King C Gillette Soft Beard Balm Review – The King Has Returned
King C. Gillette Soft Beard Balm
Gillette arrives once again to show us why it is the best a man can get. King C. Gillette Soft Beard Balm is a soft and gentle balm good for guys with longer and shorter beards. The aroma is classic, and it is an all-around great option for a great price.
Pros
Good for Long Beards or Short Beards
A small amount goes a long way
Easy to use in multiple ways
A refreshing aroma wakes you up and opens your sinuses
Smooth Texture makes it easy to apply
Cons
Texture and Aroma make it feel like you are applying toothpaste to your face
Very easy to over-apply and make your face feel greasy
Doesn’t hold for styling at all, so you will need to use beard wax as well
Peppermint Oil can be an irritant to people with sensitive skin
It seems we are falling into patterns when I am writing these reviews.
Typically, I will start with a type of product like beard wash or beard oil and review a few of them. Then, King C Gillette will rock in and bring me a product that almost blows away the competition.
This happened with their King C Gillette Beard Oil Review and with the King C. Gillette Beard & Face Wash Review. Both those products stand out above many of the others I have reviewed. When I am not in the process of working on the review, they are my go-to options. Especially the beard wash.
However, long-time readers may be aware that I have had more than a rocky experience when it comes to beard balms. I always find them too heavy, greasy, or oily.
Will King C Gillette change my mind? Will it truly be the best a man can get? (I am contractually obligated to make that joke.)
King C Gillette Soft Beard Balm Description
As with most Beard Balms, King C Gillette packs their Beard Balm in a screw-top can that looks much like boot polish.
It screws on tightly, so you don’t have to worry about spillage. This makes it pretty great for traveling because it is also compact and small. It’s just about 3 inches in diameter, so it doesn’t take up much space.
It has the same Navy and Copper pattern on the label, which I do like. It gives it this old-fashioned and classic look, almost like it came off the shelf of a general store in the early 1900s.
Scent
King C Gillette has a specific aroma they use in all their products, and that scent is present in this beard balm.
It starts with a deep, musky, old-fashioned male scent you would get with a nice classic-style cologne. It quickly moves into a light sweet floral aroma that is very hard to place. It is almost like a lavender scent. Finally, it finishes with a bright and refreshing mint aroma that opens up the nose and sinuses.
Some may not care for it because it has an “old man smell,” or it is just too much of a mint finishing note.
I enjoy it though, and it has this great refreshing pep to it.
Ingredients
The ingredients for this Soft Beard Balm are a mix of hard-to-pronounce science words, and then some of the natural good stuff.
I am aware that most of the ingredients I can’t identify (stuff like Silicone Quaternium-26 and Disodium EDTA) are probably not incredibly dangerous and are mostly there to preserve the balm’s texture.
It isn’t all bad though. Argan Oil, Shea and Cocoa Butter, and Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil are great for the skin and hair. They make hair brighter, stronger, and shinier. They can also fight against beard-druff, acne, and dry skin.
Peppermint Oil also has a cooling sensation that can treat irritation from dry shaving or overzealous exfoliation of your face. However, the peppermint oil can irritate sensitive skin if used too much. If you have sensitive skin, then I would recommend not using this or using it very sparingly.
User Experience
For this review, I have been using King C Gillette Soft Beard Balm for just over a week. I normally apply it after my shower every other day to make sure to feel the difference between having a beard balm and just not using any beard products.
Overall, I greatly enjoy using this beard balm. It is nothing like the other beard balms I have used, and that is a good thing.
How is the Texture?
The texture of the soft balm is less waxy than other beard balms. It’s closer to a cream rather than a true balm.
It dries quickly, and my skin just absolutely drinks this stuff in. Some might think that means it doesn’t provide that much medicinal help. However, I noticed a distinct improvement in the texture and the health of my beard
The one issue I have with this texture is that with the peppermint smell, it sometimes feels like I am massaging toothpaste into my face, which is a strange juxtaposition, honestly.
How Easy is it to Use?
This soft beard balm is so much easier to use than most beard balms and can be used in more ways than just one.
Most beard balms are leave-in balms that will slowly medicate the skin. The King C Gillette Soft Beard Balm can be left in after cleaning your beard, or you can use it as a beard conditioner in the shower.
As a leave-in balm, you just get a small amount on your fingers and gently massage it into your beard and skin. You will not need much; probably about a dap on the finger. A small amount will go a long way, and that is coming from a guy who has a really fat face.
As a conditioner, you apply it just like before and leave it in for about three minutes before rinsing it out. It works just like a hair conditioner. This is probably best if you want to use another beard oil as well or style your beard with beard wax.
Value for Money
As of this time of this review, you can find King C Gillette on Amazon for 10 USD, which is honestly a great price for this. One tin of this stuff will last you for well over a month, so 10 USD a month for great beard hair is a great deal.
It is also available from places like Walmart, and Target, and I even found it in my local CVS pharmacy and my grocery store. Overall, I believe it is closer to 12 USD right now from brick-and-mortar stores. So you are paying for the quick convenience.
Common Consumer Complaints, Issues, and Positive Reviews
Most King C Gillette products review extremely well, and the Soft Beard Balm is no exception. The consumer reviews are very lopsided toward the positive. That doesn’t mean it is all good though.
Positive Reviews
One of the chief positives that always seems to come up in almost every positive review is the aroma. People find it comfortable and pleasant, like a familiar and comforting place. Even those who said they didn’t like the aroma found it growing on them after a time.
Secondly, consumers enjoy the soft texture of beard balm, especially when comparing it to other beard oils. Applying it to your beard is much easier without leaving greasy or waxy bits left behind. It’s a huge plus for not just me but for multiple other consumers.
Finally, a huge positive is that many consumers like the price. It is inexpensive and easy to get. It lasts for a good while, so you will always have a supply for less money than most of the independent and bespoke companies.
Consumer Complaints
Like other products, the aroma is one of the things people bring up as a negative just as much as a positive. Some just don’t like the scent, and I won’t hold that against anyone. It’s subjective, and I would not want to put something on my face that doesn’t smell good.
Other consumers note that because it dries quickly, it doesn’t seem to offer much medicinal benefit. They comment that it just doesn’t work for them. Honestly, I believe most of these guys mostly just want something thicker and stronger. I won’t hold that against them.
Finally, I have seen some consumers who noted their beards felt dry and coarse after using this. I believe that it may be a reaction to the peppermint oil, which can dry out skin from overuse.
Final Thoughts – Who is King C Gillette Soft Beard Balm really for?
Overall, I enjoyed this beard balm a great deal. It was extremely healthy for my beard, and I enjoyed wearing it.
As a part of my normal routine, it makes my beard feel great.
With the inexpensive price, I would recommend almost everyone try this. If you have a beard, then I would give it a shot. Especially if you already have the King C Gillette Beard Wash, which this goes perfectly with.
The only person I wouldn’t recommend this to is if you have an issue with sensitive skin. The peppermint oil might dry your skin out.
