British Men's Grooming Blog & Male Skin Care Reviews

Thursday 11th April 2013

The Yorkshire Soap Company Orangery Scented Soap Slice

You might have caught my review of The Yorkshire Soap Company store in York last week? If not, you can check it out here, I think you'll love it. The Orangery Scented Soap Slice is one of the fabulous products I bought that day.

The Yorkshire Soap Company Orangery Scented Soap Slice 2 The Yorkshire Soap Company Orangery Scented Soap Slice

The Yorkshire Soap Company Orangery Scented Soap Slice 3 The Yorkshire Soap Company Orangery Scented Soap Slice

My favourite fragrance scent of all time is Orange Blossom, time and time again this fragrance makes me melt – this was no exception. The cleanest, freshest, sweetest and fruitiest orange blossom is what you're going to find here. There are also little pieces of orange rind embedded in the top of the slice. It's very solid and even though I've used it 3/4 times, it looks like I've hardly touched it. I'm tempted to cut it in half, leaving part in the shower and part by the side of the sink.

The soap lathers gently and doesn't leave your soap squeaking and dry. It's still a soap, don't get me wrong, but it seems softer whilst being an excellently effective, glycerin cleanser. Glycerin in case you're not familiar is a water based moisturiser, and is one of the most commonly used, water-based nourishing agents.

Unfortunately I can't find this product on their website, and believe me, I've really looked. You can call them on +44 1422 845 900 and I'm certain they'll be able to sort you out and this particular bar costs just £3. Alternatively, drop by to their stores in York or Hebden Bridge.

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#Body #The Yorkshire Soap Company

Monday 20th May 2013

Aveda Energising Composition

Definitely Aveda's all-in-one product. This is designed perfectly for body, hair and scalp for both massage and/or moisturisation. I'll be honest and say I'm relatively unfamiliar when it comes to cosmetic oils of any sort so this has definitely been a good introduction.

Aveda Energising Composition 21 Aveda Energising Composition

Aveda Energising Composition 31 Aveda Energising Composition

Simply massaging it into my hair and scalp 5-10 minutes before jumping in the shower. My hair isn't long but it's not short either, my fringe touches my nose so I apply this into scalp by parting my hair on either side and then down the middle, applying a generous amount of product direct from the bottle. Then get massaging in wonderful and relaxing circular motions being firm with the pressure. It's easily rinsed out with shampoo, add in your condition and after drying, my gosh, hair is silky smooth and scalp is left nourished, hydrated and totally flake free.

On the body, smooth a few drops into the skin just after hopping out the shower. It's completely non-greasy and your skin feels fantastic, better yet, you'll smell great!

The smell is incredible and exactly what you'd expect from an Aveda product; it's relaxing and very masculine. Aveda Energising Composition is composed of organic sunflower oil, organic green coffee seed oil, vitamin E and a blend of essential oils including lavender, ylang ylang and sweet orange. Sunflower oil is extremely nourishing but non-blocking; the coffee seed oil is high in caffeine, a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient to calm the skin; Vitamin E protects the skin and one of the best loved anti-oxidants and the blend of essential oils are both anti-inflammatory and conditioning.

My top tip is, as you begin to massage the product into the hair, scalp or body, put your hands together in front of your nose and take three deep breaths. You will be gobsmacked how immediately you relax!

I'd definitely recommend having this in your bathroom, you'll love it and it will get used frequently. Also, a bottle will last forever as a little seems to go a long, long way. You can pick it up for £20, here direct from Aveda, check it out.

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#Aveda #Body #Dryness #Hair

Monday 8th April 2013

Home made Jam Tarts

Okay, so not strictly beauty and grooming related but jam tarts are definitely an important part of well-being! An incredibly simple recipe, found here, of just butter, flour, water and jam with dangerously delicious consequences.

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#Home & Living

Monday 20th May 2013

Bioderma Micelle Solution Micellar Water

I'm rarely one for a beauty trends, although BB Creams are amazing, specifically the Korean Blemish Balms but Micellar Waters are all the rage and I have to admit, I'm on board. The biggest micellar water offering seems to be revolving around Bioderma, a French brand launching here in the UK this April.

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Bioderma Micellar 11 Bioderma Micelle Solution Micellar Water

From my research reading through a few journals and online, simply speaking, micelles in cosmetics composed of surfactants (cleansing agents) that form together when they are added in the correct quantity and manner to a base (in this case water) bonding and forming crystals. In this composition, cleansing agents become more effective but less destructive, leading to the miraculous but completely neutral properties of micellar water solutions.

Bioderma has a few offerings on the micellar front but it's particularly the sensitive micellar solution, Sensibio, that seems to be outstanding success. With micellar technology and cucumber extracts, you feel nothing, it smells of nothing, it looks like nothing, nothing other than just plain old water yet the effects are unbelievable. The amazing demonstration I was shown was to draw on the back of your hand with a ball point pen, apply a few drops of the solution to a cotton pad and gently wipe – voila, pen removed! Removed without the smell of alcohol, without causing tightness or dryness or without any detrimental effects whatsoever.

The water in the anti-acne range, Sébium, contains Ginkgo leaf extract a reported anti-acne ingredient. It's calming, cleansing and delicate enough to help treat the most sensitive and damaged skins whilst again being non-drying.

These little waters, remove impurities, dirt, makeup, sweat and general gunk in the most effective and gentlest way I've encountered to day. Just apply to cotton pads and wipe across the whole face. This makes an excellent alternative to facial wipes and are perfect for a morning, midday or evening cleanse! You'll soon be able to pick up Bioderma products up from ~~Boots~~ leading retailers within the next few weeks according to my sources.

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#Acne #Bioderma #Dryness #Sensitivity #Toner #Wash / Cleanser

Sunday 7th April 2013

Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa Candle

I loved my Lost in El Salvador candle that featured in the Manface Christmas Gift Guide last year but unfortunately, it's all burnt down. Luckily I was kindly given the Mombasa Candle from the Amber Collection which is just as beautiful, if not more so.

Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa 1 Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa Candle

Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa 2 Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa Candle

Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa 5 Jonathan Ward Amber Collection Mombasa Candle

“Inspired by Lady Idina Sackville’s time in Africa, this scent is an aristocratic aroma with the primitive background of Kenya’s scorching plains. Mombasa Club 1932 is one of the richest aromas in the Collection.” The candle is simply delicious and fills the living room with a delicious fruity bouquet.

The Mombasa Candle is a paraffin-free soy and beeswax, hand-poured into a hand-blown, Italian, crystal glass. The notes are to die for with a delicate blend of Ginger, Anise and Cassis are teamed with Amber, Patchouli and Clove. The fruits are curbed by the florals which leads to this being a full and multi-dimensional fragrance, with the most prominent notes seeming to be the beautiful, blackcurrant cassis and an almost soapy patchouli.

You'll get around 30 hours burn time from the medium candle and 45 from the larger. It's the medium candle I've been burning and the throw seems to be wide enough to fill our large living room but weirdly the scent seems to stop at the door. I've been burning it through the day whilst we've been experiencing some nicer weather; throwing a few windows open, letting in some sun and accompanying it with my Mombasa candle.

If this sounds tempting, you can pick Jonathan Ward's candles up direct from his website, here’s the link. The medium candle, with double wick, retails at £21 and the larger candle at £32. I think they're terrifically priced and deliver great value for money!

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#Home & Living #Jonathan Ward

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