When I reaffirmed yesterday that l’Occitane Cade shaving soap works better with a synthetic-fiber brush, I was reminded of Barrister & Mann’s Reserve shaving soaps, for which a synthetic knot is recommended. So I brought out my Plisson synthetic brush and this tub of B&M Spice and set to work.
It is immediately obvious once you use the soap that Barrister & Mann’s shaving soap is of much higher quality that poor old l’Occitane. It seems very much as though l’Occitane depends on its image while Barrister & Mann depends on the quality of its soap, which readily produces fragrant, thick, creamy lather.
And the iKon Stainless open comb is a peerless razor — what a pleasure to use! This is one of those trazors that I’m so glad I have. And it’s still available, though now with a B1-coated head. Highly recommended: three very comfortable passes produced a totally smooth face.
The shave ended with a good splash of Barrister & Mann Reserve Spice aftershave, and it really knocked my socks off with its fragrance and feel on the face. (And I did look at my feet: no socks.) Part of it is the fragrance, since B&M is first rate in that, but also check out the ingredients: it’s a witch-hazel-oriented aftershave with still some alcohol:
SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denatured), Witch Hazel Water (Hamamelis Virginiana), Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Taurine, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Eleuthero Root Extract (Eleutherococcus Senticosus), Allantoin, Aloe Leaf Extract (Aloe Barbadensis), German Chamomile Flower Extract (Matricaria Recutita), Licorice Root Extract (Glycyrrhiza Glabra), Acetylsalicylic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Provitamin B5 (DL-Panthenol), Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Citral, Oakmoss (Evernia prunastri) Extracts, Cinnamic Aldehyde (Cinnamal), Benzyl Benzoate, Isoeugenol, Cinnamic Alcohol (Cinnamyl Alcohol), Geraniol, Citronellol, Methyl Ionone Gamma; Alpha-Iso-Methylionone, Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde, Eugenol, Coumarin, D-Limonene, Linalool
It felt good on my face and the fragrance is very appealing: present but not overbearing.
Great way to start a day that’s somewhat dark and threatens to be stormy.