Help me pick a TSA-friendly shaving cream
November 20, 2019 5:31 PM Subscribe
I have always, since the dawn of time, used Aveeno's aloe-and-vitamin-E shaving cream. Cheaper stuff pisses my skin off real bad, and I've never bothered trying other fancy stuff. But Aveeno doesn't come in a 3.4oz/100ml travel size, and I need one that does. Help me find something comparable that comes in a TSA-friendly size. (I'm only familiar with aerosol. Non-aerosol stuff is okay, but you'll have to explain to me like I'm five how to use it and why it's good.)
When I was a leg shaver, I swore by this Trader Joe's stuff which has a lot of the nice gloopiness that I remember from the Aveeno stuff. It's non-aerosol, but I'm not sure how to explain face shaving so I won't try but I'm sure someone else can.
posted by jessamyn at 5:57 PM on November 20, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 5:57 PM on November 20, 2019 [4 favorites]
I use Neutrogena shave cream, which is non-aerosol. While it comes in a non-TSA-friendly size, the liquid can easily be transferred to a smaller bottle, which is what I do.
As far as use goes, it's pretty easy, just squirt about a quarter-sized dollop on your hand and rub it on the area you want to shave. It has a really slick (but not oily) feel, and keeps things slippery while shaving. Just rinse it off when you're done, like you would normally. I've found it helps prevent irritation a lot better than the aerosol gels I've used, and in a pinch I can even go without aftershave.
posted by Aleyn at 6:33 PM on November 20, 2019
As far as use goes, it's pretty easy, just squirt about a quarter-sized dollop on your hand and rub it on the area you want to shave. It has a really slick (but not oily) feel, and keeps things slippery while shaving. Just rinse it off when you're done, like you would normally. I've found it helps prevent irritation a lot better than the aerosol gels I've used, and in a pinch I can even go without aftershave.
posted by Aleyn at 6:33 PM on November 20, 2019
I've used this stuff for a few years. It's good. (Also has a companion aftershave moisturizer if you like.) It's non-aerosol. Just squeeze a bit on to your palm and rub on the appropriate (pre-moistened) body part until you have a smooth coat everywhere you'd like to shave. It'll be less "foamy" than what you're accustomed to but totally good. Then just shave as normal.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:33 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:33 PM on November 20, 2019
Best answer: Second Cremo. My husband gets a really great shave with it and it’s readily available. I’m not sure if it comes in a small container but since it’s a cream you could make your own travel bottle up.
posted by gryphonlover at 6:42 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by gryphonlover at 6:42 PM on November 20, 2019
Non-aerosol shaving cream is pretty close in density to canned shave gel, if you've ever encountered that. It's fluffier than hair conditioner or toothpaste, but denser than classic white shaving foam or whipped topping. I'm now uncertain if people are using aerosol shaving cream in some way I don't know about - I've used both, plus aerosol shave gel, shave lotion, plain old hair conditioner (doesn't stick as well as shaving product, but is very slick), and I think a shaving bar/soap that Lush made that I thought was too much work but otherwise all those products are nearly the same to me, they just stuck to me slightly better or worse.
IF your skin is that sensitive, though, and you are going somewhere you could reasonably swing by a drugstore (or probably a grocery store?) to pick up what you know, or have some delivered to your destination, that might be preferable.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:48 PM on November 20, 2019
IF your skin is that sensitive, though, and you are going somewhere you could reasonably swing by a drugstore (or probably a grocery store?) to pick up what you know, or have some delivered to your destination, that might be preferable.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:48 PM on November 20, 2019
I just use regular handsoap, just lather it a bit by rubbing my hands before spreading it on my face. Works fine! I mostly use Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap (an inexpensive brand from India) but have found most hand soaps work.
posted by anadem at 6:51 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by anadem at 6:51 PM on November 20, 2019
I always liked 'King of Shaves' gel, but you'd have to put it in TSA sided container. It's a bit like putting 'lube' on your face, doesn't foam that much, and if it dries out a bit just smear your face with wet hands. I hate shaving because my face feels hurt most of the day, but KoS was better than Aveeno IMHO. Try to find a Euro version if you can, the US version is a bit inferior.
I've also has luck with just a bar of Castile soap which is just olive oil with just enough stuff to make it soap. Or just oil and water.
posted by zengargoyle at 7:21 PM on November 20, 2019
I've also has luck with just a bar of Castile soap which is just olive oil with just enough stuff to make it soap. Or just oil and water.
posted by zengargoyle at 7:21 PM on November 20, 2019
I used to use that same product, until ran out one day, found myself in a pinch, and decided to try the Aveeno bodywash I was already using. It worked great and I never went back. It's nice to my skin, and is one less product to clutter up my shower and have to remember to buy. I don't know if the Aveeno bodywash comes in travel sizes, but because it's liquid, it's easy to transfer into a TSA-approved travel container.
Lush's Ambrosia is a similarly sensitive skin-friendly liquid, is a little thicker and more opaque so will behave a little more like the aerosol you're used to, and definitely comes in a travel size.
As for how to use: pour some into your hand. Smooth it onto your skin, but don't rub it in like you would with lotion. Shave as usual. The downside, at least for the Aveeno bodywash, is that it's pretty transparent once it's on your skin, so you don't have that striking visual indicator of which bits of skin you've already gone over. But I manage without it.
posted by rhiannonstone at 8:26 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Lush's Ambrosia is a similarly sensitive skin-friendly liquid, is a little thicker and more opaque so will behave a little more like the aerosol you're used to, and definitely comes in a travel size.
As for how to use: pour some into your hand. Smooth it onto your skin, but don't rub it in like you would with lotion. Shave as usual. The downside, at least for the Aveeno bodywash, is that it's pretty transparent once it's on your skin, so you don't have that striking visual indicator of which bits of skin you've already gone over. But I manage without it.
posted by rhiannonstone at 8:26 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Put your shaving cream in a travel sized container
posted by rdr at 8:49 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rdr at 8:49 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have to travel with a lot of toiletries, and I have to say: it's just easier to check a bag most times. Just something to consider. If you do this, pack carefully and put the liquids inside two layers of waterproof bag/container.
posted by amtho at 9:43 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 9:43 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
Long ago I started using Cuticura soap to shampoo my hair, because everything else dried my scalp and caused problems. Turns out it makes a dynamite shaving soap too. Working up a lather in my hands takes seconds, and it's as good as any shaving cream. A bar lasts for weeks and is small and easily carried. I haven't used anything else in years.
posted by wjm at 3:27 AM on November 21, 2019
posted by wjm at 3:27 AM on November 21, 2019
I recently joined the Cremo cult and can vouch for the awesomeness.
posted by Twicketface at 5:32 AM on November 21, 2019
posted by Twicketface at 5:32 AM on November 21, 2019
Response by poster: OK I have signed myself up for the Cremo cult, let's see how this goes.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:39 AM on November 21, 2019
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:39 AM on November 21, 2019
I changed to Shave Secret shaving oil after decades of different lathers, aerosols, soaps, creams, unguents, lubricants, etc. Total game changer. Shaves are close, smooth, I can go against the grain with no problem at all. Anything with soap left my face dry and very irritated. This oil greatly reduces the irritation and moisturizes. A great find, seriously. The eensy tiny TSA-friendly bottle lasts about two months, can travel anywhere, smells great. I finish with a little Neutragena aftershave. The link goes to their website, but you can buy it at Walmart for about half the price they have there.
I cannot convey how much of an improvement this has been over *every* other option. For less than $4, I hope you'll give it a try.
posted by conscious matter at 8:56 AM on November 21, 2019
I cannot convey how much of an improvement this has been over *every* other option. For less than $4, I hope you'll give it a try.
posted by conscious matter at 8:56 AM on November 21, 2019
I had a bit of trouble procuring Cremo at retail, finally found it at a Bed, Bath, & Beyond, which has a huge selection of travel toiletries. The label claims that you need roughly 2mL per shave but I use a lot less than that. A pea-sized amount or less. It's astonishingly slick.
posted by wnissen at 9:33 AM on November 21, 2019
posted by wnissen at 9:33 AM on November 21, 2019
Response by poster: Yup, Cremo is doing the job — buying it in big tubes because it's cheaper, and reglorping it into little travel bottles. Thanks, everyone.
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:42 AM on February 18, 2020
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:42 AM on February 18, 2020
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