Bentonite?

There is a weird phenomena that occurs when I use The Real Shaving Co. Professional Formula Face Scrub as a preshave. I get fantastic BBS shaves. 

I wonder which ingredient might be responsible. Is Bentonite clay known to soften the beard?

Personally, I've always been wary of Bentonite clay. I have a family history of Alzheimer's disease, and everything I've read says stay away from using products containing aluminum that may be ingested or absorbed, as there is evidence that it increases risk of Alzheimer's. With the relatively high concentration of aluminum in Bentonite clay... That being said, it has great moisturizing properties, supposed ability to draw toxins through the skin due to being magnetically negative (personally sceptical of such claims, the skin is not that permeable and this stuff isn't high-powered electromagnetic), and general lubrication properties, I personally could see the benefits. I question whether the same could be had through a lower aluminum content clay, though.

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There is a weird phenomena that occurs when I use The Real Shaving Co. Professional Formula Face Scrub as a preshave. I get fantastic BBS shaves. 

I wonder which ingredient might be responsible. Is Bentonite clay known to soften the beard?

Some soaps contain bentonite clay to assist in slip.  It's actually a really fine powder, almost like flour.  I used to use it actually, but wasn't a fan of the color it would turn my soaps (it gives a bit of a grey color to the soap).

It's Radio ACtive Too! (fo real)

Back in my younger days working on drilling rigs (oil) as a roughneck we would mix up the drilling mud using 100 lb. sacks of bentonite - the stuff is fine like flour and gets in your nose and eyes - very slick then you'd add bentonite flocculent to it to make thick like snot. Its obviously really useful stuff.
Mark