Van Yulay makes very nice samples, with good labels in good containers that offer a reasonably large lathering surface. And they certainly have a plethora of samples from which to choose: page 1 and page 2.
The samples soaps are presented with an attractive label and, as an added attraction, with an embellished surface as shown in the photo 
at the right. In the full tub of Jared that I used yesterday, the process of loading the brush wore away the embellishment, but in the thinner sample today, the puck broke up a bit—not really a problem since I easily loaded the brush and the slight bit of excess water will weld the sample together (and stick it to the bottom of the container) before next I use it.
Cucumber Fresh made much the same excellent lather as yesterday’s soap: quick, rich, thick, and creamy. The cucumber fragrance was quite mild, which seemed a better choice to me than a strong cucumber fragrance. The ingredients:
Stearic Acid, Coconut Fatty Acid, Palm Stearic, Castor Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Cucumber Puree, Glycerin, Aloe Vera, Coconut-Emu-Meadow Foam-Babassu-Squalane-Borage-Oils, Calendula, Extracts, Poly Quats, Sodium Lactate, Allantoin, Silica, Liquid Silk, Kaolin Clay, and Fragrance.
I continue to be puzzled by “Extracts,” since from what the extraction is done is not indicated.
The soap description explains the purpose of some ingredients:
Castor Oil – Castor oil is a wonderful moisturizer. The high concentrated fatty acids penetrate the skin easily. This helps remove dry patches and restores hydration of the skin.
Meadow Foam – When used in shave soap it is known to protect the skin from ultraviolet rays which can cause skin diseases especially in the case of prolonged exposure. As it is readily absorbed by the skin, it doesn’t give the greasy feeling when applied onto the skin. It moisturizes skin as well as protects it from being dehydrated. This is because, unlike water, Meadow Foam oil does not evaporate when exposed to the elements. This quality makes it qualify as an ingredient for products that are aimed at preventing acne. It also makes it easier for your skin to “breathe” by removing the blockages in the pores. Oil from Meadow Foam seed is mild; hence, it produces the same benefit even if you have sensitive skin.
Emu Oil – Emu Oil is a modern alternative method for helping relieve the discomfort of pain and inflammation caused by injured tissues. It also has oleic acid… a substance that has a local anti-inflammatory effect on dermal tissues. Using it in shave soap helps calm any irritation from shaving.
The lather, of course, is the prep. Moving on to the shave itself, I chose today the RazoRock Baby Smooth, an exceptionally good razor that is, unfortunately, no longer made. It appeared only briefly, but those who secured one are, I think, very happy with. It is extremely comfortable, not at all inclined to nick, and also extremely efficient and lives up to its name by routinely producing baby-smooth results. It has a head 
that shows an unusually sharp curvature, as shown in the photo. Whether that bears on its excellence, I don’t know, but it is a noticeable feature of the razor. Machined from an aluminum alloy, the Baby Smooth is quite light and somehow feels particularly rigid, the feeling perhaps a side effect of the light weight.
Three passes produced a perfectly smooth result, and I finished the shave with a good splash of Anthony Gold’s wonderful Red Cedar aftershave, which I got from The Copper Hat in Victoria, BC.
This is a great way to start the weekend.
Filed under: Shaving
