OakLeaf
02-01-2008, 11:21 AM
After someone mentioned Beljum Budder (http://beljumbudder.com/index.htm) on this board, I had to try it. The folks at the company were kind enough to send me a sample tube, so here's a full (and happy) review.
I'll preface this by saying: I chafe. A lot. I've detailed my issues in gruesome detail in other threads, so I'll just say that the reason I asked for a sample of Beljum Budder before ordering a whole tube is that I was very reluctant to give up my beloved Chamois Butt'r. But I've also been making an effort to eliminate endocrine disruptors like parabens from my life. Not so much for my own health - realistically, I'm too old to worry much about long term health effects - but for the sake of the planet, and not supporting companies that pack their products with dangerous and unnecessary chemicals. So here's my take on paraben-free Beljum Budder.
Applying the cream. Beljum Budder is creamy and light, similar to Chamois Butt'r - slightly heavier than mayonnaise, maybe. Although that image really grosses me out, so if you have the same reaction, forget I said it :) . Like hand cream, eh. It has no added fragrances and has a faint, pleasant scent like massage oil. It tingled very slightly going onto my intimate areas (probably because it contains witch hazel), but this wasn't unpleasant and it was very quickly unnoticeable. On my shorts, it seemed to soak in just enough. It rinsed easily off my fingers, leaving just a very slight oily feeling, again similar to massage oil.
The ride. Thirty-nine miles with no breaks, flat and windy, in the saddle the whole time, just the kind of thing to test anti-chafing measures. I did start to develop a hot spot in one area, but the skin wasn't broken. After I got back, the tender spot seemed dry in comparison to the rest of my saddle area, so maybe a more liberal application of Beljum Budder would've prevented it. (I didn't use the whole 1/3 oz tube.) Generally, I re-apply lube every 30-35 miles, but just didn't have the opportunity today (and I might've skipped it anyhow, just to see how the product performs). In any case, based on this one use, Beljum Budder performed as well as anything I've used before - I don't always get hot spots with Chamois Butt'r, but it does happen.
The shower. As expected, Beljum Budder washed right off with my usual soap and no extra scrubbing.
Laundry: the final frontier. The product is light enough that I didn't hesitate to throw my shorts into the front-loader with the rest of my delicates, even though there seemed to be more visible residue than with Chamois Butt'r. I washed my shorts right ways out, i.e. chamois in (I'm never sure with cycling shorts) on gentle cycle. Cold water (although here in Florida, water comes out of the tap at about 70 F, which would qualify as warm for some washers) with All Free & Clear Small & Mighty detergent (yeah, I know, so much for reducing toxics. Little by little eh). Out of the washer, there's still some visible residue, and the chamois is slightly oily to the touch, but there are no stains on any of the rest of my laundry. Unfortunately, that might not be the case if I were to use a larger amount, or if there's buildup after repeated use.
In summary: washability is the one disappointment, but I'm ordering some as soon as my old supply gets low. Maybe TE can start carrying Beljum Budder.
I'll preface this by saying: I chafe. A lot. I've detailed my issues in gruesome detail in other threads, so I'll just say that the reason I asked for a sample of Beljum Budder before ordering a whole tube is that I was very reluctant to give up my beloved Chamois Butt'r. But I've also been making an effort to eliminate endocrine disruptors like parabens from my life. Not so much for my own health - realistically, I'm too old to worry much about long term health effects - but for the sake of the planet, and not supporting companies that pack their products with dangerous and unnecessary chemicals. So here's my take on paraben-free Beljum Budder.
Applying the cream. Beljum Budder is creamy and light, similar to Chamois Butt'r - slightly heavier than mayonnaise, maybe. Although that image really grosses me out, so if you have the same reaction, forget I said it :) . Like hand cream, eh. It has no added fragrances and has a faint, pleasant scent like massage oil. It tingled very slightly going onto my intimate areas (probably because it contains witch hazel), but this wasn't unpleasant and it was very quickly unnoticeable. On my shorts, it seemed to soak in just enough. It rinsed easily off my fingers, leaving just a very slight oily feeling, again similar to massage oil.
The ride. Thirty-nine miles with no breaks, flat and windy, in the saddle the whole time, just the kind of thing to test anti-chafing measures. I did start to develop a hot spot in one area, but the skin wasn't broken. After I got back, the tender spot seemed dry in comparison to the rest of my saddle area, so maybe a more liberal application of Beljum Budder would've prevented it. (I didn't use the whole 1/3 oz tube.) Generally, I re-apply lube every 30-35 miles, but just didn't have the opportunity today (and I might've skipped it anyhow, just to see how the product performs). In any case, based on this one use, Beljum Budder performed as well as anything I've used before - I don't always get hot spots with Chamois Butt'r, but it does happen.
The shower. As expected, Beljum Budder washed right off with my usual soap and no extra scrubbing.
Laundry: the final frontier. The product is light enough that I didn't hesitate to throw my shorts into the front-loader with the rest of my delicates, even though there seemed to be more visible residue than with Chamois Butt'r. I washed my shorts right ways out, i.e. chamois in (I'm never sure with cycling shorts) on gentle cycle. Cold water (although here in Florida, water comes out of the tap at about 70 F, which would qualify as warm for some washers) with All Free & Clear Small & Mighty detergent (yeah, I know, so much for reducing toxics. Little by little eh). Out of the washer, there's still some visible residue, and the chamois is slightly oily to the touch, but there are no stains on any of the rest of my laundry. Unfortunately, that might not be the case if I were to use a larger amount, or if there's buildup after repeated use.
In summary: washability is the one disappointment, but I'm ordering some as soon as my old supply gets low. Maybe TE can start carrying Beljum Budder.