Safety razors are wonderful - but you need to know how to handle one. These are not razors like those made by Gillette, which even a mal-coordinated idiot can use without slicing chunks off his (or her ;) face. Gillettes and the like are designed for people who aren’t that skilled, who push the razor down hard on their skin in the misguided belief that this means a closer shave - it doesn’t.

Safety razors and their bigger brother, the cut-throat (which is more difficult to use on oneself because of the angles you need to hold it at) are best used with delicate motions, never twice over the skin without water and soap in between and the shave is much closer and much smoother.

Not to mention the cost of the blades. Supermarket blades tend to suck. My faves are the traditional ones made by Gillette (ha) in India - my father brings me batches back at a time - and one double-sided blade will easily last me two weeks. You can snap them in half to place in certain types of cut-throat razor handles too.

Witch hazel is great - but try an alum bar - wet it and smooth it over after you’ve rinsed your face with cold water and it’ll keep your face from falling off…