Morning, gents --
Today I used a tallow-based shaving soap made & generously provided by member Eyebright, of Mystic Water Soap.
Those of you who've used a bunch of products -- especially those soaps made & provided by smaller, Mom & Pop companies -- know that it's not easy to make a good shaving soap. Often, what they're selling as "shaving soap" is just their repackaged regular soap with a little additional clay and/or olive oil. To be blunt, most of them suck.
I should begin this mini-review by saying that this is at least the 3rd sample Michelle has given me over roughly as many years. Each time, it's only taken me one shave to determine that the soap still needed work. Not enough cushion. Not enough lather. Good cushion but unstable lather. Etc., etc. You know the drill.
Well. No more. I do believe that Michelle has finally worked out the formula.
My sample is circular, about the same width as a normal puck, and roughly 1/4-1/2" thick. It's very soft & pliable, like an Italian soft soap (RazoRock's Limited Edition comes to mind). I applied it like a shave stick, rubbing it over my stubble, then worked up a lather with my trusty B&B LE '08. The lather was thick, rich, creamy, stable & lasting. It took me a little longer to work up a lather than it does with RazoRock, but not THAT much longer. I used my Cobra Classic loaded with a Feather Pro which, as some of you probably know, can be a very unforgiving combo. I only had time for one pass this morning but that one pass was a pleasure. There seemed to be plenty of glide & cushion. My skin felt nice & smooth afterwards, which is a hallmark of a good tallow soap. I need to use this soap consistently over a few days -- with multiple passes each time -- to really get a good understanding of it. However, my initial sense is that this is a beautifully made, soft tallow soap.
In the note she enclosed with my sample Michelle says that she's planning to offer several fragrances, most of them EO-based. If the fragrances are anywhere near as good as the soap seems to be then folks, we have another winnah.
Nice work, Michelle!
Today I used a tallow-based shaving soap made & generously provided by member Eyebright, of Mystic Water Soap.
Those of you who've used a bunch of products -- especially those soaps made & provided by smaller, Mom & Pop companies -- know that it's not easy to make a good shaving soap. Often, what they're selling as "shaving soap" is just their repackaged regular soap with a little additional clay and/or olive oil. To be blunt, most of them suck.
I should begin this mini-review by saying that this is at least the 3rd sample Michelle has given me over roughly as many years. Each time, it's only taken me one shave to determine that the soap still needed work. Not enough cushion. Not enough lather. Good cushion but unstable lather. Etc., etc. You know the drill.
Well. No more. I do believe that Michelle has finally worked out the formula.
My sample is circular, about the same width as a normal puck, and roughly 1/4-1/2" thick. It's very soft & pliable, like an Italian soft soap (RazoRock's Limited Edition comes to mind). I applied it like a shave stick, rubbing it over my stubble, then worked up a lather with my trusty B&B LE '08. The lather was thick, rich, creamy, stable & lasting. It took me a little longer to work up a lather than it does with RazoRock, but not THAT much longer. I used my Cobra Classic loaded with a Feather Pro which, as some of you probably know, can be a very unforgiving combo. I only had time for one pass this morning but that one pass was a pleasure. There seemed to be plenty of glide & cushion. My skin felt nice & smooth afterwards, which is a hallmark of a good tallow soap. I need to use this soap consistently over a few days -- with multiple passes each time -- to really get a good understanding of it. However, my initial sense is that this is a beautifully made, soft tallow soap.
In the note she enclosed with my sample Michelle says that she's planning to offer several fragrances, most of them EO-based. If the fragrances are anywhere near as good as the soap seems to be then folks, we have another winnah.
Nice work, Michelle!
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