Thursday, March 24, 2016

Bulldog Original Hand Cream


Hand cream – so many crude jokes are running through my head right now that as I sit here writing about Bulldog Original Hand Cream I find myself chuckling away like Beavis & Butthead. No, there most definitely will not be any reference to the ‘relief’ that this offers and certainly no mention of tissues (after this one obviously).

The very good people at Bulldog sent me this along with a number of gift sets back in late 2015 – if you haven’t seen the range of gift sets and what I thought of the products you can do so here (if you so wish).

The 75ml tube was sat tucked away in the massive box I have for products to try out until early February when I finally succumbed to the freezing weather. My hands had become very dry and they had a look not too dissimilar to a prune - to be blunt, they looked bloody awful.



A 75ml tube of the hand cream will set you back just £5 (yeah, it's only a fiver) and can be bought direct from Bulldog here.

This is what they say about it in the marketing blurb (which I always love to read just to see how long it takes for me to roll my eyes):

'On the one hand Original Hand Cream and on the other hand Original Hand Cream. How original. Packed with 8 essential oils, glycerine, jojoba, and vitamin E to moisturise dry hands. Be loyal to your skin. Our products never contain artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, or ingredients from animal sources. Bulldog is man’s best friend.'

I hadn’t used a hand cream for years (about fifteen to be precise) – excited to try is probably pushing the bounds of reality but I was curious to see what this could do, after all, it couldn’t make my hands look any worse.

First things first (duh, obviously), the texture is quite strange, it has a thicker consistency than I expected and while it spreads really easily I found it a touch greasy which made me slightly nervous about whether it would be absorbed properly or whether it would leave residue that could potentially mark my clothing. These fears were completely unfounded as the cream was absorbed in super quick time. After the first application I actually applied even more and within seconds this to had been completely absorbed. Hmmm, my hands really did need some hydration!

Within two to three minutes I couldn’t feel the greasy texture at all and while there was no miraculous rejuvenation of the skin immediately I could over the course of a week start to notice subtle differences after using it first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

They say it’s packed with essential oils, jojoba and vitamin E. I’m no scientist, but the effects after a couple of weeks was amazing. After four weeks it has transformed the way my hands look. I just wish I had taken ‘before’ pictures to show the state of my hands prior to using the hand cream, as I genuinely believe that they look in much better shape both visually and to the touch.

Smaller than the vats of Norwegian hand cream that I used to use this has lasted for well over four weeks and is only now getting to the point where I’ll have to think about replacing it. In the time that I have been using this I’ve found that my hands look healthier – no they are not doing star jumps, but to the touch my hands feel softer and smoother, more hydrated and some of the dodgy fine lines that had started to appear on the back of my hand have gone – rejoice, just rejoice.

This has been something of a revelation for my hands – all I need to do now is stop biting my nails and I can stop hiding my claws away from the general public!

They say that Bulldog products are mans best friend, and I’ve seen nothing to dispute this at all. Nice work people, nice work. At only £5 I would recommend a tube for every bloke out there - you'll like the subtle jojoba fragrance but love the results.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

See, I managed to get through without any other crude references! Win!

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Sunday, March 20, 2016

Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

If you read this blog on a regular basis you will possibly have seen back in October of last year that I had a grooming changing experience thanks to those lovely people at Ted's Grooming Room after visiting their Holborn Branch. Fast forward to a wet evening in March and after being invited to the launch of their tenth store just off The Strand in central London I had the chance to once again be pampered and groomed.


Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

The new store is located at 19 Lancaster Place, Charing Cross, London, WC2E 7EN and opened for business on 10 March. 

Offering a walk in service like the other Ted's Grooming Rooms this one has a television theme (it being located close to former BBC offices). For those not familiar with the offer from Ted, this is what they say about themselves here:

‘Ted might be a colourful character, but he has always been struck by the stars of the silver screen. Ted's Lancaster Place Grooming Room is a stone's throw away from the original home of the BBC, and is inspired by the dapper dandies of television's golden era. The slick suits and razor sharp side partings of those bygone years may seem remote but one thing's for sure; a visit to Lancaster Place will have you ready to step out onto any red carpet.’

Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

So, after being invited to attend for a complimentary treatment my trusty sidekick (sorry Ben) and I ventured through the pavement hordes of tourists and made it to be greeted by the lovely Clodagh. 

Knowing that I would be attending I decided to offer up something of a challenge and left my beard for five weeks (the brow had been left for months). This left me looking frankly awful in the old face department and in need of some serious grooming treatments. Originally I opted for the Full Ted, but with a busy press day and with time quite limited I instead took the advice of my barber and had my hair tidied up around the back followed by a beard trim. After that had been done I then sat back, gritted my teeth and had the bushy brow (there was only one brow as it had joined again) threaded.

The pictures speak louder than words. I basically hated the way I looked before I entered and within 45 minutes I had been transformed and looked (in my opinion) highly respectable and dare I say it, much sharper. Hey, maybe even a little dapper!

Ted's Grooming Room - #TedonTheStrand

Considering that my hair had only been tidied, after styling (without what looked like minimal effort) it actually looked like I had new hair. It was awesome, I just wish I could style it like this as easily as my barber did it!

This is my second visit to a Ted’s Grooming Room and on the night it was nice to see so many faces that were familiar, including T who was the first person to ever rip my eyebrows from my face. Far from being a pretentious barber that costs the Earth and treat you like a cash cow you can have a laugh and joke with the barbers and best of all, leave looking and feeling like a million dollars. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

As an aside, nobody told me that threading hurts a lot more the second time you have it done! 

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Monday, March 14, 2016

Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear

Well, the weather has gone a bit cold hasn’t it here in England? Even tucked away in usually tropical London I’ve been feeling the cold for a couple of weeks and it doesn’t look like any warm weather is on its way any time soon. With that in mind, for the last two months at least, my work attire has consisted mainly of jeans, tee and thick jumper to try and ward off colds, bugs and general illness (and failing). However, there has been one of my jumpers that has kept me snug as a bug and really warm despite the almost bi-polar air conditioning in my new office (it blows freeing cold or at levels akin to an overheating sauna). Step forward my Fair isle Polo Neck jumper from Woolovers, an online purveyor of all things knitwear in cashmere, cotton and wool. 
Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear

As far as jumpers go, the Woolovers site has pretty much everything that you could imagine for both men and women and at prices that I consider to be very reasonable.  While you can pick up a cheap jumper for £20-£30 that lasts for a few months before being washed out of shape or becoming a touch bitty, splashing just that little more and you get great quality clothing. My jumper came in at just £45 and I have been delighted with the quality, the comfort and the fact that the pure lambs wool doesn’t itch or make me scratch away (a problem I have at times with 100% wool)

This is what they say about themselves over at the Woolovers site here:

'Started in 1989 from small beginnings, Wool Overs is now a world class knitwear retailer, supplying nearly 750,000 customers with men's and ladies classic and contemporary knitwear. We now have websites for the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and two fully-translated versions for France and Russia - all helping to ensure we can spread our love of knitwear the world over! 

So, for lovers of Wool, Cotton & Cashmere knitwear, we think we’ve managed to create a rather special range that offers you amazing value, without compromising on quality. More importantly, we hope you feel the same! In association with the 100% Pure Wool Board and Woolmark, we ensure that our woollen yarns are of the highest quality, and unlike most high street knitwear today, all of our styles are fully machine washable.' 

And this is what the jumper I selected looks like on…..



Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear
Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear
Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear

As I said, the site offer a whole range of clothing for both men and women and I for one could spend a fortune on this site. Not only is the selection great it has weaned me off just wearing black! Actually making my selection was a nightmare as I love loads of the clothes on offer on the site - my other favourites (and on my wish list) include:


Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear
Woolovers - Cashmere, Cotton & Wool Knitwear

Looking for good quality clothing that is well made and won’t break the bank then you can do a lot worse than checking out Woolovers. You won’t be disappointed with your purchase.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Monday, March 07, 2016

Beard Control by Billy Jealousy

I spent the first thirteen years of my life trying to grow a beard and then the following twenty years doing everything possible to keep hair off my face with as little effort as possible. Now I’m in my (cough - late) thirties I’ve given up and from time to time embrace my facial hair (not literally, the look would be on a par with me trying to chew my own ear - just sit back and picture that without laughing). With facial hair comes great responsibility (no, no it doesn’t, but it sounds good). Joking aside growing a beard is a pain in the butt, so anything that can help the growth process, reduce the itching (yes, beards itch as they grow) and help style it so I don’t look like a hobo is a bonus. Enter stage right Billy Jealousy Beard Control.


Beard Control by Billy Jealousy
Beard Control by Billy Jealousy

This came into my possession as part of a Selfridges&Co male grooming bag back in July 2015 (yes, it’s been sat in a box that long) and finally I have a beard of sufficient length that I’ve been able to take it out and use it on the bushy beard currently covering two thirds of my face, chin and neck. Untouched I do look like I’ve slept rough for a few days and knowing that I’m off to be shaved by a professional (sounds slightly creepy) later this week I needed something that would style the bristles, keep the white hairs plastered down rather than sticking out and reduce the itching.

This is what they say about the product over at the Billy Jealousy website here:

'We all need a little control right? Beard Control delivers a deliciously light hold while giving you the best of both worlds: a natural look with just a smidgen of definition. Conditions and protects without weighing hair down. Softens naughty curls, leaving your beard looking like you were cut from royalty.

KEY INGREDIENTS

  • Aloe Leaf Juice:  Softens and hydrates beard and skin. 
  • PVP:  Styling agent, helps hold hair in place. 
  • Jojoba Seed Oil: Stimulates, conditions & shines. 
  • Panthenol:  Provitamin conditioner.'

So, this is designed to condition, smooth and style your facial hair and it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. It really is the bees knees on all three fronts but for me the first impression was lovely as I applied it to my face. It has a deep Aloe Vera aroma to it has gets so much stronger as you rub the cream between your palms. Lovely! 

Even with a heavily moisturised face such as mind the cream is absorbed into the hair and skin really quickly - I think I applied far too much the first time yet it soaked it so quickly and left just a slight hint on the surface of the hair - it has a shine to it that made it look almost damp. After five minutes my face wasn’t greasy to the touch yet it has already had an effect on the bristles and stubble. It felt so much softer to the touch and when trimmed around the edges the hair was removed much, much more easily. 


Beard Control by Billy Jealousy

After I had used my palms to smooth down the hairs on my chin they remained in place. It isn’t like using hair gel on your face and it feeling crispy. The beard retained its body but the hair was less likely to stick out at an awkward angle making me look a bit special. But don't just take my word for it, I've put together a before and after picture below to show how it can help keep facial hair under control.
Beard Control by Billy Jealousy
The top two pictures are before using Beard Control, the bottom two are after using it
I received a 88ml tube of this in my beauty box and when it runs out I will be investing $20 for a 236ml tube to have on hand for the next time I fancy growing a beard of some length.

Beard Control was a winner of the 2014 Men’s Health Grooming Award and I can see why. Not only does the hair on my face feel smoother to the touch, even hours after applying it smells amazing and keeps my beard well and truly under control. Result.

I’m really pleased that I finally managed to grow a beard long enough to really put this through its paces. After a week of using it I have found that the itching has reduced to such a point that I’m no longer bothered by it and for that I am truly thankful. It’s almost a shame that I will be losing this four weeks of growth soon.

RECOMMENDED

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Sunday, March 06, 2016

Firmoo - the global online optical store

I’m blind as a bat, and to make sure that the world has edges I have to wear pretty strong prescription eyewear. In the past I have been known to spend a small fortune on frames in an effort to find a pair that suited my face. My last pair of frames set me back over £250 and that was before the cost of the lenses had been included - ouch. With a new prescription (and even worse eyesight) I was delighted not to have to dip my hand into my pocket, instead, I was offered a pair of frames and lenses from Firmoo, the global online optical store. 


Firmoo - the global online optical store

Being as blind as a bat and slightly vain I didn’t start wearing glasses properly until my early twenties (I would rarely wear them at school despite having a pair tucked away at the bottom of my bag) - which made having to read number plates outside my driving test centre that little bit more interesting. I had to memorise the plates before going in so that I could dazzle the tester before we set off. Looking back (no pun intended) I was a danger to everyone on the roads for years (yet didn’t have a crash).

My previous pair of handmade frames look a bit tired and the pair of Moschino frames had been bent so far out of shape they made my face look lopsided. Not wanting to look like I’d had a stroke a replacement was needed and I decided to take a leap for a new size and style.

This is what they say about Firmoo over at their website here:

‘Vision – An ideal pair of prescription glasses as a half medical tool to correct vision should be made up of a quality frame and lenses with accurate prescription. We promise all our eyeglasses frames are of high quality. Besides, all eyewear provided by us goes through strict inspection by our experienced opticians before shipping to ensure the accuracy of lens prescription. That’s why we are able to pass savings to our valued customers. Fashion – We offer classic and fashion glasses frames for you to choose from. All of these frames which are quite popular in the world are elaborately picked by our staff from thousands of frames in the market. Frugal way – Our prescription eyeglasses are inexpensive even though with high quality, therefore, everyone can afford it.’


Firmoo - the global online optical store

Firmoo - the global online optical store

Firmoo - the global online optical store

Firmoo - the global online optical store

Firmoo - the global online optical store

Scrolling through the various types of eyewear available I was mildly impressed with the variety on offer, but the most striking aspect of selecting my frames for me was the cost. Every pair of frames I came across was so cheap it would seem rude not to pick up a pair. As you can see from the photographs above, the frames look the part (feel free to disagree but I will hunt you down) and they cost under £20. Yes, under £20 for a pair of frames and under £100 when you throw in the cost of the lenses.

After making my selection I was really pleased that I could upload a photograph of my face (without the PC screen cracking) and see what they would look like on my face. Perfect. 

The process of inputting my prescription was really easy, and with my complete lack of ophthalmic knowledge was incredibly grateful for the help function that explained what needed to be input where. The fact that I had to wander off to the restrooms at work with a transparent ruler to measure the distance between my pupils wasn’t strange at all - no, not strange at all……..

A week after ordering and the glasses landed on the mat - with a lovely case, a cloth to keep them clean and more importantly the frames looking the business I was happy - very happy.

They fit perfectly, the lenses help my eyes adjust and everything has perfect clarity. Exactly what you want your glasses to do. 

When you consider the range of frames and lenses on offer, the fact that they are incredibly affordable and home delivery option I can’t see myself coming offline and ever going back to a high street optician. The final cost (had they not been free) would equate to around a third of the amount I usually spend on frames and lenses and they look as good, if not better. I’m delighted with my new glasses and they have had a number of compliments (from those who have noticed the change) which is precisely what an ego-maniac like myself is looking for. What I lack in sex appeal I more than make up for with specs appeal. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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