Chamois Butter

[OakLeaf]

Eek Sarah, I guess I never read the label closely!

So tell me about Beljum Budder. How does it compare in consistency, protectiveness, greasiness, washability to products I know: Chamois Butt'r, Aquaphor, Assos, Crotch Guard, A&D?

I do try to avoid parabens and SLS's, but I'll be honest... if the choice is taking my chances with endocrine disruptors vs. being hamburger "down there" as I was constantly before Chamois Butt'r vs. not riding at all, I'll choose the parabens.

And... who's got a jar of Assos chamois cream handy to tell us what's on the ingredient list? It's not on their website. What is on their website is the instruction to "avoid intimate areas" when applying... where the heck else are we supposed to apply it???

[Eden]

What is on their website is the instruction to "avoid intimate areas" when applying... where the heck else are we supposed to apply it???

I've never used Assos, but I've heard that it contains menthol or something like it - if you accidently get it on your softer parts it can be ummmm tingly......

[SadieKate]

I looove Assos cream. It just feels a bit, um, cool. Not really tingly though I have heard people describe it that way.

[Pedal Wench]

I usually use Assos. I had some samples of Beljum butter that I really liked, I just can't find them locally. We're sponsored by Asmaster, and I like their stuff too. It's a bit lighter than the others, so better for me on shorter rides.

[GLC1968]

I use Assos. I've tried others, but Assos is the only one that I find continues to work for extended periods (without the need to reapply) and that washes out completely. It has witch hazel in it, so it does have a bit of a cooling effect. It did tingle the first few times I used it, but I no longer notice it. This stuff was actually recommended to me by a woman rider precisely because of the witch hazel which has a bit of a bacterial fighting effect.

I basically only need it if I've been off the bike for awhile (so I've lost a bit of my 'toughness' down there) or if I'm doing a ride that is significantly longer than usual. I really prefer it for any ride of 60 miles or longer, no matter how much I've been riding.

It is different for everyone though. I know plenty of women who don't use it all all (men, too). I think, like the saddle, it's a matter of body geometry and personal preference.

[OakLeaf]

So what's in the Assos ingredients list? Are there parabens, quaternary ammonium compounds or other nasties?

[RolliePollie]

Not a fan of Chamois Butt'r myself. It irritates my nether regions. Maybe the lanolin? I just use a generous amount of baby lotion on my chamois. My favorite is Aveeno and my second favorite is Baby Magic. For long rides, I also slather myself up with Astroglide.

[GLC1968]

I was about to reply that I'd check the ingredients when I got home, when I remembered that I had a canister in my locker here at work!

Oh, here is the list:

Deonized water, glycerine, propylene glycol, decyl oleate, polydecene, which hazel extract, almond oil, soribitan stearate, menthol, cyclomethicone, oak bark extract, methylparaben, retinyl palminate, BHA.

I copied this directly from the jar, and it makes me snicker that they spelled it 'which hazel'.

And clearly the 'cooling' is partly from the menthol as well as the witch hazel.

[sundial]

I've never used Assos, but I've heard that it contains menthol or something like it - if you accidently get it on your softer parts it can be ummmm tingly......

AHA! Wait until hubby gets home.

I use Chamois Butt'r and the only chafing I get is in the creases, where my pantyline runs (if I had them on under the shorts). 'Course I have full thighs and if I could get rid of my cellulite of steel, I probably wouldn't have the chafing to start with.

[aicabsolut]

I also use Assos. I tend to follow the instructions (particularly on the less slippery foam and not so elastic chamois pads) and apply it to the shorts when still wet after washing. I find that it does seem to soften up the fabric surface. Then, I apply some to my skin pre-ride, but it doesn't take as much. Except in the brutally hot and humid summer months, where I just slather the stuff on. It's cool feeling and temporarily tingly. Never any burning sensation.

I also wanted to add that I heard a rumor that Assos wasn't vegan. I found email correspondence posted from a customer where Assos states that none of its ingredients are animal products or derived from animal products. I'm assuming the parabens then are synthetic if that makes a difference for anyone. I personally like the menthol + witch hazel + almond oil part of it.

I also get horrible heat rashes (prickly heat) on my chest and neck in the summertime. This is kind of unusual, but I found that Assos applied lightly to that area pre-ride helped me avoid or lessen a post-ride breakout--the rash is usually itchy and painful vesicles. I think it's because of the cooling and antibacterial properties. Maybe it also kept the salt from my sweat from chafing me? Anyway, I thought to give it a try for that after looking at prickly heat remedies and noticing that Assos prevented bikini line razor bumps last summer.

[MyLitespeed]

I have been using a combination of Chamois Butt'r, Queen Helene's Cocoa Butter Creme and Bag Balm for years. Still haven't found the "secret" to keep me completely comfortable during the entire ride. Today I decided to go without anything and see how I felt. It wasn't bad, still had some slight irritation but I think it was due to my saddle not being adjusted correctly. My husband had put my saddle slightly higher and forward a few days ago and returned the nose to level, which I didn't realize. If the nose had been tipped slightly down I think I would have had a more comfortable ride. Hopefully Sunday I can ride again (if it doesn't rain) and try my experiment all over again.