I can irritate my skin with a course washrag. However my favorite brush is an Omega boar with the backbone of a T-Rex. If you're face lathering, try using a bowl. Try another brand of soap or go to a cream. I use to think I needed all kinds of prep, but here's what I do now in my routine. Wet brush ($20 boar brush...I have $200 silvertips collecting dust), load up brush with Tabac, splash face with cool water, face lather, shave, done. Oh yeah, Nivia makes a great post shave balm, it also serves as an after shave and skin lotion, and it's available everywhere.