Shaving Creams Versus Shaving Soaps - How Long Do They Last?

Mark, England 24 May 2012

Q: I have two questions I would appreciate your help with please.

1) Like many wet shavers I like trying out new shaving soaps and shaving creams. During my time wet shaving I've managed to compile a good stock of products. Given how little is required for a shave what I have will take me about another 3 years to use. Do these products have a limited shelf life before they go "off"?

2)  What is the best way to clean and care for your DE Safety Razors?

Keep up the good work! 

A:

1) Most creams and soaps if they contain parabens will last 3-4 years, without parabens maybe 2 years at best. Parabens are chemicals that are used to preserve the life of some foodstuffs and some cosmetics. I have seen a 40 year old Old Spice Soap which had been stored in a cardboard box in dry conditions and it looked and smelled like it could still be used today so there are no hard and fast rules, I guess if it looks OK and still smells OK it's good enough to use.

2) DE Razors should be gently washed in warm soapy water every week or two. I use a soft nail brush to get into the difficult to reach areas to get rid of soap build up. If you live in a hard water area, steep your razor in warm water adding a few drops of white vinegar to the water to help neutralise the water and put a lovely shine on the metal. Avoid chemical based metal cleaners and all abrasives, the plating on your razor is very thin so gentle cleaning with warm soapy water is far better than anything else.