Editor’s Note: The product is not available in large quantities and is no longer a new product in the U.S. Noxzema Shave Cream There weren’t many big parades in Baltimore during 2014, when Unilever celebrated its centennial. Although it was not noticed, there were advertisements for Noxzema cream throughout the country in magazines and supplements.
The brand is still in existence three years later and the spin-off shave product is still being sold at many grocery and drugstores. However, the presence of the shave brand has diminished and there is not much advertising. Procter & Gamble was replaced by Alberto Culver and now Unilever. Unfortunately, the main Noxzema website does not offer shave transdermal cream. If you search for “shave”, nothing appears.
This is a Missed Chance Noxzema Shave Cream
In the 1970s and 1980s, noxzema was a high-end brand. A William and Mary friend thought I was a bit too posh for using it. Gunilla Knutson (a nordic model) made it famous with her “take it all off!” ad. It became a huge hit across the U.S. There were several versions of the cream, including one that contained aloe and one that is medicated. The white can is currently the most difficult to find.
It is not clear what you will get when you buy Noxzema Shave Cream. Noxzema Shave Cream is often found at the bottom of many pharmacy and grocery shelves. It sells well and doesn’t need promotion. The red “medicated” version of Noxzema is currently on sale. However, the original white was medicated so the message is unclear. The product is not available online at Amazon for purchase. The issue is well documented in an Amazon review:
Sorbitol, which was listed as seventh on Noxell’s list, has been moved to the fourth place, following water, stearic acids, and isobutane. Some ingredients were moved down the list and are now present in a lower quantity. This is likely to reduce production costs. The end result is a product that is nowhere near its original quality. It takes a lot of effort and time to spread the product evenly on your skin. The results are not satisfying. Although the label still states “Thick Rich Lather”, the product is not consistent in its previous form. Without the test results which could have been positive, negative, or both, the claim “Dermatologist Tried” is meaningless.
For the Richmond paper Inside Business, I interviewed George L. Bunting in 2000. He was the grandson of the founder. Bunting, who was born in Baltimore and had worked at the company since 1966, has a deep understanding of noxzema shave cream. Bunting was the original founder. He was a Baltimore pharmacist called George Avery Bunting. His “knocks-eczema” cream Noxzema, which was a tingly pills cream with eucalyptus, was very popular. The product became very popular and Noxell was formed. This company made Noxzema and Cover Girl, a great essay cosmetics brand that is now owned by Lestoil and Proctor & Gamble. Cover Girl is still being made at Hunt Valley, and we hope this continues for Baltimore.
After the sale of Noxell, the grandson is a Baltimore civic leader. He worked for the company from 1966 to 1966 and knew the appeal of the shave lotion. The “halo” was a result of Noxzema’s original Noxzema which miraculously deposited grease on your skin, but was easily washed away.
P&G sold to Alberto-Culver which was eventually sold to Unilever. Unilever sold rights to the Greek brand to Sarantis Group for a small amount. Sarantis Group notes that it was established in Constantinople in 1930. It is a remarkable company to have been founded in Constantinople. They have a consistent brand image. The U.S. version should look at their marketing and packaging design to see what the shave brand noxzema shave cream could look like here.