I didn't want to admit this before during bouts of lethargy... but the secret to good skin (and a great shave) is working out.
seriously... any irritation,
in-grown hairs, etc I get just seem to go away when I've been running.
I'm sure there's a biological reason behind this... increased circulation helping to repair the tissues faster... sweating, which causes yucky stuff to come out of the skin... or just another of nature's ways to tell you to get off your ass.
and for those keeping score...
the badger brush didn't really help.