CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN
The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
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Slip, Slap, Slop – The importance of Sun Creams, tried & tested

We men and I do mean to generalise here are pretty damn awful when it comes to safe tanning, laying in the sun and most importantly putting on suncream and when we do, that it’s a high enough SPF (Sun Protection Factor). Now as a result of this and without sounding like some Harbinger, I know where my strength lie and talking about suncream, the importance of it and what to do with it, is not one of them. I’m the person who has burnt in an outdoor meeting in LA at 7am in the morning, I’ve burnt in April in Galway and I’ve had local residents in Greece laugh at how I would burn if I didn’t get out of the sun at 10am. Due to this fact, I’ve called upon the services of the very capable, knowledgable and general good egg, Mrs Mc to help me on today’s post and so we carried out a comprehensive and concise tried and testing on the nation’s best suncream brands and their products, which covered the entire price spectrum. Over to you my lil ray of sunshine ;

Now the weathers hottin’ up and the summer holidays are officially here, you may want to chuck out the out of date sun cream and invest in some derma protection for face and body. As always Clothes-make-the-man have done the hard work and tried and tested a range of products on your behalf, so you enjoy the sun and avoid looking like our friend to the left.

We tried out these creams in 40 degree blazing sun and focused on protection, ease of application, appearance, price and smell.

 

For the body BODY

Piz Buin -Tan and protect

Tan accelerating spray

SPF 30

 

Piz Buin -Tan and protect

Tan intensifying sun spray

SPF 30

 

Both these products performed well overall as they go on easily and gave a good gleam to skin, were reasonably waterproof, smelt good and protected well. In 40 degree heat probably needed factor 50…..and to remember to reapply after swimming! Don’t be like my husband.

 

NIVEA SUN

Moisturising Sun spray 50+

 

NIVEA SUN

Pure and sensitive sun lotion SPF 50

 

Again these are strong scoring products, well priced and easy to apply though the sensitive took a while to “disappear” always best to apply when inside your apartment, fresh from a shower to avoid white streaky bits, sand sticking and missing bits…

 

 

SOLTAN

(Boots own brand)

Invisible, Dry touch transparent sun care spray SPF 50

 

This worked well, very reasonably priced and easy to apply and stayed on well after swimming. Good all round option

 

Clarins

Sun care Milk lotion spray 50+

 

Clarins have produced a protective sun care range for both body and face. We trialled this milk lotion , one of 8 sun products for the body that deliver deep down UV protection and offered efficient sun protection.

 

Garnier – Ambre Solaire

Clear protect + SPF 50

 This product is clear, so leaves no white marks, and is in a spray so easier to apply to those harder to reach areas. Pleasant in smell and well priced is a good all round option.

 

FACE

Clarins

Sun wrinkle control cream for face 50+

Our personal favourite product for the face, this cream offered great protection, didn’t sting if  it went in yours eyes and kept face moisturised in very hot/dry conditions. Smelt fantastic and reminded you of holidays straight away. A tad pricy but a little went a long way and it is for your face…

 

SOLAIT

(Superdrug own brand)

Mattifying face Sun Fluid SPF 50

This scored well and compared well with the more expensive products, its mattifying fromula meant less shiny face, and though slightly tinted (don’t be scared) it looked very natural on, one the girlfriend will be pinching.

 

SkinCeuticals

Brightening UV Defense. SPF 30

 

This is serious stuff! It offered as good protection as the 50SPF and is loaded with all sorts of botanicals to ensure it’s an effective moisturising sunscreen that evens out skin tone. It’s also the most expensive product tested but worth it for those of you who want to seriously protect your face whilst indulging in some sun worship and why wouldn’t you …

 

Useful link to Cancer Research UK being safe in the sun!

http://www.sunsmart.org.uk/advice-and-prevention/shade/

 

 

 

 

 
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Get your prep on – Grooming

Eau de Prep Tommy is the new Fragrance from the All American Fashion House which promises a cheeky twist on the Classic preppy feel. What that all important twist is, is a mix of Egyptian geranium, wet greens (answers on a postcard as to what “wet greens” are please), a splash of tonic, white pepper, lavender absolute, and juniper berry. And finally, rich amber, georgywood, oak moss, and white suede reflect his comfortable yet familiar style.

But the man who wears Eau de Prep isn’t your normal run of the mill Prepster, this is a modern take on the classic American dream, he’s had somewhat of a makeover. While his wardrobe is still based on a foundation of smart separates, new silhouettes and details have emerged. Trousers may still be khaki, but are now slim-fit or slouchy. The classic colour cornerstones of navy and red have been updated to airforce blue and burgundy but the classic boat shoes and polo shirts still remain but are worn in a more contemporary manner. This is a man who doesn’t take life as serious as his forefathers but has a sporty, ready-for-anything, spontaneity.

If you feel you are that man and you fit that bill, Eau de Prep Tommy and his female counterpart Eau de Prep Tommy girl are available exclusively at the Perfume Shop.

Eau de Prep Tommy 100ml Eau de Toilette, RRP £45 / 50ml Eau de Toilette, RRP £35

www.tommy.com.

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Get that all over smell to snare a mate(not that kinda mate) – Grooming

Following a Pan European study, Lynx or Axe depending on where your reading this wonderful blog, found that, an unsurprising 88 per cent of girls claiming that bad hair can be a major turn-off (que the sound of teenage lads stampeding off to their local chemist to buy this range). They believe that hard and crunchy hair look caused by traditional hair gels has been consigned to history and following on from this study the Lynx scientists in white coats, formulated and dreamt up this complete hair care range designed to fulfil male hair needs and the need of single guys to get a better half.

Developed with powerful, ingredients to fight dirty, greasy, flaky and over-gelled hair,(YUK) the new shampoo collection helps men get healthier looking hair.

All products in the range are designed to suit different hair needs and address every man’s hair concerns:

  • Anti Dandruff with active zinc to avoid those nasty white flakes
  • 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner to speed up your clean
  • Deep Clean to purify hair by removing grease, oil and product build up
  • Just Clean a shampoo for normal hair that makes it easier to style
  • Attract a shampoo with a more sophisticated long-lasting fragrance

Then to complete the hair transformation those clever geeks have come up with a range of styling products to achieve everything from a ‘spiked-up’ look, a clean cut look or the ‘just got out of bed’ messed-up look:

Spiked Up Look (Structuring cream)

Messed Up Look (Re-workable Paste)

Clean Cut Look (Defining Wax)

Attract extreme Hold Cream Gel

Extra Strong Hold Cream Gel

Strong Hold Cream Gel

The range is available from all good stockists and for more information on the Lynx Hair range visit www.facebook.com/lynxeffectuk or follow @LYNXEFFECTuk (#lynxhair)

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Go on spoil yourself, your worth it !

No matter who we are, even if you look after your skin(don’t worry it’s just me and you talking here, no one will know) we all have days where are skin feels like crap. Now throw into the mix the stresses and strains of modern urban living and we put our skin through a lot and we expect a lot from it, so once in a while we should show our appreciate for it and, OK I’ll say it pamper it, show the skin we’re in that we love it. There I said it !

Now one of the best ways to do this is to take yourself off to one of the growing numbers of spas that will be offering the City Recovery Facial Treatment from SkinCeuticals. This is a tailored treatment specially designed to combat environmental skin damage and correct and prevent this damage through environmental aggressors.

The SkinCeuticals City Recovery Facial Treatment tackles the skin issues of the guy who is exposed to damage triggered by ‘city living’. Free radical attacks, caused by pollution, smoke and UV light can lead to premature ageing and poor skin function and are common place for the average urbanite, boooo. This attack by external factors alongside dehydration of the skin caused by air conditioning, central heating and errrr drinking too much often causes skin to look dry, old, congested and ‘sluggish’. Combine this with a bad diet, smoking and or  a lack of sleep and the skin is left appearing ‘stressed’, often resulting in ailments such as dull skin or even acne, we’ve all been here lads.

Now, exactly what does it involve? It’s all good and well talking about free radicals and antioxidants. So, all for the benefit  of Clothes-make-the -man.com and with your best interests at heart, good reader,  I took myself off  to road test this very treatment.

The facial treatment consists of a deep pore cleansing, extractions and exfoliation using the salicylic and mandelic acid SkinCeuticals SM Gel Peel and SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque, are you still with me ?

Once the skin is thoroughly steamed and cleansed, it is stimulated and oxygenated with the use of the Direct High Frequency Treatment machine which bathes the skin in oxygen molecules and stimulates the blood flow (thats the science bit). In addition it helps to close the pores and provides an added benefit of an antiseptic effect for skin prone to spots. For deep hydration, the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque is applied and absorbed by the skin whilst a lymphatic drainage massage is done by the therapist. The antioxidant therapy is incorporated with the application of the SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Firming Masque and a dose of the new Phloretin CF Gel and AOX+ Eye Gel to help correct visible signs of ageing and help prevent against future environmental damage.

The treatment concludes with the application of a UVA/UVB sunscreen and a stern but fair piece of advice from the therapist telling me to look after my skin as it’s the only one I have, plus a recommended prescription of at-home SkinCeuticals products (which includes daily use of the Phloretin CF Gel and Sheer Mineral UV Defense or Ultra Facial Defense sunscreens).

Phloretin CF Gel & AOX+ Eye Gel

Now the treatments come in either a full on 75 minute version or an express type at 45 minutes, if your lifestyle is just too in the fast lane, which costs  £115 – 75 minutes / £80 – 45 minutes. I know it might sound a lot, but believe me it’s worth it as I walked in, late, after the mother of all nightmare meetings and walked out knowing I could tackle whatever the world was going to throw at me. Remember; as we always say at Clothes-make-the-man.com, “you get what you pay for” plus it’s good to spoil yourself once in a while.

The treatment is available exclusively at The Refinery, 60 Brook Street, London and The Refinery in Harrods until 31st April 2012, then is available nationwide from May 2012.

The Refinery: 020 7409 2001

www.the-refinery.com

SkinCeuticals Stockist Tel: 05603141956

www.skinceuticals.co.uk