Thread: Acca Kappa "White Moss" shave foam

Where to begin? Following yesterday's adventures in white moss Acca Kappa (Acca Kappa "White Moss" shave cream, Acca Kappa "White Moss" After Shave Emulsion), I thought I'd give the canned foam a whirl today. Jens of The Different Scent in Berlin said I should try it as an alternative to taking a full lather making setup on short business trips. Here is what Acca Kappa has to say about it:

White Moss Shave Foam is rich and moisturizing. Ideal for sensitive skin. Key Ingredients; Macadamia Seed Oil, Shea and Cocoa Butter prevent and protect the skin from irritation and redness.

Well, it started all wrong. Nice hot bath, hot towel, boiling water to heat the shaving bowl, dipped the brush in it... Right. Foam. In a spray can... I decided to go all the way down tourist lane, and use my hands to apply the foam. My brush pouted.


Packaging: Again, the typical and very nice Acca Kappa cardboard box, containing a stylish spray can. I really dig AK's design. I tested the travel spray can, which comes with a nifty little lid for the dispenser to keep it closed during travels. Nice. Only, it does not cover the nozzle, so you have to remember to clean it before tucking the can between your favourite clothes when packing.

Texture: I don't think it would be fair to benchmark a canned foam against lather made from a regular soap or cream. It resembles regular lather, but is much drier. I had to apply extra water to my face. But it's the best canned foam I've ever tried. Still only 5 points.

Scent: It's supposed to evoke "warm and sensual notes of wood, amber and moss". Interestingly, that was not the case. I spent all of 15 minutes trying to figure out what that under note was, but I have come to the conclusion that it must be the same chemical dry cleaners use. I cannot say I really liked it.

Latherability: To quote the venerable hoglahoo, "it comes out of the spray can easily through the nozzle".

Cushion: Not much, or, rather, barely enough. This is where foam usually fails, and unfortunately this one is not an exception. On the up side, the foam never dried up.

Moisturising: Below average. Not enough for my skin. The After Shave Emulsion nicely complements the foam, though. But I absolutely needed it.

Price: Rather unreasonable at around USD 12 for 1.7 fl.oz. at the time of writing. But then again, you can get much worse from cosmetics brands for even more money.

Overall impression: I'm torn. It's a fantastic foam. Better than any foam I've ever tried before. But it's no match to lather at all. I would recommend it for travel only, which is where I will use it from now on.