Interesting - thanks for sharing! Never heard of Vitamin E in relation to sun care. Good to know.

My dermatologist was on me about wearing sunscreen each day at one of my checkups about a year ago. And then I saw her last month for my next checkup and she said "your skin looks good...you're not too tan". I was floored because it was in the heart of outside season for us and I just knew she was going to chastise me. But I wear sunscreen each day when we're outside and I guess it had worked pretty well. I came out of the appointment unscathed!

Thank you, Perry!

Thank you, Jim!

OCtober 3rd
Cooper MonoBilt w 7 O’Clock SP Blues (2)
SV Felce Aromatica
Omega ‘49/Walnut
Thayers
Barrister’s Reserve Fern

Same combo as yesterday, but I swapped out the brush. Took the lather to my bowl and got the same rich results. 2 passes plus a little neck touch up has me quite smooth again. Noticed the Fern a little more this morning. Nice stuff.
Have a great day all!

Another great picture, Jason!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Very cool pic of a very cool razor again, Perry.

Glad to hear the worst part of the morning was the usual traffic, Clint!

Informative review, Jim. Thanks.

Great combo, Jim. Don’t know if you’ve tried the Menthol version of that cream, but if you haven’t, I find it an excellent product.

Not sure Joseph. I've see both nickel & gold but I'd question if they were original or freshly plated. Considering the thinness of gold wash, I suspect that.

Tapatalk via LG

Getting a compliment from the Mrs is always a good thing!

Excellent shot, Perry!

Fantastic photo, Clint! I hope the traffic wasn't too bad.

Very nice, Jim! I like your description of Frunken Goat, I'm going to have to go re-sniff my tub to confirm!

Excellent shot, Jim!

The examples that you see that are bare brass were most certainly finished with a gold wash. The nickel finish held up much much better.

Fantastic composition, Jason!

Thank you, Jason and Andrew!

Nice picture, Jason! Glad you're enjoying your new soap.

New OC is in the houuussseee! OK, I know I’m a white bread white boy, not a rapper, but it seemed appropriate for some reason. Upon second thought, maybe not so much. Anyway the SOC mixed knot is becoming one of my favorites. I really love this brush!
What can I say about Stirling? It just performs. Today’s shave was so full of residual slickness that after the second pass I just splashed water on my face and went for a third irritation free finish to a BBS without re-lathering. Yo?!

I am going to have mine revamped at Razor Emporium.

First shave for OCtober. So of course I didn't use an OC. Way back on July 11th, I ordered a Q-Shave Parthenon adjustable, thinking I could use it for Adjustable August. At $49 bucks shipped, it seemed like a good deal for a modern adjustable. Well, it didn't arrive until last Saturday, but they threw in 50 Feather blades to make up for the delay. It also included a tuck of Q-Shave branded DE blades, which are listed as made in America. Wondering if they are rebranded Personas. The blades themselves have no markings of any kind. This razor is a good hefty weight, and the finish is nice. The doors and tray seem to be the same design as the Gillette TTO razors. The base of the razor is chrome plated zamask, and the finish is great. The black handle is grippy and nice to use. This razor had some problems with not rinsing well, but this is the third iteration of the design, (which was part of the delay in getting the razor,) and I had no issues rinsing the head clean. This company also makes the Futur clone that has been reviewed as insanely aggressive on the higher settings, so I took my normal cautious approach and put it at setting Neal (9) and got to work.

Stirling Island Man gave its normal good performance, providing a great base for the shave. At that setting it had a ton of blade feel, but unlike classic Gillette adjustable at the top setting, the blade was held firmly and had not chatter. The head handles like a Gillette TTO, so was easy to maneuver everywhere. The razor seems to feel like it weighs about twice what my Black Beauty does, and the handle is longer. Did my first pass of my normal three pass shave, and had a DFS with two weepers where the razor removed some bumps on my chin. Went ahead and started my second pass, watching the pressure and letting the heavy razor do the work. Except for a few trouble spots on my neck, the whiskers were gone. Blade was very smooth and sharp. I called it good after two passes, high grade DFS with three weepers. The Alum had a bit of bite, but the witchhazel calmed it down quickly and closed up the weepers. The Lustray aftershave is mostly alcohol, and I added quite a bit of menthol to it. The alcohol burned quite a bit, but cooled off quickly. I need to give this razor one more shot on a little bit lower setting to see if I can get all three passes in. Then I will move to OC razors.

That's what I'm thinking. Thanks Andrew!

SOTD OCtober 3rd


Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements SS DOC Ascension
Treet New Steel
30DCLE (26mm, Frigate Class)
RazoRock What The Puck Blue Barbershop
Stirling Glacial Unscented PSB &
Florida Water

I was looking through my stacks of shaving soap tins last night try to figure out what I wanted to use this morning and RazoRock WTP Blue Barbershop caught my eye. I see that Perry @PLAla had a similar notion. Went for a super goop lather , but like other RR soaps it just wouldn't form into that thick gooey lather. I then took my heavily loaded brush to the Drydock lather bowl and slowly incorporated water until I had a high gloss sheen on the lather, which felt light and creamy on my face. I was really jonesing for mild easy shave so I left the Ascension fully tightened down. There was still a little bit of blade feel so I would say that this razor fully tightened down is mid aggressive. My only complaint about the SS Ascension is the handle knurling. The knurling isn't really deep enough for it to be grippy and it did feel a bit slippery at times. I do like the way the top comb re-hydrates the lather as you shave and keeps everything very slick. The last thing I have to report on is the Treet New Steel blade. These blades can be had for .05 each over at IB (regular price $9.99 for 200). Are they as sharp as a Nacet ? No, but they are better then middle of the road and are a great budget blade option. After three passes I ended up with a DFS and finished up mixing a splash of Florida Water and a bit of Stirling Glacial Unscented PSB. Have a great day my friends!

Hump day! Here comes Friday!

A New SC and GLO! Tasty!

Excellent setup, Adam! Nice report on the new razor and blades!

Gold or nickle? As I understand it, current gold electroplating is substantially thicker than Gillette's original wash. Either way it'll add decades of life to a fine vintage razor.

October Focus

MW Jasmine~~DG4~~'38 Senator~~Personna 74~~Myrsol Don Miguel 1919
Focus Gear: 1938 Gillette Senator
Didn't post here yesterday, but used the Senator, so I went back to it again for today's shave.
Let's start with a soap, which, IMO, doesn't get the attention it deserves here at TSD: Mystic Water.
I have been a fan of Michelle's soaps since 2014 and while I haven't a complete collection of her scents, I do have 5-6 and
all of them are top performers and wonderful scents (the ones that I kept, that is)
If you aren't a Jasmine fan, you will not like this soap; indeed you would probably hate the Don Miguel too.
Jasmine is of course the main scent and from what I can tell: that's it. No fillers, so to speak.
SWMBO does not like this soap nor AS, but she's away for the day and when the cat's away, the mice will play.
Absolutely brilliant lather, that performs at the level of THE most expensive soaps you can purchase,
albeit at a VERY reasonable cost. Some my even say INEXPENSIVE.
Just ask our friend @celestino he'll back me up.
Today's brush is quickly becoming my "desert island" brush: Declaration Grooming DG4 set in a
Thäter beehive handle. HOLY BADGER BONANZA BATMAN!!
Not sure why the bristle tips are yellowish, but in the end, who cares? Darn Fine Brush.
The OC Senator is a marvel of not only beauty, but of build. The blade is held securely;
the handle has excellent knurling; the cap has an excellent geometry. And did I say: Drop Dead Gorgeous?
Nothing, to my eye, is as attractive as an OC TTO.
I have long since lost count how many shaves are on this Personna 74, but it's at least 13-14 and still no signs
of tugging/pulling. Still very smooth and sharp.
Clumsy set down on my neck led to a drop of blood. Who says a "mild" razor can't cut you?
3 Pass BBS.
Myrsol Don Miguel is another straightforward Jasmine AS. Again, you had better like your scents flowery,
or I would advise staying away for this product.​

I have asked Matt what he recommends. Details at 11:00pm...