REVIEW - Faena Mastic Tree Shave Soap

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Faena 'Mastic Tree' - 100% vegetable soap.  If I need to tell you what a shave soap does, well, I think we need to start at the beginning!

APPLICATION METHOD AND DESCRIPTION:
It's simple.  I choose not to bloom the soap as it is very soft (I moulded the puck with my thumb to fit the pot without any issue at all), a quick 10-15 seconds load on the brush and away to the bowl we go.  Once built, I tend to lightly swirl on my face, then paint to get it even.

SCENT:
The scent to me was the original drawing point to the soap.  I had never heard of, nor smelled a mastic tree in my life.  This of course piqued my interests, aroused my suspicions as to what it could smell like.  Well, when it arrived, I had no expectation, so opened the pot and took a long slow inhale.  I was very pleasantly surprised to find a fresh, heady scent, reminiscent of a herb garden (think rosemary) with a hint of cut grass.  All together a very inviting, summery scent that could quite literally be found if you were to shave in your herb garden.  Very subtle when lathered and on the face.

LATHERABILITY:
With a quick 10-15 second load on my Body Shop synthetic brush, I got an copious amount of pre lather, thick and chewy in texture.  In the bowl, it took a reasonable amount of water to make a yoghurty lather that was almost bereft of bubbles from the outset.  A very pleasant soap to lather.

 
PERFORMANCE:
I had high expectations from the naming of the product (Premium Handmade Shaving Soap), and for the most part, I agree.  The lather is rich and creamy, providing more than adequate cushion against the blade.  In terms of glide, the performance is not bad at all, very similar (if not identical) performance to other all vegetable soaps I own.  It could use a little more glide, but it is not lacking, as the shave is performed without issue.

When a preshave oil (in this case olive oil) was used, the glide was perfect, nothing to note that could deduct points so to speak.

POST SHAVE:
This is one of the most important factors for me in a soap, particularly on days where I don't want to wear a fragrance.  I found that with the Faena, I didn't get the best post shave finish (when using the soap on its own), I got a mild amount of dryness/tightness after the shave.  I get this with just about all vegetable based soaps, and some of the cheaper tallow soaps.  Granted, I can negate this dryness with some balm, but it's worth noting that there must be something causing the dryness (comparable to that I get with Palmolive Sticks).  I suspect it could do with either some more glycerin or another ingredient to enhance the post shave feel.

When used in conjunction with a simple preshave oil, the post shave finish is absolutely spot on, cannot fault in any way the feeling on the skin.  It seems perfectly at home with a simple olive oil rub prior to lathering, in keeping with the Greek origin, my olive oil was of Greek origin.  Lovely stuff.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
Well, it's an unusual position I find myself in.  I love the scent, I love the lather and in shave performance.  I'm not 100% certain on the post shave finish, given what I know is out there.  I'm not put off mind, as I know I can rectify the finish with a little balm or use of a preshave oil, so that one downside is a bit of a moot point.  Would I buy it again?  I would, as the scent is wonderful for summer or an evening shave, very fresh and the performance is good overall.

REVIEW - RazoRock 'The Monster' 26mm Plissoft Brush

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

RazoRock 'Monster' 26mm Plissoft Brush.  It is a brush for lathering shaving software.

APPLICATION METHOD AND DESCRIPTION:
I'll start with the description.  It is a substantial bit of kit.  Solid, well made and well presented.  It arrived in a RazoRock branded box, which looks classy.  

When you take the brush out of the box, you immediately notice two things.  The size and the weight.  It is a heavy brush in comparison to my Omega 48 and Body Shop Synthetic.  It is also large, very large.  It dwarfs my Body Shop Synthetic in knot size and heft.  It is rubbing shoulders in terms of size with the Omega as can be seen below.

The knot itself is very dense, and very soft.  It has immensely soft tips, with a sensible amount of backbone to the bristles.  The handle is a solid resin affair, very hefty, nicely polished and patterned with what appears to be a wood grain effect.

I find it best to dampen the brush lightly then load accordingly, adding water to achieve the desired lather as opposed to starting with it overly wet.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
Well, this is interesting.  I've enjoyed using large brushes and I've enjoyed using smaller brushes.  My first impression beyond size and weight was just how soft the tips are.  They make my other synthetics seem scritchy in comparison.  It is a very pleasant brush to apply to your face if you like soft brushes.  If you like the scritch of a boar or lower grade badger, this may not be the brush for you.  If you like holding a substantial handle, this will be right up your alley.  To coin my initial SOTD using this brush, it rips a hole in both the soap and the space/time continuum!

It is a very capable bowl lathering brush, whipping up oodles of lather from creams, croaps and hard soaps alike.  It is also at home face lathering.  I must say, I prefer using it to bowl lather, but that's all personal preference.

Did I mention the price yet?  No.  Well, it can be had from Shaving Station for a very reasonable £17.49.  Bargain?  Oh yes, of a monstrous size!

REVIEW - Phoenix & Beau 'Balm' (post shave balm)

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Phoenix & Beau 'Balm'

From the Phoenix & Beau site:
"Our balm is something that can be used in a variety of ways, e.g. conventional skin moisturiser, post-shave, beard or moustache conditioner, post-surf, post-sun, post-ski, etc.

Carefully crafted to include conditioning and moisturising oils and waxes, we use unrefined shea butter, locally sourced organic beeswax, argan oil and jojoba oil to provide the nourishing foundation; a rich preparation which deeply moisturises and protects your skin (and facial hair). Shea butter is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E. It is also UV protective and combats skin conditions such as dry skin, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. Beeswax is known to have anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which can help to protect the skin from the elements, smoke and airborne particulate. Our balm also contains virgin hempseed oil and black sesame oil.

Like our soaps we make our balm in small batches and with our own hands."

APPLICATION METHOD AND DESCRIPTION:
Again, from Phoenix & Beau site:
"Super moisturising with powerful conditioning properties our balm will turn from semi solid to near liquid once it reaches body temperature. A little goes a long way and so we recommend placing a pea sized amount (perhaps a little more) in to your palm. Use the back of a nail to extract it from its tin before warming it with a brisk rub of palm to palm or finger to palm - now apply / rub in to your chosen area and ensure it is thoroughly absorbed.

Equally you can apply the requisite amount to a fingertip and dab it on to the specific area you want to moisturise before using small circular motions to warm and accelerate absorption."

I use the former, and treat it like an oil based pomade, rubbing vigorously between my palms, and then apply slowly to my face.  During use, I can detect a honey scent, that is almost savoury if that makes sense.  Taking the time to rub the balm into your face pays dividends because you get nice even coverage, and can detect any areas that you may have missed during the shave.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
I'll be honest, I don't often need a balm, particularly now I am using the Phoenix & Beau range of soaps.  That said, there is always a place for a balm with such restorative qualities such as this.  There are days where I want to use a different soap that doesn't give the finish I love of P&B, so the balm is used then, like today whereby an otherwise good soap leaves my face dry.  This mornings shave was brought up to scratch in the post shave department by the use of Balm, ensuring my face is as moist as a morning dew, and twice as fresh.  Some post shave products I find I am sensitive to, leaving a slightly unpleasant tingling sensation.  I get none of this with Balm.

It also works wonderfully on cold days.  I went for a 6 mile walk yesterday in the bracing wind, something that would ordinarily leave my face dry.  I applied the balm that morning prior to the walk, and my face felt fantastic despite the cold wind and rain.

If you're looking for something to give a fantastic finish to your shave, or just to your face in general, you'd do well to give Balm a try. 

REVIEW - Nanny's Silly Soap "Moroccan Sands"

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Nanny's Silly Soap - Moroccan Sands

APPLICATION METHOD AND DESCRIPTION:
Load the brush (damp synthetic) for about 15-20 seconds, whip lather in a bowl, adding water until ideal consistency is achieved.  Apply to ones boat race in circular fashion, paint until even.  Shave.  Admire.

SCENT:
Now, this is where I can only quote Janice from Friends - Oh! My! God!

I LOVE this scent.  It reminds me of being in a Wiccan ritual, of heady piles of incense burning upon smouldering charcoal, filling the room with mystic smoke, designed to invoke the Gods and Goddesses.

LATHERABILITY:
I have yet to find a soap that presents a problem in lathering.  Some take a little longer to build a quality lather, others (like this) spring up a lather almost as soon as you introduce a damp brush to them.  A 15-20 second load produces plenty of lather for a full three pass shave plus touch up.  No problems here.

PERFORMANCE:
During the shave, I felt the lather protected well, cushioned against the blade and importantly, enabled a close, safe shave.  I felt no real problems occur during the shave, bar the first time I used, the lather didn't last very long on my face if applied a little thin.  No real problem, just ensure it is applied properly et voila.  It also has glide for days, very slick indeed.

POST SHAVE:
As I am sure you will have noticed if you've read any of my other reviews, that this is one of the most important aspects I consider when using and reviewing a soap.  Most vegetable based soaps leave me a little underwhelmed, not so with Nanny's.  I felt that this is up there with most tallow/lanolin containing soaps.  Having a scout through the ingredients list, I am left in no doubt that this is down to the shea butter content.  Top marks Nanny for this!

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
Well, there is something special contained within the red anodised tin, something very special indeed.  The scent is heavenly, the performance superb, what more could you ask for?  I would definitely purchase again, and indeed will definitely try some of the other scents in the Signature range.  Worth every penny.

REVIEW - Proraso Green Shaving Soap

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
It's a soft shaving soap, made in Italy.

Proraso Green Soap - Our shaving soap formula undergos a traditional “hot process”. The shaving cream is left to mature in small batches for a period of 10 days in a temperature-controlled room that protects the batches from temperature shifts. During this maturing process, moisture evaporates from the formulation resulting in a solid, concentrated shaving soap; perfect for professional brush application.
COMPONENTS - EUCALYPTUS OIL has a tonifying and purifying effect. MENTHOL has refreshing and revitalizing properties. GLYCERIN encourages a smooth shave, reducing irritation and redness. 

APPLICATION METHOD AND DESCRIPTION:
I swirl my dampened brush around the pot for about 10-15 seconds, which gives enough soap to make lather for four passes with touch up if needed.  Transfer to your bowl or face and whip up a storm.  It's suited for both bowl and face latherers alike, with no real difference in building.  I actually quite like face lathering Proraso, as you get the cold build up nicely on your face, great for summer.

SCENT:
The scent of Proraso Green is a bit polarising I've found.  The way I interpret the scent is contradictory.  I get fresh menthol vapours with the eucalyptus following quite strongly, but sometimes I find the eucalyptus a little musty smelling.  It's not necessarily a bad thing, just a property of the scent.

LATHERABILITY:
No problems here getting a good lather, but this is a soap that you can easily over water, killing the lather dead.  Add water slowly, literally a few drops at a time to build the ideal lather.

PERFORMANCE:
With Proraso Green, I find the cooling nature of the soap lends itself to seemingly killing irritation.  This is both good and bad as it can give that false sense of security, leading you to add more pressure than is needed.  That said, there is sufficient cushion with a well built lather to see you through a shave, and there is just enough glide to ensure you mow down your whiskers.  It's not the slickest soap I've used, but is more than adequate for all types of shaver.

POST SHAVE:
The cooling sensation offered by the ingredients give that really fresh feel when you've finished a shave.  I do get a bit of tightness, almost like my skin is half a size too small, it's a snug feeling if you will.  I do like to follow up with a balm when I've used Proraso Green to give a bit more moisture that my skin likes.  Again, not a huge downside, but one to be aware of if your skin dries easily.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
The low price point of the product does not indicate a cheap product, rather it indicates that quality products can be available at a bargain price.  I'd recommend this soap for anyone who loves a cold blast in the morning, or loves the scent of pressed eucalyptus leaves.  I took Proraso Green away with me on holiday last year as it is a reliable performer, doesn't take up too much space in your shave bag, and you know you'll get a great shave come rain or shine.  The question is, would I buy it again?  Quite probably yes, as it is a very well priced product, dare I say it punching above it's price point.

REVIEW - The BodyShop Synthetic Brush

Welcome to a review I conducted way back when I first got this brush.

WHAT IS IT, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
Body Shop Synthetic Shave Brush - A shave brush, designed to build and apply lather to your boat race.  Doesn't get any more complicated than that.

APPLICATION METHOD AND DESCRIPTION:
As with any brush, it's a case of dampen, load with soap cream and whip.  I found with this brush, you have to work creams a little more to get a satisfactory lather.  With soaps less so.

CONCLUSIVE COMMENTS:
Well, I've used it every day for 7 days now, and my findings changed from beginning to end.  Day 1 the brush had ridiculous amounts of backbone, almost too much.  The tips have been super soft since day 1.  As time went by, the bristles seemed to 'give' a little, resulting in a much more pleasant lather application.  I can't say at this point if I prefer bowl or face lathering with the brush, as it seems equally at home with either.  What I can 100% say about this brush is that it is efficient.  Teutonic efficient.  Like BMW/Mercedes/Audi, it does exactly what it should do and does it well with no fuss.  It always lays down an even coat of lather regardless of application method (bowl or face).  It rinses easily, and dries with no fuss.  A good synthetic brush to break into the synthetic brush market.

WOULD YOU BUY IT AGAIN?
Well, it is a budget brush in terms of cost (£7).  I have no other synthetic brush to compare it to, but that's by the by.  If it lasts a reasonable time (I've read a few reviews on the companies website that are showing short lifespan) then I would buy another for sure.  Most complaints seem to be the handle cracking or the knot falling out.  As long as the handle stays in one piece, I can reglue a knot no problem.


UPDATE
Well, I've had this brush for quite some time now, and I use it almost exclusively.  I've had zero issues with the brush at all, so I do wonder what people must have been doing with their brushes to damage the handle or lose the knot.  It has broken in nicely, and performs just as well as it did in those first 7 days.  This brush is a bona-fide bargain, worthy of a place in a beginner and advanced shavers arsenal alike.