Bronzing the safe way

Fake tan for men is dodgy ground. If the fear of being ribbed down the pub by your mates isn’t bad enough, you could potentially end up looking like the tangoed cast of The Only Way is Essex or the illuminous Gavin Henson.

But if you can’t get away for some winter sun and your face is looking grey and as pale as the cast of Twilight, then there is a product which can help.

Anthony Logistics for Men Anti Aging Self Tanner is a natural tanning formula, which doesn’t contain any chemical nasties. It is non-greasy and is easily applied to the skin. It can be used daily or every other day depending on how deep and dark you wish to tan. It also contains anti-ageing peptides and smells great too. The key thing about this product is that it won’t leave you with streaky lines or orange patches.

Apply to face and neck after washing and just remember to wash your hands, otherwise you will end up with orange mitts. RRP £20 for 70ml www.poised.co.uk

The 80 blade shave

I’m off to the UK launch of Gillette’s Fusion ProGlide razor tonight, which I’m excited about, as these events usually entail a lot of free drinks.

The ProGlide was launched in the US last year (February 2010) and inevitably it was going to reach our shores at some point. I haven’t tried it yet – but I have heard good things. It features re-engineered, finer blades, a unique Microcomb to guide hairs towards the blade, a larger Lubrastrip, improved precision trimmer and a streamlined ‘Snowplow’ Comfort Guard to help maintain optimum contact with the skin. Take a look at the picture.

However it now seems that the ProGlide might be scrapped all together after I received information today that Gillette was launching an 80 blade razor. Now my first thought was, yeah, I can see that. The next step after five blades has to be 80 – let’s see Wilkinson Sword and King of Shaves beat that! And then of course you realise it’s a marketing spoof, which I am quite sad about. Just picture yourself shaving with 80 blades! Magnificent – although you might need some industrial sized toilet roll to patch up any cuts.

Check out the spoof viral of the Gillette MagmaCore Extreme:

Got to Facebook.com/GilletteUK to check out the Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor.

Hitting 2011 with style and fashion

Happy New Year to all you Grooming Guy readers!

After the Christmas break we are back and ready to expand into the new year by offering more than just product reviews and advice. Stay tuned for our new fashion and style channels!

So, a brand new year equals a brand new hair cut. Check out the fresh trim below.

To get this style use TIGI B For Men Matte Separation Workable Wax  (also known as Bed Head) – £9.95 for 75g. Perfect for getting maximum hold with a natural finish. Very pliable which makes styling easy.

Fuel for the face

Every day your skin goes 12 rounds with Rocky and takes a battering. Protect and rescue it with these three great products, road tested by The Grooming Guy:

Lab Series – Power Wash

This stuff cuts through dirt and grime with ease. It’s ideal for normal or oily skin types and is great for unblocking pores and reducing redness.

It comes in a foaming gel with enzymes that remove excess oil and the build up of grease and filth from pollution. It is also a nice product for prepping your beard before you shave. Use day and night.

£19.00 for 250ml http://www.mankind.co.uk

Bulldog – Original Moisturiser

Keeping your skin hydrated is vital – drink lots of water and use a good moisturiser.

Bulldog’s daily moisturiser will keep your skin fresh and smooth. It’s also free of chemical nasties like parabens, sodium laureth sulfate and synthetic fragrances. Bulldog prides itself on naturally and ethically sourced products.

Also comes in two variants – one for sensitive skin and one with anti ageing properties.

£5.99 for 100ml http://www.boots.com

Dr. Lewinns – MEN Day Moisturiser SPF 15 50m

As well as keeping your skin hydrated you need to protect it against harmful UV rays and other free radicals.

Dr. LeWinn’s Men Day Moisturiser SPF 15 is a non greasy day moisturiser which protects against the harsh environment.

Apparently it uses the natural Oceanic Repair System (ORS), based on natural Brown and Red Algae Extracts, known for their soothing properties to help repair and calm the skin.

£30.00 for 50ml http://www.poised.co.uk

The Grooming Guy becomes Poised.co.uk’s Online Grooming Editor

Over the next few months I will be writing a second blog for Poised.co.uk, a new online store dedicated to providing premium grooming, fitness and wellbeing supplies for men.

I will be offering tips and advice on what products can help you to look your best, protect you from the harsh weather, kick the signs of tiredness, beat the effects of ageing, defeat the hangovers and stay looking young.

You can read my first post here http://www.poised.co.uk/blog/news/our-new-grooming-guy/

The Grooming Guy’s Christmas gift guide #1

Over the next couple of weeks I will adding products that are ideal gifts for blokes this Christmas.

First up – Tom Ford Extreme

It might not be cheap, a 50ml bottle will set you back £80, but personally I think it is well worth the investment.

It has a powerful, long-lasting scent, which is guaranteed to get you noticed. The mix of Sandalwood, Black Truffle, Italian Fig, Plum and Parma Violet will ignite the nostrils and senses of any woman. It also contains Vanilla which gives it a note of sweetness.

This is the type of scent you throw on and instantly want to go out and cause trouble.

Fight the 9 to 5 grind while you sleep

This night cream is by far one of the best purchases you will ever make, but it does come with a hefty price tag. Slap it on before bed and it is guaranteed to  give you noticeable results in a short space of time, leaving skin looking smooth and toned.

The peak detoxing times for the body are between 12am and 12pm, so the skin’s regeneration process is at its optimum during the hours of sleep. This cream is designed to replenish oxygen (by up to 41%) lost during the day as a direct result of the sun and harsh winter weather.

This stuff has great anti-agening propeties too, which helps to fight off those dark circles and fine lines caused by nights out on the town and slaving away at your nine to five  job.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream 50ml – RRP £90.00 www.johnlewis.com

Banish back fuzz forever

Some blokes are, understandably, concerned about sporting unsightly body hair in places like the back and shoulders. If you’re cracking out the Chewbacca look on the beach and getting some dodgy looks then read on….

Shaving is the cheapest and fastest option of getting rid of body hair, but is short term and stubble can itch like hell. Then there is waxing, which, well, I can imagine bloody hurts not to mention being fairly awkward. But there is another option – Intense Pulse Light or IPL.

So how does it work? A light beam is used on the skin which is absorbed by the melanin contained in the hair follicle, which is then converted into thermal energy. This heat cauterises the vessel connecting to the base of the hair, effectively destroying the hair causing it to fall out and never grow again. IPL treatments are meant to be painless and 100% safe, but often come with a hefty price tag and trips to the salon.

However you can now perform this treatment at home. The dermatologist-approved E>One is as close as you’ll get to a professional IPL treatment. At nearly £1,500 it doesn’t come cheap, but still works out cheaper than a series of salon treatments, and you can do it in the privacy of your own home.

The E>One has six levels of intensity, each of which can be changed to match a different kind of hair density, skin tone or body area. After 10-12 treatments skin should be completely hair free, with only one or two uses per year required to maintain a smooth area.

It’s expensive, but a life without worrying about shoulder fuzz is definitely worth the money, so get saving!

E>One by E>Swin is £1450 from e-swin.com

Grooming big shot: Will King, Founder and CEO of King of Shaves

Fresh from signing a distribution deal with US grooming giant Remington, to launch his brand in America, The Grooming Guy caught up with the King of Shaves himself, Mr. Will King.

King of Shaves will launch a new system razor, co-branded with Remington, in the US next spring, while Remington’s parent company Spectrum, which supplies retailers across the US, will distribute King of Shaves branded men’s grooming products.

And he has a smile on his face. Mr King believes the expansion will grow the company’s revenues to £100m by 2013, representing around 5% of the US market.

The Grooming Guy spoke to him about breaking into the US, the future of the shaving market, his plans for 2011, and his favourite grooming products:

TGG: You have just signed a groundbreaking deal with Remington – why did you choose to partner with a competitor rather than go it alone?

WK: The US has been a graveyard for British brands in the past, so it was clear we needed a large American partner to even begin speaking to the big retailers like Walmart and Target. Spectrum has more than £1bn of sales going into Walmart alone. It’s vital that you take a lead from people who understand the market. I am confident we can deliver our King of Shaves wet shave expertise alongside the Remington position in electrical men’s grooming.

TGG: You have just taken on investment from Japanese firm Kai Industries, how will this help you to move forward in 2011?

WK: The investment will help to drive our global manufacturing, tooling and production capacity to help us serve the US market. Kai helped us to develop the Azor and bring a wealth of expertise in developing high-tech products.

TGG: What’s next in the pipeline that you can tell us about?

WK: If I told you, I would have to kill you. But I can tell you that with 2011 around the corner we’ll have a new Azor with the X Factor! Watch this space.

TGG: Your a bit of a social media mogul – a prolific blogger and tweeter – how important is this for communicating the KoS brand?

WK: I think it’s huge. It allows us to reach a global audience for free, while our competitors spend millions on traditional marketing. I am able to give KoS a personality, which the public can connect with, and it allows me to directly communicate with customers.

TGG: Can you tell us about the new KoS iPhone App?

WK: It’s going to be a commercial app and will be launching very soon. It will allow the customer to delve into the the KoS brand and choose the products that are right for them.

TGG: Describe KoS in one word.

WK: KING!

TGG: What kind of technology will we be using to shave with in the year 2030?

WK: Nano technology will play a huge role. We won’t be shaving with four or five blades, but 200,000,000 self sharpening individual stubble slicers cutting away the hair follicles.

TGG: The Grooming Guy recently invented a new cocktail to encapsulate the brand (The Gsquared). What drink would best reflect the KoS brand?

WK: Ha. Erm, something smooth, easy to drink and modern. I would go with a mix of Belvedere Vodka and a Dirty Martini.

READERS’ QUESTIONS

TGG: Best shaving tip for guys?

WK: In the shower with a fog free mirror.

TGG: What three grooming products could you not live without?

WK: 1. Commes des Incense Kyoto 2.Kings Flawless Hold Hair Gel 3. Colgate toothpaste

TGG: If R&D led innovation is the key to developing shaving technology that provide consumers with closer, more comfortable shaves, how does this relate to your business strategy ‘ the Aspiration of Fair’ that will effectively move the brand towards less technologically advanced products?

WK: The Fair I’m talking about is delivering a close, comfortable and long lasting shave to a consumer, at a Fair, not artificially, monopolistically, over-inflated price. Fair is about looking at ways to make a razor cartridge last longer, deliver more value, not wear out so quickly. Take our Azor handle for example, which is made of only one part, rather than some competitor handles, which are made of 16 or more parts. We are delivering high-tech innovation, but not over-charging our customers for embracing it. Better technology shouldn’t equate to extortionate prices.

Follow Will King’s blog: http://blogs.shave.com/king/ and follow him on Twitter @KingofShaves

Check out the Beever

Fresh for winter 2010 The Grooming Guy has found a great new hair styling range for us blokes, called Beever.

The products have been brought to market by some top hairdressing industry names, including the founder of top men’s hair salons City Gent and members of the British Hairdressing Team. Beever have 15 products available including styling waxes, clays, sprays and serums, as well as preparation products for protection and nutrition.

The Grooming Guy tested the NO.2 Moulding Clay, which is ideal for short messy styles. It gives great hold and leaves a natural finish to the hair. Highly recommend this product. RRP £11.25 for 100ml.

The Grooming Guy also tested the NO.4 Mattifying Paste, which gives a less matt texture effect and works well on slightly longer hair. Great for giving that ‘just got out of bed look’ or sleeker styles. RRP £11.25 for 100ml.

It is also worth grabbing Beever’s Daily Shampoo, which is good for removing any heavy build up of product, which can be a real issue for many guys. RRP £9.95 for 250ml.

Beever products are available online at www.beever.co.uk and will also be in over 400 salons across the UK. It is also nice to know that if you buy online they won’t charge for postage or for using a credit card. Nice.