30 Day Rule/Focus; August 2023. All Are Welcome!

thank you Barry.i agree with the brush/soap/cream pairing.i use boars with all my hard soaps.this semogue was my first online purchased brush in 2017. always a favorite.

 

thank you Joe.

 

Great persistence, Chris!

I used my puck of MWF until I used it up. Not planning to replace it as I have tons of other soaps and creams, almost all of them being easier to use than MWF.

If I recall correctly (it's been a few years), the MWF produced better lather when I used it every day so that it stayed fully hydrated. When I didn't and the puck shrank and showed cracks, I had to bloom it first before it worked very well. But it was always touchy. The feeling of the lanolin on my face afterwards was nice, especially when I used this soap daily -- no need for balms or moisturizers post-shave. But if not for that, I frankly wouldn't understand the big continuing appeal of this soap.

And I understand that MWF shave soap has recently been reformulated, mostly with cheaper ingredients, so I have even less desire to get a refill puck now...

 

it's now been reformulated with palm ingredients instead of tallow.still has the lanolin.supposed to be easier to lather now..did you know mwf was first made in 1979? thought it was way older..

 

Sunday August 27 (afternoon) - Allegedly Adjustable, All-Sample August

Prep: Cold water face wash with MdC bar soap
Razor: Supply 2.0 injector with SE comb plate / Supply Black Label (10?)
Brush: Simpsons Chubby 2 Synthetic
Soap: Fendrihan Aloe Water cream sample (croap)
Bowl: Jason's @jtspartan hand-turned maple walnut with lather buttons
Post: rinse, alum, rinse, Portland General Store Black Willow Bark Toner
Last Shave: Friday morning

Last shave, I stuck an almond-sized dollop of putty-like "cream" on the bottom of my shave bowl. Today I shaved with it again. After whipping up enough lather for two passes with lots left over, I returned the pea-sized remnants to the sample jar.

It was an uneventful shave. Two passes brought me to a near BBS. The blade didn't seem to be as sharp as I prefer, showing signs of a bit of drag without any actual tugging. I dumped it in the blade bank after the shave. Alum was a bit warm in places, but no nicks or razorburn were evident.

My skin has been slightly oily in our recent muggy weather, so I ended the shave by wiping PGS willowbark toner on my entire face, neck and shoulders. The willowbark contains salicylic acid and is both astringent and a disinfectant. It was a good organic product -- pity PGS went out of business.

Hope everyone has a restful Sunday and an excellent week!

 

It IS way older. It was first developed in 1893 (according to the labels). I think 1979 was either the date of the last reformulation (there have been more than one, mostly changing preservative chemicals) or else the date when the original company was sold to a conglomerate.

Yes, they dropped the tallow to make it "vegan" in the sense of "no animals were killed to produce this shave soap", but are now making it with non-sustainably produced palm products instead.

 

Super Supply Sunday shave John. Did you know that salicylic acid combined with acetic anhydride will produce acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)?

 

Still qualifies for a Throwback Thursday, but I don't have it anyway.

 

I knew it was part of aspirin but not what it combined with to get there. Explains why willow bark and willow bark tea have been used for centuries as a painkiller and fever medicine.

 

Aug 27 SOTA

Good afternoon.

Straight Razor Shave # 478
7/8 Henckels Friodur (38)
Omega Pro 49 Boar Brush
Stirling Spice SS and AS
Stirling Alum Block
Modessa Witch Hazel
Beard Growth: 23.5 hrs



Well I did decide to shave with my Friodur after all. I have to say it's still sharp with 38 shaves from my first honing back in June 2020. I wanted to smell nice so I picked out the Stirling Spice soap and aftershave. I have the EdT, but didn't want to use it this time.
I can't miss with Stirling soaps. It doesn't matter if I face or bowl lather irrespective of any brush, because I always get a slick and creamy lather. Here is my lather:



My one day stubble was very light so I knew this razor would give me a nice shave in 2 passes and that's why I didn't use much soap. However, I still had enough to apply a 3rd non shaving pass to deepen that marvelous scent.
Yes, I got a close, comfortable shave. I could have shaved for a BBS, but sometimes one must not be greedy. There wasn't any alum feedback so that told me that my shave was solid. Witch hazel and the matching aftershave was applied to end this shaving session. Take care.

 

SRS # 947 - Sample Soap Sunday - LWSC Mr. Powell’s Honey Mash

Rating: 5 / 5

Razor: Drew Dick 7/8” Quarter Hollow Purple Heartwood
Brush: Jayaruh 329 Boar
Lather: Lakewood Soap Company Mr. Powell's Mellow Honey Mash Shave Soap
Aftershave: B & M Sandalwood
Additional Care:
Omega Alum
Dickenson’s Original Witch Hazel
Stirling Unscented Glacial Balm

Outstanding Lakewood Soap shave this morning. The Jayaruh boar brush loaded the soap out of the Crabtree and Evelyn mug. A slick and moderately thick lather was whipped up with the lather bowl with a few periodic additions of droplets of water.

A close and comfortable three pass shave ensued leaving my face smooth. The post shave routine has left my face feel wonderful.

Hope you all had an enjoyable day.

 

Fabulous Spice shave Joe.

 

Terrific setup and shave Joe.

 

fine sunday shaves gents.

 

Thanks Joe! As you know, there's nothing like a shave when everything goes right.

 

Thanks Gary.

 

I have not had that challenge with the Fat. There have been many breaks between shaves but I still get a great lather. A 60-90 second load on the brush, then to the bowl and superb lather results. Same hard water in my neck of the woods.

 

Awesome scented shave Gary.

 

Thank you Barry for the detailed report. I have the ML Perfumers Choice Mojo No. 10. Very nice scent.

 

Interesting shave with the Ivory soap Terry.