Your face is your identity and an important aspect of your personality. You may workout, eat healthy, and get all the necessary supplements to maintain a fit body, so why neglect the largest organ of your body, i.e. your skin. It is time to break the stereotypical beliefs and acknowledge the fact that skincare routines are not strictly for women. Men should look their best too and age like fine wine. Have you ever wondered why celebrities like Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp look so young and radiant at their age? Yes, you guessed right! Taking care of the skin is a priority in their daily regime, because it’s that handsome face that makes the money. If someone tells you that skincare products are only for girls, file a lawsuit for ‘discrimination’ against them.

You don’t have to spend hours catering to your skin and neither will it cost a fortune. A few minutes each day and a handful of bucks per month is all you need to get that ravishing look. Upgrade yourself from the shower gel you purchased on sale, your roommate’s hand-wash, and the shaving cream a colleague gifted on your last birthday. The skincare routine I am going to narrate is a simple one; I will not be including any serums or masks in it. Get started with this easy regimen and you may advance later as you become a pro or are prepared to take things up a notch.

Step 1: Cleanse

The first thing to do when you wake up in the morning is to apply a facial cleanser. The cleanser will help get rid of all the oil, microbes and grime that accumulated in your pores during the night. Take a small amount in the palm of your hand and massage it over the face for thirty to sixty seconds. It will unclog your pores, remove the oily shine, and prevent skin breakouts. Wash the face afterwards with your regular soap or buy a men’s face wash for greater commitment.  

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps eradicate dead cells and impurities that embed deeper into the skin. These contaminants block pores and give rise to a variety of issues, including acne, blackheads, and skin blemishes. A chemical exfoliate or face scrub must be applied once or twice per week; let it be extra treatment for your skin on the weekend. If your skin is excessively oily, you may increase usage to three times a week. Chemical exfoliates are suited for sensitive skin, whereas scrubs have grainy particles that work well on tough skin.

Step 3: Moisturize

Soaps, aftershaves, cleansers, and scrubs tend to remove the skin’s natural oils, leaving it dry and squeaky clean. A layer of moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated throughout the day, preventing a coarse or patchy surface. It also provides a protective film that obstructs invasive bacteria and dirt from entering the pores. Many people do not like the feel of moisturizers, especially those with sensitive or oily skin. The trick is to go for a light and unscented moisturizing lotion instead of a heavy moisturizing cream having a strong fragrance. Your skin will quickly absorb it and you won’t experience any stickiness.

Step 4: Sun Protection

Harmful UV rays from the sun can cause burns, darkening, dry patches/spots, and even accelerate the process of skin aging. People who have to work outdoors all day long, such as construction workers and lifeguards on a beach, are constantly exposed to the scorching sun; if you can relate, invest in a sunblock or sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or above. People who mostly work indoors and only see the sunlight for brief periods can settle for a moisturizer having sun protective properties (about SPF 15 is sufficient).

Words by Peter Minkoff

Having a traditional nine-to-five job might be a template we’ve stretched too thin, and it’s time for something more flexible and exciting, something that will actually help you accomplish your financial and creative goals at one go. Men in this day and age have so many different options to choose from, and thankfully, you can even try out a few of them before you discover your true calling. However, instead of going into trial and error as your system of elimination, perhaps this is a better way to do your research and look into the options that appeal to you the most.

We’ve listed a few that might ring true with your entrepreneurial nature, so that you can evaluate your skills and expertise and try your hand at something that has potential to bring you joy as well as profit. Here are a few opportunities for a business that every man in his 30s will love!

Express yourself through photography

Artistic jobs are everywhere, but an adventurous man should look for a business that grants him the freedom to get creative and the chance to earn a solid, stable living. Enter: photography! If you have the expressive authenticity, you can put your skills to use at parties, gallery openings, weddings, corporate events, you name it.

You can, of course, specialize in a wide range of photography styles, and you should always invest in high-quality equipment that will ensure the end product is superb.

Start your own artisan cafe

Foodies are everywhere, and with more travelers and digital nomads traversing the globe, you’re looking at an extraordinary expansion of your target demographic if you try your hand at managing a cafe or an eatery – or a mix of both!

To run a coffee shop successfully, in addition to the right managerial skills, you should invest in the right cafe POS system that will help you automate a wide array of processes and eliminate human error. Plus, it will make it much simpler for your customers to enjoy the experience without any hassle and various payment options at hand. Give your cafe the edge it needs, and you’ll be able to run a business that will attract locals as well as globetrotters.

How about a career in fitness?

In recent years, and considering the current pandemic, more people are turning to a career in health and wellness one way or another. For men who are passionate about nutrition, regular exercise, and other healthy habits, you can actually use this momentum to help people get back on their feet health-wise, and establish yourself as an expert in the industry.

Luckily, this expansive industry boasts quite a wide array of categories you can try to fit into, pardon the pun, from offering customized nutrition programs, training plans, all the way to online guided classes, a men’s skincare selection, etc.

Teaching and tutoring

Another career opportunity on the rise for men is online teaching, especially for native English speakers, since more people are looking for classes they can take online and tailor to their own schedule. This is a brilliant chance to build your own website, showcase your teaching credentials, and build a unique program for passing on your knowledge to interested students.

Of course, languages aren’t the only subject matter that your global audience will find alluring, so you can adjust your curriculum based on your own expertise and create workshops and seminars to share your skills.

Become a life coach

Are you good at listening to people, recognizing their problems, and helping them find effective solutions? Becoming a life coach means that you’ll get a chance to give people wings and to help them accomplish their own unique goals in life. However, instead of a generalized approach, it’s best to select a specific niche, much like in all other business sectors.

Perhaps your business ventures are a great learning source for future entrepreneurs? Or maybe your degree in psychology can help you guide people to find true happiness and fulfillment. Maybe your exceptional organizational skills can help people strike that fine work-life balance? In any scenario, it’s best to narrow down and cater to a specific, targeted audience. Just make sure you invest in the right credentials and accreditations to inspire trust in your future clients.

Although there are dozens of other options that can turn into quite profitable businesses for a modern man, these opportunities are considered to be on the rise, especially once the global health crisis settles. Instead of taking a few chances, this is a brilliant way to do your research and discover a business model that will bring out the best in you and help you grow as an entrepreneur in the years to come

Words by Cameron McLauchlan

Welcome to a different kind of #SomethingForThe Weekend, where this week we’re swapping shopping for streaming. Under these uncertain circumstances the list of watchables below will hopefully give you some well deserved distractions from the

stresses we are all experiencing with the virus. We hope everything is keeping safe, well and healthy.

This was one of the films last year which I failed to go and see at the cinema, something which I regret now after watching it at home as it would have definitely been a worth while journey. Aside from the star studded line-up which includes Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis to name a few, the film possess a strong ‘whodunit’ plot which unlike many other less punchy films, keeps you hooked until the very last scene. This is a must watch if you haven’t already and one for the whole family!

The film is available to rent/purchase on Apple TV, Sky Cinema, Youtube Movies and more!

2)   Killing Eve, Season 3, (2020) – 15

If you’re running out of series to watch and haven’t yet started Killing Eve, I hope this post can be the polite nudge that gets you to give the series a go! It’s probably my favourite series to ever come out of the BBC. The storyline of the first two seasons involves a global chase between ‘Villanelle’ a Russian paid-to-kill assassin and British Intelligence agent Eve Polastri.

The mis-en-scene of the series is truly unique which makes it all the more enticing to binge. I wouldn’t want to give anymore away about the plot with the third season’s first episode airing only the Monday just gone, with the remaining episodes dropping weekly. All of Killing Eve is available exclusively on BBC iPlayer.

3) McMafia (2018) – 15

Another great series to come out of the BBC, bond front runner James Norton plays a legitimate banker who runs his own investment firm. His unfortunate family tie’s to the Russian mafia spark a series of events which blur his investment decisions and associations across the world.

The series which unfolds in some beautiful locations across the globe shed’s a light on some of base-level crimes which underpin some of the wealthiest figures in the world. No loose reference to the real world I’m sure. This series of 8 episodes is available on Netflix for your viewing pleasure! Definitely one to start now or add to the list.

4) Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989) – PG

BBC are doing a brilliant job at keeping us entertained through the lockdown and this is now accretion. The entire saga of Indiana Jones films available to watch now on iPlayer.

I had to pick my personal favourite of the 4 which is The Last Crusade, number 3. The film which introduces Indiana’s father played by Sean Connery, is a comical match-up that really made the film a classic. I’m sure I don’t need to outline the storyline of Indiana jones to anyone reading this, but it is the ultimate adventure thrill ride in each of the 4 of the films. Particularly this one! All available on BBC iPlayer.

5) Tiger King : The Aftershow (2020) – 12

Following on from huge success of one Netflix’s many viral originals series, the additional 8th episode is now out of Netflix. If you haven’t watched the show yet I don’t doubt you’ve had a friend tell you to watch or speak about it with you. The show which is centred around the crazy world of big cats in the United States end’s in a monumental fop are lands many of the main individuals in hot water. Being as cryptic as I can for anyone reading who hasn’t yet seen the first 7 episodes.

The 8th episode titled ‘The Aftershow’ is filmed via a FaceTime set-up, with follow up interviews with some of the main characters from the previous series! Definitely a must watch for any fans of the previous 7 episodes

Hope everyone stays safe and healthy and remember we’re all in this together!

Being bombarded with constant media about the pandemic can seem relentless and take its toll on our mental health. Especially for those of us who’re more vulnerable, live alone, or live with anxiety or depression.

For those of us who’re well, healthy, and not in social isolation, we should consider reaching out to older or more vulnerable members of our community to offer our time and support. Something as simple as picking up a prescription, doing a food shop, or even having a quick phone call to check-in can be a huge help to many people.

Tamara Willner, a registered nutritionist  with Second Nature, an NHS-backed ‘smart diet’ which allows people to diet at home through an app, has qualified dietitians who can comment on topics ranging from what to eat to boost your immune system, to eating healthily while at home. The digital programme is more relevant now than ever, particularly with practising healthy habits to keep our bodies as healthy as possible

It’s incredibly important that we all take steps to protect and prioritise our mental wellbeing, for example:

1) Chat to friends or loved ones

Staying socially connected via digital platforms is essential for our mental health when our social contact is limited. This might be calling or FaceTiming family members, neighbours, and friends on a regular basis.

2) Meditation or deep breathing

Meditation is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety. If you’re new to meditation, try practising deep breathing with your eyes closed in a quiet room for 2 minutes each day.

3) Practise yoga 

Yoga encompasses the benefits of both exercise and meditation. One of the ways meditation is so effective is through controlled breathing, which is also practised in yoga. Yoga also increases our release of serotonin – the ‘happy’ hormone 

4) Use adult colouring books

Colouring provides a cognitively stimulating mental activity, which can relieve stress and anxiety by providing our minds with a distraction.

5) Monitor media exposure

It can be overwhelming to receive constant notifications about the virus, which lead us to panic and lose control of our thoughts. It’s important to stay informed right now, but consider checking reliable sources (e.g. NHS or WHO websites) for information once each day and turning off notifications in between.

Words by Emily Regan

It’d be surprising to most, if you were completely unaware of Nirvana, arguably the greatest rock band of the ’90s. Here’s the story behind how lead singer and one of the most legendary music icons, Kurt Cobain rose to fame and unknowingly sported some of the most significant fashion trends which we still see today.

19 October 1987 marked a stock market crash in the US, otherwise known as “Black Monday”. The lack of employment led young people into complete melt-down and the ‘slacker’ generation was born. Cobain was one of the teens with no prosperity, there were little opportunities available and his family situation wasn’t most fortunate.

This rebellious, lazy generation of dropouts began to express themselves creatively, quitting school to produce music or artwork and Cobain followed suit.  He regularly attended studio sessions where he would produce and write songs, these often expressed his desperate attitude and angst towards his poor quality of life. Metaphors would suggest drug abuse, exploring themes of vulnerability and desperation. Cobain developed his music with friends and as various member joined and dropped out he finally formed Nirvana alongside drummer, Dave Grohl and guitarist, Krist Novoselic.  

Celine

They released first album, ‘Bleach’ with Sub-Pop indie label and soon reached global success, attracting ratings from the likes of NME, beginning their European tour in late 1989. Nirvana landed a record deal with DGC records in 1990 and Cobain met Courtney Love, soon to become his wife and embarked on a tempestuous Rollacoaster of a love affair. 

Balmain

Throughout his years of fame, Cobain sported various looks, the fan base grew due to the couple’s relatable lack of wealth and motivation.  People began to idolise Cobain and dress like him, he had certain items which became a uniform for a generation, Converse hi-tops, oversized knitwear, plaid shirts, distressed denim and on occasion he wasn’t adverse to a floral flock.  He revolutionised thrift shopping and arguably began the grunge movement, but more importantly became a style icon and inspiration for the fashion industry from Hedi Slimane at Celine, Olivier Rousteing at Balmain and Alessandro Michele at Gucci, not to mention TOPMAN, H&M and BoohooMAN to, literally name a few. 

Gucci