Pre-shave: shower, washed face with Dove body wash

Prep and lather: Glycerine soap to saturate the brush, lather with Proraso. Nice, thick, rich, and ultra slick (and IMHO, better as far as thickness and slickness than my Taylor of Old Bond Avacado (Christmas gift))

Brush: Crabtree and Evelyn Super badger brush by Edwin Jagger

Strop: Illinois strop co #208

Razor: Dovo 5/8 Bismarck with bone scales


Post-shave: Proraso pre-shave balm as aftershave, then after that dried, C.O. Bigelow Black.

Awesome. I used some blade-buffing during the shave on the trouble spots, and it was perfect.