Review (5/5): Cremo is great, but different
I note some of the negative reviews here with interest. I am not sure that they are written in good faith, but on the assumption that they are, one complaint that I can relate to is that Cremo does not lather and that it does not shave as well as some other shaving soaps and creams. I initially had a similar reaction when I first started to use Cremo but that changed with experience, as I relate below.
I have to feel that these negative reviews are probably due to the user not knowing how to work with the product and not knowing what to expect. Cremo is not a high lathering (or even much of a low lathering) cream. If used correctly (or even incorrectly for that matter) you will definitely not get a nice white Barbasol cloud of foam on your face. What you will get is a very light, essentially transparent, coating of highly slick lubricant. And that is the other thing: with Cremo you need to use a lot (I mean a lot) of water. In fact you need to use a ratio of something like 20:1 water to product. The more water, the better, even if you think you are using so much that you are essentially washing the product off your face (you aren't). This stuff is very highly concentrated.
As stated above, I am somewhat sympathetic to the negative reviews since it took me a while to warm up to Cremo myself. But once I learned that 20:1 ratio then it all came together. And remember to re-splash water on your face between shaving with the grain and against the grain. In fact, I typically re-apply some water just going to the other side of my face. You really cannot apply too much water.
Just to spell it out, here is how to use it. Squeeze out about a half to three quarters inch of the stuff onto the tips of your fingers. Dab a little on both cheeks and then the rest on your neck. Rub into the skin (your face should already be wet). Then wet your hands with water and rub in again. Then repeat that. At this point you are ready to give it a go. If things don't seem slick enough yet, wet your hands again and rub in again. (You get the idea.)
So now that I know how to use it, what do I think of it? I think it is as good as anything out there - and I am comparing it against expensive English shave soaps, not canned foams and gels (which are clearly inferior). If you use it correctly it does provide an extremely slick surface for your razor to ride on. Remember: water!
(And just for the record, I don't work for the company, don't have any financial interest in the company, nor do any of my family or friends. These negative reviews prompted me to write this.)