Soap, Shavers, and Mugs

So I shaved for the first time in three days this evening, and I got some pretty bad razor burn.  I think its mostly because the hair was a little too thick, I shaved a little to fast, and I made the mistake of using the cheap, single-blade bic razors.

I usually use shaving soap anyway for a number of reasons.

1) I am allergic to some of the artificial scents/chemicals in the modern gels and foams
2) Shaving soap generally is smoother on the skin, has a more pleasant, natural scent.
3) Shaving soap, because unused lather can build back into the cake, you do not waste as much and your product lasts longer.
4)You dont have to throw away the can and cause more trash buildup.

Besides the practical reasons, shaving is a very intimate personal ritual.  The wetting of the brush and the lathering of the soap was the way my grandfather shaved.  His father taught him to shave this way, and his father taught him to shave that way, and so on.  By going through the same steps that they went through, I have a way of connecting to them. (I am however, not yet brave enough to attempt the deadly straight-razor)

I would like to get a better razor, preferably one of the good quality double-bladed safety razors.  Some good quality soap, a nice badger hair brush and an actual shaving mug.  I have been looking around on the net, and have found some soaps I would like to try out that may be better than the stuff I am currently getting at Wal-mart (ugh.)

There is some at work I would like to try, they use clay as a natural lubricant and lye as a base.  I've always had good experiences with homemade lye soaps, so I may give this a try.  Plus, I get the benefit of an employee discount. 

So I found a mug that I reeeealy liked, and the damage comes to about $30.00, not including shipping.  Its resin, so it is going to hold up well, although many mugs are made of porcelain, like the cheap bowl that I have now.  I fancy the darker one on the far left.  Luckily it comes with a free soap selection.

Yes, please.