CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
/

Show off that Dazzling white Smile – Professional Teeth Whitening

IMG_2073Internationally, Brits as a nation don’t have a great reputation when it comes to the general state of their dental prowess, otherwise known as their teeth, choppers, gnashers, pearly whites or not so white as the case may be and – this is often associated more with British men than women, think Austin Powers or any American spoof where British People are being represented from the Simpsons to Sesame Street.

Good dental hygiene and equally white teeth can of the utmost importance in many lines of work, particularly when it involves meeting people. Some people also think having straight teeth is very important visit Dr. Lorne Kamelchuk Orthodontics to help improve your smile. In fact, did you know that one fifth of us (18%) in Britain tend to conceal our teeth in photos? And did you know as a result, over 100,000 Brits a year look into teeth whitening? Although it sounds simple, and at home teeth whitening kits and toothpastes are readily available, the subject of teeth whitening should be approached with safety, and excellent results in mind.

Not only is white teeth important but the value of going in for a professional, GDC(General Dental Council) registered, laser teeth whitening treatment versus at home kits or whitening kiosks or whitening toothpastes. Fundamentally, because all of their treatments are only delivered by GDC registered members and dentists, and ensure safety and efficacy. If your are whitening your teeth but the are not as straight as you want them to be then getting Invisalign from a Newington dentist can help you get the smile you want.

IMG_2070One such clinic which offers this service and is based in the prestigious and world renown, Harley Street, for aesthetics, The Harley Street White Smiles Clinic who pride themselves on a first-class experience in teeth whitening.

They specialise in Laser Teeth Whitening Treatment that offers comfort and safety, in a one-time treatment to minimize any sensitivity. Their procedures are only carried out by GDC registered members who have the expertise and knowledge to best advise and access each patient’s needs and concerns.

Their team utilises the most advanced technology and materials to whiten your teeth safely, quickly, and with maximum results. They are confident that your teeth will not only get whiter faster, but also stay whiter longer with their effective system.

They ensure the following to all their patients:

–          Comfort & safety in a one- time visit & treatment  

  • The guarantee of teeth being at least 5 shades lighter (as measured on the Vita Shade Whitening Chart)
  • Complimentary follow up appointment to be scheduled should your first treatment does not result in this level of whiteningIMG_2071
/

New Year New You, WHATEVER ! – Detox your skin

With the overindulgence of Christmas long behind us, has jog on January passed us by and the gym membership is already gathering dust ? After all the over doing it of eating, drinking, changeable weather, late nights and stress of the Seasonal period, it can REALLY take its toll on your skin.

We’ve search the length and breath of the market to find the best products to give the stuff that keeps you all in there, Skin, a well earned detox for the start of 2013, don’t worry it doesn’t involve wiping oneself with the branch of a birch tree or drinking only hot water and the occasional concoction from some quake. No this is the best products for breathing life back into you face and giving you a more healthy colour.

Firstly, we sort the advice of a medical practitioner , Naturopathic Doctor Nigma Talib, who advised us;

“Your body eliminates about 1/3 of bacteria, viruses, and toxins through the skin. The body removes toxins through the pores to the surface of the skin. These toxins clog the pores, cause breakouts, irritation and inflammation to the skin. This in turn accelerates your skin’s ageing process as your skin is no longer making healthy cells, but instead fighting off “foreign invaders” in order to protect the skin. In order to keep skin and hair healthy and detoxified on the outside, you must eat foods packed with vitamins and minerals, particularly foods rich in Vitamin A, C, B, Zinc and essential fatty acids. Obviously drinking plenty of water is key too and I suggest using the following treatment” – 

Screen Shot 2013-01-16 at 13.49.05The Clarifying Clay Masque, by Skin Ceuticals, is a wonder product at getting rid of dead skin cells, lifting impurities from the skin’s surface and deep cleansing the pores. Formulated with the highest quality natural earth clays; Kaolin and Bentonite, with extracts of aloe and chamomile, it helps to purify, clarify and refine skin.

Screen Shot 2013-01-16 at 14.23.44Weleda Birch Juice works to eliminate the toxins out of the body, accumulated over the indulgent seasonal period. Helping to kick start a detox programme, with a recommended as a 3-6 week course, a tablespoon of juice should be diluted into a large bottle of water and drank throughout the day to cleanse the system. Drinking the organic juice on a daily basis will boost lack lustre skin and restore vitality, ensuring a clear and bright complexion.

ClarinsMen Super Moisture Gel, offers a light gel which gives an almost instant energising boost to tired, stressed looking skin. As soon as it’s applied, skin appears fresher, healthier, firmer, even rested. It works with all skin types as a pick-me- up after a late night or heavy week at work. An active ingredient is wintergreen plant extract which removes dead surface cells which make skin look dull and grey. Marie Mckeever, Clarins Head of Treatment Development, believes –

“Over the festive period, late nights and an excess amount of alcohol will cause skin to become dehydrated, making it look dull and lacking in vitality.  Start the New Year by drinking plenty of water and stick to a time efficient skin care routine- it takes less than a minute per day and will keep those dehydration lines at bay in 2025”

 

Pure Athlete Detox Bath Salts (Soak) combines 15 pure essential oils and mineral rich salts sourced from the foothills of the Himalayas and the Dead Sea( Ohh it must be good then). This special blend is designed to draw out toxins, which may have accumulated as a result of training and competing, or overdoing it during Christmas even, which cleansing the body, soothing the soul and rejuvenating the skin.

Lastly to give our bodies a kick start and return them to the temples they normally are, a good course of multivitamins are essential. Centrum have tailored a course of multivitamins and minerals to the needs of the male gender. Specific levels of B vitamins and Iron in Centrum Men help to support much needed daily energy metabolism and heart health. Vitamin D and Calcium contribute to normal muscle function and antioxidants like vitamin C and E protect against physical stress, helping men to stay healthy and take on whatever the days bring.

/

I want an After shave with a bit of Heritage?

The Phenomenon that was Hai Karate, otherwise known as “the Lady Killer”. Please, feel free to insert your own joke here.

Splash it all over, you Brut !

When I say heritage, I don’t mean smelling like an old person, nor do I mean the overpowering pong of Hai Karate or Brut, nothing could be further away from the truth. When I talk about heritage I mean a fragrance that has a history stretching back over 200 years.

Increasingly guys want to smell a little different, hence the explosion in the shear number of mens fragrances on the market today. Men don’t want to walk into a bar and be overpowered by the woft of Joop. Plus a great opener, when wanting to chat someone up is always, “Mmmmm you smell great, what are you wearing?”  And let’s be honest we want ladies to reciprocate this. So what better way to induce this reaction then to wear a fragrance that you can be sure not every Tom, Dick or Harry will be wearing.

Two such fragrances are 4711 & Green Irish Tweed by Creed. 4711, pronounced “forty-seven eleven”, is one of the oldest recognised cologne brands. Often referred to as aqua mirabilis or “miracle water” the exact formula is still a secret today, which dates back to the Cathusian monks of the 17th Century. The Unisex fragrance’s ingredients include Lavender and Rosemary for a calming effect to steady the nerves and Neroli, extracted from bitter orange blossom to guarantee a positive attitude, which, hey lets face it, we all need right now.

Then we have Creed, founded by James Henry Creed in 1760. The House of Creed soon drew the attention of Royalty throughout Europe, even a certain Queen Victoria appointed Creed as the official supplier to the Royal household. Still today Olivier Creed, oversees the House of Creed as President and insists on using natural ingredients rather then synthetic ones. My personal favourite from over 200 scents they have produced over the years is Green Irish Tweed. A blend of floral and woody ingredients that infuses, Violet leaves, Florentine Iris, Sandalwood & Ambergris to create this unique, fresh, masculine and natural aroma which cited Carrie Grant, Robbie Williams & Prince Charles as fans.

4711 is available from good independent pharmacies & branches of Boots Nationwide. Priced at £16.95 for 100ml. (See image below)

Green Irish Tweed by Creed is available from Harrods, Libertys, Harvey Nichols & Selfridges and is £135 for 75ml. creedfragrances.co.uk (See image below)

4711

Green Irish Tweed by Creed

/

Cut throat – Bluebeards Revenge

WORDS BY AMANDA LEWIS

 

For many men around the world shaving is their biggest daily chore and a new survey released today has revealed that the average British man will spend a whopping 45 days of his life shaving.

To help men shave less, British grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge has developed a shaving range that contains the miracle ingredient Decelerine – which is scientifically proven to actually slow down the growth of hair as well as reduce the density of hair growth.

Tests have shown that Decelerine can reduce the growth of hair by up to 40%, meaning a man can get on with what he does best – manliness – without sporting a 5 o’clock shadow by lunchtime. “Let’s face it, the majority of men find shaving a chore. That’s why we have produced a shaving product that actually helps a man shave less. We estimate that by using our new product on a regular basis a man can save himself up to 18 days of shaving”

The Shaving Solution lotion combats razor rash and reduces in growing hairs.

The Cooling Moisturiser with Prickly Pear, Jojoba, Stinging Nettle and Fenugreek – yes that’s right are we are assured designed to moisturise, soothe and invigorate freshly shaved skin without stinging.

 

/

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr-reat – Bulldog Grooming range

The guys behind the Bulldog grooming range like to boast, quite naturally, excuse the pun, that it’s the UK’s first and largest natural skincare brand for men. Launched, way back in 2006, out of a frustration that there were no options available for switched-on men who wanted to reduce the number of man-made chemicals in their bathrooms. Initially Simon and Rhodri got Bulldog off the ground by combining their life savings and maxing out credit cards to scrape together just under £37,000. Today the range is listed in over 7,500 stores worldwide and successfully competes and sits with leading brands on those shelves.

All Bulldog products are body friendly and don’t contain controversial man-made chemicals such as parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, artificial colours, or synthetic fragrances. Instead, Bulldog products are loaded with essential oils and other natural ingredients to deliver great skincare results. The products are not tested on animals and never contain ingredients derived from animal sources.

We asked Simon for some of his top inside grooming tips –

1) Moisture, always use a quality moisturisers that won’t overload the skin or leave an oily residue at least once a day. The award-winning Bulldog Original Moisturiser offers top quality and performance at a great price.

2) Avoid soap – regular soap will always leave your skin feeling over-dry, tight and uncomfortable. Conventional soap often contains strong fragrances and foaming agents that can irritate sensitive skin. Bulldog Original Face Wash is a brilliant facial cleanser that avoids such nasty chemicals.

3) Different Strokes – men’s skin is very different from women’s,so it’s very important that they use products that have been designed specifically for them. For a kick off, men have much oiler skin then women’s and this makes it much more prone to shininess, enlarged pores, acne and other skin imperfections. In addition, men’s skin is more acidic (with an average pH of 4.5) which means it can react very differently to products than women’s skin will. Therefore, it’s important that you buy your own products that have specially formulated for men by a proper male brand, rather than think you can borrow hers in the bathroom !