Chamois Butt’r Review

I like Chamois Butt’r. I’ve used it for years and found it always works. Will you as well? We’ll discuss my experience to help you decide.

About Chamois Butt’r

Manufactured by Paceline Products, Inc., Chamois Butt’r is a non-greasy skin lubricant designed to help cyclists soothe their chafed, irritated skin and improve riding comfort. Simply apply liberally before heading out and re-apply as needed.

When you’re done, the cream washes off skin and out of clothes using only soap and water.

All three creams are formulated in the US in a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility. They feature only high-quality ingredients that don’t expire and are free from parabens, gluten, phthalates, or artificial colors or fragrances. None of their products are tested on animals.

Chamois Butt’r is available in multiple sizes; all the way from 9 ml single-use packets ($0.99) up to 32 oz pump bottles ($59.99). Regardless of the formula or size, though, the cream comes with almost wholly positive online customer feedback.

But, does this mean that it’s necessarily the right chamois cream for you? I’ll outline what I’ve learned after using Chamois Butt’r for years so that you can answer this central question.

Let’s start by zooming in on each formula, the ingredients they contain, and their potential benefits for you.

Chamois Butt’r Formulas & Ingredients

There are a total of three chamois creams in the lineup. How do their formulations compare?

Chamois Butt’r Original

The originator, which has been around since 1988. According to the Chamois Butt’r website, it contains the following ingredients:

Water, Mineral Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lanolin, PEG-100 Stearate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl, Butylcarbamate, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)

Unsurprisingly, sites like EWG.org, Truth In Aging, and WebMD report that most of these ingredients act as lubricants, conditioners, moisturizers, and emollients. They also help improve the cream’s stability, spreadability, and microbial resistance.

These same sites report that topically applied vitamin E and A are antioxidants that may help prevent the formation of damaging free radical molecules.

Chamois Butt’r Eurostyle

Compared to the Original, Chamois Butt’r’s Eurostyle formula adds menthol and witch hazel for “a cooling and soothing effect.”

According to the ingredients list on their website, the formula also adds CL75120 (Annatto) and Schinus Molle (Brazilian Peppertree) Extract:

Water, Mineral Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Lanolin, PEG-100 Stearate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Menthol, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, CL75120 (Annatto), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Schinus Molle (Brazilian Peppertree) Extract

Sites like EWG.org, Truth In Aging, and WebMD indicate that applying Witch Hazel to the skin can help temporarily relieve minor irritation, discomfort, and itching. Annatto is an orange-red dye, menthol helps cool skin, and Brazilian Peppertree may work as a natural astringent and antibiotic.

Chamois Butt’r Her

Although Chamois Butt’r advertises that all of their products are safe for women and men, their Her formula is “developed specifically for women’s pH by a female sports medicine physician in cooperation with professional women cyclists.”

It also adds several ingredients, such as shea butter, lavender oil, green tea extract, and tea tree oil. Here’s a full list:

Water, Mineral Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lanolin, PEG-100 Stearate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl, Butylcarbamate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)

Returning to sites like WebMD and Truth In Aging, shea butter helps moisturize and contains several essential vitamins for healthy skin. Lavender and tea tree oils can help kill bacteria, and green tea extract helps deliver antioxidants to the skin.

My Experience Using Chamois Butt’r Anti-Chafe Cream

The idea behind Chamois Butt’r (Original formula, in my instance) is straightforward.

Chafing is caused by repetitive movements between skin and clothing, which can lead to irritation, and eventually to bleeding and pain. The cream prevents this from occurring by acting as a lubricant and lessening the friction present.

How to Apply Chamois Butt’r

Like any other cream, you can dispense a quarter-sized portion of Chamois Butt’r into your hand and apply directly to your skin before heading out on a ride. If you prefer, you can also apply to your chamois.

I’m not a big fan of a cold, soggy chamois, so I prefer to apply directly to my skin. I also use about twice as much as the manufacturer recommends, which cuts down on how often I need to reapply during my ride.

How Easy Is Chamois Butt’r to Use?

I prefer lubing up in advance using a larger tube of Chamois Butt’r since the price works out to about $0.05 per ml. I carry a Packet during rides in my saddle bag or jersey pocket, which is a much more portable solution but works out to about $0.09 per ml.

Chamois Butt’r has a nice middle-of-the-road consistency and skin feel; not too thick and not too thin, similar to popular wound creams like Neosporin or Hydrocortisone. The smell, while very subtle, also reminds me of these creams.

After riding with Chamois Butt’r for years and thousands of miles, it’s never harmed any of my clothing. It does leave behind a bit of white reside on chamois immediately afterward, which quickly and easily washes out.

Is Chamois Butt’r Effective?

Although Chamois Butt’r (Original or otherwise) doesn’t contain any ingredients that numb skin, I’ve found this is effectively what it does. Everything just glides smoother down there, so any discomfort becomes much less noticeable.

While it isn’t greasy, it effectively repels moisture and typically lasts 2-3 hours before reapplication is needed. I have dry, sensitive skin and haven’t experienced any issues whatsoever so far.

Together, I’ve found that Chamois Butt’r really does help prevent irritation and resultant discomfort. Along with ibuprofen, it can make a huge difference on longer hauls. Compared to using nothing at all, I’d classify it as an actual game changer.

Final Thoughts About Chamois Butt’r

Next to a quality pair of cycling shorts (often $100+), I think Chamois Butt’r is perhaps your best bet for maximizing riding comfort and preventing chafing, without worrying about residue or staining. It also comes with near perfect customer ratings on sites like Amazon and Chain Reaction Cycles.

It won’t eliminate your pain or discomfort (that’s half of the cycling experience, after all), but it’s boosted the number of miles I can ride at a time, while also making them much more enjoyable. Just like biking should be!

As with any cycling product, though, whether or not Chamois Butt’r delivers similar experiences will largely come down to your specific needs and preferences. After all, it’s not the only chamois cream in town and finding your perfect option might take some trial and error.

Most online retailers offer at least 30-day refund policies on Chamois Butt’r, though, so testing it out represents little risk to your time and money.

Tell us about your experiences with Chamois Butt’r by giving it a star rating up top and leaving a comment below!

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