The men's grooming tips which will make sure you look and feel great. Learn what you need for the complete men's grooming routine, including skincare, hair, fragrance and guide on keeping yourself looking fresh.
I have not tried anything from LAB Series for quite some time, so when House Of Fraser said they wanted my thoughts on a couple of products I had to say yes. The two products in question were the Multi Action Face Wash and PR LS All In One Face Treatment.
LAB Series has a really easy system for their products; They’re labelled for the job which they do. These two carry the CLEAN and TREAT statements, which make it really easy for an guy to understand if you’re not too familiar with products, which can get overwhelming since there’s so many.
The face wash is really good, it’s fairly unscented and works well. You don’t need a whole lot of this for your face, so it should last a fair while. When I first used this I used too much, you will too, as you really only need a small amount for full face coverage.
It’s a scrub, and so exfoliates, cleanses and conditions the skin. For a scrub, I would usually only use this 3-4 times a week, I’ve always thought that a scrub type of wash shouldn’t be used everyday, however this is not too abrasive so could be fine for light daily use.
Next up is the PR LS All In One Face Treatment. This is like a daily moisturiser, however LAB Series say this is an all in one face treatment. It soothes, moisturises, repairs and mattifying for your skin.
This can be used daily, and should be used after shaving, since I already use an aftershave balm, I will use this well after I have used the aftershave balm, or possibly even miss shave days.
The Pro LS All-In-One Face Treatment costs £28 for a 100ml tube, with the face wash coming in a 100ml size too for £18.50.
This is a great product, and if you’re looking to try for your grooming routine, this is worth considering.
Thanks to House Of Fraser for sending over these products
Regular readers of my blog will know my love of Dermalogica products, so when they got in touch about their latest masque, I had to give it a try. Dermalogica were running a special masterclass in Fenwick with a face mapping skin analysis, sadly I could not make it down but they were happy to send over the brand new Charcoal Rescue Masque for me to try.
Since I shaved my beard off I have been using facial products more and more to get my skin back to being used to not having a beard, including scrubs and moisturiser. I always profess the use of an aftershave balm, it really helps a guys skin stay smooth and free from irritation.
Masques are something which I use less, but I have used them in the past with good results, so it was great to try this one from Dermalogica. Masques are used to detoxify and brighten the skin, and are good if your skin is looking or feeling a bit tired. They say it has Activated Binchotan Charcoal that powerfully absorbs impurities while Sulphur promotes cellturner for dramatically brighter skin.
I tried the masque which is really easy to use. You use apply it on your face, leave it for 7 – 10 minutes and then wash it off with warm hands. After 7 or 8 minutes you can really feel the masque on your skin, and once I removed it off it certainly does feel different, it feels more refreshed.
I have only used this once so far I cannot write about the long term looks of my skin yet, but it is definitely off to a good start. I’ll probably use this once or twice a week maximum, so I will update this post then. I’ll combine it with my Dermalogica face scrub which I have, as well as a moisturiser.
I really like Floris scents, and if you’re a regular reader of my blog you’ll know the love I have for Floris Santal, which is definitely one of my favourite fragrances which I currently own. If you aren’t familiar with Floris, they are a British perfume house, founded in 1730 in London and have a range of men’s and women’s perfumes, as well as scents for the home.
They also offer fragrance customisation, along with a bespoke perfume design service, where you can design your own scent from the ground up. So when my friends over at Floris told me about this fragrance, I had to check it out.
I recently got the GANT Pour Homme Eau De Toilette scent from GANT, and is the first scent I have had from the brand. The first thing you notice about this is the bottle, which is a very dark blue colour, with the glass having a thatched style of pattern throughout the bottle.
It has minimal GANT branding to the front of the bottle, with the top and atomiser being a smooth matte black colour.
Ralph Lauren have launched their latest fragrance for Spring/Summer 2016, Polo Blue. I have a few of the Ralph Lauren scents, and they are very pleasant. A while back I got a scent from the Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection, number 2, which was quite a sweet style of smell.
This brand new offering is Eau De Parfum rather than the usual Eau De Toilette which you’d be used to seeing, which means it’s a stronger formulation of a scent.
When you think of Ferrari the first colour which will come to mind is red. Ferrari is synonymous with red, and so their latest fragrance is appropriately named Man In Red. Ferrari say this fragrance is a bold and intense scent that celebrates all that is thrilling about Ferrari. It captures the very essence of masculinity and embodies a new type of man, one who lives intensely: A new scent for a new breed of man. So let’s see what it’s all about.
The bottle is fantastic. I really do love the bottle. It’s bold and makes a statement, with the matte red colour bottle being reminiscent of red Ferrari paintwork. The red is complimented with a silver band around the top, Ferrari branding on the front with the wording and infamous prancing horse, and the entire top is used as the atomiser with a nice wide spray.
The scent is very interesting and is not like anything I’ve experienced before. It’s quite sweet and fruity, but with a slightly crisp and fresh cut, which keeps the sweet notes from overpowering. You do get a real sense of the red apple when you first smell it, and it lives up to it’s name Man in red. It’s quite a versatile scent, so could work in the daytime as well as evening, although I’d probably prefer this in the day, and would work well in the Spring and Summer.
You can get this exclusively at House Of Fraser, with 50ml bottles costing £45 and 100ml bottles are £59.
Best season to wear – Spring/Summer Scent type – Fruity, Sweet, Fresh Age Recommendation – 18+ Best Worn – Daywear, Evening, Casual
Top Notes – Red Apple, Bergamot, Cardamom
Middle Notes – Lavandin, Golden plum, Orange blossom
The Bleu de Chanel eau de toilette has become a modern classic, and has been loved ever since it’s launch in 2010. I have featured it on the blog several times, it became a favourite of mine, as it did with many other guys, you can read my thought on the EDT here.
Chanel have now launched two other male grooming essentials to compliment the eau de toilette, shaving cream and aftershave gel. They kindly sent some over for me to try them out.
It’s another year which means some brand new fragrances here on Michael 84! 🙂 This week I am going to be talking about Michael Kors For Men, which I have recently got my hands on.
Here’s a brief look at some of the grooming and fragrances I got for Christmas just gone 🙂
In terms of fragrances I got Dior Sauvage, Molton Brown Tobacco Absolute and Michaek Kors For Men set with the body wash. I really like Rituals, and I bought (and reviewed here) the Samurai Cool Deo, and got a little box set with a few goodies inside, as well as a bigger shower foam. The Reiss smelly set contains a body wash and body spray. The No.7 is a hair and body wash along with a face scrub.
As always, I will review each scent in my men’s scent reviews, which will be on the blog in a few weeks 🙂
Christmas is rolling around again, and if there’s one thing which (almost) all men like, it’s a good scent. As you’ll know, I own a lot, in fact too many, and I’ve written about a great deal in my men’s scent reviews on the blog over the years, and still have plenty more to do. I’ve tried, tested and loved so many scents, with only a handful I’ve got to admit I was not much of a fan of. If you’re looking to get someone a scent this year, or just want recommendations for yourself and a new fragrance, here’s my little guide of what fragrances I’ll be recommending this year.
Creed Aventus
If you want to treat yourself or someone else and money is not something you’ll be thinking about too much, Creed Aventus is worth considering. It’s a strong EDP, and a masculine scent which is adored by both men and women. It’s a woody but sophisticated scent, and very inviting. Small 30ml bottles start at around £99, you can find it at high end perfume shops such as House of Fraser here.
Floris Santal
I cannot write a top fragrance guide without mentioning my favourite, Floris Santal. My journey with this scent started because I was looking for a Gucci Envy replacement, since it got discontinued. This is very similar, and as such it’s brilliant. It’s a floral style of scent, but still masculine, and works as a perfect all rounder. At £75 it’s one of the more expensive scents, but worth it. You can get it at Floris here.
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver
I describe this as an older gentlemen style of scent. Tom Ford Grey Vetiver is earthy, slightly powdery and really hits home in the way of sophistication. It’s for grown ups, gentlemen, and will have you smelling like nobody else. You can treat yourself to a 50ml bottle from Harrods, it will set you back £50.
Tom Ford Noir
To stay on the path of Tom Ford, I have to talk about Tom Ford Noir. Warm and inviting, it’s another quintessentially fragrance for the modern man. A great one for a night, if you’re planning on getting something before Christmas for a party of night out, try this one. Get it for around £57.
Dior Sauvage
I tried Dior Sauvage and love the way it smells. It’s another masculine style of scent, great for evenings. It smells really elegant, the woody notes are slightly toned down with a warmer spicy affair. It’s is a brand new scent for 2015, taking the name from Dior Eau Sauvage which was released way back in 1966.
Gruhme No.14
I reviewed Gruhme No.14 a few months back and was very impressed. It’s not your household name, but it is an independent British brand which makes quite an impact when you wear it. The number 14 indicates the concentration percentage, and once you wear it you’ll understand what it means. I tested it with two small sprays, and it lasted the entire day, and manages to achieve the longevity without overpowering. It’s a masculine style of smell, perfect for the Winter nights. You can find it direct at Gruhme, at £45 for 100ml.
Issey Miyake Pour Homme
If you’re looking for something manly but want something lighter, Issey Miyake Pour Homme has to be worth considering. It still oozes masculinity but in a fresher, more citrus style. It’s only £42 at Boots for a 75ml bottle, which should last a while, and you can make this your everyday scent.
Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani & BOSS Bottled
Two classic scents which are already favourites amongst men, Acqua Di Gio BOSS Bottled should be in your life, if they aren’t already. Both are fragrance staples which can be worn all year round both night and day, and are completely inoffensive. They are strong enough to be worn in all situations without overpowering, but will make a subtle impression when you’re wearing either of these. Sold in most shops, search for the best deal.
Verdict
Remember to shop around for the best deals. There’s so many people buying scents for others each Christmas, and many shops have fantastic deals on them. Christmas time brings out box sets, which can be the same price as a solo bottle so are well worth the buy, and you get it in a nice box too! 😛 Buying from Amazon is great, but make sure you read my guide on not buying fake fragrances online, you should always shop from authorised dealers to get a genuine product. Forget about a dog, a scent is a man’s best friend. If you’re getting one for someone else or yourself, make sure you have at least one of these in your repertoire.
