Shaving soap or shaving cream? Start with how you want to build the lather. You can keep the routine simple or make the brush work part of it.
You do not need to buy both to get started. Choose the format you want to use and pay attention to how your skin feels.
How our shaving soap and cream differ
With our Artisan Line Shaving Soap, you use a wet brush to load the soap and work up a lather. That makes it a fit for someone who wants a brush-and-soap routine.
Our Shaving Cream builds lather by hand or with a brush. If you do not want to start with a brush, that gives you another way in.
| What matters to you | Artisan Line Shaving Soap | Shaving Cream |
|---|---|---|
| How to build lather | Load a wet brush with soap, then work the lather | Work the cream into lather by hand or with a brush |
| Tools | A shaving brush for the soap routine | A brush is optional |
| Why choose it | You enjoy building lather with a brush | You want the choice of hand or brush application |
Neither format tells you in advance which one your skin will prefer. A richer-looking lather is not a guarantee of a closer or more comfortable shave.
Build the lather you need
For soap: Wet the brush, load it from the soap, and work the lather in a bowl or over the area you are shaving. Adjust with a little water as needed so it spreads rather than sitting dry on the surface.
For cream: Work a small amount into lather with your hands or a wet brush. Spread it over the area you plan to shave. Start small and adjust rather than measuring your routine against somebody else's stopwatch.
Keep lather on the skin while you shave. If you go back over an area, reapply your shaving product first. Follow your razor's directions and use a light touch.
Choose the routine, then the product
If the brush work is part of what you enjoy, choose soap. If hand application appeals to you, choose cream. Neither is a level you have to graduate to.
The amount you use and how often you shave determine how quickly you go through either product. Compare the current price and size, then judge value against your own routine.
Our Aftershave Tonic is an alcohol-based Gunpowder Spice splash if that is the finish you enjoy. It is an optional part of your routine, not a requirement for using soap or cream.
New to double-edge shaving? Start with our beginner safety-razor guide before you build out the kit.