Morgan's 3-in-1 Shampoo/Wash/Shave

After a self-imposed exile of just over a year from the place of my birth (Manchester) I returned home a couple of weekends ago for not one party but two. My little sister Lily turned 7 and the old man (dad) turned 60. There were parties galore (read lots of alcohol). Having not packed my best party dress (joke) I had to make sure I looked my best (read not looking like an extra from The Walking Dead). Not wanting to pack too much stuff (I had presents to carry after all) I opted to not pack individual shaving cream, shampoo and face wash and instead took my lovely metallic bottle of Morgan’s 3-in-1 Shampoo/Wash/Shave.

This came some weeks ago as a PR sample but suspecting I may be off on my travels I have been saving it. A 100ml bottle costs just £9.50 and if you fancy a bottle you can buy it here. I’d never heard of Morgan’s, but after a touch of research (I’m a lazy man, so you can be assured that it wasn’t much research) it appears that it has been around since 1873. If it’s being going that long it’s either a) a decent company that makes some good products or b) a family owned company with deep pockets.

So, without further ado and more waffling, this is what the (actually blunbt and to the point) blurb says about the product over at the Morgan’s website:

'The perfect travel essential – shampoo, wash and shave with 

Morgan’s 3-in-1. Invigorating and refreshing. Versatile and 

effective formula that is easy to use.'

So, on with the testing:

What’s it like as a face wash?

I’m starting with my thoughts on this as a face wash as this for me is the best thing about the 3-in-1. This could punch a lethargic hippo awake and keep it awake, making it perfect for me (I’m not a morning person, in fact, afternoons are still too early for me). To suggest (as the bottle does) that this is invigorating is something of an understatement. It has a menthol/minty fragrance that is so strong that it almost assaults the senses (in a good way) and is refreshing on the nose.

Even as it leaves the bottle the strong fragrance is all you can concentrate on, but as you are being blind-sided by the aroma, you nearly miss the fact that this lathers up brilliantly. It’s not a rich thick lather, but actually rather watery which means a little goes a very long way allowing coverage across a face as large as mine (anyone over the age of thirty think of the film Mask starring Cher).

Looking at the colour of the water in the sink after using this it has clearly removed a load of grime and dirt from my face, which is erm, well what it’s supposed to do. It’s great as a face wash and after patting my face dry I don’t find that it dries out my skin excessively. It does dry it out a bit, but nothing just a spot of moisturiser can’t solve.

What’s it like as a shampoo?

Well, it smells the same (no shock there) and again it lathers up really well. Again, this can’t be faulted – it removes all of the product from my hair be it cream, wax or gel leaving it soft and ready for more punishment. Honestly, my hair does feel clean and weirdly, if I leave my hair to dry naturally it becomes really quite fly away. At the moment of writing my hair was the longest that it has been in twenty years (it was Robert Palmer) and it felts so light and fly away.

To summarise in one word: Win!

Shave

This is sadly for me where I have to be slightly negative – while it is probably good for when on the road, for me (an infrequent shaver) I was left feeling a little disappointed. First of all I had to use quite a lot of the gel like formula to get it to stay on my face and lather up to a thickness that made me able to see where I had already shaved and even then it was still a touch too watery. That meant most of it ran down my neck and onto my chest.

Hey, it’s not bad, it’s just not great. Personally I have loads of shaving products that knock the spots off this (in shaving terms) so while slightly miffed it’s not a deal breaker when I consider if I would buy this again when it runs out.  

It would have come highly recommended but personally I think this would be better marketed as a 2-in-1, but that is just my humble opinion. It wasn’t the best shave cream I’ve ever used and it’s not something I will use for these purposes again, but in terms of being a good face wash and shampoo you can’t go wrong. Combine that with:

· A very reasonable purchase price
· It lathers up really well removes hair styling product build up
· It looks cool
· It’s compact (so great for people on the road or train a lot)
· Leaves your face feeling refreshed

With the above in mind, if you are off on your holidays, or a traveller (of the non-caravan variety or even if you are) you should pick a bottle.

RECOMMENDED

Random fact not product related: Morgan’s are based in Whitstable. I reference it here because the best media officer I have ever worked with, Lynn, lives in Whitstable.  

Random pictures not products related: Here is a picture from the first party – my good self with my uber-cute sister Lily and my slightly older sister Lucy photo-bombing in spectacular style (where is Lucy’s body???) in the background.

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An idiots guide to shaving

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the Man Made salon in central London to meet with the lovely folk from Cornerstone, a fairly new shaving subscription service and sample some of their products. 

While I have tried the kit I received as a sample once (and I have to say, was impressed), I do want to try it out a few times before giving a firm view on whether I would recommend it (all of the signs so far are positive) so keep a beady eye out for that one coming up. What struck me however when talking with the founder of the company, Oliver was his passion for the products and for shaving in general. When we first sat down and I asked the very simple question, “why”, the response resonated with me. 

What was the response? Dad’s, you’re all pretty bobbins at actually teaching your sons to shave properly (I’m paraphrasing here). It resonated so much that I tried to remember if my own dad had taken me to one side and suggested any tips to avoid shaving becoming a pain in the neck (literally). Nothing, squat, zip diddly - there was no father/son bonding moment over a razor blade as the thirteen year old me removed the first semblance of bum fluff from my face.

That lack of knowledge has resulted in me shaving like an amateur (and suffering) for well over twenty years. While writing this blog has opened my eyes (and pores) to new techniques and products, I felt compelled to share with you the Cornerstone six steps to a smooth, comfortable shave (and this acts as a rather nice warm up to my actual review of the products I used).

These tips have been taken directly from the amazing shaving guide I received and after following each step to the letter I have to say it made a big difference to my shaving experience - so why not share? Why not indeed.

Step One 

Before shaving take a warm shower to open up the pores in your face and soften the stubble. By doing this it should make it easier for your razor to cut each hair, giving a closer and more comfortable shave.

Step Two

Gently exfoliate your neck and beard area. By using an exfoliator with beads or grit like grains in a circular motion you can free an ingrown hairs and wash away any grime from the pores. This should leave a smoother surface for the razor to pass over and in theory reduce any cuts.

Step Three

Apply a shaving cream or gel of choice - from my experience, using a low lather gel or cream results in a better shave as the razor glides better over the face and doesn’t clog as much leaving stripes that require further attention.

Step Four

Make sure you have a fresh, sharp razor. There is no point following these steps if you are going to attempt to shave using a razor that has all of the sharpness of a blunt butter knife. The sharper the blade, the fewer passes of the beard area that are required.

Step Five

When shaving don’t press too hard and avoid shaving against the direction of hair growth. Going against the direction of growth results in hairs being cut at differing lengths, encourages ingrown hairs and that my readers is the main cause of the redness and itchy feeling.

Step Six

Rinse off any remaining shaving gel or cream with cold water. Not only does this spank you wide awake but it also serves to close the pores. Using a post shave balm, cream or serum is a crucial step, it helps to replenish your skin’s natural moisture and keep any skin irritation at bay.

There you go, six simple steps that have changed the way I shave. Yes, it takes longer to shave, but those extra minutes remove any danger of razor burn, I didn’t cut my face to ribbons and not a jot of irritation. For this I am truly thankful!

Choose your products carefully, chop and change to find what suits you personally and your own skin type, but if you follow this great guidance from Cornerstone then in my opinion you can’t go wrong.

Why not take a look at the Cornerstone website here and see if they can help you like they have helped me.

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Scaramouche & Fandango 'SW' Sports Wash

I’m a big fan of ‘Hy’ Hydrator, ‘Fs’ Face Scrub and ‘Bw’ Body Wash by Scaramouche & Fandango, so when I was asked if I would like to try their new ‘Sw’ Sports Wash (it really is a little like the intro to Breaking Bad with all of these periodic table like abbreviations) I started with high hopes. 

Now call me a cynic, but first there were two in ones, then three in ones, and now, we have a four in one - the 'Sw' Sports Wash from Scaramouche & Fandango is not just to banish those BO (body odour) blues, oh no readers, this baby is also designed for hair, face, body and for shaving.

Now you are more like to win Euro millions (current odds 1 in 116.5 million) than you are to see me in the gym at the moment so my take on this is purely as a four in one and whether I would recommend it - the 250ml tube I have costs £9 from here.

This is what Scaramouche & Fandango say about the benefits of Sports Wash over at their website here:

‘Energising caffeine extracts pack a punch in this invigorating 4 in 1 sports wash. Taking care of both hair and skin, the Guar Gum moisturises and conditions whilst also allowing for that perfect shave.’    

Texture and consistency wise this is quite runny for a product of this nature, usually when it comes to the all in one kind of products I have found them to be quite thick but this bucks the trend and as soon as it leaves the tube you immediately get a manly fragrance, it’s like a cross between a rugged earthy aroma blended with floral notes. Thankfully, the masculine nature of the fragrance leaves no doubt in my mind that this beast is designed for post workout washing.

As you can see from the picture, it is quite runny! 

I have been using this for a few weeks now, the tube is about half empty and I have to say I have been impressed with three of the four uses it is intended for.

Yes, the fragrance and washing power is exceptional, it really does banish BO and using only a tiny bit of the wash (roughly an amount the size of a fifty pence piece) is enough to wash my hair, face and body. A little goes a long way and the fragrance kind of explodes into life and strength as soon as it connects with the warm water. Personally, I love the smell and it lathers up wonderfully.

No, showering is not like the Olympics!

  
After drying the subtle fragrance remains on the skin for a few hours and the way it leaves my skin feeling leaves me smiling, and for that and the fact that an hour after drying off my skin feels great, my face doesn’t dry out and there is no need for copious amounts of moisturiser (just a touch though). Result! 

Using the Sports Wash has cut a lot of faffing from my daily shower routine which is brilliant if in a rush, making this great for those who do need to cut down on the amount of time spent in the shower. 

While I wouldn’t use this as a shaving aid, the skin around my face is far too sensitive, it is a great body wash and face cleanser. In addition, unlike other all in one products it doesn’t leave my hair feeling like straw (which is a massive plus) and removes the various hair products I use to style my hair.

At just £9 for a tube I think this represents good value for money and is a product that works. The caffeine does pack a punch and acts as an additional wake up call for my body. This would be a perfect addition to a gym bag or like me, just for day to day use.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

You can read my thoughts on other products from Scaramouche & Fandango by clicking on the links below:

Hydrator 'Hy'
Face Scrub 'Fs' 


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RazorBrite - For blades that go on and on....

RazorBrite will always be a bit special to me, after all it was the first PR sample sent to yours truly after setting up this little blog over twelve months ago. Yes, I know I like to test things over time but I genuinely thought I had written about this already and it wasn’t until the weekend that I realised the original post, written way back in March 2014 was indeed still sat there. Sorry guys! 

This blade has been going for months and is still really sharp

If like me you are tighter than a fishes bum yet have to shave on a regular basis then you will know that the cost of blades is simply a form of blatant daylight robbery. I honestly can’t remember a time when I bought blades and didn't feel as though I was being brutally violated. 

They are expensive here in the United Kingdom. Now I’m not sure if the cost is just a very British thing, but paying nearly £15 for four blades that used to last for two, maybe three shaves at a time seems excessive. 

So, RazorBrite, it’s a fluid solution system (i.e. a dipping pot and bottle of the liquid) that they say can extend the life of a razor blade by up to twenty times, yes, twenty times. That would save me, and any other shaver a fortune, particularly as a 150ml kit costs only £12.

So, what are the exact claims being made, after all, extending the life of a blade up to twenty times is quite bold. 

‘Whether you dispose of your razor blades daily, weekly or monthly, RazorBrite extends the life of all popular brands of razor blades including Gillette Fusion and Wilkinson Sword by up to 20 times.

RazorBrite offers fantastic savings on the cost of your shaving bill, and it works with both men’s and women’s shaving products. Why spend so much money on replacement razor blades when a single RazorBrite Kit will maintain a pack of blades for the whole year?

A single kit, containing a 150 ml bottle of RazorBrite solution and a small dipping container (with full instructions), is all you need to stop buying replacement razor blades for the next 12 months, offering considerable cost savings.

Does RazorBrite mean your shave will take considerably longer? No! The process is very simple, and adds no more than 30 seconds to your shaving time.

Once you’ve tried RazorBrite, it will quickly become an essential part of your grooming kit.’

I followed the steps below (ripped off directly from the RazorBrite website):

Step 1: Shave as normal.

Step 2: Rinse blade in cold water and shake off surplus.

Step 3: Move blade around in the RazorBrite solution (in dipping container) and shake off surplus.

Step 4: Store as normal to dry.

The entire process was incredibly quick. I have to say that I hardly notice my use of Razor Brite now, it has just become part of the routine when shaving. It has however saved me a fortune. A pack of four blades has now lasted for nearly twelve months and they are still gliding through the hair on my face as and when required.

The first time I used this I didn’t see much difference, but after swilling the blade around in the solution the second time is was obvious that the residue and product build up on the blade was being removed. It’s actually really cool when you see the scum coming off. 

The solution removes the crystal build up on the blade. It isn’t visible to the naked eye but I have found that the solution seems to unclog blades so quickly it is sometimes better than using warm water when shaving.

Despite using this on my blades (the strong chemical aroma suggests it may be a bit rough on skin), when using the right pre and post shave products there is no irritation to my skin. That for me is a massive plus and it was something that had originally played on my mind when deciding whether or not to use it.

I have been using RazorBrite for over a year and my original 150ml bottle of the solution has about a third left. It does represent excellent value for money and has saved me £155 over the time I have used it. You can’t argue with savings like that.

Suitable for male and female blades this is one of those products that looks a bit dull but are hugely functional. It deserves more love, and far more exposure as it really is something any shaver should have to hand. The claim of extending life by up to twenty times seems to be about on the money for me.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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