Thursday, September 28, 2017

BEAUTY: Advent Calendars For Men 2017


How is it nearly Christmas again?!?!? No seriously, the last time I looked it was March! My other half is obsessed with Beauty Advent Calendars. Not only do I have to listen to her talk about the female calendars (I deserve a medal), but I have to hold them all while she takes endless photographs (some of them are huge - see here) and now every other day she's banging on about another one she has found for us blokes. 

Last year I thought was 'peak' beauty advent calendars but alas I was wrong. You can see my post from 2016 here but today I'm going to be looking at what has been put on the market for 2017 - seatbelts on please, phasers set to stun etc etc...

Bearded Man Company
This calendar is described as being the alternative advent calendar comes crammed with enough beard oil to see him right through to well after Christmas! Well if you have seen me lately I have a bit of a beard, not as long as it was, but it is back.
Advent Calendars For Men 2017
Advent Calendars For Men 2017
Behind each of these 24 doors is a 2ml glass bottle of beard oil in different scents and I am very much looking forward to opening each and every one of them come December the 1st....It retails for around £30 and can be found here.

Mankind
This Calendar is described as being packed with 25 full-size products, carefully curated by the team at Mankind, it contains everything from skincare and haircare, to body care, shaving and even dental care.

Worth over £650 this calendar is currently on offer for £250 and admittedly it has really caught my attention! You can find it right HERE.



Clarins for Men
This Calendar is described as being one which contains products for relaxing, cleansing and fatigue-fighting. The Clarins Mens’ Calendar is a 12-day calendar and it mirrors the one for women with the drawer effect.Beauty Advent Calendars For Men 2017

It goes on sale on 1st October (here) and will retail at £60.
ASOS Grooming Advent Calendar £55 (here)
This Grooming Advent Calendar contains 25 windows and 24 products with the final product being a discount code, which I am rather intrigued about.  
Beauty Advent Calendars For Men 2017
Products you will see inside come from brands that are sold via ASOS so Elemis, Carmex, Nip +Fab, Mr by Jamie Stevens, Rituals and many more. It is onsale right now. 

Personally speaking, just having the products from the MR range by Jamie Stevens in it means that it's on the right track - throw in the Nip + Fab, Uppercut, ManCave and Scaramouche & Fandango products and you have something I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Technic - Man Stuff 12 Days Advent - The Man'Stuff Advent Calendar will keep the guy in your life stocked up on essential mini toiletries. Contains: Shower Gel, Hair & Body Wash, Face Wash, Bath Fizzer, Soap, Bath Salt, Lipbalm, Hair Comb, Scissors, Tweezers, Nail Clippers, Toothbrush.
Beauty Advent Calendars For Men 2017It is available now for £20 via Superdrug HERE.

I'm mildly optimistic that there will be more released or at at least announced as we get closer to Christmas and as and when there are, I will update this post. As it stands, my personal pick would have to be the ASOS Grooming Advent Calendar - I've tried pretty much everything in it and there aren't any lemons among the products on offer.

Now, how long until you first hear "Fairytale of New York" on the radio? A week or two do you reckon?

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Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Grooming: ManCave Men's Grooming Gear

For a few months now I've been sampling on and off with products from Mancave, a British start-up company that launched in 2012. I'd seen the products on Instagram for a while and was more than happy to give a couple of their products a road test. Through the letterbox popped three products, one of which I managed to leave in a hotel room after having to vacate at speed - no it wasn't a fire alarm, I had the worst hangover of 2017 and had approximately ten minutes to shower, dress and get out! Typical Stephen behaviour all truth be told.

Anyway, enough of my mystery drinking tours of obscure Welsh hotels and back onto the grooming products. Today I'll be looking at ManCave's Protective Moisturiser and their Lemon & Oak Shower Gel

ManCave has a clear mission statement, to bring a fresh and inspiring regime of grooming essentials - developed and formulated as a natural defence for man!
Grooming: ManCave Men's Grooming Gear
This is what they say about their products over at the ManCave website
'With an ingredient-focused approach that delivers a natural grooming regime packed with essential oils and premium natural extracts, you will find a brand that has removed harmful ingredients and find one which offers vegan friendly products that are free from parabens, sulphates and petrochemicals and are never tested on animals.'
Protective Moisturiser with SPF20 - 100ml £8.99
First up is the Protective Moisturiser - it uses UVA Filters to help protect from UV rays whilst locking in hydration and helping to counteract signs of premature ageing with Shea Butter and Radicare.

Personally I found this product to be an absolute face saver after a recent foray into the Suffolk sunshine. After wandering in the early morning sun down the coast to say I was burnt was an understatement - within four hours my face was dry and towards the evening I could see exceptionally dry patches appearing just under my eyes and on my forehead. This was not a good look. 

When I realised I hadn't moisturised that evening I applied just a pea sized amount and within two hours the dry patches had gone - my face looked and felt hydrated.

After using for a week each morning and night my skin (above the beard) was much smoother and genuinely looked more supple. In terms of applying it couldn't be easier, it lacks the greasiness that comes with some male moisturisers which means it's a case of slap on and watch it be absorbed into the skin at a fair old rate of knots. For the lazy man out there (like me) this is a no fuss, good for results moisturiser.

When you throw into the mix the fact that this costs just £8.99 you have cracking value for money.
Grooming: ManCave Men's Grooming Gear
Grooming: ManCave Men's Grooming Gear
Lemon and Oak Shower Gel - 200ml £3.99 This is actually the second shower gel (the first was Cedarwood) in the ManCave range - and was developed to uplift, invigorate and stimulate (sounds like my missus)

So, what's it like? Bloody brilliant! For £3.99 you really cannot argue about the value for money if it does what a shower gel should - wash of the grime, leave you smelling lovely and good on the skin. 

Personally I really do have an affection for the fragrance of this shower gel - the lemon has that zesty citrus punch to the face that I need first thing in the morning but it also oozes a rather subtle masculinity with the oak giving it a touch of warmth after the citrus blast. Yes please, more of the same.
Grooming: ManCave Men's Grooming GearGrooming: ManCave Men's Grooming GearThe shower gel lathers up brilliantly with only a small amount, around the size of a fifty pence piece needed to generate a mini-foam party in the shower. 

I've been using this on and off for a few months now, it sits in my travel bag when I go away on business and it's great - not only do I feel confident that I'm clean, I actually feel clean and the fragrance that's left on my skin doesn't alter my aftershaves. 
What we have here is not a failure to communicate as Guns N Roses once said, what we actually have is a brand with a series of exceptional quality products that are priced very reasonably. Trust me, you can fork out up to ten times more for products like this that will come nowhere near to delivering the same results. 

For me, it's a massive yes to ManCave.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED


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Monday, September 18, 2017

FASHION: Canali Clothing

I am a sucker for a good suit, a nice looking shirt or even a nice luxury pair of cufflinks. The past would see me eye up a nice find and then stalk it in the days leading up to payday before rushing off to buy it. My spending behaviour hasn't changed much, but my tastes have certainly got more expensive! When I was asked if I would take a look at Canali, a purveyor of fine Italian clothing since 1934, my mind shot back to a beautiful Canal shirt I owned back in the 1990s. It cost a fortune but it lasted for years and oozed fine, quality tailoring rivalled only by a £400+ Valentino shirt I nearly bankrupted myself buying (£400 was a lot of money to me in 1995).

Canali sadly are too expensive for my humble tastes, but their clothes are just so out of this world I couldn't resist to put together a 'wish-list' of items from their amazing website to form a nice formal outfit. 


So, what did I choose from their extensive range?
Canali Formal Dress Wishlist
Dark Blue Super 140S Impeccable Wool Venezia Suit - £1300
This elegant Venezia suit features a classic silhouette and features a subtle blue overcheck adds a layer of dynamism to the ensemble. Created from a luxurious Super 140s Impeccabile wool, this style is perfect for the man who is constantly on-the-go thanks to a series of characteristics that will leave you looking sharp from morning to night.


Our "Impeccabile" shirts blend elegance and practicality, making them an essential addition to your wardrobe. Shirts from this line are made from a special fabric that uses body heat to naturally remove creases while a modern fit offers a refined and contemporary silhouette. This style features bold yet refined houndstooth motif that adds a dynamic touch to any ensemble.

These classic gunmetal gray rectangular cufflinks feature a unique raised motif that adds a layer of dynamism to your more formal looks.

This dark blue tie comes in a luxurious pure silk and is a versatile and stylish accessory that is a must in any modern-day man's wardrobe. Wear it with your formal looks or for an elegant evening out.

This elegant overcoat is made from a luxurious and ultra-soft pure cashmere, making it the ideal outerwear choice to keep you warm in style throughout the colder months of the year. Distinctive details like a fly front and contrasting undercollar add unique finishing touches.

As a contemporary yet refined alternative to the classic derby shoe, this double monk strap has been buffed by hand for a truly unique and distinctive aesthetic. The leather sole features a rubber insert, adding practicality to the mix.

I really could go mad, and if it wasn't for the steadying influence of my other half when it comes to my spending I would have a field-day over at the Canali site - there is everything from casual jackets to seriously formal suits. Speaking from experience the clothes are some of the most comfortable I've ever bought and they are so hardwearing that they last for year after year, so that initial investment pays off over time.


Yes, this is a luxury brand, but when parting with your cash on Canali you can be assured you are buying quality.


RECOMMENDED


What do you think to my choices?



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Sunday, September 10, 2017

AFTERSHAVE: Secret Scent Box - August 2017


If may be September but the August Secret Scent Box deserves an airing so today I'll be looking at the three aftershaves that dropped through my letterbox just under two weeks ago. 

The concept of the Secret Scent Box is quite simple, you sign up for a modest fee and every month without fail a small box containing three 9ml testers of aftershave are delivered direct to your door. You can see what I received previously in April of this year here, or September 2016 here.

Even better, they also offer the service to females with a Secret Scent Box for Her, so if the concept of this male box floats your boat then why not take the time to sign up? 

AFTERSHAVE: Secret Scent Box - August 2017
 So, what was in the box this month? Well, these babies.....
AFTERSHAVE: Secret Scent Box - August 2017
Hollister - Wave for Him
  • Head: Grapefruit, Yuzu and Bamboo Leaves
  • Heart: Lavender, Neroli and Cypress
  • Dry-down: Driftwood Accord, Musk and Tonka Bean
From the notes I would expect this to have a citrus head with floral heart and an almost sweet base but the way in which the notes combine is nothing short of magical and somewhat surprising to me. Hollister is not a brand I tend to veer towards, it being aimed at an audience much younger than I. 

The grapefruit isn't as tart as I expected and is tempered by the yuzu which adds a slight sourness to the initial fragrance before this is counteracted by the sweetness of the vanilla essence within the tonka bean. The lavender does provide something of a floral interlude, but this stays as a light, young fragrance for well over eight hours. 

Fresh and ever so light on the nose this is one I could see myself wearing on a night out - the driftwood accord and musk are't overpowering placing this in the same category for lightness and freshness as CK One, Bvlgari Pour Homme and Tom Ford Grey Vetiver.

AFTERSHAVE: Secret Scent Box - August 2017
Jimmy Choo - Man Ice
  • Head: Mandarin, Bergamot and Cedrat
  • Heart: Vetiver, Patchouli, Cedarwood and Apple
  • Dry-down: Musk, Moss, Dry Amber 
As a recent covert to Jimmy Choo fragrances I had high hopes for Man Ice having just tried and tested Man Intense. I was not to be disappointed. While on first sprays you'll have a sensory overload of mandarin, the orange fragrance mixed with the tartness of the cedrat means that this retains it citrus vibe from the moment you spray for for hours afterwards. Perfect in my book, I do love a good citrus fragrance. 

It takes a good hour before the head notes even  start to blend with my skin and alter, but to my surprise and given the heart and dry-down notes this never really loses the lightness on the nose. I'd expect warmth to come through after about an hour or two as the cedarwood, musk and amber came to the fore but nope, nada. 

This for me is again another aftershave that I would wear on a night out. Three sprays and you'll be smelling lovely for a good seven to eight hours and despite being light and citrus you can detect hints of apple and vetiver for a few hours. This one is very unique and is bound to draw attention for all the right reasons.
AFTERSHAVE: Secret Scent Box - August 2017
Ralph Lauren - Safari for Men
  • Head: Lavender, Neroli, Bergamot and Lemon
  • Heart: Carnation, Cinnamon, Tarragon and Jasmine
  • Dry-down: Sandalwood, Amber, Patchouli and Musk
Safari has been around for years, and I hadn't really given it much thought for, oh, about ten years until the box arrived. As soon as I sprayed it I realised why I've been avoiding it - the fragrance triggered such strong memories.

With a floral head with just a touch of citrus you could be forgiven for thinking that like the other two samples this would again be light and airy but nooooooo, the citrus fades away quickly and it dries down to be incredibly warm on the nose - the amber is the overwhelming fragrance but it does something cheeky after about thirty minutes, it develops a kind of floral spiciness that I remembered well. 

This ranks up there as one of the most hardwearing aftershaves on the market in my opinion. Three sprays and you'll still be smelling this on your skin up to twenty hours later - yes, it's potent! 

Personally it's a little too warm for me to wear on a night out but this is perfect for wearing around the office. 
AFTERSHAVE: Secret Scent Box - August 2017
Once again, for £15 you can't sniff (well you can, but in a good way) at the value that Secret Scent Box delivers. It has opened my eyes (and nose) to two fragrances I would probably bypass on the shelf and brought quite a few memories back at the same time. If you like your aftershaves, or know someone who really does need to diversify their collection then this service is the best place to start. 

This is my third box from Secret Scent Box and for the third time I've been very happy, no, delighted with the contents.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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