BEARDS: OSMO Beard Complex

What do you call a beauty blogger with Osmo Beard Complex? Clean Shaven......bad dum tsh

Poor jokes aside, shortly after agreeing to try out loads of beard products I had an accident trimming my beard and the whole thing had to come off! That left me with a huge box full of products designed for the bearded bloke with not a hint of a whisker in sight. Fear not though, it's been fun seeing what works well, and at what stage of growing in the months I've been working on my beard strength.

This is what they say about Beard Complex over at the Osmo website here:

'An intense gentleman's conditioning oil designed to restore wayward beards, skin and hair to their manly prime. Infused with Argan Oil and rich in vitamins A & E.'

If you want to pick up a 100ml bottle of Beard Complex you can do for just £16.02 (weird price) here.

Application is a well, how can I put this - fiddly. This comes with a pipette rather than just allowing you to pour it out. While this should mean that you can get the right amount of oil out to the precise drop, the oil itself is much thicker than you would expect, which means squeezing the top of the pipette doesn't actually release it all and I find that I end up smearing it onto my palm. It was a messy process for a good few days until I mastered it.

The thickness doesn't detract from the ability of the oil to be absorbed - I'd expected this to sit on top of the hair, rubbing off onto my hairs as I stroked my beard throughout the day. I was wrong. Despite my beard receiving lots of loving care over the last few months I found that the oil was absorbed in just seconds with just a touch of slickness that allowed me to brush down the hair and style it from unkempt to groomed.

After just a few days of using the softness of my beard was more evident, and first thing in the morning the other half agrees that my beard feels and looks soft and smooth. Result.

Taking the applying bit to one side, I found this to be a cracking little product - at under £20 for a 100 ml and considering how little is needed this represents excellent value for money. I haven't tried it on my dry skin or hair, but when it comes to beard grooming this does have a really good softening effect on my beard, and when using it a night I no longer awaken with that dry, scratchy feeling. Cumulatively, after a week of using this at night my beard did feel more conditioned to the touch, smoother and the ends were less prickly. 

Now, as I first wrote this post I looked over at the product claims on the Osmo website - it claims that this product can help bring back colours that have faded in tattoos. Now I have one or two, and decided to try this out over a couple of days prior to posting to see what happened. I rubbed a tiny amount over my half sleeve and almost immediately the tattoo seemed darker. I put this down to the moisture from the oil, but after an hour it had dried, and yes, it was still a richer, darker grey. After showering and drying again it remained more vibrant in colour than before. After three days it has probably restored 60 per cent of the previous colour - much easier, cheaper and less painful than a re-colour from the ink artist.

Good stuff that won't break the bank. As for me, my current beard strength levels? Not country strong, internationally strong

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BEARDS: Swagger & Jacks

You would need a good memory with a stalker like attention to detail to know that Swagger & Jacks Premium Beard Oil was my first foray into beardcare or beard grooming of any kind. My beard routine previously was simply a case of let it grow, the hair got itchy and scratchy and the razor came out within weeks. You can see what I thought of their Premium Beard Oil here (it's an old one from March 2015). The focus today is going to be on Swagger & Jacks and the amazing gift sets to keep your beard looking and feeling country strong.   

Who are Swagger & Jacks? Well, it's a men's barbershop in Norwich. I haven't been, but a casual glance at their Instagram page here and you can see that they have a bunch of talented professionals (with cracking beards) who can groom you to and beyond perfection. When they say that their products are formulated and created with a dedication and commitment to quality you can take their word, and mine that they are spot on.

I have been lucky enough to have tried two of their gift sets, both of which have been used for the last four months - from the moment I shaved to now, with a beard that can best be described as Viking-esque. 

The Swagger & Jacks Premium Beardcare Gift Box Set costs £45 and you can pick it up from their online store here. But what do you get for your money? Here goes.....

• 30 ml Premium Beard Oil
• Argan Oil Beard Shampoo
• 50 ml Beard Balm

You can check back to my previous post to read the praise heaped on the premium beard oil, but for me, the by far and away the revelation product has been the beard shampoo. It has a light, subtle lavender and oak moss fragrance that explodes as soon as you start to massage the soapy liquid into your beard. Just a tiny little pea sized amount in the palms and boom you have a lather party happening right there on your face. The thicker consistency of the shampoo melts away as soon as it comes into contact with a damp beard and working it through the hair is a dream - you can feel the Argan oil being absorbed into the skin which leaves my face, and beard feeling on top of the world. 

The hair feels and looks hydrated, it has a much glossier shine to it and best of all, the skin under and around the beard is softer to the touch. Top notch beard product from the S & J team that deserves every bit of kudos being thrown their way.

The beard balm is a touch fiddly - that is down to my inexperience of using and applying a solid beard balm rather than the product itself.

It took me a while to master how to get an even amount spread through my beard but once I'd got a grip on it I found that not only does it smell amazing, the jojoba is divine, it does provide a decent hold to keep the hairs in place all day long. After a couple of minutes and a bit of brushing the long bristles are tamed, providing a touch of respectability to my face.

Second up is the Swagger & Jacks Beard Grooming Collection Gift Set which sells for £65 here. 

In this gift set you are spoilt for beard oils choice with four different blends. They are:

• 30 ml Ultimate Beard Oil
• 30 ml Premium Beard Oil
• 30 ml Heritage Beard Oil
• 30 ml Classic Beard Oil

Each oil has a solid woody fragrance base that blends beautifully with the beard shampoo. My favourite has to be the classic beard oil, it has a lighter fragrance but in terms of results they all deliver in spades. After warming some of the oil in my palm I find it a dream to smooth and massage into my beard - it's absorbed in super quick time and leaves just a hint of the oil on the surface. This residue oil provides a wet look shine and makes styling/brushing childs play. 

Leaving the best, most positive thing to say about their oils until last - I can, hand on heart say that my beard grows much faster when using oils from Swagger & Jacks - it comes through faster, it's much thicker and feels healthier. What's not to like?

Both of these gift sets would be perfect for the bearded man in your life, and as if these aren't enough, there are loads of others to choose from at the Swagger & Jacks website with everything from beard oil to shaving kits available. Speaking from experience you really cannot go wrong with Swagger & Jacks, the products come looking like they have just being hand delivered from a luxury boutique, the deliver exactly what each product promises and in the case of the beard oils, everything about them oozes masculinity while banishing that growth itch from the face.

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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.

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.

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.  

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.

It 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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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!

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.

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.

The 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.

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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?

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.

Blue Impeccable Cotton Dress Shirt with Houndstooth Motif - £250

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.

Gun Metal Gray Cufflinks with Raised Motif £150

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

Dark Blue Pure Silk Tie £110

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.

Black Pure Cashmere Coat - £2150

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.

Cognac Leather Double Strap Shoes - £300

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.

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What do you think to my choices?

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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? 

 So, what was in the box this month? Well, these babies.....

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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