CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Saunas are becoming increasingly popular —replacing the pub as the hottest post-work and weekend hang. David Beckham even has one in his garden. 

This new trend provides a complete detox from the everyday, forcing you to be away from screens and giving you time to recalibrate in peace, or catch up with mates without modern distractions. Plus, not only does dry heat increase blood flow to your organs and relax your mind and body, but a proper sauna routine can also clear up your complexion when used regularly. 

But if you want to get the most out of your sauna sessions, having the right grooming routine is key. Here’s how to do it right:

Harry’s Ultimate Sauna Grooming Routine for Men

1. Cleanse Before You Sweat
   Wash your face thoroughly to remove dirt and excess oil.

2. Shave Post Sauna
   Heat opens pores and softens facial hair, making post-sauna shaving smoother and easier.

3. Moisturise, Always
   After sweating it out, rehydrate your skin with a good moisturiser to replenish lost moisture.

Why It Matters:
Sweating releases a lot of salt, which—if left on your skin—can mix with oil and bacteria, leading to breakouts. That’s why it’s crucial to cleanse properly before and after your sauna session.

Luckily, Harry’s has you covered with sauna-friendly grooming essentials that keep your skin looking fresh.

Sauna Grooming Essentials

• Face Wash  – Gently exfoliates and removes dirt without drying out your skin.

• Freshening Face Toner  – Alcohol-free and packed with Niacinamide to refresh, hydrate, and tighten skin. Perfect between cleansing and moisturizing.
• Brightening Eye Cream – Instantly revives tired-looking under-eyes with a cooling, lightweight formula. Fragrance-free and blends seamlessly with all skin tones.
• Face Lotion SPF 15  – Hydrates and protects your skin from UV rays—because even a quick walk post-gym exposes you to the sun.
• Shave Gel  – A rich, conditioning formula that provides precision and control, especially useful when styling facial hair.
• Truman Razor – Ergonomically designed for a smooth, post-sauna shave, giving you a comfortable grip and precise results.

• Targeted Blemish Treatment  – A non-drying, cooling formula with natural salicylic acid to zap breakouts before they start.

Words by Professor Sunil Shah, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Midland Eye

If you’ve ever fumbled for your glasses first thing in the morning or struggled with contact lenses after a long day, you might have wondered whether laser eye surgery could be the answer. It’s a thought that crosses many people’s minds but understanding what’s involved—and whether it’s right for you—can feel overwhelming.

Let’s break it down and explore what laser eye surgery really is, how it could help, and, most importantly, whether it’s the best option for you.

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

At its heart, laser eye surgery is a way to reshape your eye’s cornea – that’s the clear, dome-shaped surface at the front of your eye. Think of it like changing the lens of a camera to bring everything into better focus.

Using incredibly precise lasers, surgeons can modify the cornea’s shape to change how light enters your eye, helping to correct various vision problems that might currently have you reaching for your glasses or contact lenses.

It’s actually a remarkably quick procedure—usually taking just 15-30 minutes for both eyes—and has become one of the most common elective surgeries in the UK. Yet, laser eye surgery isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution and sometimes there are better options to solve your vision problems.

What Laser Eye surgery cannot treat

While laser eye surgery can help with many vision problems, it’s important to understand its limitations. Some eye conditions require different types of treatment entirely. For instance, refractive laser eye surgery can’t help with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or severe diabetic eye disease (although there are other lasers available for those conditions).

Laser eye surgery also can’t prevent the natural ageing of your eyes. So, while it might give you perfect distance vision now, you may still need reading glasses as you get older – just like everyone else.

It’s important to note that while both procedures have “laser” in their name, laser eye surgery is quite different from laser cataract surgery or laser refractive lens exchange. Laser eye surgery reshapes your cornea to correct vision problems, while cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange—whether laser-assisted or traditional—both replace your eye’s natural lens with an artificial one rather than reshaping your natural lens.

Considering every option

While laser eye surgery is an effective treatment for those with moderate prescriptions who don’t need reading glasses, refractive lens exchange can prove a longer-lasting solution for many patients. In fact, most patients who initially come to Midland Eye Clinic for laser eye surgery opt to have refractive lens exchange surgery instead.

Not only can refractive lens exchange fix severe vision issues, but it can also help with reading issues in older patients. It also ensures that you’ll never suffer from cataracts as you are swapping a natural lens for an artificial one.

This is why having a thorough consultation is so important; it helps ensure you have realistic expectations about what the surgery can and cannot achieve and a full range of options for your particular situation. The best eye surgery is the one that is right for you long-term, not which solves an issue for the time being.

The journey to clearer vision

Getting laser eye surgery typically starts with a thorough assessment. If you are having vision issues and think that laser eye surgery could help, start by chatting with your optician, or you could self-refer to a specialist eye clinic like Midland Eye.

If your consultant believes that laser eye surgery might help improve your vision problems, they will then book in an initial consultation. During your initial consultation, your eye care team will:

Recovery and Results

The recovery journey after laser eye surgery is usually straightforward, though it varies depending on which procedure you’ve had. Most people find their eyes feel a bit uncomfortable for the first few hours after surgery – rather like having a grain of sand in your eye. This is completely normal and usually eases quickly.

Your vision will typically be a bit blurry at first, rather like looking through a steamy window, but this gradually clears over the first few days. You’ll need to use eye drops regularly during this time to help with healing and keep your eyes comfortable. Many people are pleasantly surprised by how quickly they can return to their daily routine, though it’s wise to take things easy for the first few days.

Over the following weeks, your vision will continue to settle and improve. While many people notice dramatic improvements within days, your eyes need about 3-6 months to fully stabilise. During this time, you might notice your vision fluctuates slightly – being a bit sharper or blurrier at different times of the day. This is perfectly normal and gradually settles down.

Most people achieve very good vision after their surgery, with many reaching 20/20 vision or better. However, it’s important to remember that everyone’s eyes heal slightly differently, and while the vast majority of people are delighted with their results, a small number might need a follow-up procedure to achieve their best possible vision.

Depending on your clinic and the scope of the surgery, there may or may not be an additional cost for the follow-up procedure. At Midland Eye, for example, we provide a free follow-up surgery for further correction as we specialise in complex prescriptions, where it is difficult to predict the exact outcome of surgery.

The financial side

Cost is often a key factor in decision-making. Laser eye surgery typically isn’t available on the NHS unless you have specific medical conditions affecting your vision. For most people, it’s a private treatment costing between £2,000 and £4,000 per eye, and many clinics offer payment plans to spread the cost.

Consider that refractive lens exchange surgery costs around £3,000 to £4,000 per eye and can treat more severe vision issues, prevent cataracts and help with reading issues as you age, and it is clear why so many choose it over laser eye surgery.

Making your decision

Laser eye surgery can be life-changing, but it’s important to:

Remember, while laser eye surgery has an excellent safety record and high satisfaction rates, it’s still a surgical procedure. Take time to weigh up your options, and don’t feel rushed into making a decision.

Looking for more information? The best next step is to book a consultation with an eye specialist who can assess your individual case and answer any specific questions you might have. Whether laser eye surgery turns out to be right for you or not, you’ll have a much clearer understanding of your options.

If you’ve got a beard, know someone who has, or you’re growing one—you know it takes more than just letting it do its thing. A good beard oil is essential for keeping your facial hair soft, healthy, and looking its best. Think of it like hair oil, but designed specifically for your beard—taming frizz, adding nourishment, and keeping rough ends in check.

No matter your style—short stubble, a sleek moustache, or a full-on rugged beard—beard oil is the secret to keeping it smooth and manageable.

Personal care brand Dr. Squatch has just introduced two brand-new beard oils to their lineup:

 Sandalwood Bourbon Beard Oil – A rich, refined blend with notes of aged whiskey, oak moss, and leather-bound books. Smooth, sophisticated, and guaranteed to quench your beard’s thirst.

 Crushed Pine Beard Oil – A fresh, woodsy scent that’s both bold and invigorating. Think crisp mountain air, Christmas morning, and a splash of freshly squeezed OJ.

Growing a beard takes patience, and the right products make all the difference. A quality beard oil helps condition coarse hair, keeps flyaways under control, and hydrates the skin beneath—so no more dry flakes, just a softer, healthier beard.

Gandys International has you covered for all your 2025 travel needs. Whether you’re looking for spacious overnight bags, warm padded jackets or snug beanies, Gandys have all the gear for your upcoming adventure – no matter the weather. Inspired by travel and the outdoors, Gandys lifestyle collections include outerwear and layering apparel, backpacks, bags and leather goods and accessories all designed for every type of adventure and exploring without limits.

Gandys bags combine style, durability, and purpose, making them perfect for city streets or rugged trails. Each bag embodies the spirit of adventure and supports a good cause. Equip yourself and make a difference.

Gandys isn’t just about apparel—it’s about giving back. Every purchase helps support the Gandys Foundation, dedicated to funding educational projects around the world. This collection continues our commitment to supporting communities in need. Overwhelmed by the support of local people after they were orphaned by the 2004 tsunami, the founders built a brand focused on giving back. At Gandys, they donate 10% of every order to fund our education projects around the world. We collaborate with arassroots charities based in Sri Lanka. Malawi. Monaolia. Indonesia. Nepal. Brazil. Ghana and Guatemala to provide disadvantaged children with the educational support they need to get a better start in life. Their crafted products are a force for change and are designed to inspire adventure. Made to see the world.

Designed to keep you cozy and stylish in the colder months while supporting a mission that makes a difference worldwide. This collection from Gandys includes thoughtfully crafted outerwear, layering pieces, and accessories inspired by travel and adventure. 

Inspired by travel Gandys meticulously designed products including the sturdy bags which are crafted for longevity and  are designed to be cherished and reused for generations. Gandys waxed cotton backpacks are manufactured with 100% organic cotton with the water resistant cotton coating and are loaded with secure pockets. Each backpack is finished.with lovely antique brass and leather trim. Accessories such as the Delhi Passport Holder and the Shimla Trave Wallet combine the feel of quality leather with peace of mind that keeps your stuff safe and sound in one place

So whether you’re hitting the city streets or heading out on a rugged trek, Gandys combine style, durability, and purpose. Each Gandys bag is designed with the spirit of adventure in mind, wherever you go. Founded to honour a legacy of resilience and giving back.

Words by Christopher Paul Jones, author of ‘Face your Fears’

Here we go again. With mushy cards and bunches of flowers taking over the shops, being part of a couple is being celebrated. However, for some of us, Valentine’s is the time of the year where we’d really rather just hide under the duvet.

Of course, sometimes, it is just a bad case of timing. But there can actually be something going on subconsciously that almost forces us to destroy a relationship, so that we find ourselves cyclically single.

If you find yourself single again this Valentine’s Day, it might be time to ask yourself whether fear is the reason that you are single.

Fear can play a BIG part in a relationship – think about it…Fear of commitment, fear of your partner cheating, fear of losing someone that you care about... And we usually learn to fear something because of how it felt when we first went through it.

However, let’s take this one step further.  I know this might sound a bit silly at first. But, from a psychological perspective, I see many clients, who are actually being kept single because of their reaction to fear.  Yes, it’s their reactionto fear, rather than the fear itself that destroys their relationships.

A reaction to fear? Keeping you single?

Did you know that, generally, when faced with something that we fear in our relationship, we, as humans, will turn to one of three reactions.  I’m talking about fight, flight or freeze mode. Or, in psychological terms, it is what we refer to as the reptilian mindset. In other words, it is a primeval reaction that happens because of our subconscious.

Usually, when we are little, something happens to us, something not pleasant, and our brain reacts by going into fight, flight or freeze mode. Now, the first time that this happens, we aren’t even aware of it. But our subconscious mind decides to repeat this, every time that we are presented with what it sees as danger.

So, for some of us, when presented with something that our mind perceives as negative, our subconscious then provokes this reaction – and it is this reaction that could be the culprit for keeping us single.

Let me explain this a little more here – meet Mike. Mike is 30, and lives in the city. Mike is looking for love, but keeps ending up single. What happens is that every time Mike is faced with a woman’s emotions, Mike reacts to his fear, and starts to become kind of angry… Mike automatically goes into fight mode, and as much as he thinks that this is being passionate… for Mike’s partners, they often see him as aggressive.

Mike, doesn’t fully understand why he becomes so angry. He looks to blame his partner. But what’s really going on is that Mike actually fears something… and his mind simply reacts to it. And Mike keeps on repeating this pattern, over and over and over.

Now, imagine how much easier life could be for Mike if he could just understand this mindset. Not only would he be able to change and control his reaction, but he would also be able to understand his fear. This would mean better communication with his partner... And possibly a long term relationship!

And it’s not just one party’s lack of understanding of this pattern that can cause confusion in a relationship. Maybe you have found yourself being on the receiving end, of someone when they go into fight, flight or freeze mode?

Perhaps you know all too well, what it feels like to be with someone who reacts through fleeing (flight mode). The person who leaves after an argument, and never picks up their phone again.

Or maybe you have dated the freeze kind of guy or girl, who just clams up when under pressure, and seems to just sit... And stay there. This can come across as uncaring. Yet what is going on in the inside, can be a totally different story.

By working out your own reaction, when faced with fear in a relationship, whether it be fear of commitment, or fear of losing someone, you put yourself back in the driver’s seat. You are able to a) dig deep and face yourself, and b) communicate with your partner.

Sometimes, all it takes is working on your fear with a therapist, maybe, and a conversation with your partner, and once you understand what’s been going wrong here, you are able to see things a lot clearer.

One thing’s for sure – fight, flight or freeze – whichever reaction suits you best, in some ways, it’s actually natural. So, figure out where you fit, and then look at evolving past that. You owe it to yourself, and your future partner, to stop letting fear get the better of you.