St James of London 100% all-natural Black Pepper & Lime Cream Tub

Just loaded up a new Astra superior platinum and cracked open my jar this morning.Warm water on face and badger hair brush just like the instructions suggested. dipped the tip of the brush in the cream on the inside of the lid... (though I will probably not anymore because of risk of contamination--a minor drawback of jar products).the cream lathered immediately on my face. the scent came immediately is fantastic! sort of a warm, lightly tingling, crispness with some mellow and manly spice. nothing harsh, nothing that says dimestore cologne. just a lightly Piper nigrum muskiness.I probably was on the wetter side, but it didn't seem to be a problem. I generally lightly cradle the brush to remove extra water but a shake or two might be in order.my first pass was surprisingly drama-free. I often have to re-lather and do a second shave to get all the stubble, but not today. this is probably the new blade, but also the great lubricity of the cream. it seemed to let me go back over an area without more lather and the blade just glided along happily. normally there would be sticking, stuttering, and lots of styptic stinging my face afterwards.I am really pleased. I don't shave every day and it's good to know this may let me get away with it without butchering my neck and chin.Only remaining test is to let my wife evaluate how my face feels and smells...