Life — March 21, 1930 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Palmolive Shaving Cream Advertisement This is primarily a **commercial advertisement** for Palmolive Shaving Cream, not satire. The page uses a "before-and-after" format showing five numbered photographs of a man's shaving process: (1) lathering, (2) softening the beard, (3) maintaining creaminess, (4) producing bubbles, and (5) demonstrating the final results. The ad's headline "Buy when you're convinced" reflects **1930s advertising strategy**: offering a free 7-day shaving test to persuade skeptics. The accompanying text emphasizes the product's cosmetic superiority—olive oil prevents irritation—and claims 86% of test users became permanent customers. The "Life in Society" column on the left contains unrelated gossip about wealthy socialites and their activities, typical of Life magazine's satirical social commentary section.