I've been wet shaving for years. I've always noticed that my soap (presently Taylor of Bond St, but also L'Occitane) stops working when it's down to about 3/4 or 1/2 a cake. It just stops making a lather. When I try a new cake using same technique, I get a perfect, deep lather. I use a silver tip badger brush that I saturate with water, and I swirl the tips on the cake until lather just begins to form. Then to my face to finish whipping up the merengue. I then drain the water from the mug.

My suspicion is that the soap, with repeated wetting and draining, is depleted of some essential later ingredient. I live in NYC where the water is very soft...thus it may dissolve and deplete many ingredients from the soap.

Anyone have this problem? Why does my soap not last? Thanks!