# What IS shaving gel?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shaving-gel/49202>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 9, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shaving-gel/49202 "2001-01-09T20:00:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@elite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elite)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shaving-gel/49202/1 "2001-01-09T20:00:17Z")

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Seriously! Why does shaving gel come out of the can as a gel but when rubbed, it foams!? What is it that causes this?

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**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shaving-gel/49202/2 "2001-01-09T22:17:18Z")

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Because it’s formulated to do just that. Think of “soft soap” as compared to bar or powdered soap.

This site gives a full chemical breakdown and explanation of the ingredients in Gillette’s brand of shaing gel:

[http://neon.chemistry.ox.ac.uk/course/ityeartwo/html2/GILLETTESHAVINGGEL.htm](http://neon.chemistry.ox.ac.uk/course/ityeartwo/html2/GILLETTESHAVINGGEL.htm)

My guess, based on the explanations, is that the Glycereth-26 and the PEG-150 distearate are what gives the product its gel properties while the Lauramide DEA causes the gel to foam when rubbed on the face (or wherever).