Pre: Nil
Soap: Mystic Waters - Lemongrass & Blue Gum (love the strong lemon with menthol here!)
Brush: Shavemac Custom 2 Band
Blade: Hosi Tombo 8000
Post: PAA - Malbolge
And so we come full circle. Again? After discussion of drying skin - lets call a spade a spade - xerosis, and the fact that the pre products I have been using I know don't work but use them anyway, I decided not to use them - durr. So a quick, cool soapless shower to wake up (yes I used soap last night!) and dive straight into a face lather. Two pass shave (WTG, ATG) pat dry and done.
Result? DFS+. Almost as good as the four pass shave I have been experimenting with this week and more than good enough for a work day. After 45min I could feel the tell tail tightening of my cheeks and that slight pain with a big smile but not as bad as previous that has seen me doing two or three applications of a balm. So I threw on the aftershave. Two hours later my face is just fine and dandy, soft, pleasant, and smelling sweetly.
So;
Prorasso Red preshave: I'm just going to bin you. Why use you when you do nothing.
Myrsol Antisol: I'm undecided. I do love how you smell, and how you make my skin feel so I will try you out tomorrow (no A/S on a Sat) and see if you keep the xerosis at bay as effectively as PAA has done. If not, you're going on the BST.
TSW After Balm: I have two tubes of you... I might keep you for non A/S days. With the methol and alcohol included you are not suitable for night time use.
Shaver Heaven Balm: You have been awesome for pre-bed application and that's where you'll stay.
Thayers WH: Bin for you... waste of time and money.
Alum Block: Never liked you anyway... you can stay in the drawer for some reason. I a styptic pencil but anyway.
Occams Pre-shave Soap: You are a great soap, so I will use you as that but not as part of my shave routine.