I forgot to mention how I lather. After soaking my brush and puck in steaming hot water, I hold the brush over the sink until it only drips every 5 seconds or so. then i load up only the tips of the brush on the puck, until a little lather is produced. Then I go straight to my face for a minute or two, making sure not to push the knot into my skin. I find that, for me, this is the best way to ensure the right soap to water ratio. For the second pass, I drip a little hot water onto the tip of the brush, and I've got fresh warm lather.