The Importance of Face Feel as an Attribute for creams/soaps

When I first starting using all kinds of different shaving creams/soaps, my process was pretty straightforward. When done, throw on some alcohol splash and call it a day. So I was going through all kinds of products and one day, something different  happened. My fact felt great, much much different, and I had no idea why. The sample I used that day was Mystic. Something was different.

Now I had noticed that some soaps were definitely drying and most any article on the Internet about soap, per se, will tell you its drying. I have had soap dry on one side of my face while working on the other or dry in my bowl while shaving but thought it tied to warmth from the scuttle. Initially, I thought - yeah, that's nice but I had also found that using a balm, vice alcohol based splash, mitigated the drying effect to some degree so as an attribute, after face feel wasn't all that important. Over time I came across some other soaps, a lot more expensive, that crank the bar of after shave feel Way, Way up, some lasting 24 hours. Just a few, not a lot.

Lately I've been using up stuff I have where aftershave feel is not one of their strong points and I have found I miss it. And a balm doesnt come close to the same thing as the soap. It helps, but its just not the same thing. This is making me think that I underestimated the importance of after shave feel simply because I didn't know about it before and many, many products don't come close to the best soaps in this attribute. And some people might just not care. But after using soaps that shine in this area, and now others that do not shine, I find I miss it.


Is after shave feel important to you or do you not care? Opinions?

Being that I am a chronic faceturbator, quite important I must say.

It is, also, very important to me and I have been very fortunate to have found my main soap when I first started almost six years ago and it provides me with the best post-shave I have found.
Granted, I use unrefined shea butter as a balm which only accentuates the post-shave.

It is, also, very important to me and I have been very fortunate to have found my main soap when I first started almost six years ago and it provides me with the best post-shave I have found.
Granted, I use unrefined shea butter as a balm which only accentuates the post-shave.  

I was going to ask you about the Shea butter.  I currently use the unrefined, as you do.  Have you tried Michelle's and if so, is it nice and would accomplish the same as hard unrefined?

Thanks buddy!

Please explain. You rub on your face shea butter after shaving? No an aftershave splash or balm?

Post shave is probably the area that sets soaps apart, for the most part artisan products will whip up amazing lathers however it is the post shave that you notice the real difference. Mystic Waters is one of those along with a few others. I find that if I use one of those soaps after a few days of using them and move to a soap that does not have the same level of post shave I will really really notice it. Particularly 12 hours later.

Shea Butter is a fantastic product, I find its a little greasy but if I am shaving before bed it's great because it would have soaked in prior to work.

Post shave is probably the area that sets soaps apart, for the most part artisan products will whip up amazing lathers however it is the post shave that you notice the real difference.

That's becoming my conclusion.

I am concluding that after shave feel is separating the big boys from the also rans.

Yes it's important to me. I have dry-ish skin, especially in the winter so I much prefer soaps that include tallow, lanolin and shea butter (a la Mike's, B&M, Mystic Water, Stirling). Those ingredients for me make the post shave trifecta!

The post-shave qualities of a soap are important to me, although I use splash aftershaves and a couple balms. Fortunately nearly all the soaps I now use have good post-shave skin care. But I have used some in the past that were not so good, and I would end up with dry itchiness, especially on my neck.

I was going to ask you about the Shea butter.  I currently use the unrefined, as you do.  Have you tried Michelle's and if so, is it nice and would accomplish the same as hard unrefined?

Thanks buddy!

Hector, I have not used Michelle, yet. I believe it has a softer consistency than the one you use, but you should contact her to verify.
Regarding its effect, I believe it would be similar to what you are using, now.

Please explain. You rub on your face shea butter after shaving? No an aftershave splash or balm?

That is correct. I apply a small portion of unrefined shea butter to my face, neck and head after my shaves.
I don't use an aftershave or splash other than the Thayers Witch Hazel, as of recently, but I don't need it.
I do use a combination of essential oils as a cologne, though. I just add a few drops to some unrefined shea butter and apply to my chest/shoulder area. Works wonderfully.