They're all affordable and easy to get major online shopping sites or specialized shaving/razor vendors. Pricier creams, mostly imported from Europe, usually have to be ordered from specialized vendors. You may want to look at Alvarez Gomez, Baume.be, Castle Forbes, or Acqua di Parma. 

Very informative. Thank you!

The best for me and ironically the cheapest are the Coate's creams. They have six scents: lime, rose, lavender, tea tree, almond, and sandalwood. The last two were virtually scentless, but the others have held their scent.
Slick and protective as you could want.
They often get forgotten bc they have been discontinued, but still available.

rzrsharp, I've gone cream crazy this month. Once again it's Marko's fault. I started reading his thread on creams and it got me all jittery to try some. Here's what I've found out.

But before I make up my list, let me mention that I started off my shaving career with creams. They're so easy to lather, and they generally smell terrific, much better than their soap counterparts. But some creams seemed to lack that cushion that protects your skin from the sharp edge of the blade. And since protection is the whole purpose of a soap or cream, I gave most of my first creams away and became a "tallow or nothing" snob. Looking back now after seven years of DE shaving, I think the protection was always there. I just wasn't that good at shaving. Now that my technique has improved, I find most creams every bit as protective as hard soaps.

So where's a good place to begin your odyssey into the world of shaving creams?

Available and effective

1. Proraso (personally, I can't stand the smell of Proraso's creams, but there's no problem with their performance. Made in Italy.)
   
2. Taylor of Old Bond Street (there are over a dozen scents to choose from. Eton College is one of my favorites. Sometimes the lather comes out a bit thinner than I would like. Made in England.)
   
3. Nivea (works wonderfully, but the scent is no more than ho-hum.)
   

Harder to come by but better smelling

1. Geo. F. Trumper (Trumper's hard soaps have hit hard times, but their creams are still excellent. I like Eucris and Rose. Made in England.)
   
2. D.R. Harris (these creams smell slightly better than Trumper. I love Windsor, Arlington, and Rose. Made in England.)
   
3. Cyril Salter (French Vetiver has cult status in the world of wet shaving. It's a smoky, reeking vetiver that will test your resolve to take another breath. If this doesn't sound inviting, there are several other scents to choose from. Made in England.)
   
4. Ach. Brito (the Ach. Brito brand is the less expensive branch of Claus Porto. I like Mogno. Made in Portugal.)
   

Pricey but great smelling

1. Truefitt & Hill (same great lather as Trumper or Harris or Salter, but more complete fragrances. 1805, Grafton, & Apsley are favorites. Made in England.)
   
2. Esbjerg (this is an Austrian cream that usually has to be ordered from the UK or Europe. Vetiver & Orange is popular around here.)
   
3. Claus Porto (same cream as Ach. Brito but bolder, more interesting scents. I like Musgo Real. Made in Portugal.)
   
4. L'Occitane en Provence (I love their Cade cream. Their hard puck of the same soap was recently reformulated and now it doesn't perform too well. Made in France.)
   
5. Fitjar Islands (mildly scented but ever so clean and easy. I like them all. These creams are made in Norway.)
   

There are many other well known, well loved creams to choose from. You may want to research a few of these: Tabac cream, Omega, Palmolive, La Toya, Ingrams, Godrej. They're all affordable and easy to get major online shopping sites or specialized shaving/razor vendors. Pricier creams, mostly imported from Europe, usually have to be ordered from specialized vendors. You may want to look at Alvarez Gomez, Baume.be, Castle Forbes, or Acqua di Parma. 

Hi Bouki , I’m happy to be of service   Thanks for the great summary of shaving creams.

Truefitt & Hill
Castle Forbes
Acqua di Parma.
La Toja Shaving Cream, Sensitive Skin
Palmolive

Creams don’t work as well as a great soap though..