First Cream Recommendations

What would be a good shave cream to try as my first?

What would be a good shave cream to try as my first?

Is the title intentionally specific... You want a cream, as opposed to a soap? Creams are great, too. Just want to clarify.

You plan to use a brush, correct... Or are you also looking for a brushless variant?

Some very (VERY) saavy shavers here. You should get some great suggestions.

I use soaps now but back when I first started and used creams this was my favorite at the time. Of course this is going back 2007 or 8 and I'm sure there are others out there but it has stood the test of time that's for sure.

My recommendations are Cyril R. Salter (cheapest at Connaught Shaving) or Nancy Boy. Rounding out my top tier of creams (that are reasonably available) are Crown Shaving and Ach Brito.

I definitely could have been more specific. That's what I get for posting while I am running out the door. Looking for a cream that lathers well in a bowl.

You can't go wrong with Nivea Sensitive - cheap, widely available and excellent to boot.  Very mild scent.   If you want more scent then the Salter creams are excellent as are the GFTs or DRH.  I love L'Occitane Cade cream as well as Tabac and the La Toja (both regular and sensitive).  These are all front of mind for me because I've been using creams all week with the exception of yesterday's T+S Cognac.  Today I used Hemmingway Accoutrements (I keep wanting to call it Hemmingway's Whisky) and its pretty good, great scent but only available from the maker.  There really is a great selection of creams out there, good luck. 

There's always the Wholly Kaw shaving cream that's just been released too

Wholly Kaw Dulci Tobacco cream is best cream used to date. Easily as good as their Siero soaps

I use soaps now but back when I first started and used creams this was my favorite at the time. Of course this is going back 2007 or 8 and I'm sure there are others out there but it has stood the test of time that's for sure.

This made me think of my favorite by them (well, The company who makes CO Bigelow), Proraso Red. Great spicy Sandalwood scent, good performance. Also really cheap stuff.

My recommendation would be stick to soaps. Besides being quicker to lather, performance just doesn't stack up in my experience.

One that is extremely easy to lather in a bowl, has a very pleasant, and is inexpensive is Proraso Red.