Palmolive Cream Directions

**Larry C in Texas** · 09-26-2006, 10:42 AM

I picked up a tube of US Palmolive cream at my local CVS at lunch today. Has anyone read the direction on the US tube of Palmolive? Here they are:

1) Wash face with soap and water. Rinse.

2) Soap face again. Do not rinse.

3) Apply Palmolive Shave Cream with wet brush. Work up thick lather, brushing it upward into beard to get the full benefit of Palmolive Lather's beard-conditioning effect.

4) Shave, wetting razor frequently.

Now, I guess I can understand the "soap" term being used to denote face wash and the like, but why would you soap it again and leave it on???

After I wash, I rinse thoroughly and put on glycerin or Proraso pre-shave. I would think leaving soap (especially regular soap) on while you prepare the lather would tend to dry your skin out and make it less smooth for the lather. I wonder if anyone involved with the marketing or production of this product actually is a wetshaver. Am I wrong here, or is it not recommended to leave soap on under your lather?

Oh well, I'm going to give this a spin tonight and see what I think. There have been some good reports from some you about this inexpensive cream.

**rustyblade** · 09-26-2006, 10:53 AM

Ignore the directions and use Palmolive the same way you use any other cream. I found US Palmolive to be quite good actually.

**Larry C in Texas** · 09-26-2006, 11:23 AM

Oh, I'm going to, but I thought the directions were rather curious. I'm glad to know you think it's a good product.

Larry C

**fuerein** · 09-27-2006, 02:34 AM

I had a post discussing the same:

Palmolive Lathering

**Larry C in Texas** · 09-27-2006, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by fuerein

I had a post discussing the same:

Palmolive Lathering

Thanks Adam. I had not done a search on the topic. Good info. I tried the Palmolive last night. Pretty nice shaving, pretty awful scent. Not even a soap scent, more like something industrial. But, it's an inexpensive cream that shaves pretty well. It's a keeper for me, but maybe I can mix a little good smellin' soap with it (as someone in your thread suggested) to help.

I really like trying different inexpensive creams from different parts of the world. On my list is some Arko and some of that Indian Old Spice - I just have to get some sources for them.

**tryphon** · 09-27-2006, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by Larry C in Texas

Thanks Adam. I had not done a search on the topic. Good info. I tried the Palmolive last night. Pretty nice shaving, pretty awful scent. Not even a soap scent, more like something industrial. But, it's an inexpensive cream that shaves pretty well. It's a keeper for me, but maybe I can mix a little good smellin' soap with it (as someone in your thread suggested) to help.

I really like trying different inexpensive creams from different parts of the world. On my list is some Arko and some of that Indian Old Spice - I just have to get some sources for them.

Some of us like that scent!
It's vintage Palmolive: the same scent used for the old shave stick and the original Palmolive soap.
I found another cream that is a near clone of the Palmolive: ARKO Moist: same scent, a tiny bit of added menthol and a wonderful, smooth and slick cream.
If you like Palmolive, you'll love the ARKO Moist! (even the color is the same as that of the European Palmolive).

**Larry C in Texas** · 09-27-2006, 07:42 AM

Giovanni, I guess I was a bit harsh on the smell. My wife said it smelled "old fashioned" which is a good thing for her. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but it was a bit of a jarring smell after the KMF lime I used the night before. The Palmolive definitely lubricated better than the KMF, which I have never liked too much.

I'll have to try the Arko moist - I guess I need to place an order for a few tubes from tolumba.

**fuerein** · 09-27-2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by tryphon

Some of us like that scent!
It's vintage Palmolive: the same scent used for the old shave stick and the original Palmolive soap.
I found another cream that is a near clone of the Palmolive: ARKO Moist: same scent, a tiny bit of added menthol and a wonderful, smooth and slick cream.
If you like Palmolive, you'll love the ARKO Moist! (even the color is the same as that of the European Palmolive).

When you say vintage Palmolive are you refering to European Palmolive in the green tube or US palmolive in the red? I've heard the two are not identical.

**tryphon** · 09-27-2006, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by Larry C in Texas

Giovanni, I guess I was a bit harsh on the smell. My wife said it smelled "old fashioned" which is a good thing for her. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but it was a bit of a jarring smell after the KMF lime I used the night before. The Palmolive definitely lubricated better than the KMF, which I have never liked too much.

I'll have to try the Arko moist - I guess I need to place an order for a few tubes from tolumba.

Larry, no problem!
I certainly understand your reaction. For me, it's mostly a matter of nostalgia: it reminds me of the times when, as a 10 year old boy, I would go into the bathroom cabinet and smell my dad's shaving soap ( usually a Palmolive stick ). It's is definitely a case of YMMV!!

**tryphon** · 09-27-2006, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by fuerein

When you say vintage Palmolive are you refering to European Palmolive in the green tube or US palmolive in the red? I've heard the two are not identical.

Actually, I mean the Palmolive soap and shave stick that I remember my dad and uncle used back in the 50s!
The US and European creams are a bit different (I have both and posted a comparison some time ago).
They are both good and subtly different: my preference as far as lubrication goes to the US cream, as far as scent, to the European cream.
The ARKO Moist is, IMHO, better than the Palmolives; truly excellent performance and the price is unbeatable.