What makes the difference between a BBS shave that leaves the skin feeling good versus one that leaves the face feeling irritated?

I have several razors, hones and strops. The hones: Super Punjab, double sided hone (American Hone Co. Monrovia, Iowa), a Frictionite 00 (also from Monrovia), and I recently acquired a Chinese hone (Guangxi province). None of the strops have been treated except for strop dressings to help preserve the quality of the leather. One is an antique Johnston two sided strop (one side grooved, the other smooth brand leather). Another is a contemporary Illinois Imperial Russia with both leather and canvas strops. I would like to see if I can find the right combination to minimize the irritation.

I'm thinking of making a couple of strops from leather by treating them with the black and red Dovo strop pastes, so that I can preserve my commercial strops for daily use. Would these improve the smoothness of the edge?

Can anybody provide some guidance?

Thanks,

PChoca