Slarty, old buddy... which VDH soap dried out your face? I have the deluxe version and the shea butter is on par with pre de provence for moisturizing. I don't seem to be using it up very quickly, either. I know it's soft but loading it into my little Tweezerman brush isn't making much of a dent. I don't like the floral hand soapy smell, though. I don't use it consecutively because of the triethanolomine (yuck!).