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This review should be taken as an add on for Desmond's Barrow soap with Mango Butter found here: https://damnfineshave.com/thread-review-...aving-soap
In past correspondence with Peter, he expressed interest in tweaking the soap base depending on the time of year. Specifically, he was concerned that the original soap base would be TOO moisturizing and leave it feeling oily which would turn some folks off. (But let's be real, who ever would complain about a soap being too moisterizng?) A small step to combat this would be the inclusion of mango butter which, as Peter states, would "(add) a bit more density to the lather as well as slightly better conditioning properties without making it oily. It's very soothing for your skin."
So over the past week or two I have been cycling thru the 'new formulation' with the Mango Butter and I would agree and say that the density and grip is better and consequently the water stability is also improved. I can hydrate the lather EVEN MORE than before as compared with using my very scientific count-the-number-of-pumps-from-my-spray-bottle (bear in mind that the soap was always very water stable for me to begin with).
I would say, however, due to the increased density the slickness drops a tad even with the extra water load. The difference is minute and only noticeable since I was actively looking for differences when I used the 'first formulation.
In terms of moisturizing I would say it's still as conditioning as before, but has less post shave slickness (which can also be described as oiliness). I think this is in line with the slight reduction in slickness. I don't think the overall moisturizing/skincare has truely been impacted that much as both are extremely protective and I would be comfortable going without post-shave products for both formulas.
In the end, there's a trade off right? For me, when using a straight or a single edge/shavette, I think I would prioritize the extra slickness and stick with the 'first formation'. In a situation where I was using a DE or had a few days more growth I would value the density and the correlating ability to "stand the hairs up" and go with the new mango-butter formula.
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The new scents are fantastic as always. I like the new lavenders more than the lemon-lavender; it's floral without being too spicy that some lavenders can be. I've always had a soft spot for single note scents done well as it's hard to mask lesser quality when things are simple.
Vetiver fans: find a tub of Joie de Vetiver. You'l have to pry mine from my dead hands. Peter's version always has a sweet spot in my heart as it's the first vetiver I actually liked and showed me that vetivers don't always have to be smoky ashtrays.
In past correspondence with Peter, he expressed interest in tweaking the soap base depending on the time of year. Specifically, he was concerned that the original soap base would be TOO moisturizing and leave it feeling oily which would turn some folks off. (But let's be real, who ever would complain about a soap being too moisterizng?) A small step to combat this would be the inclusion of mango butter which, as Peter states, would "(add) a bit more density to the lather as well as slightly better conditioning properties without making it oily. It's very soothing for your skin."
So over the past week or two I have been cycling thru the 'new formulation' with the Mango Butter and I would agree and say that the density and grip is better and consequently the water stability is also improved. I can hydrate the lather EVEN MORE than before as compared with using my very scientific count-the-number-of-pumps-from-my-spray-bottle (bear in mind that the soap was always very water stable for me to begin with).
I would say, however, due to the increased density the slickness drops a tad even with the extra water load. The difference is minute and only noticeable since I was actively looking for differences when I used the 'first formulation.
In terms of moisturizing I would say it's still as conditioning as before, but has less post shave slickness (which can also be described as oiliness). I think this is in line with the slight reduction in slickness. I don't think the overall moisturizing/skincare has truely been impacted that much as both are extremely protective and I would be comfortable going without post-shave products for both formulas.
In the end, there's a trade off right? For me, when using a straight or a single edge/shavette, I think I would prioritize the extra slickness and stick with the 'first formation'. In a situation where I was using a DE or had a few days more growth I would value the density and the correlating ability to "stand the hairs up" and go with the new mango-butter formula.
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The new scents are fantastic as always. I like the new lavenders more than the lemon-lavender; it's floral without being too spicy that some lavenders can be. I've always had a soft spot for single note scents done well as it's hard to mask lesser quality when things are simple.
Vetiver fans: find a tub of Joie de Vetiver. You'l have to pry mine from my dead hands. Peter's version always has a sweet spot in my heart as it's the first vetiver I actually liked and showed me that vetivers don't always have to be smoky ashtrays.
-Spencer
