Hey Unit,
I did the same thing! I guess great minds work alike . . . ahhh well that may be a bit of an over statement since I'm sure the old timers have already learned what we are just finding out.
Anyway, I found that if I load my brush up with my favorite soap and squeeze a half inch of Bigelow in the bowl, then lather it all together, that I get a nice lush lather that holds the moisture through out the whole pass.
AND, the added benefit for me was that my razor burn discomfort level that I had been experiencing in my problem areas, was much less.
Less pain = more fun shaving . . . whoo hooo!!