I don't get on with creams too well; with safety razors OK, but not with straights for some reason. I add just a navy bean amount of cream to the soap lather, then more water. Then instead of glycerin, I add a squirt of Glycerin & Rose Water, bought pre-mixed. It is true that adding more water after the glycerin bounces the lather up, and this amounts to the same thing. Another thing I have discovered is that getting the lather how you want it, then leaving it for 5 minutes and re-swirling gives it added creaminess. All this takes place in a very heavy pre warmed black granite mortar, which holds a low gentle heat for a very long time, making the whole process so much easier.