Fish Sportfish Revitalising Hair, Face and Body Wash

I’m kind of going through a Fish love-in at the moment so when I was asked if I would like to try Sportfish, their new three in one body wash I jumped at the chance.

While I love the hair care range, with Fishshape Hair and Superfish Fishpaste Hardcore Hold Matt Effect Putty I wasn’t overly keen on their sculpting wax.

I hadn’t known that they had branched out from hair care products, so to receive a 250ml bottle that retails at Boots for £3.99 I couldn’t wait to put it through its paces.

Sportfish, revitalising hair, face and body wash. It sold as:

"Cleanse and revive your entire body post workout with the 3 in 1 Sportfish Revitalising Hair, Face and Body Wash.

Developed by cutting edge Fish Hairdressing Salon in Soho, London, this is the ultimate sports bag essential for men who like to play hard, yet look great, with minimum fuss.”

First things first, I had a flashback to my youth and the dawning of the “take two bottles in the shower, not me I take 2 in 1” adverts. It made me giggle slightly but anyway, I digress.

As this claims to be a three in one I’m going to rate the product based upon the effect of:

• Cleansing and removing body odour;
• Fragrance;
• Effect on face;
• Effect on hair;
• Value for money.

The cleansing ability of this wash is not to be underestimated - it lathers up brilliantly into a lovely rich foam. It covers easily and not much is required which means that this 250ml bottle will last for a few weeks. In the words of Mr Burns from The Simpsons “Excellent“!

What is surprising with the body wash is that the fragrance is quite subtle. Normally with a body wash for men it tends to be really strong to try and wash/mask the manly body odour we build up generally just being men.

After using the product even after a night crammed into a sweaty bar there are no hints of stink - and that ladies and gentlemen is key here.

As the body wash starts to lather up the fragrance does become more pronounced. It has top notes of coconut but actually then becomes slightly chemical - it doesn’t feel organic so to speak. It isn’t bad, it just isn’t fantastic. However, in terms of something for the bag I’d say its completely inoffensive.

Using this on my face I found that it really did leave my face feeling smooth and fresh. The only drawback was that prolonged use did see my forehead starting to dry out more. I combated this by reverting to a double dose of my L’Oreal Men Expert moisturiser.

I don’t know about sports bag essential for me, I’ve broken out into a sweat thinking about reaching for my tea but it certainly is a very nice product that would suit someone on the go - the bottle is compact, a little goes a long way, it has good results in the three key areas it claims to and does smell that bad.

In my books that means that it’s recommended, however if you have a certain need such as dry skin and are looking for something to moisturise your skin I would say you would need any additional product to go with this.

RECOMMENDED 

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You want me to put WHAT on my face?

As I get increasingly older I’m always on the lookout for new products in an attempt (failing) to turn back the clock to the days when blackheads, dry patches and broken skin were just a pipe dream.

With a vigorous facial cleansing routine to ensure that my face radiates and projects a clean image I was more than impressed to find a 50ml tube of Thalgo Men Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub sitting in the bathroom cabinet.

As a firm advocate of the Men Expert range by L'Oreal particularly the Skin Renovator, I am increasingly being won over by the range of facial products produced by Thalgo.

Thalgo Men Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub claims within the marketing blurb to rid the skin of impurities and smooth away imperfections leaving the skin fresh, clean and invigorated.

 

Source

Most skin exfoliators I have used in the past state clearly that twice weekly use is more than adequate, however Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub should only be used once a week according to the instructions for use.

The main ingredient is Algue Bleue Vitale which isn't not something I have heard of before, but the helpful notes included put my inquisitive mind to rest. Thalgo state that the product is specifically designed for men, but why? Thalgo claim that Men's skin is much thicker and richer in sebum and is easily stressed by the daily process of shaving.

The Algue Bleue Vitale has the ability to be both anti-aging and anti-fatigue at the same time, calming down the skin to repair and smooth any stressed cells.

The product is alcohol free and uses silica and polyethylene beads to act as the exfoliant. Finished with hints of menthol the product should be the daddy of all exfoliants.  The exfoliator itself is a light blue colour and within the cream are darker blue beaded shapes which are the actual pieces of Algue which act as the exfoliating scrub.

To the touch you can feel the abrasiveness if you press it hard enough on your hands but because this product has been designed for use on the face and neck where the skin is less tough, it is actually not that noticeable when being used.

After splashing my face with warm water to open my pores, I squeezed several dots of the exfoliator onto the palm of my hand and then onto my face where I began to massage the scrub into the skin in a circular motion as directed. As soon as I started to massage it into my skin I was amazed by three things:

• Firstly it spread really well from a tiny dot placed in the middle of my forehead, one on either cheek and a dot on my chin was needed to completely exfoliate my face meaning that very little was needed each time I used it.
• The second revelation came from the fragrance as soon as it started to be absorbed into my skin. It became so much stronger and the smell reminds me of the sea, clean and fresh with the hint of menthol giving a slight waft of mint.
• Finally, the aroma becoming more pronounced whilst finally and most importantly the actual texture became slightly abrasive but not as much as similar products as other exfoliators used in the past. Knowing what to expect the slight harshness on the skin when massaging was needed to help remove all of the dead skin and impurities.

As the product is massaged into the face you are basically left with what feels like finely ground sand on your fingertips and I for one could only keep rubbing it into my face for around a minute before I rinsed my face. I was horrified by the colour of the water. I had expected some sort of residue but it was really brown and dirty looking. *cue much retching and muttering of being a filthy boy*

The product had obviously removed a hell of a lot of dead skin from my face and in doing so had fulfilled the first part of the product promise.

To get top marks from me though depends upon how it leaves my face looking and feeling after rinsing and drying. This is the acid test. I have to say that like the Dead Sea Facial Peel I usually use the end results were perfect and highly satisfactory.

My face looked a lot cleaner and comments were passed about the healthy glow to my skin. My pores seemed totally unblocked so there were no blackheads and since using the incidence of spot outbreaks have been kicked to the kerb. No sight of a zit. Result!

To top it all off, days after using my skin remained baby soft.  In the past I have been very sceptical about deviating from L'Oreal Men Expert or from what I consider the best exfoliator ever produced, Dead Sea Facial Peel but Thalgo really have won me over.

Dead Sea Facial Peel will probably remain my favourite because I can see the dirt and grime being removed but as a more regular treatment for my face Thalgo really knocks the spots (pardon the pun) off the Men Expert Range.

With all of the wonderful things I have had to say about the product surely there is a drawback, and that it the price. Thalgo aren't the cheapest products around but you do really get what you pay for, although many will see the purchase price of £16 for a 50ml tube from places like FeelUnique and baulk, in terms of value for money and longevity it actually works out at around the same price as the L'Oreal Men Expert Skin Renovator.

Thalgo Men Descomen Deep-Cleansing Scrub is exceptionally masculine, smells beautiful, is slightly abrasive and does everything it claims to do. Given that only a tiny amount of the exfoliator is needed the tube has lasted for months and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel

I have over time devoted more and more time to a cleansing regime to ensure that the skin on my face despite the constant battering it takes from the London air and my sometimes unhealthy lifestyle remains smooth, soft and generally appealing. Nobody wants to stare at or get up close and person with someone with a layer of grime on their face with dead skin aplenty. 

Having never thought about using a facial peel this fell into my possession while trying to escape the hell of a shopping trip to the mall from hell. I do of course refer to the place where discount goods go to die - Shopping City in Wood Green, London.  Accosted by a rather persistent sales assistant on a stall she gave me a quick demonstration which literally turned my stomach. Within seconds a pure white cotton pad was as black as the ace of spades. Yuck! What was worse was that I was only 30 minutes out of the shower! 

I was shamed into parting with £30 for a 30ml pot of Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel

Now in my opinion £30 is a lot to pay for any sort of beauty treatment/product so the proof is in the value for money test, how it performs and ultimately if it can be found elsewhere for cheaper. 

When replacing my first tub of the facial peel some 6 months after my first experiences with it I paid only £25 from the same stall (the prices never stay the same and haggling is always the order of the day) however when looking online I felt rather violated by the fact that it can be bought for as little as $22 (yes, that US Dollars not Pounds) from places like eBay. 

So, I think I have established that this is something of a luxury item, but once you remove it from the outer box you find a mock glass (clear plastic) tub which looks remarkably stylish with a black screw top lid. 

Contained within the outer box are no instructions on how to use the product, how often you should use it or indeed what the potential benefits should be. Going off from the sale patter given by the stallholder I was told that this would remove black and white heads, dead skin whilst at the same time retaining moisture to maintain the pH balance of my skin. 

In layman terms she advised that it was good to clear off the gunk that builds up on the face that just isn’t removed by a normal exfoliator or day to day washing with soap and water. She stated that it was only to be used once or twice a week and that only a pea sized amount was needed. With this in mind, I couldn’t wait to see what came off my face as soon as I got home.

Containing Dead Sea Minerals and various other anti-oxidant ingredients such as Echinacea, Ginseng and Rosemary as soon as the lid is unscrewed the delightful aroma is unleashed. Rather than being overpowering and with a chemical base in terms of fragrance was greeted me was a subtle, fresh smell akin to watermelon, not too strong with hints of Rosemary. If I had to sum up the fragrance I would say a cross between fruity and herbal.

The facial peel has a gel like consistency when in the tub and is easy to remove and apply to the face and neck. I dipped my fingers into the tub and the pale green facial peel literally stuck to my fingertips. As recommended I tried only a pea sized amount but found that after smoothing it across my face it only covered one cheek so 3-4 pea sized amounts were needed to cover my forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. As it is smoothed over the skin it does thin quite a lot making it easy to massage into the face. At this point the minerals that should remove the dead skin and black heads were not noticeable in the slightest however there was a gentle tingling sensation and my face felt very cool.

After massaging the facial peel in for 2-3 minutes most of it was absorbed and the more I massaged it became evident that what can only be described as small clumps of dead skin started to build up from nowhere. The entire massaging process took 5 minutes and once finished I took a cotton pad and started to methodically wipe my face. The results judging from the colour of the dirt and grime that had been removed were exceptional. In the end I used 3 pads as the grime built up on each pad really quickly. A closer inspection of the pads I had used revealed something I had never noticed when looking in the mirror, blackheads, and lots of them stuck to the pad in between the obvious grime. Instead of just removing the head, the entire root was on the pad.

After washing my face down with cold water and patting it dry I took the brave step of touching my own face and found that the skin was so smooth and soft I could help stroking my cheeks in disbelief. The results were simply put - out of this world. 

After using it the first time the amount of dirt, grime and blackheads removed each week decreased slightly but it is still removing that stubborn stuff that insists on sticking to my face.

My first 30ml tub of the facial peel lasted 6 months using it once a week. Based upon the initial purchase price and the results I would have no hesitation in recommending this to any potential consumer. 

Personally I did not suffer any sort of irritation but would provide an air of caution to those with sensitive skin. The tingling if left on the skin for too long can start to burn a little. Try a tester before making such an investment. If I had to pay £30 for another tub I would happily part with it because I am delighted with the results but now that I have found a supplier much cheaper I will continue to cleanse using the Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Facial Peel.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Lotion

As I get older I become increasingly vain and desperate to keep the boyish good looks that broke so many hearts in my early twenties. Some would say this has become something of an obsession or borderline paranoia. As I bat back to those who poke fun, there really is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of OCD! 

When a new or interesting product that promises to recharge my skin with energy and leave it moisturised appears I just can’t help myself. L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue moisturising lotion crossed my path after I had run out of Dead Sea facial scrub. I was desperate to try and find something that would invigorate my skin and leave it feeling smooth and moisturised. 

The product is now a firm favourite and I have at least three tubes at any one given time. 

The moisturising lotion forms part of the L’Oreal Men Expert range of facial products, designed as a daily active defence system used to help nourish, moisturise and refresh the skin. 

The leaflet that comes with the lotion goes to great lengths to explain that using the anti-fatigue lotion will increase softness, form a layer of resistance to pollutants (which is good as I work in an office on one of the most polluted roads in Europe!) while leaving skin feeling refreshed, smooth and looking totally refreshed. 

I’ve lived in London now for 10 years and I have to say that the air quality does impact on my skin (and lungs but they haven‘t come up with a cream for that yet). 

When I first tried this I was having a daily commute that involved filthy air on the Underground and being blasted by exhaust fumes when I surfaced up to street level. It really was a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Using the lotion is easy and thanks to the pump dispenser you are unlikely to end up with a hand full of the lotion or not enough to cover your own nose. This serves two purposes that add to the positives. One press of the pump and a pea sized amount of the blue/green lotion is dispensed. The strange colour and strong fragrance are the first things to hit home. Once it has been dispensed the lotion has a quite thick consistency and remarkably doesn’t soak into the palm of your hand. It doesn’t start to be absorbed until you actually rub it onto your face meaning none of it is lost during the application process. 

As it is rubbed onto the face the smell of the lotion increases in strength and the crisp, clean fragrance lingers for a while. If asked to sum up the actual smell I would have to say that it has an almost clinical edge to it, but thankfully I am a big fan.

After rubbing between my palms and then gently massaging the lotion into my face a quick glance in the mirror showed that indeed only a pea sized amount is needed to cover every inch, including my Tefal sized forehead! As soon as it touches an area it seems to be absorbed as quickly as it is applied. As it is a moisturiser the first few minutes after applying do leave your face looking a touch wet, if not greasy but as it completely dries in this appearance fades in no longer than 2-3 minutes. 

Once it has been applied there was no irritation but a slight tingly sensation as though a cold wind had just blown in my face which I can only describe as refreshing. This it seems is due to the caffeine.

My daily facial routine starts with shaving, then the use of a Dead Sea Mineral facial peel followed by using the L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic anti-fatigue moisturizing lotion and I have found this to produce the best results for me personally. 

Since my stocks of the facial peel have been depleted I just use the lotion and whilst the results are not as good as previously, my face and condition of my skin is still ten times better than prior to using it.

In terms of results regardless of my facial routine I could not be happier. 

Immediately after applying my skin feels incredibly soft and smooth. Over the longer term I’ve noticed that I don’t suffer as much from the patchy, dry or blotchy skin that has plagued me since I moved to London and best of all, the lines of my forehead do not appear as pronounced as they did prior to using this lotion. That’s right those Gordon Ramsey forehead trenches are reduced in size.

The lotion is widely available both online and from most large supermarkets and is priced between £5 and £7 for a 50ml tube. Personally I paid £6.49 for my last tube. While I think this is expensive for a moisturiser it does live up to its billing and the claims made.

It’s money well spent. Not only does it smell pleasant, it also leaves my face looking moisturised, visibly less tired and lasts for at least 4 weeks when used on a daily basis making it in real terms very good value for money.

I have now found a product that does everything it claims to do and I won’t be switching to any other brand.

In the world of male grooming products, L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic anti-fatigue moisturising lotion is king.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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