KMF---look past the girlie packaging

[azrichter]

One has to wonder how much shaving cream Kiss My Face would sell if it had even slightly more masculine labeling.

I despaired of not being able to find it anywhere---until I saw that it is carefully camouflaged as skin lotion or leg shaving cream. I looked past it on the shelf of my local Sprouts store a number of times. I noticed the words "Moisture Shave" (printed in pastel) and did a double-take---ah-HA! Found it!!!

And what a find! GREAT stuff! The mint flavor smells nice, feels cool and produces slick, rich, buttery lather.

If you haven't found it---ask or look carefully for it...

 

[jakespoppy]

I agree, KMF is a great shaving cream. They probably do hurt their ability to sell to folks who are put off by their presentation. I would have been reluctant to pick it up if I hadn't heard how good it was, and if my SCAD hadn't been raging at the time. I'm glad I overcame my reluctance.

 

[atison]

I agree as well on both fronts.

They do need to man up their packaging, especially since it is called Kiss My FACE (not legs, or other areas).

It also is a rock solid performer. Almost boringly though as it is mindless to get great lather out of this soap (at least for this face latherer). This is my in the shower brushless cream of choice for head shaving, and it never lets me down. I will, on occasion, use it for my face if I want a quick, mindless shave.

The mint is nice, although I like stronger scents and feel they could turn up the mint a little more. I also like the Lavender too.

 

[shipr]

is Kiss My Face a brushless shave cream?

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

I think their packaging is fine. They're trying to hit both sexes at the same time so non-threatening white packaging is a good way to go.

I agree as well on both fronts.

They do need to man up their packaging, especially since it is called Kiss My FACE (not legs, or other areas).

Even though it is called Kiss My Face, so is everything that they sell. I don't suppose that they expect you to use toothpaste or deodorant only on your face. If they did man up their packaging, any increase in men's sales would see a larger drop in women's sales. Women spend most of the money after all. Be happy that the packaging is sorta girly; it keeps 'em in business and doesn't really affect you any.

is Kiss My Face a brushless shave cream?

Yes, but it works very well with one.

 

[Loric]

I have seen several glowing posts about KMF cream. However, when I looked at the ingredient list olive oil is very high up. Other products I have uses with olive oil were hardly spectacular.... Did KMF figure out how to make it work?

Has anyone tried the Vanilla? Is it a natural vanilla scent or is it closer to that awful cheep synthetic candle scent? I like a good vanilla, but if its the imitation variety I'll go with the unscented. Thanks for your opinions.

 

[DamnFineBob]

However, when I looked at the ingredient list olive oil is very high up. Other products I have uses with olive oil were hardly spectacular.... Did KMF figure out how to make it work?

Yes, they really have. Its runnier out of the tube than any shave cream I've ever used -almost a thick liquid soap consistency- but it turns into a lovely thick laher when just lightly beaten with any brush.

Has anyone tried the Vanilla? Is it a natural vanilla scent or is it closer to that awful cheep synthetic candle scent? I like a good vanilla, but if its the imitation variety I'll go with the unscented. Thanks for your opinions.

I haven't tried the Vanilla, but the Lavender is the real deal. I have some dried lavender in my home, and the smell is identical.

 

[DE Shaver]

I've tried the Mint version of this shaving soap and found it to be quite good. It lathered well and provided a good cushion against nicks, cuts and irritation. I managed to snag an 11oz bottle for under $5.00 USD, so it was a good bargain as well.

 

[BrianL]

It is a solid performer and the mint version is my favorite. It is my go to cream if I need to shave fast. The packaging is not bad, and it is easy to reuse the empty pump bottle for other uses.

 

[JPDyson]

I have the Lavender. It's better than decent, and a cheap way to super-lather.

 

[jakespoppy]

It is a solid performer and the mint version is my favorite. It is my go to cream if I need to shave fast. The packaging is not bad, and it is easy to reuse the empty pump bottle for other uses.

Since it works so well with the consistency of the cream, the pump bottle is genius!

 

[Slivovitz]

KMF shaving cream isn't actually my favorite, but it's good enough, and it's the only decent cream I can find in local stores. It took a while for me to notice it, though, because both of the local groceries that carry it don't put it in with the rest of the shaving stuff. Instead, it's in a separate section of toiletries, along with other KMF soaps and lotions, and other brands like Burt's Bees. Not where I'd normally look for a shaving cream, and I wonder if that costs them sales, too.

I've only used the Cool Mint, and it will probably last a long time, as an infrequent part of a large rotation.

 

[høvel]

Just a note here. I just bought one of these today, but that was before going over the ingredients list thoroughly.
However, now that I have, I see that these contain parabens, one of them being propylparaben, a substance that the SCCP (part of the EU) and others have deemed not safe to use.
It is suspected to, among other things, increase the risk of testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders by disrupting the hormone balance (I read this concerning parabens in general, not that specific paraben).

I cancelled my order. I won't suggest you do the same, it's all up to you, but IMHO; better safe than sorry.
For you Americans out there as far as I know (as always, I might be wrong) I don't think the FDA has come to the same conclusion

 

[verdict]

Has anyone tried the Vanilla? Is it a natural vanilla scent or is it closer to that awful cheep synthetic candle scent? I like a good vanilla, but if its the imitation variety I'll go with the unscented. Thanks for your opinions.

I have the vanilla, but to motivate myself to make a good post about it, let me run to my bathroom real quick.

Okay, so I have the "Moisture Shave vanilla earth" in front of me, and I can say it seems really, really good. As in, good enough to eat. It smells like Haagen Daz vanilla ice cream, it's got a sweet smell to it. Definitely not cheap. I decided to taste it once, and unfortunately it didn't taste like ice cream. Never tried it with a brush but it's good enough without.

 

[kingfisher]

Just a note here. I just bought one of these today, but that was before going over the ingredients list thoroughly.
However, now that I have, I see that these contain parabens, one of them being propylparaben, a substance that the SCCP (part of the EU) and others have deemed not safe to use.
It is suspected to, among other things, increase the risk of testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders by disrupting the hormone balance (I read this concerning parabens in general, not that specific paraben).

I cancelled my order. I won't suggest you do the same, it's all up to you, but IMHO; better safe than sorry.
For you Americans out there as far as I know (as always, I might be wrong) I don't think the FDA has come to the same conclusion

there have been lots of discussions about propylparabens, etc., on this board. The feeling of most people is that parabens are probably safe when used in a shaving cream that only stays on your face for a few minutes.

You're certainly free to feel or believe otherwise.

 

[RazorbackFan]

KMF has been good to me for two reasons: first, it's extremely easy to lather. It's hard to mess up. Second, it's available locally. It's right down the street and it's cheap.

 

[høvel]

there have been lots of discussions about propylparabens, etc., on this board. The feeling of most people is that parabens are probably safe when used in a shaving cream that only stays on your face for a few minutes.

You're certainly free to feel or believe otherwise.

As I said, I'm not telling you to do the same, I just thought I'd mention it.
It's probably safe, but for me personally it's not worth it when there's paraben-free alternatives.
I'm not going to start a paraben discussion though, so I'll be leaving this thread now.

 

[Shavely Manden]

Just a note here. I just bought one of these today, but that was before going over the ingredients list thoroughly.
However, now that I have, I see that these contain parabens, one of them being propylparaben, a substance that the SCCP (part of the EU) and others have deemed not safe to use.
It is suspected to, among other things, increase the risk of testicular cancer, sperm abnormalities and prostate disorders by disrupting the hormone balance (I read this concerning parabens in general, not that specific paraben).

I cancelled my order. I won't suggest you do the same, it's all up to you, but IMHO; better safe than sorry.
For you Americans out there as far as I know (as always, I might be wrong) I don't think the FDA has come to the same conclusion

The parbens thing comes up from time to time -- essentially, it does bad things to lab rats when given in large doses, but AFAIK it's not really conclusively proven that small, topical doses really do anything, even to the rats.

 

[K.T.]

Has anyone tried the Vanilla? Is it a natural vanilla scent or is it closer to that awful cheep synthetic candle scent? I like a good vanilla, but if its the imitation variety I'll go with the unscented. Thanks for your opinions.

I have tried the vanilla. IMO, I think it's a little too strong, maybe a bit one dimensional. I personally like a light vanilla scent, like the little bit that's in Old Spice after shave or even Skin Bracer.

KMF, while not bad, smell a little too close to food, IMO. Sort of like a heavy vanilla custard, but without the egginess. I think some will like it a lot, but for me it was a little too strong. YMMV, of course, and you might actually love it.

I like the mint the best, though it's subtle, and the key lime is good but not great. The lavender is nice and homey, but like all of the KMF scents, they could use a little more complexity.

Why not get both the vanilla and the unscented? It's a good cream and worth trying out. Great superlathered with Williams or VdH.

Interestingly, prices really do run the gamut. It's everywhere in my town, Seattle: all the drugstores and supermarkets carry it, as well as the natural and health food stores. I've seen retail prices of between $3.99 to $7.99 for the 11oz pump bottle, so it pays to shop around.

BTW, I find it interesting that some find the packaging girly. While it surely isn't masculine, I would think that it's pretty gender neutral aside from the tending-to-pastel palette. It reminds me of lotion packaging.

I think they're changing the packaging, too. I saw a bottle with new graphics on the shelf. Can't really remember how it looked, exactly, but I recall a bolder look with stronger colors.

 

[ChrisS86]

The parbens thing comes up from time to time -- essentially, it does bad things to lab rats when given in large doses, but AFAIK it's not really conclusively proven that small, topical doses really do anything, even to the rats.

That's my belief on it as well