Review of KENMEN products, part 2
I've been struggling a bit on how to write the second part of the review of KENMEN products. If you remember from our first review, we were very happy with the products they sent over. These next four, however, didn't live up to the first. It's always tough to write negatively about a product when a manufacturer has sent over a free sample, but no one ever said writing a shaving blog was going to be easy.
So let's talk about these products. Actually, let's first talk about the product names. You'll notice that the three tubes look quite similar, and each has a somewhat mystifying name. Even though the website calls the shaving cream "Baby Face Healing Shaving Cream", the tube says "Baby Face Cure-Gel Rasage". The website may say "Battlescars - Healing Body & Face Cream", but the tube says "Battle Scars Cure Detoxifiante". At 6:00 in the morning I had a tough time remembering which was for shaving and which was for after. A little bit of French might have helped, but I took Spanish in high school. Que lastima.
Next, let's talk about the actual containers. Each is a 6 oz. tube which unscrews and allows you to squeeze out the contents. There's a little plastic insert in the hole where the contents comes out which essentially makes the hole smaller. My guess is that there's one standard opening for the tube, and then this insert is added if you want a smaller flow of cream or gel to come out with each squeeze. The thing is, if you squeeze too hard, the plastic insert comes out, and you've got quite a mess on your hands. Not a huge deal if you're using the exfoliant in the shower, but a bit of a pain when you're cleaning up shaving cream from the sink. Squeeze these tubes gently, and mind the insert.
Speaking of exfoliant, H2O-Synergie Shower Gel & Scrub ($28) was probably my favorite of the three. A nice, gentle exfoliant for use on the face and the body. Smells a lot like ginger ale. I'm not kidding. But not in a bad way. And you can use it in place of soap.
Next we had the Baby Face Healing Shaving Cream ($26). Again, I hate to be critical, but I didn't think there was any special to this shaving cream. Shave was fine. Average number of nicks. Worked fine with new and older razors. But overall just average. And then there was the smell. I have to imagine some people like the smell of this shaving cream, but it wasn't for me. Kind of a pina colada without being too fruity, but still stronger than I'd like. This is definitely a matter of personal taste, so you may like it. If you see some in a store or salon, definitely take a wiff.
Finally we have Battlescars - Healing Body & Face Cream ($33). It's funny. I liked the effect this cream had on my face, which was a good solid moisturizing layer without feeling too greasy or oily, but it smelled too much like lemon Pledge. I think I could have been ok with that, but shaving stuff wife put the kibosh on it. Not in my bed she said. Sorry KENMEN. Wife comes first.
As an added bonus KENMEN sent along a stick of their X-Treme Lip Service - Healing Sport Stick ($15), which is basically a chap stick in a nice utility holder which you can clip to your jacket or belt. It's got a nice smell of peppermint and a hint of vanilla, but I'm not sure it's that much better than the chap stick you get from the counter of your local drug store. If you're filling out an order on the KENMEN site and trying to reach a certain amount to get free shipping, consider adding it to your cart.
My ultimate recommendation with these KENMEN products is you should probably buy them from a salon where you get some instructions from an expert. Like "Here. Use this three times a week on your face and then follow it up with a hot towel for 3-5 minutes." These are advanced products. No question they're high quality (although the packaging could be improved), but they assume you know what you're doing.
Read More in: Brands | Kenmen | Reviews | Shaving Creams & Gels
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Posted by Russell Neufeld at January 7, 2006 2:51 PM
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