I just finished reading the 1905 'learn how to shave' manual posted elsewhere on this site. The book talks about how the purpose of Shave soap is not to soften or lubricate the beard, but just the opposite, to stiffen it. I use a Cream from TAOS, which has alot of oils in it, also a pre-shave lube oil.
Has anyone tried both methods and gotten appreciable differences?