It won't surprise you to learn that Paceline Products Chamois Butt'r Her' is the women's version of the original Chamois Butt'r skin lubricant, which has been soothing and softening men's bits and bottoms since 1993. The Her' cream shares some of the key ingredients – aloe vera to soothe irritated skin, vitamins A and E – but is pH balanced specifically for ladies, so you can put it 'everywhere' and there's no tingling sensation (which you may see as a good or bad thing).
- Pros: Very light scent, light consistency, no tingle
- Cons: Tube unwieldy for on-the-go application, needs reapplying
It also shares the same price as the men's, and is very good value compared to the likes of Assos Chamois Creme Woman, especially considering you can find the 235ml (8 fl oz) tube discounted online for £10.49.
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Her' is designed to make your rides more comfortable by protecting against chafing, and soothing already irritated skin. It does this by lubricating and softening your skin (it contains shea butter, which is a good moisturiser), and although it makes no claims to be anti-bacterial Her' does include tea tree oil, which has proven anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains lavender oil, and when you first apply the cream there's a faint scent of lavender but this soon disappears.
The directions say: 'Apply liberally to skin and/or chamois before each ride. May be applied to any skin areas that rub together or against clothing.' So does it work? I don't generally use chamois cream unless I'm doing multi-day rides, when I have occasionally got saddle sores. The Her' cream does seem to help and reduce friction, although because it is non-greasy and absorbs easily, I did find I needed to reapply it on long days in the saddle, after about three to four hours.
Tass used it on the Deloitte Ride Across Britain and had positive, if inconclusive, results. "I used a different product initially and started developing sore spots after the first two days – conditions were pretty horrendous – and the 'bum doctor team' recommended a post-ride shower, no cream (and no pants!) for the evening, then a thin application overnight. I used Her' for this, and then applied it first thing in the morning, but topped up during the day with a different (more conveniently packaged) product. This kept the soreness at bay, and I really wasn't convinced it would, so I would definitely use it again."
> Read more road.cc reviews of skincare & embrocation products
The plus side to its lighter consistency, compared with some chamois creams – Her' feels like a good-quality hand cream – is that it doesn't make a mess of your chamois pad and washes out very easily. It's formulated to wash out with just soap and water, which is very handy if you're touring and need to wash your shorts by hand in a sink.
Another thing I like about Chamois Butt'r Her' is that it comes in a tube, which feels far more hygienic than dipping your fingers into a pot. The tube is pretty large and heavy – hence the very good value – but no use for carrying on the bike for reapplication on long rides. However, you can buy packs of 9ml single sachets, although these obviously work out more expensive.
Verdict
Non-greasy, fragrance-free and non-tingly cream at a good price, if not that long lasting
Make and model: Paceline Chamois Buttr Her
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Chamois Butt'r website states: "Chamois Butt'r Her' is a non-greasy skin lubricant developed specifically for women's pH by a female sports medicine physician in cooperation with professional women cyclists. It immediately improves riding comfort & soothes already chafed or irritated skin. Her' utilizes premium ingredients including aloe vera, green tea leaf extract, tea tree oil, shea butter, & lavender oil for their naturally occurring beneficial properties. All Chamois Butt'r products are safe for women and men.
"Apply liberally to skin and/or chamois before each ride. May be applied to any skin areas that rub together or against clothing. Apply to skin to soothe & soften."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
235ml tube
Made in the USA
INGREDIENTS:
WATER, MINERAL OIL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, STEARIC ACID, GLYCERIN, LANOLIN, CETYL HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, PEG-100 STEARATE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER), LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (LAVENDER) OIL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, DISODIUM EDTA, CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) LEAF JUICE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA (TEA TREE) LEAF OIL, RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A), TOCOPHEROL
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
6/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
8/10
Rate the product for value:
7/10
Is one of the better value offerings.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Pretty well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The consistency, minimal fragrance and how easily it washed out.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing really.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
There are many variables in whether you stay comfortable in the saddle on long rides, some you can control, some you can't, but this chamois cream does its job very well at a good price.
Age: 45 Height: 170cm Weight: 62kg
I usually ride: Marin Point Reyes 29er My best bike is: Whyte T-130 RS
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, mountain biking, audax
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