Cornerstone Shaving Box

If you follow the blog you may have seen my recent post, ‘An Idiots Guide to Shaving’ where I shared some simple advice on how to get that great shave. Where did I get these tips from? Well, the excellent folk over at Cornerstone, a flexible regular distributor of razor blades and men’s shaving supplies. 

The box is starting to look a bit worn after a few months of abuse!

The box before I got stuck in!

Oliver, the founder of the company not only talked me through the perfect shave back in April at the Man Made salon in central London, I was also provided with a full shaving kit so that I could go away and attempt that elusive perfect shave. 

Big smiles all around on my part and after using this now for a month where my face has actually been as hair free as it has been for years I feel that I can give a good run down of the products available, the shaving experience and whether you should be signing yourself or your other half up for a regular delivery.

Cornerstone have a simple philosophy of keeping things simple, yet everything from the box and product design screams understated class, from the clean and fresh face scrub, shave gel and post shave balm to the aluminium razor (you can even have your razor monogrammed with your initials - it‘s the small things that amuse me).

Delivery options couldn’t be clearer and once you have an account set up you can chop and change your options. Personally, as I use the excellent RazorBrite to keep my blades going for much longer I don’t need a regular delivery of blades. Simple, you can remove them and just select the shaving aids. Brilliant.

With no minimum term, free delivery, the ability to suspend or amend how often you receive a box, or simply reduce your order means that you, the consumer are in control of what you get. Another tick in the positive box! 

So, what did I think of my box?

Face Scrub

I have to admit, this is by far the most impressive thing in the box for me. A 100ml tube of the face scrub utilising cedarwood and volcanic sand provides one of the best exfoliating experiences I have ever had. The volcanic sand is perfect as an abrasive while remaining gentle on the skin. 

No bogeys? Check, Ears Clean? Check - you may proceed with photos......

A charcoal grey in colour I couldn’t detect the sand when I squeezed a bit onto my hand initially but as soon as I started to rub into my face you can feel the grains of sand. As it spreads across the face you can after about a minute see the tiny particles of sand. Awesome! 

Fragrance wise it is subtle and not overbearing. Despite giving it a good sniff (to the point some went up my nose) I just couldn’t identify it. Sorry! 

After using this and prior to shaving my face did have that post scrubbed glow, my face felt clean and my pores were well and truly open for business. Top notch stuff in my opinion and on a par at least with one of my personal favourites, Scaramouche & Fandango 'Fs' (face scrub). 

It's the face scrub, not my filthy face that turned the water this colour!

So far, so good.

Shave Gel

The sensitive shave gel comes in a 150ml tube and uses a blend of ginger and eucalyptus. For me, anything that has a base fragrance of eucalyptus is a winner and this is no different - I love the fragrance, especially as the ginger aroma seems to activate as it is massaged into the face. 

Stephen's cold was getting worse and worse.....just kidding.....this is the shave gel

As a lo-lather shave gel you shouldn’t expect a face full of foam, oh no, what you get is very similar to my experience with Rehab London Argan Oil Shave Gel, just a smooth covering of the gel that changes from being quite clear to off white. 

Personally I have found that leaving it for around 60 seconds on the face works great for my face and that lack of lather really does help you when it comes to the actual shave experience. You really don’t need to work hard and the lather/gel doesn’t clog blades, not matter what brand you decide to use.

The Razor + blades

The razor is by far the coolest I’ve ever had, and now with hindsight I wish I had opted to have my initials engraved onto it. It is so lightweight even with a blade attached that you feel like you are playing around with a fencing sword as you swipe across the face. 

The blades are really good, they last for ages and are spaced well so that even the thickest of the thickest hair will rinse off under water as you shave. Excellent in my opinion, and with that erm, razor sharp edge you really don’t have to apply that much pressure to remove those pesky hairs. 

Post Shave Balm

Personally this was the weakest of the box for me but that is not to say it isn’t good - after all, I have been mightily impressed with my Cornerstone box, so much so that it has taken me nearly 8 weeks to truly commit my feelings about the product to the blog - I really wanted to give the entire set a good road test.

After using the products I didn’t have any irritation prior to using the balm so I can’t really comment on it’s soothing properties, but it did leave my face feeling soft and smooth. The fragrance is fairly subtle so no danger of over-powering any cologne or aftershave.

I am delighted that I have had the opportunity to try the Cornerstone range - not only did I meet some thoroughly lovely people from the company, I have been shaving properly ever since and have done so without leaving my face in need of bandages/my body requiring a blood transfusion! 

The fact that you can alter, amend and suspend deliveries is the clincher for me, and with everything above in mind there is nothing much more for me to say. 

Impressed, that’s me - seriously, give them a go.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Scarlet's - Covent Garden's Sassy Sister

Yep it’s a tough job to be sampling cocktails on a Monday night but someone’s got to do it.  Yes the worst school night of the week (Sundays don’t count being technically still the weekend) saw @Bromley_Boozer and @BeautykingUK hit newly opened Scarlet’s in Covent Garden. You might have guessed it from the lack of action on this blog recently but Stephen is busy being worn out by a new job, therefore, this post has been turned over to me (he still wouldn‘t give me the password for the blog to post it myself though - I think he is scared I will pull a prank like broadcast that he is secretly in with love with RS - a private joke).

As this place is pretty easy to find being only 2 minutes walk from Leicester Square tube station, the customary arguing over directions/maps didn’t take long. Stephen was so visibly disappointed that I had been able to get us there so easily he suggested a walk around to “kill some time” but I had spotted his cunning plan to get us lost so he could claim an epic fail and overruled him.

Once inside we were warmly welcomed by staff and secured a table by the window which proved to be an ideal people watching spot.  Well I say people watching but really this is code for a Stephen appraisal of the fashion sense/physical attributes of more or less every single passer-by (I‘ve also heard his management appraisals follow the same theme).  It’s not even slightly annoying….

Getting back to the purpose of the visit though the food and cocktails menus are impressive, the cocktails one being so extensive it’s actually a book. First choice for me had to be the rhubarb and  raspberry martini and it was easily the nicest cocktail I’ve had all year.  It tasted as fresh as if the edible flower on top had just that second been picked. It’s made with the French liqueur Chambord which I love because the bottle reminds me of vintage perfume bottles, and Chase rhubarb vodka. 

Stephen had a Gincello which also looked pretty, in fact when I suggested this might be a bit too girly for his big touch macho image (he thinks) he responded with “I’m going to <expletive deleted> drink it not <expletive deleted> it”.  The smug expression on his face indicated he liked the blend of gin, limencello, and fruit juice topped with prosecco.  

Drinking on an empty stomach can lead to trouble so it was time for food with Stephen choosing an appetizer of chicken skewers with peanut butter, coconut, lemongrass and green chilli.  It wasn’t around for long and in an unprecedented healthy move even ate the watercress that it came with.

His 8oz British beef burger on a toasted brioche bun with Isle of Mull cheese and smoked bacon was a surprising success.  This is because he had constantly looked across to the Five Guys across the road muttering that nothing could be as good as their burgers.  In the end though he had to admit that he enjoyed it and the bacon was crispier on his Scarlet’s burger so disaster was averted.  

My kale, radish, mango, walnut & ricotta salad was an interesting blend of flavours, was fresh and light and was perfectly accompanied by my glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which I can (and do) drink by the bottle (Stephen would probably insert ‘more like from the bottle‘). 

The butternut squash & spinach risotto that followed was well seasoned, not too heavy or sticky and such a generous portion that it couldn’t be finished. There was just about room for a pudding of grilled figs with honey crème fraiche that was a welcome and refreshing end to a lovely meal.

Scarlet’s really is that rare thing in central London, affordable, good quality, friendly and fun.  We’re going back as I am dying to try the pornstar martini sharer cocktail. I just think it would be the perfect end to a stressful day at the office followed by some dancing downstairs (they’re open until 3am). Just maybe not on a school night….

RECOMMENDED

Scarlet’s
Upper St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9NY

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Shavekit - a better shave. For less...

In the last couple of weeks I have to say that I have shaved my face even more than normal - a combination of loads of products to try and just the general urge to keep my facial hair looking tidy has spurred me on to really try out a number of different blades, lotions, scrubs and cleansers. You name it, I‘ve probably used it over the last two months. 

Today I’m going to be giving my thoughts on Shavekit, a mail order company who kindly sent me their new five blade razors to try, and try I have, for the last three weeks in fact these babies have been keeping my face free from hair, but how do they stack up against the more mainstream brands like Wilkinson Sword or Gillette? Read on….

So, what do Shavekit say about themselves?

‘We wanted to create a smarter, sharper, simpler way to shave. In short, a modern shave. So we cut out all the fuss. We threw out the old barber's chair, the whisker twiddling, plus the cost and the hassle of shopping in store.

We got rid of the fluff, but kept the quality of a real shave. We just deliver the kit you need, every month. So you can enjoy the perfect shave, every day.’ 

So, for £8.95 a month you receive in the post 5 ceramic-coated carbon steel blades and a cracking rubber grip to attach them to. Yes, it is that simple. So why buy through the post? Well, if your local supermarket is like mine then razor blades are treated more as some form of treasure to be protected and you have to wait around for someone to take them out of a protective cabinet (seriously, has anyone ever been offered hooky razor blades down the pub? Is there a Silk Road type website on the dark web where shadowy figures trade in illicit blades?!?!?). This removes the hassle and each month you can return home to find the blades on the mat ready for action.

The actual grip is really solid in build and the rubber handle makes it incredibly easy to use - there is no danger of losing grip mid shave and taking half of your face off. I see this as a massive plus, particularly if shaving when my hands are going through a bit of a shaky phase (no, not hangover shakes, but the actual tremors I suffer with in my hands). 

When thinking about how I would describe a razor blade I considered a mild rant about when will the addition of blades stop? I had considered patenting a 25 blade razor the size of an iPad as a joke but alas the lazy streak in me won in the end. Instead you’ll be stuck with the dry thoughts - the blades do what they are supposed to, they are, erm…..razor sharp…..see, I said it was dry.

In all seriousness, the shave quality is really good. The open back design means that even longer facial hair is rinsed clear of the blade between strokes and only a mild amount of pressure is required when moving the blade across the face. Following the shaving tips I’ve previously written about here I have to say it was a great finish.

Those irritating bits of hair just under my nose usually result in me cutting myself, but not this time. Being able to grip properly and the excellent cutting action on facial hair meant that I have managed to remain cut free for ages and for this I am truly thankful.

Personally I find these blades on a par with the excellent blades that come with the Cornerstone shaving kits and head and shoulders above premium brands like Gillette. 

Razor blades are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination and I think the blades from Shavekit are great. While I wouldn’t need a monthly delivery of blades Shavekit do have a system where deliveries can be suspended so you receive what you need. A very nice touch.

Cost effective, long lasting (I’m still using the first blade with the same results some four weeks later) and convenient I can’t find any fault (which is rare). Go on, give them a try. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Now for the good bit. The lovely people at Shavekit have provided a nice little voucher code for my readers to use should you decide you want to give the service and blades a try. If you enter the code ‘BEAUTYKINGUK’ when prompted during the order process you will receive 70% off your first order. 

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Xanthe Men Post Shave Serum

Today I will be giving my considered thoughts on Xanthe Men Post Shave Serum, a balm like product that claims to be a soothing and calming light hydrating serum for use after shaving. 

Products like this used to be a godsend after I had been hacking away at my face with a razor. In fact, my shaving ability has been so bad over the years that at times my face has looked like I had been slapped after shaving by Freddy Krueger (from Nightmare on Elm Street). If I wasn’t feeling faint from blood loss (I’m overplaying it a touch, but not much) I would suffer with irritation, blotchy face and razor burn (not a great feeling if I‘m perfectly honest).

While I have found some amazing products, when I was asked if I wanted to try Xanthe Men it was a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained. Now I have been using this on and off for well over a month after shaving off varying lengths of stubble and in two cases, a full grown beard I think I'm in a position to give a reasoned and balanced opinion of the product. 

Paraben and alcohol free, Xanthe Men is a skin soother and hydrator to help protect from free radicals (aren't they an American jazz band?!?) and UV damage, replenish lost vitamins and minerals while calming irritation. Suitable for all skin types it doesn’t contain any artificial fragrances or colouring and best of all, it isn’t tested on animals. 

All things being considered, I expected a rather bland product where my ultimate recommendation would be based solely on the results after using. 

I’m not sure what I expected when I took it from the packaging, it certainly wasn’t the heavy canister I was presented with. It had much more weight than I expected from a 30ml canister but actually it felt really solid in my hand and you can’t criticise the packaging for not being hard wearing - I immediately dropped it onto my tiled bathroom floor. Thankfully it didn’t smash, in fact it didn’t even crack the outer shell of the canister (phew, in the heart stopping moments as it fell I had visions of canister shrapnel embedding itself in my bare feet.

Despite being free of any artificial fragrance it does actually smell really good - it is a subtle fragrance as you would expect from a hydrator/post shave serum and the only fragrance I could detect was an incredibly light Aloe (I love Aloe). 

So, on the fragrance front it’s a thumbs up, but does it soothe and hydrate? Well yes, yes it does, and it does it in a no fuss way. The serum is absorbed quickly, the irritation I had around my jaw line after shaving when first using this was soothed and cooled - in fact, as you leave the serum to soak in I could feel my face cooling down after around two to three minutes. 

After using it during the recent hot spell in London I can hand on heart confirm that it does keep your face hydrated. After one particular long day in the sun and travelling on public transport in epic temperatures my face feel rather dry and tired. Layer after layer of this was applied to my face and soaked in instantly - after three applications my face looked hydrated, thos pesky dry patches that can break out on my face around my hair line were banished and overall, I have to say my skin felt smooth and soft to the touch. Result!

This isn’t just for after shaving in my opinion, it makes a bloody good hydrator for the face and after I had suffered a mild reaction to applying too much ginseng laced products to my face this cleared up the ensuing dry patches around my forehead. For me, the fact that it was soothing after shaving and doubled as a regular moisturiser really impressed me.

At around £20 for a 30ml canister of the post shave serum this doesn’t by any stretch of the imagination fall into a budget category but for the price and considering the results I think it is the bees knees. Cracking stuff that does what it says on the tin with no fuss and few frills.

Go on guys, give it a try. 

RECOMMENDED

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Scaramouche & Fandango Gift Sets + GIVEAWAY

As Father’s Day gets ever closer once again, readers may be thinking “what the hell do I buy dad this year”. Well, if you are stuck for gift ideas let me help you out. Last year I wrote up a series of suggestions based upon different types of dads and the types of aftershave I would recommend. You can see my post from last year here (personally I think these choices stand the test of time).

This year however I have something that would suit any dad out there and for this I have to thank the lovely people at Scaramouche & Fandango who have launched a range of gift sets. You can see the full range here, but today I’m going to be talking about two of them, ‘Skin‘ and ‘Shower’. 

Not only are both of these gift sets affordable, but they are available here for delivery and would make a great gift.

So what do you get?

Scaramouche & Fandango Shower - £13.50

Within this twin pack you receive a 200ml bottle of the Sh (shampoo) and Bw (body wash). 

I first started using the Bw after receiving a sample in my Selfridges&Co male beauty box last year and it firmly converted to the Scaramouche & Fandango range, oozing quality, a great fragrance and the ability to banish body odour it really does knock the spots of the competition. It’s good stuff!

Sh is something I hadn’t used until this morning! While I use a certain brand to remove the gunk that builds up my hair after using styling products, I have been on the lookout for a shampoo to use on a day to day basis. The cleansing shampoo has a mix of Black Quinoa and Shea butter and my first impressions are hugely positive. My hair felt clean, it has a lovely subtle aroma and my hair doesn’t feel like straw after it dries (a problem I have had with most shampoos I’ve tried over the last six months).  

For £13.50 you really can’t grumble - the Sh and Bw are likely to last for well over a month, even when using on a daily basis. A little goes a long way and while it may appear that you are telling your dad he needs to improve his washing regime I personally think this is worth it. 

Scaramouche & Fandango Skin - £25 

This triple pack contains three products that will do the business for skin. You receive 100ml of Fs (face scrub), 100ml of Sc (shave cream) and 100ml of Hy (hydrator). 

I have already written about the Fs and Hy and you can see my full reviews by clicking on the abbreviations. Each were recommended when I wrote up my thoughts and nothing has changed since, I still love the results that they both produce. 

Sc was a new one on me and again, this morning I shaved using the cream and am impressed with the finish. No irritation, soothing in nature and a lovely fragrance to boot means that when I do write about this it gets the thumbs up.

All in all, three great products for just £25.

The gift sets come in rather lovely stylish black boxes and no matter what, every time I look at them I think of the introduction to Breaking Bad where the periodic table comes into focus. It’s a strange link from a rather strange bloke! 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Here is the best bit ladies and gentleman - Scaramouche & Fandango are giving you the chance to win one of the two gift sets above as part of a giveaway here at Beautykinguk. That's two winners who will each win one gift set each. The first name drawn will win the Shower set and the second person the Skin set.

To win, all you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter entries below where the fields are marked mandatory. There are also additional entries to be had and bonus entries for tweeting about the giveaway on a daily basis.

The giveaway is global this time and I will arrange for the winners to receive the gift sets in time for Father’s Day. 

If you are aged under 16 please obtain permission from your parent or guardian as I will require your home address to post the gift set to you if you win.  

With that in mind, what are you waiting for? Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wingman Skin Fuel

It has been a while since I was originally sent and opened (with glee) a massive package from the lovely folk at Wingman. I had expected maybe the face scrub but instead I received the entire Skin Fuel range and have well and truly put it through it’s paces. 

So what will I be talking about today? Well, I’ll be giving the low-down on the face scrub, face wash and moisturiser.

Purifying Face Scrub Ginseng + Vitamins  - £4.49 for 150ml

If you follow the link, you’ll actually get to the apricot, ginseng and vitamins page for the face scrub - I actually received the scrub with just ginseng and vitamins although I really like the idea of an apricot fragrance and infused scrub and will be one I try out.

So, this is what Wingman say about the face scrub: 

‘Purifying cream scrub exfoliates dead skin cells, unclogs pores and removes impurities like oil and dirt. Ginseng helps stimulate and activate the skin, leaving it looking fresh and feeling smooth.

At Wingman we favour a no nonsense approach. We make awesome products that are easy to understand and do exactly what men need them to do.’

Thick in texture as soon as the scrub is released from the tube you can see the little flecks that will act as the abrasive when massaging into the face. I was surprised that it seems to lack a powerful fragrance instead opting for a subtle yet clean and fresh smell. In my opinion you can detect a touch of ginseng but there is nothing here that lingers on the skin longer than a few minutes after using it and rinsing your face.

As it’s massaged into the face you can feel the fine sand like particles brushing across the skin - not too abrasive but clearly (from the colour of the water) removing the dirt and oil that had built up on my face.

It spreads really easily and after rinsing off my face (with a beard most of the time) not only did my skin have that just scrubbed glow but it stayed, I was positively radiant all day when I caught glimpses of myself in the mirror. Now that’s good.

To the touch my skin felt smooth so step one gets a thumbs up from me.  

Sensitive Face Wash Aloe Vera + Vitamins - £3.00

So, this is what Wingman say about the face wash:

‘Foaming gel cleanses dirt and debris from sensitive, dry or easily irritated skin. With soothing Aloe Vera to help reinforce natural defences, skin will be nourished and refreshed.

At Wingman we favour a no nonsense approach. We make awesome products that are easy to understand and do exactly what men need them to do.’

Now this has a stronger fragrance, and boy you get a good old blast of strong Aloe Vera (which I love) as soon as you squeeze it into your palm. The fragrance only intensifies as soon as it comes into contact with warm water and lathers up surprisingly well considering the fluidity of the face wash. 

While the face scrub removed any grime and dirt I found the face wash to be really soothing, and leaving on my face for a good 30 seconds before rinsing resulted in a fantastic cooling sensation. Despite the cooling effect that radiant glow on my cheeks, nose and forehead remained. In the words of Mr Burns from The Simpsons……”excellent” (if you can, picture me tapping my fingertips together with a slightly manic grin….).

After rinsing my face again I was again surprised that the face wash had removed another layer of grime (or I missed a spot with the scrub - I’ll never know) and the water was slightly discoloured (ewwwwww).

After patting dry I have to say I got that feeling that face was truly clean - my pores felt unclogged and my skin not as tight. Did my face feel refreshed? Oh yeah…...

So all that is left for me to say about the face wash? Nice one (said in a deep Mancunian accent). 

Sensitive Moisturiser Aloe Vera + Vitamins - £5.99 for 100ml

So, this is what Wingman say about the moisturiser:

‘Hydrating gel with Aloe Vera helps soothe sensitive, dry or easily irritated skin. Actively supporting natural defences, it moisturises and mattifies with a non-greasy finish.

At Wingman we favour a no nonsense approach. We make awesome products that are easy to understand and do exactly what men need them to do.’

With a slightly more subtle Aloe Vera fragrance the moisturiser to me seemed a little too thick when I first dispensed it. The touch of concern that niggled for just seconds that it would take an age to be absorbed or from the feel of it that it, would leave my face greasy were thankfully unfounded. 

Absorption is quick, really quick in fact and it spreads across the face becoming clearer in colour. It soaked into my skin so quickly that I actually went back and applied a touch more. 

No signs of a greasy face, in fact my face just had a rather matte glow and I was impressed.

To the touch my face was soft and smooth - it certainly felt hydrated and for that I am truly grateful! 

So after using these as part of my day to day skincare regime I have to say I was impressed with the range. While I found that I had a bit of trouble when applying too much product containing ginseng this speaks more about my skin than the product.

When I consider the results and the fact that these products to me fall into the affordable to the masses category there is no reason for blokes out there to neglect their faces. They do what they say on the tin, the products aren’t tested on animals and they look manly enough that even the hardest of hard men wouldn’t be embarrassed about having these in the bathroom.

Most blokes at some stage of their lives have had a wingman (reference Men Behaving Badly circa 1992), as I grow older, this is the only wingman I need. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

As a post note, it is worth me pointing out as a final clincher that Wingman products are endorsed by Help for Heroes, the UK charity who give practical, direct support to wounded and injured men and women from the armed forces. Every time you buy a product Wingman make a donation to an incredibly worthwhile charity.

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