Thread: Chad Stewart's test Creams

i have used the absynthe sample i received on tuesday twice now and i all i want to know is can i buy some?

it is great, i love the smell, the lather was great and it didn't dry my skin out like most do.
the only other thing i would like to know is what kind of ingredients are used as far as parabens or phenylalamine (i think that is how it is spelled) but it can't be as bad as the proraso i usually use.
this cream is better then anything i have ever used, and though i haven't used that many different types, i would buy this in second.

Thanks again to Chad for giving the samples to me, i really do appreciate it.

The first batch had no preservatives.
For the second I used Liquid Germall Premium ingredients at less than premium prices... Lotioncrafter :: Preservatives :: Liquid Germall Plus . Its paraben-free but I don't relish the thought of putting "Diazolidinyl Urea" on an ingredient label so I'll likely try a different one. I'll have to do some more research on it.

As far as preservatives go, I'd love to be able to not use them at all but I don't think that's feasible. Shaving cream has a fairly high water content which makes it a potential breeding ground for bacteria. Not adding any would mean decreasing the shelf life and I know the last thing that I want to worry about is having to use up one of my shaving creams before it goes bad. I have too many that I cycle through and so far I haven't actually managed to use up anything but a few samples and some soap I gave up on and used in the shower. So, the compromise is to use a mild broad-spectrum preservative at the smallest concentration recommended to get the necessary protection.

Also, I don't want someone to paint a colony of bacteria onto their face and sue me.

Originally Posted by cstewart

As far as preservatives go, I'd love to be able to not use them at all but I don't think that's feasible. Shaving cream has a fairly high water content which makes it a potential breeding ground for bacteria. Not adding any would mean decreasing the shelf life and I know the last thing that I want to worry about is having to use up one of my shaving creams before it goes bad. I have too many that I cycle through and so far I haven't actually managed to use up anything but a few samples and some soap I gave up on and used in the shower. So, the compromise is to use a mild broad-spectrum preservative at the smallest concentration recommended to get the necessary protection.

that perspective is great to here and very refreshing. i run a health food store and try to get everything i can to be as natural as possible, but i am realistic enough to realise that preservatives are needed at times. to hear that you are being concious of the amounts and the types that you use is awsome as i really liked the cream and it was kind of in the back of my mind that it could be full of stuff i didn't want. again thanks for the info.

running a health food store it always amazes me how many people have the attitude that all natural products are crap and the chemicals don't do you harm. it is really quite sad that people can't believe all the studies that show the corrilation between high exposure to these chemicals and anything from kidney and liver problems, to cancer and many more. and if i hear one more person say "everything in life thats good comes at a price" or something similar, trying to say there are no alternative, i think i might hurl! wake up smell the chlorine ( just turn on the tap, the water is full of it).
SORRY FOR THE RANT

thanks again
Wes

Used the Absinthe this morning with the same procedure as below. The scent reminds me of licorice but it was not overwhelming. This did not linger after the shave and did not interfere with my cologne or lotion. The test revealed exactly the same results as below, with only the sent difference. I personally prefer the orange/clove. It is very bay rum like.
Therefore, my ratings for the Absinthe is the same as the orange/clove rated below. This Shave Cream absolutely fits into the top tier. It provides the softest and smoothest finish I've experienced with creams. I am looking forward to getting some of this in my rotation.

Headdoc

Originally Posted by headdoc

Got mine yesterday and tried the orange/clove today.
Method: wet my face, place a knurdle (almond size) of the cream in the cup and whip it up using @2tbs water and wet, shaken brush (adding a little more water to get it right for me). Place lather on my face- brush teeth (2min), then re-lather and shave wtg, relather and shave atg,

The cream whipped up to a thick meringue texture easily. The foam remained intact throughout the 2 minutes of tooth brushing. After relathering, the shave (DOVO-tortoise) feel was very smooth with a very high slick factor. Just placing more water on my face before relathering revealed how much slickness remained. It seemed that keeping it wet increases the slickness. The relathering and ATG pass left my face bbs with an astonishingly smooth finish. Rinsing my face off after left a very smooth feel. The moisturizing effect was excellant. No irritation with a bbs shave.

I have about 20+ different soaps and creams I've bought, used, kept & thrown out in the year I've been a member of SRP. Some of these include: musgo, la toja, aos, crabtree, tobs, palmolive euro, honeybee spa, ogallala, arko commando, mitchells, kiss my face, wars, lido, vdh, etc. This rates easily in the top teir of creams.

I'll use the absinthe tomorrow.

price= ? this was a sample- I don't really know if Chad is going to market this product or share the recipe- I'd buy it. It is very concentrated and very little is needed to be used.
efficacy= 10
slickness= 10
scent= I loved the oranga/clove. It was pleasant and did not linger after the shave
packaging= ?
irritation= none for me
moisturizing= 10

I like the density of the cream. I placed the knurdle in @ 2 tbs hot water in the bowl. It did soften and it whipped up leaving no leftovers.

Good job Chad!!

Received the samples a few days ago. I chose Absinthe and Orange Clove.
My first shave since they arrived was this morning, and I chose to try the Absinthe first.

Will post my review in the review section, may as well get in on XMan's drawing while I can

Mine just arrived today. Absinthe and Almond.

Can't wait to try them.

My first Uber test was today with the Almond cream and the C&E Sweet Almond Oil soap....

Great results !!!!! I guess the only question that matters is would I purchase this shave cream ???? and I would say YEP !!!
How a cream performs by itself is really of no relevance to me at all, I never used just cream, and rarely just soap......

First off I need to say, My puter was down so I couldn't do any posting. Back to my tests.

Test 4) Almond Uber lather.
The almond was just as good if not better. The only down fall was the scent wasn't as full as the absinthe. Now this isn't a bad thing. The Almond scent was nice and full as I whipped it up and even when shaving. By the time I was done I had a slight smell of Almond. The Cream and the shave was the real test and it passed.

Test 5) Super Almond lather. Again I can't find anything wrong with this cream. I enjoyed my shave and the lather was just as full as the absinthe was. Wednesday will be a CSSC lather only test, then I'm going to do a Absinthe/Almond cream only test...


Thanx for reading my tests of Chad Stewart's shaving cream.

Tried the Almond this morning with great results. Lathered up easily to a rich, thick lather that I can actually smell. I know that a lot of guys like a more subtle scent in shave cream/soap and I've used some of those but I like something I can really smell and this cream gives you a good nose full of scent without overpowering you and does not linger after shaving to clash with after shave.

I would buy this stuff. Good job, Chad, and thanks again for the samples.

Test 6) CSSC Almond only lather, The cream worked great just like the Absinthe did by itself. Very nice scent and very smooth when shaving. This lather was a little to wet as I added just a little to much water. I had to add more CSSC to make a full lather, but it was all me that pooched the lather so no biggy as I got a nice shave from it.


* Note: Now this is just me but I really like the Uber Lather the best and with VDH cake soap I get the full scent of the CSSC which is great. If You want a Cream to be used with cakes of soap or by itself, I recommend CSSC for your cream.

I know this should have been in the review forums, so sorry for posting it here.