I have at this DE game for about 3 years and, like pretty much everyone, have been trying all sorts of soaps, creams, pre shaves, post shaves, balms, etc. The general discussion on this forum when it comes to software seems to be that people are looking for products that add moisture to the skin. Or at least provide some skin enhancing benefits by the time the shave is over.
I seem to be in the minority in that I am looking for products that marginally dry out my skin rather than enhance it. I avoid tallow, lanolin, butters, milks as they all seem to leave me with a skin feeling that I don't like. And on a maybe unrelated note, I am also gravitating to the sharp, simple, citrus scents and avoiding the more complex scents that seem to have more discussion.
My current favorite shave of the day is: shower with a simple face soap on the beard, off to the sink and right into a face lather with MdC Agrumes, 2 passes with an ASD2 loaded with a Kai, and a finish with a cucumber scented Witch Hazel with Aloe. Simple, fast and effective and my skin feels great. Not a BBS but darn close enough.
The only variation is to use a Feather AC SS loaded with a SoftGuard once a week or so; which does give me that BBS that feels so good.
I seem to be in the minority in that I am looking for products that marginally dry out my skin rather than enhance it. I avoid tallow, lanolin, butters, milks as they all seem to leave me with a skin feeling that I don't like. And on a maybe unrelated note, I am also gravitating to the sharp, simple, citrus scents and avoiding the more complex scents that seem to have more discussion.
My current favorite shave of the day is: shower with a simple face soap on the beard, off to the sink and right into a face lather with MdC Agrumes, 2 passes with an ASD2 loaded with a Kai, and a finish with a cucumber scented Witch Hazel with Aloe. Simple, fast and effective and my skin feels great. Not a BBS but darn close enough.
The only variation is to use a Feather AC SS loaded with a SoftGuard once a week or so; which does give me that BBS that feels so good.