Topic: Importance of a Soap's Post Shave Feel

Topic: Importance of a Soap's Post-Shave Feel

Ok guys. I know many guys have said that post shave feel doesn't matter or doesnt mean much to them. For me and I'm sure many other Wet Shavers, Post Shave Feel is THE most important aspect of a soap, either due to suffering from dry skin or plainly becuase they just love when a soap leaves the face moisturized and smooth.

Rationale: Post Shave feel should be one of the most important factors on soap since its the one aspect of the shave you get to appreciate the most, since you will be feeling your face all day and thus, the post shave feel really adds to the experience of soap (or breaks it, when is a bad post shave feel).  I would say is right up there with slickness.

Let's face it, we only spend about 20 mins shaving and its done. But we will spend the entire day with the post shave feel of that said soap (assuming ceteris paribus, while other variables remaining constant, like the balm you use, weather, etc). I am a self proclaimed "faceturbator" and I know a lot of you are as well.

When I'm feeling the face during the day and it feels dry and harsh, it really turns me off from the soap and such soap is discarded from my den automatically. On the contrary, if the face feels soft and moustirized, it really grabs my attention and love for such soap. Its no wonder my top tier soaps are all very moisturizing, since that's my #1 Criteria on a soap.

What do you guys think?

If post shave is the most important aspect to you, how high do you rank slickness and cushion? If a soap has an amazing post shave but isn't very slick would you still use it? I like a good post shave too as I mentioned earlier in the thread, but if the soap doesn't have good slickness and cushion it won't protect my skin from the razor blade. I happen to have very sensitive skin, which has severely restricted my options for soaps and razors. I don't mean sensitive to certain fragrances or ingredients, but rather sensitive to the act of shaving in which the blade will cause redness, bumps, ingrown hairs, cuts, etc. However, since it's impossible for me to know what it's like to shave without having sensitive skin, I wonder if perhaps slickness and cushion are nearly irrelevant for those who do not have sensitive skin. There are some who can shave dry, or with bath soap, or any other soap without issue. And there are those who hardly have any hair to shave. I guess this is one more topic where ymmv is the case as usual. With that said, fortunately most of us don't have to sacrifice post shave for slickness anyway since there are so many great artisans making soaps that provide exceptional qualities in all categories.

Exactly Hobbyist. You got to it at the end there. Really, how many soaps are you going to find that have crappy cushion and slickness, but amazing post shave? Not very many IME.

Exactly Hobbyist. You got to it at the end there. Really, how many soaps are you going to find that have crappy cushion and slickness, but amazing post shave? Not very many IME.

That's a big reason why I prefer artisan soaps.

I do not now nor have I ever had any skin problems. Perhaps that is why I pay little attention to post shave feel.
However, I do not like my face to feel dried up after my shave.
This is why I can not understand those who advocate rubbing alum on their face after shaving.
It leaves me feeling dry and tight. Most unpleasant.
Perhaps on a hot, humid, summer day I might find it pleasing. I have yet to try that.
I use an inexpensive aftershave because it smells good and breaks the hypnotic spell that shaving puts on me.
I find that all three flavours of Aqua Velva will suit any occasion and will not linger too long and leaves my skin feeling normal whatever that is.

Use Arko.

Use Mikes Natural/CRSW/Whatever soap with lanolin, etc.

I don't care what the hell you put on your face afterwards, but I can tell the difference even WITH balm or whatever you think might make your post shave better when you are finished. Just my opinion though.

The funny thing is Martin de Candre dries me out just as much as Arko. Go figure. Talk about polar opposites.

The funny thing is Martin de Candre dries me out just as much as Arko.  Go figure.  Talk about polar opposites.

MdC dries me out too. It provides excellent cushion and average slickness, which makes for a pretty good shave otherwise, but definitely calls for a balm afterward.

Topic: Importance of a Soap's Post-Shave Feel

Ok guys. I know many guys have said that post shave feel doesn't matter or doesnt mean much to them. For me and I'm sure many other Wet Shavers, Post Shave Feel is THE most important aspect of a soap, either due to suffering from dry skin or plainly becuase they just love when a soap leaves the face moisturized and smooth.

Rationale: Post Shave feel should be one of the most important factors on soap since its the one aspect of the shave you get to appreciate the most, since you will be feeling your face all day and thus, the post shave feel really adds to the experience of soap (or breaks it, when is a bad post shave feel).  I would say is right up there with slickness.

Let's face it, we only spend about 20 mins shaving and its done. But we will spend the entire day with the post shave feel of that said soap (assuming ceteris paribus, while other variables remaining constant, like the balm you use, weather, etc). I am a self proclaimed "faceturbator" and I know a lot of you are as well.

When I'm feeling the face during the day and it feels dry and harsh, it really turns me off from the soap and such soap is discarded from my den automatically. On the contrary, if the face feels soft and moustirized, it really grabs my attention and love for such soap. Its no wonder my top tier soaps are all very moisturizing, since that's my #1 Criteria on a soap.

What do you guys think?

If post shave is the most important aspect to you, how high do you rank slickness and cushion? If a soap has an amazing post shave but isn't very slick would you still use it? I like a good post shave too as I mentioned earlier in the thread, but if the soap doesn't have good slickness and cushion it won't protect my skin from the razor blade. I happen to have very sensitive skin, which has severely restricted my options for soaps and razors. I don't mean sensitive to certain fragrances or ingredients, but rather sensitive to the act of shaving in which the blade will cause redness, bumps, ingrown hairs, cuts, etc. However, since it's impossible for me to know what it's like to shave without having sensitive skin, I wonder if perhaps slickness and cushion are nearly irrelevant for those who do not have sensitive skin. There are some who can shave dry, or with bath soap, or any other soap without issue. And there are those who hardly have any hair to shave. I guess this is one more topic where ymmv is the case as usual. With that said, fortunately most of us don't have to sacrifice post shave for slickness anyway since there are so many great artisans making soaps that provide exceptional qualities in all categories.

Very good point! In my case Slickness and Post shave are King, as I dont find easy of lather a real criteria (10 seconds of more loading wont kill anyone). I have found that all my soaps that have great post shave, are also the slickest soaps in my den.....(CRSW V2, B&M, Mike's, Soap Commander, Mystic Water, Shannon's). I really believe is the tallow, butters and lanolin combo that really provides slickness and post shave simultaniously, so no trade off has to be made (only exception is Soap Commander but somehow it acts as a Tallow Soap).

I do not now nor have I ever had any skin problems. Perhaps that is why I pay little attention to post shave feel.
However, I do not like my face to feel dried up after my shave.
This is why I can not understand those who advocate rubbing alum on their face after shaving.
It leaves me feeling dry and tight. Most unpleasant.
Perhaps on a hot, humid, summer day I might find it pleasing. I have yet to try that.
I use an inexpensive aftershave because it smells good and breaks the hypnotic spell that shaving puts on me.
I find that all three flavours of Aqua Velva will suit any occasion and will not linger too long and leaves my skin feeling normal whatever that is.

I used alum once and it literally dried my skin instantly. Threw it to the garbage right away. People with dry skin shouls avoid alum at all cost.

It all comes down to what type of skin you have before you even start to use a shaving soap. Those with dry skin will much prefer oils, butters, tallow, lanolin, etc. while these same soaps may be too much for the oily skin guy leasing to a decrease in slickness and the soap's most important function which is to help you shave comfortably.

Conversely, those soaps like MdC that are found to be drying and lack slickness for a dry skin person can be super slick and have perfect post shave feel for an oily skin person.

Add in allergies and things can get really crazy. While some people love lanolin, it is also a common allergen for many people.

Bottom line: YMMV because our skin chemistry varies (OSCV).