Glad to see you diving in, I think that's great. Can't read the label on the razor, is that Van Der Hagen also?
The soap that comes with your kit should smell like cucumbers, I think. That's Van Der Hagen's better soap. This company makes a lesser soap that contains a lot of glycerin (kind of like the Col. Conks or new Williams soaps) and I found it to be a bit tougher to use. Don't get me wrong these names I've mentioned will work too but you have to work a little harder at getting the right mix, if you don't have enough water they'll dry on your cheeks in short order. Use enough water so that you don't have big bubbles in your mug but have it look more like heavy whipped cream.
The puck that I think you'll be getting works well without a lot of fuss. It's kind of a refreshing soap. I have some of that in my shave drawer. It's not terribly expensive but you'll go through a puck a bit faster than some of the others. When you get to the point of trying other soaps you'll likely find ones you like a bit more. With respect to Proraso, I too would not recommend using their cream as your primary soap (I do however use it almost every time I shave as a mix), that said their product that comes in a bowl is a fine soap and is not any softer than any other poured soap. It is probably a bit firmer than the puck you'll be getting but it isn't a milled soap. They pour their soaps just like PoorBoy's pours their waxes. The consistency is somewhere between a bar of Dove and a bar of Ivory soap.
Truth is I have a dozen different soaps in my house at most any time and I use one of the Proraso's most often (I like their sensitive skin version also). I have a couple of $50 soaps (i.e. Kent and the Art of Shaving) that don't perform any better than Proraso. No, I don't buy these, they've been given to me as gifts. Is Proraso the best? Heck no, maybe, perhaps yes, it's totally subjectively, your face will tell you. I mean we are talking shave soap here, it's all going down the drain. No doubt somewhere down the road you'll want to try a lanolin soap these are very nice also.
Pay attention to your Feather's, there isn't a sharper blade out there but I've found these blades go away faster than anything else I use. Speaking just for me I've found those to be good for two and maybe a third shave and then it's time for another. I change blades quite frequently but I can usually get 4 and often 5 shaves out of my blades. Don't find yourself questioning your newly found techniques or practices simply because the blade has lived it's life. I'll be interested in your report.
but my elderly Dad with a bit of dementia just got a new Norelco and he just raves about it!
