Post Shave: Aqua Velva - Musk - After Shave Cologne
Post Shave: allMan - Refined - Balm
Fragrance: House of Mammoth - Damocles - EdP
A very close shave. I'm starting to think Tusk isn't for me, though. If I leave it sorta thick and creamy and beautiful, I don't get much residual slickness. If I give it a lot of water, the residual slickness is better, but my skin doesn't feel very protected. If there's a middle ground, I'm having trouble nailing it down, so obviously there's that factor -- user error.
It works, for sure, and it smells great, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm not in the target demographic. Maybe Tusk is for people who prioritize post-shave feel and skin goodies, while my skin has different requirements. I'll continue to use it, of course. Maybe one day it'll click.
Like you, I feel like I can make almost any soap work. I think Tusk is fine, but not top tier for me. I assume Vida uses Ben's formula when she makes it. Her Darkwing base, OTOH, is top tier for me. Ben's fragrances with Vida's Darkwing base would be a great match for me. He should just offer that option.
It's definitely his recipe, Vida just does the work. Tusk has a lot of fans, at least on r/wetshaving, so from a business point of view he probably doesn't have much need for change.
I know he was working on a vegan version of Tusk for a while, but it hasn't come to fruition yet.
Brush: vintage yellow bakelite handle w/ 22 mm SynBad knot
Razor: Leaf Thorn
Blade: snapped BIC Chrome Platinum
Lather: Los Jabones de Joserra - Masala Connection
Post-Shave: Thayer's Original toner; Phytorelax Aftershave scalp cream
-> 2-pass face & 1-pass head shave. Not great, but just right for a Tuesday.
Second use of Masala Connection. Today it was a bit tricky to lather - I chalk it up to inexperience, since I haven't shaved anywhere around my face for ~ 9 months and I am so used to lathering directly on my head. Combine this with an even more reduced 'canvas' due to a goatee and it's getting awkward. However, it smells good. It performs good and might even really take off once I'm back in the swing of things. Post Shave skin feel (don't you just love those weird words that come with niche hobbies?!) is rather good too, not on the level of ZM, WK or BM Omnibus but really solid. Also, since our weather abruptly went to fall temperatures it fits a little better than before
Also yes, aftershave scalp cream also works perfectly well on the face.