SOTD by u/Environmental-Gap380

August 2nd, 2022 - Will it break in, or break me?

• Prep: warm water

• Brush: Zenith B36 “Copper Scrubby!”

• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb Gen 2

• Blade: Personna GEM PTFE (2)

• Lather: House of Mammoth - Alive

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Splash

• Post Shave: House of Mammoth - Alive Balm

#GEMsOfWisdom

#MammothMafia

#RawHoggin

For todays shave no surprise, same as yesterday. I loaded about 25% more soap in the brush this time. For now, that was the right amount to load for 2 passes. Not used to face lathering, and having trouble getting the hydration right. I’ve been dipping the brush in the water it soaked in and trying to get more water worked into my face. I think I was better on pass 2 with that. Definitely slicker on the second pass. The brush is showing some wear already, but still it earns its scrubby name. Here’s a pic of it from the side. It looks about the same as yesterday. Tomorrow will see if any hairs are splitting. I think I saw 1 that split maybe 1mm of the tip.

The set for this month is still a very refreshing Alive. Once again, opening the tub I can get the fruit and floral notes, but once I get the lather wet, the “greenery” elements and musk come out to play. For the MMOC (today I’m naming it Bitey), day two and still a bit harsh, especially the neck. Got a nick and some weepers on the neck. From my first shaves after I got it, I remember it taking a few shaves for the blade to smooth out. I hope that is the case again. The previous blade was in the teens for shaves, and was a lot kinder to my face (unlike teenagers who can be a bit snotty). Maybe I should have held onto that one and see if I could get to 40+ shaves. No weepers on the face today, but the splash let me know the blade was rough there too. The balm definitely helped to sooth the sting. After seeing pictures of the MMOC instructions saying to hold it flat to the face, I did alter my angle. That seemed better on the face, but felt like it tugged on the neck. Probably need to get my skin tighter on the neck.

Got to say, I really like the Alive scent. I was torn between it, Sonder, or Hygge. In the end Alive won by a nose. I write this, I’m starting to get the apple scent more. Maybe the balm is helping that. Trying to think of what will go good with Alive after AA. It might be a good compliment to Rope Swing, perhaps Bell Ringer, or maybe Sonder might play well with it.

A bit of a rough start, but I think things will settle in soon.