You can get it to lather a little if you really try, but IIRC, the lather is not stable. (It may have changed since I last used it years ago.) It's meant to be a brushless cream. In other words, just rub it on and start shaving.
If it's the cream in a tube, just rub it on . Cremo has come out with a lathering shave cream in a jar. That's meant to be used with a brush.
Cremo makes 2 kinds of shave cream: one in a tube that you just rub on and another in a tub that is meant to lather with a brush. The stuff in the tube is meant to be used brushless and doesnt lather, although you can get it to lather a little bit with a brush. The stuff in a tube is super slick too. The stuff in a tub I find isnt quite as slick as the stuff in the tube, although it lathers a lot better with a brush and unlike the tube, the lather doesnt break down quickly.
Yeah, the tube stuff is meant for just rubbing onto the skin, although I find that in order to get decent coverage, I need a lot more than the dime-sized recommended amount. I may try using my brush to apply smaller amounts just to see if it'll work. The Cooling shave cream out of the tube is AWESOME. The menthol in the cream is enough that my face feels nice and cool long after my shave, making post-shave balm application unnecessary.
I love to mix Cremo Cooling with Barbasol Arctic Chill... a little of each in a bowl and they whip up into great lather. The combo feels fantastic too. Cremo Cooling also whips up a great bowl lather with Williams. I haven't tried the original tube, but do have a tub of the Sandalwood, and I really enjoy the way it lathers.
Desert island? I'd choose to take Cremo Cooling. Love the stuff. Proraso Green is my favorite overall for a "luxurious" straight razor shave, but Cremo Cooling is just so easy to work with, it's my go-to cream when I'm in a hurry and need a comfortable quick shave with a DE razor. I rub it on by hand mostly, but as stated by others, you can use a brush with water and get it to lather a bit. I use a synthetic brush and face-lather it as much as it will fluff. I personally feel that if you take the time to face-lather with a brush, then Cremo does yield an even better shave. Slight, but apparent to me. Although hand application of Cremo is also very good. I have often touted that Cremo combined with an Edwin Jagger DE89 and Feather Blades make a great BBS Shave combo even for a Noob - as long as he/she does not PUSH the razor. You do that and even a mild razor like the Jagger with slickery Cremo will yield razor burn. But Cremo really does help reduce burn, and if you like menthol, the Cremo Cooling is great.
You can use it with a brush, but it doesn't lather much. Works with or without a brush. I can use wet hands and spread a dab of Cremo over my face and start the shave. If the humidity is low, it may dry out before you finish the first pass, but not to worry, just use your wet hand and rub your face again, it will return to a slick state. My favorite way to use Cremo is to use it in combination with another shave cream, (or canned foam or soap), that maybe needs a little help in the slickness department. As mentioned above, canned shave cream, a dab of Cremo, water and a brush makes a great lather. I used it this way this morning. Noxema red can, Cremo menthol, a bit of water and a wet badger brush. Made a very nice lather and slick shave. I found it also improves Poraso creams and canned Barbasol as well.
I have not had a good experience with Cremo. It lathers, but just better than if I use hand soap. I may try mixing it with the Barbasol, to see if that makes any difference. I hope it helps, but my expectations are not very high.
Cremo Cooling and Arctic Chill Barbasol make a great feeling combo, and work into a fantastic lather. Cremo by itself though seems to work into better lather than I've been reading, even with my hard water and cheap little brush. I'm a big fan. I like the Sandalwood tub, too, either alone or with one of the other Barbasols.
I've used and enjoyed both Original and Cooling. Ought to dig them out from the back of my soap storage cabinet. I haven't tried the other two scents yet. I purchased a tube of the (now discontinued) Lady Cremo for a lady friend. When I'm told she's in need of another I'll get both sandalwood and mango-coconut and sample before I pass them on.
