Hi I am new to the forum and to de shaving. I have been using a de89l with a frank black badger brush for the past 15 shaves. The first 14 have been getting incrementally better with the routine as follows: shower, condition beard, few drops of anthony shaving pre shave oil, then bowl lather either arko extra sensitive, tobs sandalwood (old paraben filled one), real shaving co sensitive cream, palmolive (euro) cream. All have been fine, used a derby blade on all 15. I know I should learn to walk before I run but have been keen to try variety of creams. Anyway today i followed the same routine but forgot the pre shave oil but used a palmolive euro stick(tallow) onto my wet beard then face lathered. The lather was amazing and the shave in a different league from the previous 14. My question is, what caused the huge improvement, do I simply have a face for sticks, is the palmolive magical, could the pre shave oil have been a red herring, or is face lathering very rewarding to (mildly) sensitive skin? Any thoughts would be welcome and anyone that thinks the stick is the magic bullet would arko and or erasmic be likely to give the same result? thanks
do sticks give better protection to 'sensitive' skin
- Thread starter jim2012
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Palmolive is magic. 
I love the sticks. Some times face lathering with a scritchy brush can irritate my face, but Palmolive and Arko lather so easy, it is usually not an issue.
Some preshave oils can break down lather so that could be an issue, but most likely a combination of improved technique and using the stick resulted in a great shave.
Try the oil next time you use a stick and see if there is a difference, I would be interested. I gave up on oil a long time ago.
I love the sticks. Some times face lathering with a scritchy brush can irritate my face, but Palmolive and Arko lather so easy, it is usually not an issue.
Some preshave oils can break down lather so that could be an issue, but most likely a combination of improved technique and using the stick resulted in a great shave.
Try the oil next time you use a stick and see if there is a difference, I would be interested. I gave up on oil a long time ago.
+1 I never use pre shave products. A stick is the fastest and easiest way to apply soap to face lather. It's great for any type skin or beard.Palmolive is magic.
I love the sticks. Some times face lathering with a scritchy brush can irritate my face, but Palmolive and Arko lather so easy, it is usually not an issue.
Some preshave oils can break down lather so that could be an issue, but most likely a combination of improved technique and using the stick resulted in a great shave.
Try the oil next time you use a stick and see if there is a difference, I would be interested. I gave up on oil a long time ago.
If you think Palmolive is good, you need to try the La Toja stick.
There are a few variables here, but Palmolive is definitely a quality lather product. Maybe your skin is not quite as sensitive as you had believed?!
Welcome to Badger and Blade.
Welcome to Badger and Blade.
Good to see all the love for Palmolive. I jokingly started the Cult of Palmolive and was surprised at the strong response. I also have sensitive skin, especially in winter, and think you'll feel moisturised with either Palmolive or Arko.
I had the same experience the first time I used Palmolive stick. Just really thick protective lather and a great shave.
It has nothing at all to do with your soap being in stick form. An apple in a box and an apple in a sack is still just an apple.
I think it does have to do with the stick being in stick form. Only because I think rubbing the stick on your face makes it easier to use more product because you are applying it over a much larger area as opposed to loading a brush. At least that's what I tend to do when I use a stick. I usually use too much product and end my shave with a brush overflowing with thick slick lather.
Since I started face lathering, I use all my soaps first like sticks in the sense that I rub the puck directly on my face before I start to load my brush. It might be unnecessary, but I feel that putting the soap directly on my face has helped me against irritation.
What protect your skin is not the fact that a product is a stick, puck or cream, it's the lather. There are better lathers and worse lathers. You might be able to build lather more easily with a shave stick but YMMV. The product might be easier to use for you, again, YMMV
+1
Welcome to B&B. I find that a product's effectiveness is based on what type of water you have, so some shine and some don't. I personally didn't care for the Palmolive stick until I took it as a travel stick once and it was great, but here at home in Southern Ohio it dosen't perform well at all. Also, we enjoy the rotation of different scents and the search for better products not out of necessity, but because we enjoy changing it up. Also, you would not think of it but lather takes time to get good at, getting the water to product proportions correct, and using different brushes, but it makes a big difference on shave quality. That being said Tabac is my favorite stick hands down, it always performs great and has a neutral old-fashoned scent that I look forward to. YMMV (your mileage may vary), enjoy your shave!
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- Thread starter
- #13
Thanks everyone for the kind words. Luc and dusty1 have really got me thinking about the need to ensure I get a really cushioning lather. I am new to this but in truth i think it is hard to understand the importance of good lather until it is experienced. My mum will be in Spain next month so she kindly will get me some la toja to try, in stick form. I have just placed an order with bestshave.net and only wish I had ordered some arko, as their prices seem great and after shave 16 tonight I think I just achieve a far better calibre of lather with a stick to the face. Again thanks everyone for their feedback, it really allows a new face to focus on their approach to all of this.
CHEERS
JIM
CHEERS
JIM
No worries, good lather takes practice. My advice would be to make a few bowls between the shaves so you can learn about the product, see how much water you need, which one seems easier to lather and then, you adjust it.
Soap dissolves oil so it's possible that you lost some lather from that. Also with sticks if you don't have a thick beard, it can help to use it with an extra day or two of growth so you get a better load.
