Even with all the high-end products...

[Mike in Cincy]

...I own, you would be surprised to know that I most often use (blank) instead.

Now you finish the sentence.

for me, despite having a Simpsons Emperor, Merkur Progress and Slant, I most often use a vintage Gillette or Weishi along with a $25 pure badger brush or Wee Scot.

 

[ouch]

Dickinson's witch hazel.

 

[Troggie]

C.O. Bigelow or Derby shaving cream over the other higher end creams.

 

[Loric]

My $1 GEM Clog Pruf

 

[guitarslinger]

I've used a TBS synthetic around 800 times. I used a BIG fancy $75 silver tip badger brush once, and sold it.

I use Soap Opera of Madison Bath soap for shaving.

I guess I'm guilty of using expensive after shave though. L'Occitane, FLoid, Proraso, etc.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Homemade soap. (Soap is cheap to make. Buy for scents, those are hard to get right.)

Whatever razor I grab (seriously the hone/strop job is 99.9% of the quality of an edge as long as the razor isn't garbage (Such as Zeepk/Professional/etc)) Spend money for styling/looks/collectability. Paying $200+ for a razor because you think it will shave better is foolish.

Whatever A/S I grab. (I have absolutely NO skill for picking A/S. That's what I hope to develop next).

I am a little twerp about brushes though. I have some TGN's that are GREAT. But I also love some $200+ brushes. Really, the only "Deals" I've found are Simpson Best hair in short loft brushes(Awesome) and TGN Finest/SuperSilvertip. The rest of what I like is all top dollar stuff. I do have some boars I'm fond of that are of course good deals. But I've got to admit, I use a Badger about 29 days out of 30.

 

[craig87c]

Palmolive soap and a PIF'd GEM Featherweight.

 

[Hoos]

A 60-year-old Gillette travel brush.

 

[Spencer]

Fauldings shave cream, which is available for about $2.50 anywhere in Australia.
I have samples of Geo F Trumpers, but actually prefer fauldings.

 

[Drybonz]

Nivea after shave balm.

 

[Greglam]

Proraso and Col. Conk soaps and drugstore/barbershop aftershaves. Oh, wait, those are the only aftershaves I own!

I just cannot get a better shave with my higher end soaps and creams than I do with Proraso and Col. Conk. As good? Yes. Better? No. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the scents of the higher end soaps but in terms of steel meeting face, I have no *need* to spend anymore than what those two soaps cost in order to get a DFS or a BBS on the rare occasions that I go for one.

Great thread!

-Greg

 

[Mike'sWorld]

Derby blades, my go to when trying out a new razor
Barbasol Brisk after shave, smells great (to me)
My SE razors which can be had for less than the price of a Happy Meal on fleabay

 

[Snargle]

Even with all the high-end products I own, you would be surprised to know that I most often use Kiss My Face shaving cream instead.

 

[Easttexasman]

Musgo Real cream,its just great stuff.

Paul

 

[T.Ryan]

Although Truefitt and Hill products are some of my favorites, I return to Proraso cream, pre-post shave and Witch Hazel. Simple, moderately priced and effective.

 

[Aaron622]

Schick Krona (the only razor I use), Kell's Original soap, Fraser's cream, witch hazel.

 

[workingdog]

Palmolive shave cream and Nivea moisturiser

 

[Barber-Eile]

I only own a handful of high-end things but I find the "low-end" ones better.
Arko constantly amazes me considering the price.
ARKO!

 

[SeattleSparky]

C.O. Bigelow shave cream, Edwin Jagger Best Badger,Schick Injector Adjustable, and AV OR OS!

 

[Loric]

Homemade soap. (Soap is cheap to make. Buy for scents, those are hard to get right.)

I am a little twerp about brushes though. I have some TGN's that are GREAT

+1 on Ians soap, its slick as all get out. I have a couple TGN's that are here to stay, and sit proudly among brushes that cost 2, 3, and even 5 times as much (pointing at you Mr. Rooney Finest 3/2 )