CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

In our final post in this series we look at the importance of using a post shave Moisturiser, long gone are the days where we would use alcohol heavy after shaves, which, particularly on sensitive skin had a result of looking like you had just returned from two weeks in the sun, using no sun protection and was equally painful as Kevin McAllister can testify.

Basically, what you need to bear in mind when shaving is you are, fundamental, pulling a very thin, ultra sharp piece of metal across sections of your face. So to say, you need to be both mindful and careful, is like saying don’t put that knife into the toaster, from experience.

Moisturising after your shave is essential, obviously, this reduces the threat of razor burn, stubble rash and the possibility of in growing hairs. So these little lovelies have been tried and tested by yours truly.

Clinique is a clear authority in skin care and leading dermatological brand and was the first prestige cosmetic company to recognise the different skin care needs of men and provide them with a custom-fit approach.

Their Post-Shave Soother relieves shaving irritation, leaving behind nothing more than a soothing, cool, tingly feeling and improved skin texture. Contains aloe to soothe razor burn, relieve dryness, the appearance of redness and helps skin repair minor nicks and cuts. I have to say this is my essential grooming product.

Clarins After Shave Soother is a calming, comforting, oil-free post-shave balm with skin repairing and moisturising properties and a light, fresh, clean fragrance. Acts as a great choice for normal to sensitive skin prone to shaving-related redness and irritation.
It contains Alpine Sea Holly and Centella Asiatica plant extracts intensively soothe and repair. A patented complex of Bison Grass, Chinese Ginger and Purslane plant extracts energise and soothe. Clarins e3p protects skin from the irritant effects of environmental pollution.

Bulldog Skincare For Men’s Sensitive Range is fragrance-free and has been designed to minimise irritation and calm sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients include Baobab oil pressed from the seeds of the baobab fruit, has high emollience and is known for its skin soothing properties.

Grown and harvested in the UK, oat oil has high levels of omega-6 and 9 essential fatty acids.

Canadian Willow Herb- A unique plant from the Northern Canadian prairies, which has developed strong phytochemical properties to survive the harsh climate. It’s been reputed to help soothe the skin and reduce redness.

Their Sensitive Aftershave Balm is exactly what sensitive skin needs after shaving. In fact, in tests, 100% of the testers felt it left their skin feeling moisturised after 2 weeks of use.

For 200 years Atkinsons have been producing great grooming products which are scented with bracingly aromatic 24 Old Bond Street English Cologne and packed with the most potent botanical ingredients. one such item being their Pre & After-Shave Balm is your skin’s best multi-purpose protection from the razor’s edge. Pre-shave, this fast-absorbing cream gel conditions the skin and subdues whiskers, preparing the way for the blade to skate over cheek and jowl. Post-shave, it moisturizes, soothes, repairs and refreshes for a long-lasting sensation of relief and revitalization. Skin is left feeling comfortable, supple and smelling its nicest.

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%.

The Post Shave Balm is specially formulated with witch hazel and aloe vera to nourish the skin after shaving and we are assured its designed to moisturise, soothe and invigorate freshly shaved skin without stinging.

Liz Earle for Men After-Shaving Moisturiser. A Light and easily absorbed, this daily moisturiser is perfect for all skin types, leaving it smooth and soft. Suitable for everyday use, after showering, shaving or whenever skin needs a moisture boost.
Naturally active ingredients include self-heal extract, to help soothe small nicks and calm razor burn, borage oil and natural source vitamin E to help moisturise.

Part 2 in our series of getting the best from shaving, this week covers the most important tool involved in the process, the razor. With over 93% of us males globally prefering the experience of a wet shave there are a couple of things you need to remember so we sort the top shaving tips from award-winning barbers Ruffians to ensure you achieve a close shave:

1. EXFOLIATE: It’s essential that you prepare the skin properly before you shave. Think about it – if you’ve got a face which is studded with bits of dirt, dust and who knows what else, that will create a bumpier ride for the razor. To eliminate this, it’s best to wash your face with a microgranular exfoliator which will help to smooth down the face, creating a flatter surface which the razor can glide cleanly over.

2. USE WARM WATER: It’s time to up the temperature! When washing away your exfoliator, use warm water or better yet, a towel that has been soaked in very hot water. This will help to keep the pores open and allows the hairs to become softer and less brittle. This will mean fewer rough passes with the razor and a far smoother finish.

3. CHOOSE YOUR RAZOR WISELY: The better the razor, the closer the shave. Make sure you choose a razor that is good quality, versatile and made with the customer in mind. The Dorco Classic comes with seven precision-aligned blades, making it a world first – ideal for the most challenging facial hair. However, if you’ve got sensitive skin, you’ll need to protect against the blade’s efficiency: the Dorco Classic thought of this, and positioned a strip of lubricating balm just next to the blade. In the unfortunate event of nicking your skin, the natural extracts on the lubricating strip will soothe the cut and quickly disinfect it, so you can finish your shave without worrying about balls of tissue paper.

4. SHAVE IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE GROWTH: Shaving against the grain is the number one cause of irritation when shaving, as it will rip hairs unnecessarily from their pores and cause tiny blood blisters. The Dorco Classic has a pivoting head which increases flexibility and can follow your individual growth pattern with ease.

5. MOISTURISE: Be kind to your face – after all, you’ve just scraped off a few layers of skin and it probably needs some further TLC. Once you’ve finished shaving, splash your face with cold water (this will help to close up the pores) and apply an alcohol-free aftershave balm or moisturiser. This will form a barrier between your fresh skin and the bacteria floating around in the air which can no longer enter your pores. Finally – make sure you spray your aftershave somewhere which isn’t your face, as anything alcohol based will dry your already sensitive skin out significantly.

With the words of wisdom from tip 3 fresh in our little heads here’s are our 6 of the best Razors currently on the market;

It is estimated that the average man spends 125 days of his life shaving and using beard brushes. With this in mind Cornerstone have worked tirelessly hard to take the stress out of shaving with their subscription service. They offer a personalise monogrammed razor handle and each durable razor has five blades, an aloe vera moisturising strip and a flexbile head for precision and control mounted on a lightweight alloy aluminium razor handle.

A man uses 170 strokes every shave, on average 120 of these are re-strokes over the same area of the face after the initial strokes have wiped away most of the
shave gel. Gillette ProShield NEW Lubrication Bar before the blades, in addition to the Lubrastrip after the blades, shields from irritation, paired with FlexBall handle technology handle with innovative pivot to respond to facial contours for maximum contact.

Once again Harry’s promises to taking the stress out of shaving with their hassle free subscription service. Their razor blades have been exclusively engineered in Germany in partnership with an almost one hundred year old company comprised of extremely talented craftsmen who have been manufacturing some of the world’s finest blades for almost a century. The handle has been  economically designed to assist and enhance in the shaving experience.

Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 is engineered to offer improved skin protection hydrated skin. The Hydro 5 razor features pioneering gel pools, which last up to twice as long as a lube strip and deliver 40 per cent less friction than a lubrication strip.
Not only does it come with hydrating gel pools, it’s also equipped with the razor-sharp Flip Trimmer providing a clear-cut finish with every shave. With a simple flick of the thumb the hydrating gel pools flip back to reveal five blades that deliver parallel precision and control, reaching the difficult contours of the face, so you can look sharp for any occasion.

Launched earlier this year the NEW Dorco Classic razor is looks set to revolutionise your grooming routine. With seven precision-aligned blades, making it a world first, you should be more confident you’ll achieve a close and comfortable shave in the fewest strokes. With angulated blade technology used in it, it gives slimmer, denser blades to reduce any irritation to the skin. Plus it also has an open structure design to enable easy rinsing, helping to keep blades sharper for longer. A Honeycomb Guard Bar with soft rubber surface allows effortless gliding over skin, adapting to the contours of your face.

That’s not all! An advanced lubricating strip with antioxidants from Argan oil and Calendula extract helps sooth sensitive and dry skin, and heal razor burns. To improve precision, the lubricating strip has been shortened from Dorco’s previous models, making it perfect for those hard-to-reach places without the need for a separate trimmer.

Grüum is another subscription service making massive waves in the shaving market. Its precision-engineered razors are manufactured from high grade Swedish steel, exclusively for grüum. The added roller component helps to lift hair away from the face, creating a close and comfortable glide.
Their oska razor handle is the ultimate fusion of form and function; bold styling, striking colours and ergonomic design combine to deliver a gripping shave.
Plus the osku razor cartridges give a shave as close as the big brand razors, for a fraction of the price.