Nothing frustrates me more than standing in front of the counter, early in the morning, discovering that you’ve run out of the last bits of shaving cream in that black-colored tube. With a meeting due in only an hour, you cannot help but grab for the old tube that may still have some shaving cream left.
But. Hold on.
What if that leaves you with red patches, or worse, a facial infection?! You can’t afford that! Does that mean you should be attending the meeting in this shabby condition? Or do you take the risk because you might as well be overthinking? Who’s to say if shaving creams expire even? Or do they?
From one mess into another – now, you do not know which train of thought to follow. Great.
But fret not. We’re here. And we got you covered. Our sole aim is to hush away the second thoughts and provide you with a clear idea about how long does shaving cream lasts – for real.
Table of Contents
Know Your Shaving Cream
Moving forth, let us first get our basics clear. You know, grooming products are quite very similar to one another. And one might as well mistake a shaving gel for shaving cream. Natural, we understand that.
But the reason we ought to get the differences is that each type of shaving product has a unique chemical formulation. Thus, it has its specifics, especially when it comes to expiry dates, suitable skin type, effectiveness, etc.
With that said, know that there are four major subtypes of shaving creams. These include:
- Shaving Foam
- Shaving Gel
- Traditional Shaving Cream
- Latherless Shaving Cream
Now, calm down. We know. Shaving foam is not the same as shaving cream. The two formulations have their differences (and we will discuss them in just a bit), but by the rule of thumb, all of the four types of grooming products given above get classified under shaving creams.
For your ease, you can remember the differences as given below:
Packaging | Consistency | |
|---|---|---|
Shaving Gel | Plastic Bottles | Creamy Leather |
Shaving Foams | Cans | Fluffy Texture |
Latherless Shaving Cream | Tube | Thick Surface |
Traditional Shaving Cream | Tube/Tub | Thick Formula |
Other than that, you can look for a few more signs, such as the fact that shaving gels are more concentrated and traditional shaving creams may require the use of accessories. And, of course, it is always there on the label!
Choosing the Right Shaving Cream
Usually, people give preference to the selection of razors only when it comes to shaving. However, the whole experience can only become enjoyable when both the shaving cream and razor are of good quality.
Here are some factors to assist in the selection of the ideal shaving cream:
Composition
There is no fixed formula or ingredients for making shaving creams. Different brands use different ingredients, which means you need to be extra careful.
Opt for reputable brands that maintain transparency about the ingredients they use in production. The slightest of low-quality ingredients can mess up sensitive skin pretty badly.
Researching about the materials also grants better control of the things that come in contact with your skin and their benefits. Organic ingredients, such as coconut oil, nourish and hydrate your skin.
Brush-Yes or No?
Shaving creams have always had a special bond with those wooden, small brushes. Well, today, you can even find versions that do not use brushes.
The selection of anyone largely depends on your preferences and convenience. Usually, people use brushes to make cream application easy and mess-free.
Odor
The smell of shaving cream might not be a major concern for many. However, it can be troublesome if the odor stays longer than it should.
So, it is better to choose shaving creams that provide a pleasant smell. It will also make your shaving experience good.
Brand Reviews
Customer reviews and feedback are the best sources to know about product quality. The experiences stated in these reviews are quite unbiased and help you determine whether it will be better to invest in the product or not.
Pricing
There are high-end and affordable products in shaving creams as well. You need to select the cream depending on the budget available. Usually, quality shaving creams are slightly more expensive than regular ones.
Shelf-life Math
Generally, most shaving creams last for about 12 or 24 months, which makes a year or two. You will find the exact lifetime of each product given on the packaging.
Usually, it is a value written in a jar-like figure. Also, if the shaving cream is all-natural, it is likely to expire much more quickly as compared to others.
If we consider it in terms of quantity, then you can expect an average pack or tube of shaving cream to give you about 50-67 lathers. The standard quantities that we assume here are:
- Total shave cream in each tube or can: 7 or 8 ounces
- Average shave cream used per lather: 3 – 4 grams
According to this, it could mean 25 – 33 shaves per can or pack, depending on your needs. So, technically, your shaving cream will last less than a month.
Can you use Expired Shaving Creams?
Well, if you’re standing in front of a shelf in a mart, with the last piece of your preferred shaving cream that too with one month past its expiry date – we’ll advise you to place it back.
At this point, it doesn’t matter whether shaving creams are usable after their expiry date. What matters is that you shouldn’t buy an expired one! The others can’t be that bad. Just use the mini buying guide for shaving creams above and explore!
However, if the question popped up in your mind as you stand in the dressing room, then you might as well be in an urgent. Or perhaps, you are not willing to trash the expensive shaving cream that expired, but you hardly ever used it.
Well, in that case, calm down. Expiry dates indicate that the shaving cream should be discarded or not used after that. But there’s a way around the situation.
If it’s only a few days, the chances are that you can still use it. However, we would strictly advise you to test it on a small area of skin first. Check if there are any unusual reactions on your skin, like irritation.
If you haven’t opened the shaving cream at all, then congratulations! There are high chances that you can still easily use it long after it reaches its expiration date as FDA approves.
That’s because unopened beauty and skincare products are not as vulnerable to the bacteria impact. However, you ought to check for the odor, color, and texture of the product before application. In case anything feels fishy, leave it there and then.
Uses of Expired Shaving Creams
Well, here’s the deal. There’s more to expired shaving creams than plain disappointments. And we bet you did not know. Allow us to uncover the hidden hacks.
Chemically, shaving creams comprise triethanolamine. This dirt-cleaning chemical attracts all sorts of dirt particles and grease towards itself.
Hence, one can use it for cleaning ovens, carpets, furniture, rusting faucets, and even paint from the skin. Just apply a generous amount of the expired cream on stubborn stains and scrub it off with a good cleaning brush (even a toothbrush would do!).
Its surfactant properties also make it an excellent cleaner for glasses and mirrors. You can even use it to keeps the old doors from cracking and squeaking.
