Brushless Cream (or soap)

I started a sidebar discussion in the Restraint 2023 thread about a brushless Cream but I thought it best to move the discussion. It's not going to help anyone avoid purchases if the topic devolves into "here's an awesome item you gotta buy'".

So, I've been looking around and researching a brushless cream for those few / rare times I'll want a super-minimal dopp kit in travel. Figure I could grab a Guard razor (India), an alum block, and the brushless soap and have a small usable travel kit.

Fwiw, I've been leaning towards Proraso Green, under the label CO Bigelow (as they make a travel size there). It works brushless or with. It is classic and time-honored (proven?). Also, for a bit more money, I've read the same about Musgo creams. Really, any cream probably works brushless. Nonetheless, for some reason, folks choose to speak about certain ones.

Additionally, Nero suggested Caseell-Massey as a great choice.

Any additional suggestions on a good choice? I probably won't buy anything until April ... Maybe May. So I got plenty of time for research, etc..

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So, I've been looking around and researching a brushless cream for those few / rare times I'll want a super-minimal dopp kit in travel. Figure I could grab a Guard razor (India), an alum block, and the brushless soap and have a small usable travel kit.

Fwiw, I've been leaning towards Proraso Green, under the label CO Bigelow (as they make a travel size there). It works brushless or with. It is classic and time-honored (proven?). Also, for a bit more money, I've read the same about Musgo creams. Really, any cream probably works brushless. Nonetheless, for some reason, folks choose to speak about certain ones.

Any additional suggestions on a good choice? I probably won't buy anything until April ... Maybe May. So I got plenty of time for research, etc..
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I think you're on the right track with a cream in a tube. I currently use Proraso Red, La Toja, and Derby (lavender) for this purpose. I've also used Nivea in the past.

The Coates creams are excellent with or without a brush, if you can find them. So are the GFT creams.

I had an unscented cream by Kiss My Face that I picked up at a Whole Foods. It worked well as both brushless and with a brush. But I read somewhere recently that folks aren't seeing that product line anymore in the usual locations.

I had an unscented cream by Kiss My Face that I picked up at a Whole Foods. It worked well as both brushless and with a brush. But I read somewhere recently that folks aren't seeing that product line anymore in the usual locations.

Yeah they pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth for a while. I believe they're making a comeback, but not too many vendors / brick and mortar stores. Probably a sign of the times: it looks like Pacific Shave company is also out of a few stores (Target I believe is one of the big ones).

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There are two types of brushless creams. One are the creams that do not contain any soap or detergents to generate a lather. I have tried a couple of them like Jack Black and Alba Botanica. While they might work for shaving with a cartridge razor, I hated them for traditional razors.

Some latherless creams need to be mixed with water to achieve their potential. Cremo is one such cream. While it can be applied without a brush, it can also be used to develop a pseudo lather. I much prefer shaving soaps, but I do take Cremo with me when I travel. I take a synthetic brush and develop my lather in a coffee cup from the hotel room. When mixed with water, Cremo is incredibly slick. The shave is not as good as I can get with a proper shaving soap, but for travel use, it is adequate.

I’ve had good results and can keep my travel kit small using Ahava Foam-Free Shave Soap and Ethos Body & Face Shave Soap. I don’t need a shave brush using these soaps but when I do the brush goes into a cleaned up plastic spice bottle with holes in top to allow the bristles to dry. Best of luck.

Since you mentioned Proraso, I think the creams would treat you right. That would apply as well to CO Bigelow aka green Proraso eucalyptus/menthol. The creams are better than the Proraso shave soaps in my opinion.

Brushless ?!?!



But where's the fun in that?

Having gotten that out of the way, Cremo is pretty good brushless.
Or as half of a superlather.

I had a sample of this stuff once. 
Anthony Shave Cream, intended to be used brushless.

Amazingly slick, and (if I recall correctly) with a strong peppermint scent. 
Not menthol or eucalyptus, more like the candy canes.

Since you mentioned Proraso, I think the creams would treat you right. That would apply as well to CO Bigelow aka green Proraso eucalyptus/menthol. The creams are better than the Proraso shave soaps in my opinion.

I agree. I have a tub of the cream dried into a soap (Proraso Red). I just liked it better than the tub of soap they sell.

Brushless ?!?!



But where's the fun in that?

Having gotten that out of the way, Cremo is pretty good brushless.
Or as half of a superlather.

I had a sample of this stuff once. 
Anthony Shave Cream, intended to be used brushless.

Amazingly slick, and (if I recall correctly) with a strong peppermint scent. 
Not menthol or eucalyptus, more like the candy canes.

Anthony's? I'll have to look into it. Thanks John!

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