Alternatives to Shaving Cream – Money Saving Swap #1

If you’re looking to save money, cutting back on unnecessary purchases is the first step to a bigger bank account. Even small purchases of $2-$5 can add up over the course of a year. And one of those unnecessary items is hiding in millions of bathrooms: shaving cream!

When I first started shaving my legs, I thought shaving cream was a necessity. I delighted in the colorful pink foam and tantalizing scents like “passion flower explosion” (okay, I made that up). In those early years, it felt like a non-negotiable purchase – surely no other alternatives could exist! At some point though, I changed my tune. I remember a magazine article (yes, I also read trashy magazines at the time) where a supermodel claimed she shaved her legs with baby oil. She swore it gave the closest, smoothest shave she had ever experienced! This profound proclamation peaked my interest, and I tried it out a few weeks later. The result? It worked! I was hooked.

Today, I can’t even remember the last time I bought a can of shaving cream. Assuming a modest price point of $4/month, I can confidently say it’s saved me hundreds of dollars over the last several years. If you’re looking to save money and create less waste in the process (goodbye, aerosol!), check out these tried and true alternatives:

• Baby Oil: It’s cheap, it’s moisturizing, and it lasts a long, long time. Lucky for you, it has other uses, too.
• Coconut Oil: Unless you’ve been living under a rock (no judgments!), you’ll know that the world is crazy for coconut these days. Coconut oil has many bath and body uses, including shaving cream. Keep a jar in the shower – it’s great for hair, too! Just make sure to rinse your razor thoroughly, if you don’t, it can get gunky.
• Conditioner: This is my go-to shaving cream substitute. It’s in my shower anyway, fairly inexpensive, and works really well. As an added bonus, you can even enjoy “passion flower explosion” scents if you’d like!

So next time you go to buy a can of shaving cream, stop and ask yourself, is it really necessary? It’s a small switch, but every little bit counts!

By the way, if you’re in quest of a cheap razor, check out Dorco razors! Sure, it’s an off-brand – but surprisingly affordable and well loved on Amazon. I have the Shai razor and love it!

Have you tried any of these alternatives?

This post is part of the Money Saving Swap series. This weekly series will help you make small changes that can add up big time! If you have any requests, let me know in the comments!