I've been DE shaving for about 5 months and thought I'd post the journal I've been keeping. I've been focusing on blades for the thick/heavy bearded and my never ending quest to find soaps and creams that don't burn my skin.
I've got my razor preference down to 3" 3-piece Gillettes alternating between a thick cap Old Type, LC NEW and a couple of Techs with an heirloom late 40s Aristocrat thrown in for variety. I do a two pass WTG/XTG shave with touch ups if needed. I use straight witch hazel as an AS due to fragrance sensitivity and I like the smell. Its a tequilla shot for my face.
_BLADES_
I've been through a blade sampler and a few odd balls from worst to best from my perspective:
_Bad_
Zippy cutter replacement blades
Not a shaving blade! Not sharp, not smooth.
Derby Extra
not very sharp, binned after one shave and gave the rest away
_Acceptable_
drug store Israeli and Crystal
lasted 5-6 shaves, sharp enough
_Good_
Personna Red
seem a little sharper, last a while 7+ shaves
Bluebird
in progress, but promising
Astra (my fav so far)
sharp, smooth and lasts 7+ shaves
Feather
first shave is damn sharp, will snag and cut me if I'm are not careful
mellows over the next 3-4 shaves and starts to drag a little
After the Blue Birds I've got 4 Russians to play with.
A while ago I started collecting ingredient lists and my reactions to products as I try them.
_CREAMs_
Gillette Edge Gel (major burn)
Water, Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Isopentane, Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceride, Sorbitol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance, PVP, Isobutane, PEG-90M, Blue 1.
Gillette Foamy (burn)
Water, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Isobutane, Laureth-23, Propane, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fragrance, BHT, Butane.
Nivea Sensitive (scent bothers me, a little burn)
Water, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive), Fragrance, Dimethicone, Sea Salt, Chamomilla Recuitita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark, Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin
C.O. Bigelow (burns like heck)
Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Menthol, Camphor, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Metasilicate, Tetrasodium EDTA, HYdroxyehtyl-cellulose, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Geraniol, Parfum (Fragrance).
Godrej Rich Foam (good but breaks me out horribily)
Water, Stearic Acid, Gylcerol, Potassium hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Perfume, Sodium Hydroxide, Borax, Cera Alba, Sodium Silicate, Ethoxylated Lanolin, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben
RSC (a little warmth from the tea tree oil but
Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Coconut Acid, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Hydroxide, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool.
KMF Fragrance Free :-/ (works great, miss the scent)
Aqua, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Allantoin, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana (Arnica) Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract, Equisetum Hyemale (Horsetail) Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris (Ladys Mantle) Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis (Soapwort) Root Extract, Nasturtium Officinalis (Watercress) Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose
Cremo
Water (Aqua), Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polyether-1, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Xylitol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Perfluoromethylcyclopentane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum)
_SOAPs_
Moondance Bay Rum (dermatitis!)
Saponified oils of Olive, Coconut, Castor, Shea Butter, Bentonite Clay, Glycerine, Wheat Germ Oil, Fragrance Oil, Essential Oils, Tocopherol T-50 (Vitamin E), Rosemary Oleoresin (a natural antioxidant)
Moondance Forest Glen (dermatitis!)
Saponified oils of coconut, olive, palm, shea butter and castor; distilled water; bentonite clay; glycerine; wheat germ oil; Tocopherol T-50 (Vitamin E); rosemary oleoresin extract (a natural antioxidant);fir needle essential oil; fragrance.
Arko (my next purchase)
Potassium Tallowate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Parfum, Parafinium, Liquidum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Disodium Distrylbiphenly, Disuffonate Amyl Cinnamel, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
VDH Select Shave Soap
Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Water, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide, Triethanolamine.
Modern Williams
Potassium Stearate, Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Cocoate, Water, Glycerin, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Pentasodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate; may also contain Sodium Palm Kernelate.
Cella
Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tallow, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Aqua, Potassium Carbonate, Parfum.
I've got my razor preference down to 3" 3-piece Gillettes alternating between a thick cap Old Type, LC NEW and a couple of Techs with an heirloom late 40s Aristocrat thrown in for variety. I do a two pass WTG/XTG shave with touch ups if needed. I use straight witch hazel as an AS due to fragrance sensitivity and I like the smell. Its a tequilla shot for my face.
_BLADES_
I've been through a blade sampler and a few odd balls from worst to best from my perspective:
_Bad_
Zippy cutter replacement blades
Not a shaving blade! Not sharp, not smooth.
Derby Extra
not very sharp, binned after one shave and gave the rest away
_Acceptable_
drug store Israeli and Crystal
lasted 5-6 shaves, sharp enough
_Good_
Personna Red
seem a little sharper, last a while 7+ shaves
Bluebird
in progress, but promising
Astra (my fav so far)
sharp, smooth and lasts 7+ shaves
Feather
first shave is damn sharp, will snag and cut me if I'm are not careful
mellows over the next 3-4 shaves and starts to drag a little
After the Blue Birds I've got 4 Russians to play with.
A while ago I started collecting ingredient lists and my reactions to products as I try them.
_CREAMs_
Gillette Edge Gel (major burn)
Water, Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, Stearic Acid, Isopentane, Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceride, Sorbitol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance, PVP, Isobutane, PEG-90M, Blue 1.
Gillette Foamy (burn)
Water, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Isobutane, Laureth-23, Propane, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Fragrance, BHT, Butane.
Nivea Sensitive (scent bothers me, a little burn)
Water, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive), Fragrance, Dimethicone, Sea Salt, Chamomilla Recuitita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Bark, Capric Triglyceride, Caprylic, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin
C.O. Bigelow (burns like heck)
Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Menthol, Camphor, Eucalyptol, Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Metasilicate, Tetrasodium EDTA, HYdroxyehtyl-cellulose, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Geraniol, Parfum (Fragrance).
Godrej Rich Foam (good but breaks me out horribily)
Water, Stearic Acid, Gylcerol, Potassium hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Perfume, Sodium Hydroxide, Borax, Cera Alba, Sodium Silicate, Ethoxylated Lanolin, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben
RSC (a little warmth from the tea tree oil but
Aqua (Water), Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Coconut Acid, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Parfum (Fragrance), Sodium Hydroxide, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Limonene, Linalool.
KMF Fragrance Free :-/ (works great, miss the scent)
Aqua, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Allantoin, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana (Arnica) Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Golden Seal) Root Extract, Equisetum Hyemale (Horsetail) Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris (Ladys Mantle) Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass) Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract, Saponaria Officinalis (Soapwort) Root Extract, Nasturtium Officinalis (Watercress) Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose
Cremo
Water (Aqua), Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Glycol Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polyether-1, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Xylitol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Linalool, Limonene, Perfluoromethylcyclopentane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum)
_SOAPs_
Moondance Bay Rum (dermatitis!)
Saponified oils of Olive, Coconut, Castor, Shea Butter, Bentonite Clay, Glycerine, Wheat Germ Oil, Fragrance Oil, Essential Oils, Tocopherol T-50 (Vitamin E), Rosemary Oleoresin (a natural antioxidant)
Moondance Forest Glen (dermatitis!)
Saponified oils of coconut, olive, palm, shea butter and castor; distilled water; bentonite clay; glycerine; wheat germ oil; Tocopherol T-50 (Vitamin E); rosemary oleoresin extract (a natural antioxidant);fir needle essential oil; fragrance.
Arko (my next purchase)
Potassium Tallowate, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Parfum, Parafinium, Liquidum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Etidronic Acid, Disodium Distrylbiphenly, Disuffonate Amyl Cinnamel, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool
VDH Select Shave Soap
Propylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Water, Sodium Stearate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Myristate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide, Triethanolamine.
Modern Williams
Potassium Stearate, Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Cocoate, Water, Glycerin, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Pentasodium Pentetate, Tetrasodium Etidronate; may also contain Sodium Palm Kernelate.
Cella
Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tallow, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Aqua, Potassium Carbonate, Parfum.