How to look fresh faced during party season – men-ü

Image result for a man drunk at a christmas partyWinter can raise all kinds of challenges for the well-groomed man as can the festivities that take place all over the Christmas period which is literally ONE month away now. Lloyd Hughes, Creative Director & Lead Educator of male grooming brand men-ü has offered his top tips to men to help maintain a fresh look during the party season. Lloyd has two decades of experience in the industry and is a multi-salon owner. He reccomends the following top tips to get you through the goods times of the next couple of weeks, looking your best.

Have a daily routine

The best advice we can offer to guys during the winter months is to develop their daily shave and facial routine. Exfoliate, cleanse, tone and condition / moisturise the skin daily. The process of protecting the visual front line is not just for shave days. On particularly harsh, cold and windy days, keep a travel sized amount of moisturiser in your work bag and apply (in seconds) two or three times a day. This takes just a few seconds and will offer long term protection.image

Exfoliate with a close shave

The big block style beard has now been with us for quite a while but for how much longer? This winter season we are seeing a movement towards, cleaner, smoother, well-groomed skin. Men have more active sebaceous glands than women, secreting more oil onto the skin. It’s the excess oil, dead skin cells and daily elements that block the pores, creating a whole host of skin issues including spots and breakouts which in turn cause issues when shaving.

Every time a guy runs the razor over his skin, he is removing up to two layers of skin cells. This is exfoliation a woman can only dream of. It’s this process of exfoliation that leads to healthier, and hopefully younger looking skin (who doesn’t want that)! It is no coincidence that teenage boys skin often starts to clear up at the time they start to shave regularly.

imageDeep cleanse

After exfoliation (shaving) we need to deep cleanse the skin. Deep cleansing the skin immediately post shave will remove any remaining dead skin cells, cleanse the pores and remove any remaining debris that arises immediately after shaving, leaving the skin freshly exfoliated and deep cleansed. Probably the best preventative against spots and breakouts.

imageAdd more texture to hair

The high fronted solid quiff style has been the leading trend for a while now, so many stylists are looking to break down those solid full frontal block shapes using internal cutting to create movement and life, setting hair free from heavily greased styles. Textured hair supporting lots of movement is a perfect winter style as it isn’t too disrupted by drizzle. Lightly textured style requires a good flexi-hold, easily achieved with men-ü’s new LIQUIFFLEX. This liquefies easily and disperses evenly through the hair. Hands are left dry to the touch. This is a practically weightless product that will thicken the hair and give it the required body and volume. Great for creating volume with fine, thin hair.

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19 Degrees of seperation, hopefully not with TUMI’s new range

img_0327Whatever time of year it is, one thing you can be sure of always needing is good quality luggage that doesn’t cost you the equivalent of what you paid for your holiday again. International premium luggage brand, TUMI, recently launched 19 Degree, the brand’s first aluminum luggage collection. A masterful combination of form following function, 19 Degree sets new standards in travel accessories; an element of luxury and innovation that elevates not only your journey, but how you are perceived.

It draws inspiration from when the fluid elements of nature and exacting lines in architecture intersect, 19 Degree boasts a contemporary and striking design with strategically sculpted angles set against meticulously-crafted aluminum. These contours highlight the profile of the suitcase and give a sense of fluidity, exuding a boldly distinctive appearance. This modern silhouette blurs the lines between fashion, art and design while transcending the travel experience. It conveys the long- standing notion that travel is not just a utilitarian experience; it emotionally connects travelers to their own unique journeys.
The leading international brand of premium travel, business and lifestyle accessories, announces its launch of 19 Degree, the brand’s first-ever aluminum luggage collection. A masterful combination of form following function, 19 Degree is the pinnacle of travel gear; an element of luxury and innovation that elevates not only your journey, but who you are.
Drawing inspiration from when the fluid elements of nature and exacting lines in architecture intersect, 19 Degree boasts a strikingly modern and cutting-edge design with strategically sculpted angles set against meticulously-crafted aluminum. These contours highlight the profile of the suitcase and give a sense of fluidity, exuding a boldly distinctive appearance. This modern silhouette blurs the lines between fashion, art and design while transcending the travel experience. 19 Degree conveys the long- standing notion that travel is not just a utilitarian experience; it emotionally connects travelers to their own unique journeys.

This premium collection features a reinforced framecase design, it will be offered in the full range of carry-on and check-in sizes, from an International Carry-On through an Extended Trip Packing Case. All styles will feature integrated low-profile TSA locks, TUMI Tracer, retractable molded top and side carry handles wrapped with leather detailing, and a patented X-Brace 45 telescoping handle system crafted from lightweight-yet sturdy aircraft-grade aluminum, which contributes to the reduced weight of the bags.img_0328

Get your Freak on – Diadora X Sneaker Freaker

 

img_0323Sneaker Freaker have come a long way since their launch in Summer, well their Winter, 2002. The iconic Antipodean trainer bible, now translates its triannual issues into Spanish, German and Russian plus is sold in over 50 countries worldwide and I’m sure it’s founder Simon Woods no longer needs to worry about receiving free sneakers anymore.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the publication, heritage Sportwear brand, Diadora has collaborated with the renowned sneaker magazine with the “Taipan” version of an iconic Diadora Sportswear shoe: the V7000.
Sneaker Freaker’s creative take on the Diadora V7000 is inspired by the taipan, a deadly Australian snake. Sandy suede, olive nubuck, reactive 3M hits and venomous violet highlights are a rugged package.

The midsoles are boldly blazed with a gradient mid-foot fade and the debossed ‘snakeskin’ paneling provides extra reptile chic. Another unique twist is the custom branding. Sneaker Freaker reworked Diadora’s classic tongue design, adding the ‘Taipan’ project logo and a golden serpent slithering across the black suede, which replaces the usual Diadora ‘squiggle’.

Flip the shoes over and bold pink fangs mark the V7000’s sole. Custom Taipan packaging represents the stylish touch of this memorable partnership.img_0326

Sock it to em with Look Mate

imageYes it’s that time of year again when, yes we start to think about what to buy loved ones for the fast approaching Yuletide, but we also need to think about ourselves and maybe more importantly what we DON’T want as Christmas presents. If you haven’t started dropping hints already, please let does do this service for you and leave this post wide open under the necessary relative who needs that little bit of assistant when it comes to present buying for yours truly.

Without fail, as sure as you can bet on a poor quality flop song from a “talent” show “winner” trying to get to number 1. You sure as hell can expect to be given socks and underwear for Christmas, whether it be Great Auntie Mabel or the Outlaws, socks are always seen as a safe bet for you. Now, I’m sure like me Mr Men Novelty sock were a lovely gift when we were 6, but WE’RE NOT 6 ANYMORE ! So do yourself a favour and start dropping those hint about socks you will wear, like Look Mate.

imageLook Mate is a luxury sock brand aiming to unite everyday functionality with exceptional creativity. Founded in early 2015 by, get ready for it, accountant and entrepreneur Vahan Hovhannisyan and his brother, who had long aspired to create their own brand. They made two lists, no not a naughty and nice list. One was a list of people they wanted to work with, the other was a list of things they felt passionately about, fashion and functionality, and they recognised that the two can be intertwined. Their aim behind their brand was to work with aspiring and inspiring creatives to bring an innovative product that cuts above the rest in delivering a high quality everyday item.

works with designers from all creative walks of life such as furniture designers to visual artists, each of whom have crafted a sock design to embody their own individual themes and personality. Each month Look Mate release a new design collaboration, their latest collaboration ’Supermundane’ by renowned designer and illustrator Rob Lowe, no not him, along with their Christmas socks by Swedish designer Kiki Ljung.image

Ohhh the Weather outside is frightful – Let PUMA Ren help

imageWhether it’s a crisp Autumnal weekend walk or on the commune on these increasingly colder mornings, a simple jacket and run of the mill pair of shoes or even trainers, just won’t cut it at the moment. Bless the hearts of those kind souls over at Puma who this season have introduce abrand new winterised silhouette into the collection in the form of the PUMA Ren.

A high-top sneakerboot made with a premium leather upper and neoprene/mesh sock lining, the PUMA Ren features a textured toebox and mudguard, hiking eyelets and a rugged rubber outsole for ultimate durability and resilience during the winter months.

Available in two colourways of black and olive, so is perfect for fitting in with your existing Winter wardrobe. The Ren Boot is geared up for the great outdoors and has no intention of letting the wind or rain change its game plan.image