I’ve always understood that PAA also assists in building lather. That it makes lather “explode” more.
Neat, how exactly does that work? Does it break down the soap allowing for more aeration? I'd have to read into it more.
I can definitely tell the difference between shaves with and without preshave (soap) routine. I can compensate by extra face lathering, but I find a cleanse first prepares my hair better. I currently use Mastro Miche preshave soap which is coconut and glycerin based. Before that Proraso Green.
This is basically the routine I follow to with the exception of leaving it in my skin. I wash my preshave soap off before I lather up.
I use my residual lather for that purpose. Usually leaves my face feel refreshed and soft.
That is absolutely true and it requires some experimentation to find your routine. For example showering before shaving is nice for the shower but is detrimental to my shave. Face shave that is. Head shave is fine. But my beard is non cooperative if I shave after the shower.
No idea! I watched a couple of Mark Szorady clips.
I'm the wrong person to ask about the details... I do have sensitive skin and the charcoal doesn't affect it...I can understand that mixing in glycerine soap might help, but I don't get why mixing in charcoal would. PAA says the Cube is exfoliating. That doesn't seem like a good thing in shave lather to me.
Both true, I suppose.
For me the most important is an irritation free shave and if that requires me to use a pre shave soap or something like that so be it with a particular soap. Now if it gives me a closer shave that is just an extra bonus. I think the big issue with Cremo is that they have too much oils in it. I think that makes it feel greasy feeling and will make it hard to rinse off. The more I have been experimenting with pre shave stuff, the more I conclude that it is the glycerin we need. I tried a pre shave oil, well I just used a bit of jojoba oil, and if it did anything for the shave it was not much. I am not even sure that residual superfat oil/fat contributes to the slickness of a shave soap much. I still need to try just glycerin as a pre shave, but I have a hunch that that is the missing factor. Glycerin will rinse off well and moisturize the face, not clog pores etc.
Yes indeed the scents are another topic. Scents is what seems to affect the most number of people and reaction to them. Personally I am not a huge fan of strongly scented shave soaps, but many are. I like mild to unscented soaps. Many times I just add a bit of something to mask the smell of tallow in the soap. Yep unscented tallow or lard soap can smell like beef or pork. Now when it comes to vegan based ones they do not have a strong smell in themselves and there is no problem leaving them unscented. Unless you make the mistake of ordering unrefined Shea Butter. Don't ask me how I know.
Smaller amounts of glycerin can help with the lather and its stability. You can try to add a drop or two of glycerin to your lather bowl and see what happens.
Charcoal will remove impurities in your skin and make it more healthy. At least that is what they say. I do not think the charcoal assists in the shave experience, but the glycerin soap does.
