Aftershave: Stirling Soap Co. - Mountain Man - Aftershave
Fragrance: Creed Silver Mountain Water
Talc: Pinaud Clubman
2 passes. Face lather. Excellent shave.
I shaved late today following a morning that was busier than expected and a business lunch that resulted in me saying “Yes” to more consulting work. It wasn’t even a lunch with alcohol. I should have said “No, I have pressing shaving activities to attend to.”. Oh well.
Stirling’s dupe of Silver Mountain Water complements the real thing very well. The real EdP is more detailed as you might expect. Really subtle and warmer than the name suggests. This might be my favorite Creed Scent except it is far too sophisticated for me. I live in a city nicknamed Crab Town after all.
First Fougère Friday of 2024, yay. Also, I was intrigued by @gcgallant 's pro-talc propaganda campaign and today was my first use of talc as a post shave (I took the SOTD pics until Sunday the day before yesterday, so it won’t appear until Monday, at the earliest). I was warned that Pinaud’s Finest Powder (even better in French: poudre ultra-fine) is a powder bomb, and I dutifully created a dense powder fog in my bathroom when I applied it with a fine synthetic brush. Some fine-tuning is in order. I didn’t feel too much of an effect, so I suspect that I did a better job powdering the atmosphere than my face. Live and learn.
Also, I was intrigued by @gcgallant 's pro-talc propaganda campaign
Yes, I’m feeling this too. My trusted health counselor (yes, a LLM) tells me the following:
To resist using talc as an aftershave product, you can consider alternative products such as talc-free aftershave balms or lotions. Talc, also known as talcum powder, has been a popular ingredient in aftershave products, but it has been linked to potential health risks, including the presence of asbestos in some talc-containing products 2 3 . As an alternative, cornstarch powders have been suggested as a safe and effective substitute for cosmetic talc 4 . When choosing aftershave products, it’s important to carefully read the ingredients and opt for talc-free options to minimize potential health concerns. Using talc-free aftershave balms or lotions is a safe alternative to talc-containing products, which have been associated with potential health risks 2 3 . Cornstarch powders have been recommended as a safe and effective substitute for cosmetic talc 4 . When selecting aftershave products, it’s essential to prioritize safety and opt for talc-free options to minimize potential health concerns.
The Club Pinaud and Yardley products I’ve been using are corn starch based. I suspect all talc products sold today are. Man, I miss that asbestos of yesteryear ;)
Yes, it takes a short while to sort this out. I put it in my small badger brush, tap a bit out on each side of my face, then brush lightly. Today, the amount that I tapped into the brush turned out to be a heavy load. I had a whiteish face at first, but it all evened out quickly and became invisible. With the Clubman, the effect is a subtle silky skin feel. The Yardley talc is coarser. Its effect is slightly more noticeable right after it is applied.
I have one Haslinger soap with a nice scent, but that leaves my face extremely dry, and another, that is very soft to the face, while smelling like a wet sheep. Is there something to be done there? Maybe not. The result still leaves my face slightly irritated - so Calendula is demoted to hand soap service.
Brush: Yaqi Cashmere Synthetic Shaving Brush, Dandelion Green Handle, 24mm
Razor: Edwin Jagger DE 89L
Blade: Gillette Silver Blue (1)
Lather: House of Mammoth - Hygge - Soap
Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Hygge - balm
Going back to when I first started wetshaving, this razor + blade combo was the first one that really clicked for me. Up until then I had only tried blades that didn’t work for, but with the Silver Blue it was my first time realizing that shaving could actually be pleasant. These days the EJ is not one of my favorites, but with the Silver Blue it almost feels like comfort food.
Post Shave: Barrister & Mann - Petrichor - Aftershave
Post Shave: House of Mammoth/Declaration Grooming - Cerberus - Liniment
Fragrance: London Razos - Mountain Laurel - EdP
I applied a generous portion of liniment, and indeed I believe I used too much.
Varen is excellent. With a quick search, it appears to be sold out everywhere except maybe 1 in stock at RazorCo. My tub is getting close to being empty. It’ll be missed. Hopefully they bring it back at some point.
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