Old shavecreams

I recently found a old tub of portals shave cream in the green tub it has to be at least seven years old is it still usable?

 

It might be a little dried up, but it should be fine to use assuming that it doesn't smell rancid. You may want to let a little hot water sit on the top of the cream for a little while to rehydrate it a bit. And/or you may want to lightly scrape off a thin top layer before use.

If it is a tallow-based cream, there's a possibility that it has gone rancid which you can tell just by scent. If that's the case, then do not use.

 

I have several creams that are older then that. Never have had one go bad. Give it a go. If it got a little tight load your brush right off the top of it.

 

I had to give away a bunch of creams which I know I'll never use. I even threw away six creams which had become rock-hard. I think those creams were from 2002.

 

Because creams contain water, they also have preservatives to help resist bacterial growth. No guarantees, but it's possible they are safe. Do a test on your forearm.

 

Do you mean they got hard in the tube Jeff?

 

You know we live in a "hurry-up" world, when a shaving cream from 2002 is called "old". (or ""rock hard" to quote @Yehuda D)]

 

Yeah, it’s usable, like a soft soap.

 

The six which I threw away were totally unusable. Nothing would have made them lather.

 

Oh, I guess I’ve never had one get that far gone.

 

ABC cream will dessicate over time, but it remains just as good as when it was new, which is a thick cream in a tub. When it starts getting stiff, I usually take the lid off and let it make the transition in the fridge until I can lather on the soap. Eventually it will be as hard as a hard soap bit it's still fine.

Cheers, Steve

 

Sorry for such a late reply but perhaps they just dried up. There was just no way to use them.

 

Thanks for the reply!! Hope all is well with you.

 

+1