Thanks for all the replies but I'm in South Korea for the next couple months, so my supplies are pretty limited. I found some Thayers alcohol free at the GNC on post and that's what I'll be experimenting with now. I think I'll just use it for AS tomorrow and if my skin is too dry after that, I'll use it and put lotion on after that soaks in.

As for leaving it on my skin for too long, that never seemed to be a problem with my DE. I always read that letting the soap soak into your whiskers was essential to proper prep.