Testers wanted

Alright chaps,

3rd use with the OSP Cream today, the last two times I used two different synths (a Tuxedo and a Plissoft) and I found it definitely required more product to getting going with the boar than with the synth and the lather was easily better with the synths than with the boar, but the lather was still a very good one. I'm loving the slickness of the lather, and the post shave feel, the scent profile isn't one that I am massively enthusiastic about so far.

I'm very pleased to read @Electrif above seems to enjoy the scent profile though, it shows how YMMV shaving products can be and I have nothing but admiration for anyone looking to pitch in a new product!
 
Afternoon All,
2nd use of the OSP Trial cream this morning, being mindful that i overdid it yesterday with how much i used.
This morning i "dipped" and swirled the damp brush into the small tin and the G4 synth knot had no issues picking up, i looked at the brush and thought about adding more, however, the Lather yesterday just kept coming so i left it as it was with just the centre of the brush tips covered.
So, with a few drops of water today i started to bowl lather in the deeper Bideford Bowl, just adding a few drops at a time and i had a wonderfully slick glossy lather in no time, and plenty of it.
The lather paints well on the face and feels nice, it holds together really well.
The scent, i am still unable to nail, today i just get a "natural earthy" scent, it is not heavy and to my nose does not smell of anything in particular. Its not unpleasant, although i think i would like some floral or citrus notes in there.
The Texture of the soap is good, i do prefer a hard soap though to a full on cream.
The lather is very nice and is as good as any soap i have used.
Unlike some creams i have used the lather rinses from your gear and there is no residue left over.
Throughout the shave it holds up really well and helps the shave along
The post shave feeling is nice and leaves the skin feeling nourished and supple.
Still racking my brain on what the scent is?
Bring on tomorrow and a Badger brush.
 
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Sotd-14-02-21.jpg

My first go with the OSP sample -

prep - the usual - shower and facial scrub.

presentation - very dense - a putty like consistency - not unlike @BrianH soaps or some Nanny's Silly Soap. Obviously - this is a sample - but I would support what others have said - a full size tin - would be ideal for me. Less plastic and I could load from the container.

loading - damp badger brush - I only face lather - normally I load straight from the puck with hard soap - or with tube cream - I work a dollop into the knot - but that wasn't going to work with something of this consistency. I don't own a shaving bowl - so had to improvise - I think what I used was a cat food bowl? Touch of class me. Did the job fine - I smeared a lump on the bottom and set to it.

loading - further - I have no idea what it smells of - other than I like it - I don't know how long I loaded the brush - in terms of timing - I don't really shave that way - it's pretty much instinct - look at the knot - does that look enough? The cream is very concentrated - a little is enough - I might compare the process to using PAA?

lathering - the cream sprang into life with no further water added - didn't need it - perhaps I just got the ratio right first time - but I suspect it is very forgiving. As others have said - thick, glossy and shiny. Proper ice cream tips. I lathered for - probably - twice the time I would ordinarily - just to see where it would go. The stability of the lather was superb. Slick, protective and didn't clog the Streamline taking off a four day growth. I do a one pass - adapted for my beard pattern - shave - with a touch up - the residual slickness from the cream and the water in the basin - required no further soap. I squeezed the remaining lather out of the knot and left it on while I did the initial tidy up. A technique I learned from @culcreuch - which I would recommend to anybody reading this.

post - To get the better judge of it - other than witch hazel - I used no splash or balm - my normal regime - the latter particularly at this time of year - one of the few things that upsets my skin is dry cold air. The post care from this cream is exceptional in my opinion - hours later - it is still supple and well hydrated. Something I would associate with tallow or lanolin rich soaps.

So - @James Riley - this is probably not that helpful a review - as the soap-maker you want to know about the negatives not the positives? I can't - thus far - think of any. I'll continue to try the sample with - boar, two-band, horse and - I shudder - synth knots - but I'd be very surprised if my opinion changed.

Superb. My last word. Yours - I.
 
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15/02/21
Badger test
I used about a pea sized piece of cream pressed into the bottom of the Captains Choice Copper bowl, adding droplets of water it mixed up a nice, slick, glossy covering, there did not seem to be a lot, although, i had only planned on a 2 pass shave.
I worked the lather a bit more on my face then painted on.
The shave was really easy, the Shavette felt really smooth. I did have enough for the shave although the brush did hold onto a bit - Note for later "use more product when using a badger"
The Soap texture i like
The lather i like
The shave feel i like
The post shave i like
The scent - ? i am really not sure.
Back to a synth tomorrow.

T
 
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Thanks so much for all the amazing feedback gents.

However, what else can I do to make this cream better? How does it compare with some if the top performing soaps around?

James.
I personally can't see how you could improve the performance of this cream, it stands up to all of my top end soaps. Make an unscented version and that would keep me happy!

Paul.
 
Thanks so much for all the amazing feedback gents.

However, what else can I do to make this cream better? How does it compare with some if the top performing soaps around?

James.
We know how to build lather but I don't think many of us are in the wise in how to make a soap!

The cream's an incredibly easy one to build a lather, almost to the extent that if I shouted at it the cream would explode into a shiny glossy lather.

I have incredibly sensitive skin, anything even remotely resembling any kind of scent usually makes my skin burn but I had no problem with the tester, however the scent profile wasn't really to my liking, but the ease of lathering, the lather itself and the neutral post shave feel all make very enjoyable to use.

Like Paul, I myself would lean towards an unscented version if it would be possible.
 
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Thanks so much for all the amazing feedback gents.

However, what else can I do to make this cream better? How does it compare with some if the top performing soaps around?

James.
James can you tell me if this cream will have a use by or sell by date ?
The reason i’m steering away from creams is because most have use by dates and once you have a few soaps it gets increasingly difficult to finish a cream
 
I always like scents like Lavender, Sandlewood or almond, a single scent that you don't have to call by an obscure name or try to guess what it is you are smelling.
Good simple scents and an unscented one for those who prefer it and pick a soap or cream for its performance rather than the scent or what it's called

Take MdC for instance...MdC Rose....perfect, rose is what you get and without an ambiguous name. Just the job!

Paul.
 
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James can you tell me if this cream will have a use by or sell by date ?
The reason i’m steering away from creams is because most have use by dates and once you have a few soaps it gets increasingly difficult to finish a cream
Hi Mike.

If you design your recipe right a soap or cream won't need preservative or have a shelf life. Mine don't.
The thing that doesn't help is that we cannot account for how it is used. Someone may not dry it out after use, others may leave it to dry out for way too long etc.
I'll be putting on the labels to use it within 12 months but that's mainly to cover my back and in reality, if you look after your soap or cream then it should last a long time.

Hope that helps!
 
Hi Mike.

If you design your recipe right a soap or cream won't need preservative or have a shelf life. Mine don't.
The thing that doesn't help is that we cannot account for how it is used. Someone may not dry it out after use, others may leave it to dry out for way too long etc.
I'll be putting on the labels to use it within 12 months but that's mainly to cover my back and in reality, if you look after your soap or cream then it should last a long time.

Hope that helps!
Nice 1 James thanks
you’ve convinced me to but more cream
 
16/02/21
Face lather Test
I transferred the Cream to a slightly larger (Well cleaned) container as i wanted to load the brush straight from the tin, my preferred loading technique, this cream really is stiff enough to call it a croap, it is very putty like and transferred easily.
From very little loading, swirling for about 5 - 8 seconds the damp brush had picked up what i thought was enough for the shave.
A quick cold water splash to add some water to the face and off i went.
The lather built very quickly and feels great on the skin, the lather i had was very thick, therefore, i dropped a couple of droplets onto the brush and carried on building the lather, in no time i had a very nice thick creamy covering.
The razor just whipped around the face without issue.
After a rinse off to check what was needed i reloaded on the damp face and the second lather produced was just as good as the first pass.
The post shave after rinse off leaves my skin feeling very nice, there is no drying out and there is a nice suppleness there.
The scent - for me it needs something more, i like the idea of a single scent, ie Rose or jasmine, maybe even seasonal scents?
I agree with Paul @Blademonkey and also think this is a winner, well done James
T
 
For my second shave I smeared some of the cream onto my face and face lathered.
Using my GEM Push Button coupled with a Treet carbon blade, the result was a great success.

However I've noticed white particles in the cream. Can't remember seeing them when I received it. They are a harder consistency than the stiff cream. They did break down while lathering, as the lather was very creamy.
IMG_20210216_142713314_HDR-01.jpg
Has anyone else seen this?
 
For my second shave I smeared some of the cream onto my face and face lathered.
Using my GEM Push Button coupled with a Treet carbon blade, the result was a great success.

However I've noticed white particles in the cream. Can't remember seeing them when I received it. They are a harder consistency than the stiff cream. They did break down while lathering, as the lather was very creamy.
View attachment 64918
Has anyone else seen this?

Mine has a few of those, but I didn't notice until you pointed it out.

I used the sample for a shave today and I'm rating it's lather more with each use. Gloriously slick, I don't think I've felt the slightest bit of blade resistance or razor burn from any shave I've had using it. It's an incredibly slick glossy lather but doesn't stick the skin during the shave or when washing it off.

I'm not massively enthusiastic about the scent though!
 
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