by Rebecca Omastiak
When I was younger, I used to watch my mother’s beauty routine. I’d sit on the green-tiled edge of the bathtub while she washed her face and rubbed in lotion before moving to the vanity mirror to apply her makeup. I’d admire the jewel-like perfume bottles on her shelf and sometimes sneak a squirt of a lotion. Testing a few of Kiss My Face‘s natural skincare products reminded me of the familiar bottles I’d see on my mother’s vanity.
As an environmentally-conscious individual interested in sustainable everything, I was eager to try Kiss My Face’s Olive & Green Tea Soap, Moisture Shave, and Peace Soap, made with natural ingredients and simple scents.
I hopped in the shower post-workout, (the best time to see if these products truly get the job done,) and reached for the Olive & Green Tea Soap. First, I noticed its size. It was more like holding a soap brick than a soap bar, making it difficult to grip in slippery hands. The brick is an olive green color, so it holds up to its name in that sense (or should I say, scents? It was right there!) but does little for visual appeal. The scent reminded me more of postage stamp than olive and green tea, however, it did lather up well. Also, the soap only had five ingredients and I have heard numerous times that the fewer the complex ingredients, the more natural a product is and the better it is for you.
(Olive & Green Tea Soap, ($3.99), from Kiss My Face)
Next up? The “Do What Comes Naturally” Peaceful Patchouli Moisture Shave. I, like many others, have my hesitations when it comes to patchouli-scented items. It can be a hard scent to pull off; its lack of subtlety makes it easy to over-do. This product, however, had only a faint patchouli scent mixed with a hint of mint fragrance, appealing to both men and women. The moisture shave was silky rather than foamy and I felt more like I was slathering lotion on than lathering up my legs for a luxurious shave. It did allow my razor to glide easily but I don’t feel the need to use it instead of my normal shower gel.
(Moisture Shave in Peaceful Patchouli ($4.99), from Kiss My Face)
Lastly, I squirted a bit of the Natural Castille Peace Soap in Grassy Mint into my hands. The scent was a lovely spearmint and produced a rich lather that left my skin smooth, very clean, and fresh-smelling. I ended up using it as a body wash after the brick soap left something to be desired. (Bonus: it left the bathroom smelling wonderfully fresh.) I glanced at the label: “Better Soap, Better World.” “Ohhh boy…” I thought. Really? How can soap bring about a better world? Turns out, 10 percent of the soap’s proceeds support Seeds of Peace, an organization fostering leadership and conflict-resolution among young adults from diverse backgrounds, including the Middle East, South Asia, and the Americas. A fresh-scented and effective soap with an important social purpose? That’s a product I can get behind.
(Peace Soap: 100% Natural Castille Soap in Grassy Mint, ($7.64), from Kiss My Face)
The Kiss My Face brand has greatly elaborated on its all-natural foundation since the products my mom used when I was younger. Many of its more than 200 products are biodegradable, vegan friendly, paraben free, and not tested on animals. Although a couple of the products I tried might not have been entirely effective, the natural ingredients and admirable social and environmental intentions make this a worthwhile brand to check out. Kiss My Face products are available at Whole Foods stores.
