It’s time to finally grow up and to become a ‘Big Boy’ as Sicilian grooming & skin care brand BIG BOY finally lands in the UK.

Drawing inspiration from its Sicilian origins and craftsmanship, BIG BOY artisan products combine rich, natural ingredients like Sicilian olive, almond oil and beeswax to create superior skin and hair care products that work in harmony with the natural elements of male skin.

BIG BOY’s range of luxurious products will help to hydrate, soften, moisturise and restore the skin’s healthy balance, whilst keeping unruly locks and bristles tamed and styled.

Designed to reflect and enhance the attributes of its customers, BIG BOY blends quality ingredients and advanced technology to create unique grooming products for the modern day man of today.

Key products within the range include the Soothing Drops, which are lightweight emulsion enriched with Sweet Almond and Argan Oil, that will glide over the skin and hair to deeply hydrate and care for dry, rough and irritated skin and the Beard Balm, a non-greasy, easy to apply formula which contains natural Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil to style and groom your beard, lasting up to six hours.

Jamie Stevens is no stranger to Clothes-Make-the-Man having in the past offered us advice on the latest hairstyles for that coming season and neither is he any stranger to being on our TV Screens, being a regular fixture on This Morning and the resident stylist for X Factor for four years. He is three-time winner of Men’s hairdresser of the year (and is exempt from winning the prize again) and in 2015 was entered into the British Hairdressing Awards hall of fame. He is the youngest ever nominee for Hairdresser of the Year, an award he has been nominated for four times.

His latest venture sees him launching an innovative new men’s haircare system, called MR designed to combat the challenges associated with hair thinning, whilst also being perfectly suitable for all men to keep hair strong and healthy. Three years in development, Stevens worked with some of the leading  scientists to develop MR. drawing on the most advanced science and industry innovations, to deliver targeted solutions.

As people age hair begins to thin – an inescapable fact, I’m afraid – which is a result of the active growth cycle slowing down so lost hairs are not replaced as quickly. However, this common complaint is still seen as a largely taboo subject despite findings from research showing the fact that 56% of young men (aged 18-24 years old) and 33% of ALL men have concerns and anxieties over it and, until now, there has been very little on the market to actively and effectively target this problem.

MR. is divided into three categories, Disguise, Thicken and Style, the line-up is a clearly defined range of 12 products, all containing a unique active complex designed specifically for this collection – System- PPXTM – proven to help promote thicker, hydrated and stronger hair.

Disguise contains two hero products, the MR. Hair Fibres and MR. Disguise Spray, both of which are designed to subtly, but effectively, mask areas of hair loss. The Spray adds colour to the scalp, to disguise thinning and receding areas and the Hair Fibres attach to existing hair, to make it look fuller and thicker. Results are truly unprecedented. The Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment within the Thicken category all create healthy strong, thick hair and the seven Style products incorporate formulas to help support the strength and structure of the hair.

Today we launch a new category to our Grooming section, that being our Washbag Wishlist, this will be where we ask leading figures in the grooming industry what is their must have, essential, can’t live without product. Yes, if stranded on a Desert island what one product would be on your Wishlist.

So to get the ball rolling we are starting with yours truly, yes who better, I hear you cry, or not as the case may be. I have to be honest, restricting me to selecting one product is sooooooo difficult and bordering on impossible but the product I have selected for today’s post, should be in every man’s bathroom cabinet. So the product in question, as you may have already guessed by the title of the post is, Clinique for Men’s Post-Shave Soother.

Now this is a product, I have been using for more years than I care to remember, to the point that I can’t even remember how I came across this Miracle product, but it was certainly before my Fashion years. I call it a miracle product and I don’t use that term lightly, but Miracle it very much is. The reason being, five years ago I was asked by a grooming company, who’s name shall remain secret, to protect the innocent,  if I’d like to experience a traditional wet shave. Now, having never had a wet shave, I thought sod it, I should do this. So off I went for this EXPERIENCE.

OK, so the traditional delights of a wet shave and sure enough it was a very close shave, but maybe in more ways than one. Because as I left the establishment, my face started to itch, to the point that by the time I have arrived home the beard line of my aforementioned face and neck was a mass of aggravated hives. So much so the long suffering Mrs Mc asked, “What did he use to shave you, a broken glass bottle ?” The only thing that managed to calm my skin down and return to its natural Celtic pale tone, was Clinique’s Post Shave Soother, with an almost immediate effect.

So what exactly is Clinque’s Post Shave Soother and what does it do. Well, it relieves shaving irritation, leaving behind nothing more than a soothing, cool, tingly feeling and improved skin texture. Aloe is an active ingredient in it to soothe razor burn, relieve dryness, the appearance of redness and helps skin repair minor nicks and cuts. It’s nothing short of a breakthrough post-shave formula containing a combination of licorice and plant extracts that leave facial hair looking finer and softer. With continued use, shaving will be quicker and more comfortable as razor burn caused by daily friction is reduced. Additional ingredients provide exfoliation and anti-irritating benefits virtually eliminating bumps and ingrown hairs, as well as helping to encourage the healing of minor nicks and cuts. Plus it’s appropriate for all skin types.

As we know Acqua di Parma has long been a key player on the luxury market, in fact it celebrates it’s centenary year this very year. The brand was established a century ago with the classic COLONIA, an authentic and iconic fragrance that has inspired the Acqua di Parma world and its core values based on the best of the Italian lifestyle. Over the years the brand has expanded its product range, introducing new colonias, Collezione Barbiere (shaving products and accessories), Le Nobili (feminine fragrances inspired by the flowers of Italian gardens), Home Fragrance (scented candles and room sprays for the home) and the Blu Mediterraneo and Blu Mediterraneo Italian Resort ranges (fragrances and cosmetics inspired by the most natural and exclusive locations on the Italian Mediterranean).

The Brand has always been closely bound with the Italian Mediterranean region, with its beauitful and rolling vistas and encompassing all aspects of its intense nature. A microcosm of vegetation endowed with exceptional sensory and therapeutic powers. And it is to this place, the only one in the world in terms of the variety and richness of its botanical ingredients, that Acqua di Parma has turned in order to create Italian Resort, the new global age- defying line for thorough and deep revitalisation of your skin.

Plant species that grow in the adverse climatic conditions of the Italian Mediterranean region have, in fact, developed exceptional resources for survival, and among them the Sicilian Maritime Pine is one of the hardiest and most long-lived. The secret of its vigour lies in the richness of the active ingredients contained in its bark. After 15 years of research, Acqua di Parma has succeeded in encapsulating the infinite revitalising power of Maritime Pine within its Mediterranean Re-Activating Complex, a precious elixir contained in every product in the Italian Resort range.

The Italian Resort range now includes six new face formulations which make the most of the advanced technology of the Mediterranean Re-Activating Complex to create an even richer and more complete  routine. Face Restoring Mask, an intensive treatment to set aside for your skin twice a week to activate cell renewal and obtain a deep, lasting, age-defying effect. Face and Eye Cleansing Oil and Face Cleansing Mousse to cleanse the skin gently. Purifying Facial Toner and Moisturizing Face Lotion to purify and nourish it, and UV Face Protection SPF 50 PA+++ to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge has teamed up with the British Barbers’ Association to put together a round-up of the biggest facial hair trends for 2016, and surprisingly, this time its no longer ALL about the beard.

It seems that claiming ‘Peak Beard’ had been reached back in 2014 may have been a little hasty, with stylish facial fuzz continuing to dominate in the men’s style stakes throughout 2015 – but with the new year now in full swing, it may be time to reconsider your current look. Whether you rock the full beard with pride or have – incredibly -yet to experiment with the unshaven look at all.

Moustache

First up, Movember may be long gone, but the mighty moustache is here to stay. Anyone who has actively shunned the beard in recent years will be pleased to learn that there is a new alternative, while those already sporting a proud facial mop can add an upper lip accent for a fresh new look to coincide with the new year.

To get one, patience is key – allow it to grow for a good few months, and avoid trimming above the lip until you are satisfied with the length. While you are waiting, be sure to comb through regularly, training the hairs outwards either side of your philtrum. Style with a little bit of moustache wax, twisting upwards and outwards, and you’re good to go.

Sideburns

Mutton chops, side slugs – whatever you call them, sideburns are due a moment in 2016, and while you may have assumed that this was a look left firmly in the past, like most trends, it has come full circle. Very much a part of the full-bearded trend, this time, the lambchop is going solo, so if you’re all about making a statement then it may be time to take a razor to the rest of it and say goodbye to the hair on your chin. Championed by the likes of Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and – more recently – Bradley Wiggins, sideburns are set to be huge – although never quite as huge as those infamously sported by the legend, George Best.

Stubble

Not all men are blessed in the facial hair department, and those who have spent the past three years trying desperately to reach full-bearded status will be relieved to hear that designer stubble is tipped for big things in 2016. Not only is it the perfect choice for the follicly challenged, but it’s also a great option for those who frankly can’t be bothered with the daily shave.

That said, some maintenance will be required. Allow hairs to grow until itchy, then follow the natural lines created by your features to create your perfect shape, wet shaving any areas that do not fit the template with a good quality razor and creating clean lines along the edges. If you already have a particularly chiselled face then you might prefer to fade or taper your stubble rather than creating a defined outline, as this will make for a slightly softer look.

The tight beard

Keen to keep up with the beard trend but need to stay neat and tidy for work? Then the tight beard is set to be your best friend for 2016. This style keeps the keeps the facial hair trimmed short for a well-groomed look. That is well within the bounds of facial symmetry. Set your trimmer to a setting of 2-3 millimetre, and trim evenly all over, then wet shave the surrounding areas, creating sharp, well-defined edges as you go.

A shorter take on the long beard shape

Long beards aren’t for everyone, and if not well cared for they can look downright scraggy. To bring the trend up to date, try a shorter take on the style.

This version of the beard follows the shape of the face, with sharp, groomed lines which contrast with the slightly more unpredictable growth below. The bottom of the beard should line up a couple of inches below the chin, while the hair beneath the chin and towards the neck should be left in place to add to the overall fullness.