Thread: Review of Artisan Soap

I purchased shave soap from a vendor on Etsy recently. Thought I'd provide a review.

My experience: 6 months straight razor shaving.
Soaps used to date before review: 4. (Williams, Mystic Water, Surrey, Marvy)
Favorite soap: Mystic Water's Irish Traveler
Razor used: Wostenholm Pipe Razor, Stropped and shave ready

Sensitive skin type with 2 days beard growth.

Price: $3.50 for 3.5oz puck. (Plus, $2.50 for shipping.)
Shaving Creme Handmade Soap by debixiyo on Etsy

The following areas are rated on a 10 point subjective scale.

Price: 10. Very good price for a puck that size.
Scent: 8. Very pleasant - a hint of bay rum and tea tree oil.
Lather: 4. Soap is extremely hard and difficult to lather. Required copious amounts of water. Dried quickly and required repeated lathering during first complete facial pass. Comparable to Williams.
Enjoyment factor: 3. It made my face sting immediately. First soap to ever do that.
Toning/skin health: 1 or 10. My face was very, very tight and toned. And it burned. Like hell. I ended up with razor burn.
Comments: Burning may be due to a slightly chapped face and/or tea tree oil. My face was red and blotchy after use. It contains woad powder for color, so my reaction my be due to that, too. Same razor provided a killer shave with a different soap.

Thoughts: Just because soap is round doesn't make it shave soap.

Recommend: No

Vendor Feedback Provided: No, but intend to offer feedback if desired.

Sandycrak Hello, I would answer 'cause I feel a lot like you. I, too, recently I began to devote myself to wet shaving razors and straight razors. Many soaps, many brushes and yesterday I arrived directly from the United States the legendary Mystic Water soaps. Last night I was looking forward to trying the first Irish Traveler, a wonderful aroma and inviting as the others. Then the test of mounting a big disappointment, no foam I had to fall suk Vitos red that never disappoints. Even my vote would be very low, but now talking with the great razorguy who gave me great advice, I think I'll try again 'mounting the foam before using these soaps to wash your hands!
We need more 'patience to assemble, you need to load it and add water a little at a time.
I'll try 'the next few days, let's see if I will learn' an effective technique. My water is very hard and it does not help. Hear from you soon, a greeting from Italy!