I understand the concept of YMMV, but I cannot comprehend how anyone would like or use the Provence Sante soap. I've tried soaps where I wished they had more glide, or lathered easier, or smelled better. However, I find Provence Sante downright unusable. It is by far the most drying soap I've used, and I don't understand all the praise for its moisturizing properties. The razor drags, and I get tons of nicks. I've tried at least a dozen times with similar results. Why do people like this soap?
Provence Sante...thumbs down
- Thread starter Kyle Hyde
- Start date
Basically because I have the exact opposite reaction to this soap that you do. I don't know which scent you got, but the Green Tea smells wonderful, it moisturizes better than any non-tallow soap I've tried, fantastic glide and easy lather. Don't want yours? Give it to me! I'll even pay to ship it!
...Seriously though.
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My guess is that you're not spending enough time loading your brush or you're using too much water. Too little soap on the brush or too much water can make any soap suck. But then again YMMV is a very real thing. I use to feel the exact same way about L'Occtiane Cade but I spent a little more time on the puck and used a little less water and that did the trick.
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Provence Sante is one of my (many) favorites in my soap rotation. Since the water here is classified as moderately hard, I find that I have to spend, maybe, 15 seconds more prep time than with some other soaps; however, the result is a heavy, slick lather that provides an excellent shave!
I've only used the green tea a few times. The first time was as the OP described. The second time I loaded the brush very aggressively with much better results. This stuff isn't Tabac or Proraso, you need to work at it a bit.
it sounds like your lather is not hydrated enough.
I recently got the green tea soap using the group buy special pricing. My first shave was just so so and felt dry as you describe, the second shave was better. Now with about six sante shaves under my belt I am getting better results as I hone the soap loading and water to soap ratio. Every soap I have lathers differently and some are drastically different.
I am sure you know what you are doing and my suggestion is you give it another try, sometimes I find until I really penetrate the outer shell of some soaps the performance suffers a little. Try using more soap on your brush & more water in your mix. In addition I always pre wet my face before applying lather.
Good luck
I recently got the green tea soap using the group buy special pricing. My first shave was just so so and felt dry as you describe, the second shave was better. Now with about six sante shaves under my belt I am getting better results as I hone the soap loading and water to soap ratio. Every soap I have lathers differently and some are drastically different.
I am sure you know what you are doing and my suggestion is you give it another try, sometimes I find until I really penetrate the outer shell of some soaps the performance suffers a little. Try using more soap on your brush & more water in your mix. In addition I always pre wet my face before applying lather.
Good luck
+1 for heavy brush loading
i found provence sante to be an outstanding soap, mild with excellent moisturizing properties, a mild scent and a modest cost.
use a strong downward push when brush loading and then be sure to work it up good with plenty of water. do that and it should set up with a nice thick cushion of great lather.
hang in there!
i found provence sante to be an outstanding soap, mild with excellent moisturizing properties, a mild scent and a modest cost.
use a strong downward push when brush loading and then be sure to work it up good with plenty of water. do that and it should set up with a nice thick cushion of great lather.
hang in there!
+1 Favorite non-tallow soap. (I face lather with soaps - FWIW).
I use my budget ever-ready boar and get very slick lather off this puck, plus enough left in the brush for at least 2 more passes. I was glad I bough more than 1.
I agree with the advice above - a bit more water. Not enough water will turn a slick soap or cream into an adhesive paste.
Interesting, I found the PS Verlain to be a fairly compliant, easy to use product. I thought it was fairly moisturizing too.
However, it was one of the most adversely reactive soaps I've ever used on my face. My face turned purple and burned like fire.
never again.
However, it was one of the most adversely reactive soaps I've ever used on my face. My face turned purple and burned like fire.
never again.
I've used a LOT of different soaps. I find Provence Sante to be a great performer. I don't do anything that differently with this soap compared to the others I have; perhaps I add a bit more water for this one compared to Trumper/Harris, etc. I aggressively charge my brush with any soap I use.
One thing to think about is that some soaps are more affected by water chemistry than others, specifically high mineral content. To satisfy your sanity you might consider trying PS with some distilled water purchased from a grocery or pharmacy just to take water chemistry issues out of the equation.
Good luck, I think this is a great soap and hope you can unlock it's potential. If not, there is always BST.
One thing to think about is that some soaps are more affected by water chemistry than others, specifically high mineral content. To satisfy your sanity you might consider trying PS with some distilled water purchased from a grocery or pharmacy just to take water chemistry issues out of the equation.
Good luck, I think this is a great soap and hope you can unlock it's potential. If not, there is always BST.
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Provence Sante is one of my all-time favorites. Easy to lather (for me), smells great, and works well. Not sure what else to say...the stuff kicks arse as far as I'm concerned. 
Hang in there. I agree with all the advice above. Especially the fact that you must load the brush adequately. I swirl about 50 times CW and 50 times CCW on every soap. Be sure to put a few drops of hot water on the puck a minute or two at least before you swirl, then with a well soaked brush(at least 2-3 min.) give it a squeeze and one flick and then if there is any visible water left on the puck pour it off either into your bowl if you bowl lather or into the sink if you don't, then go at it with the brush. Don't go for lather on the puck although this might happen, go for the pastey stuff that forms after many swirls. This is the goal. Then proceed to face or bowl lather. Good luck.
My favorite soap. Make practice batches of lather. I normally try out a new soap by soaking my face, applying lather, and let it just sit there for 10 minutes or so. If my skin doesn't react to it, I know I can use it. I couldn't believe how soft it made my skin. I seldom apply any AS after shaving with this soap. If your skin does react with it, it's not for you.
One of the best pieces of advice I've received from this forum is to put 1-2 tablespoons of very hot water on the puck and let it sit there for 2 minutes or more. when you get ready to load your brush, pour the water into your lather bowl - but pour down the sink all but a teaspoon or so. The top of the puck will be soft enough to pick up lots of the soap (if the brush isn't soaking wet). It took me 4 or 5 tries to get it right.
One of the best pieces of advice I've received from this forum is to put 1-2 tablespoons of very hot water on the puck and let it sit there for 2 minutes or more. when you get ready to load your brush, pour the water into your lather bowl - but pour down the sink all but a teaspoon or so. The top of the puck will be soft enough to pick up lots of the soap (if the brush isn't soaking wet). It took me 4 or 5 tries to get it right.
Do some practice batches with it. A few tries in succession should reveal what your problems are with it.
Maybe a bad puck? It happens... but PS-GT has been great for me. It's the only non-tallow I've tried that I'd put in the same class with Tabac and MWF.
The only non tallow soap I liked so far. Not only did I like it but I loved it! Try it again with some advice above and I think you'll change your mind.
I've used the PS Verlaine shaving soap several times, and it provides the most moisturizing lather I've experienced--even moreso than MWF.
When a soap gives you results which are this bad, the first thing you need to do is go over your own technique. Dragging razors and nicked skin are signs of a bad lather. Don't do a 3 second spin on this soap; go at it with a somewhat shaken wet brush so it has a bit of moisture left in it, and load for about half a minute or so. Then build lather as you normally would. Works for my Shavemac, my Rooney (both silvertips), my Omega boar and my Bodyshop synthetic. Personally, I have to work to not get gobs of beeyooteeful lather with this soap.
Dried out skin... That could be two things. Either you shave yourself raw with bad lather which results in a tight skin, or you have an averse reaction to the talcum in the soap. It could even be both. But for now, my money's on the first option.
The Provence Sante Green Tea is my favorite soap. I haven't tried the Verlaine. I wasnt sure about the scent when I first got it, but I like it more every time I smell it. Just remember that every brush/soap combination will have its own way it wants things done and takes some practice and adjustment. I find that the Provence Sante more than my other soaps appreciates water added into the lather bowl while building the lather. Once you get your method right, the shave is top notch.
+1 I rarely use any aftershave or moisturizer after using PS...it leaves everything feeling aaaalright.
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