The month of September brings you…

MAX LS Ageless Face-Cream by Lab Series

Yes, the fountain of youth was scientifically engineered, and is now being mass produced and sold in 1.7oz jars… TSA approved of course!

MAX LS Ageless Face-Cream is powered by Sirtuin Technology, which helps to dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I know… you’re asking, “What is Sirtuin?”

Sirtuin – is a protein enzyme in our bodies that aids in repairing cell damage by extending the life of a cell. Simply put, if a cell is at a point of deciding whether to live or die, these sirtuins perform “surgery” to help repair the weakened part of the cell.

So when Sirtuin is added to a face cream, picture top surgeons, on-call and ready to handle an emergency on your face!

Hey, I’m convinced! My laugh lines have diminished considerably since using this product. Give it a try, isn’t your face worth it?

It’s summertime! So I believe that it would only be fitting to review a product that can make your summer even better!

MenScience TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30

This ultra-lightweight, oil-free, and waterproof sunblock, quickly absorbs into the skin leaving a matted and clear finish. So no longer will you “look” like you are wearing sunscreen!

MenScience, made it a point to go as high in SPF (SPF30) as realistically possible, while also successfully adding ingredients capable of blocking both UVA & UVB rays!

Here are 4 active ingredients I like!

• Aloe – helps to moisturize the skin, and soothe skin injured by burns.
• Chamomile – helps to stimulate metabolic activity which aids in the healing of inflammatory skin conditions.
• Green Tea – enhances sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen.
• Vitamin E – helps the skin look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

3.4oz for approx. $31… Isn’t your skin worth it?

One of the ways that I go about testing products, is by selecting a few that I like, and then sampling them on my clients during their services. It’s essentially a win-win for me, because their feedback allows me to decide on my next P.O.T.M. (Product of the Month), and it also gives me an opportunity to introduce a new product!

Last month, I sampled Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub in my signature 7-towel shave.  It impressed my clients, as well as myself!

Here’s the skinny…

Two active ingredients:

• Apricot Kernel Oil – extracted from apricot kernels, delivering a higher level of  Vitamin E to the skin. Increasing the moisturizing and softening effect on the skin while also helping to retain the skins clarity and suppleness.
• Caffeine – helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness. (See post: Who said caffeine isn’t good for you?)

To finish off this well balanced scrub, Kiehl’s also added menthol and extracts derived from Lemon and Orange Peels. The complete mixture lives up to its name, by delivering a cool that “wakes up you up”, and your skin! As I’ve mentioned before, a mild exfoliant is perfect for preparing the skin for a shave… and my friend, this is one fits the bill!

Moderately priced @ less than $20, makes this scrub a win-win for you as well!

You know, it wasn’t that long ago that women were the only ones that considered using a body wash.  Now with the boom in the men’s grooming market, they are showing up in department stores and local drugstores vying for the same attention from men!

So I decided to try out a few, to see what makes them so different from regular bath soap…

And, I was pleasantly surprised! Not only do they clean well, but they also give your body a full coat of moisture that no bar of soap can accomplish.

My running favorite so far…?

Cool, Hair and Body Wash by Nivea for Men

5 Reasons Why…

• Scent – it has a great scent that freshens you, and the bathroom, but manages to not overpower your cologne.
• Ingredients – contains Menthol, an active ingredient that awakens the skin while you shower, nice!
• Result – leaves your body feeling clean and your skin extremely moisturized. It almost makes you second guess a body moisturizer!
• 2-in-1 – for those guys that are always in a rush, the same bottle takes care of both the hair and the body!
• Price – coming in at about the same cost of most soap bars, less than $5, it’s within a great price point to convince a man to at least give it a try… Great job!

Baxter of California just recently opened their very first barbershop in Los Angeles, CA.  So, I think that my selection of May 2010′s “Product of the Month” is coincidentally very timely.  Not only does their new barbershop bring back a bit of what has been lost in the barber business, it also provides their superior grooming products in house!

In this rapidly growing men’s grooming industry, it can get very overwhelming with the number of products that are on the market.  So here is a product that I found to stand out among many others in the After Shave category.

After Shave Balm by Baxter of California

I’m impressed! It has a very subtle fragrance that will never overpower your cologne; a light consistency, so it spreads easily without using too much; and, most importantly, as it heals, and hydrates the skin, it delivers an amazing cool that will instantly calm your skin.

Priced @ $15 for 4oz., Baxter of California has positioned a great product at a very affordable price.

Give it a try and tell me what you think!

*Baxter Finley Barber & Shop pics and Article… Click Here!

Created by Ludovico Martelli over 70 years ago in Florence, Italy.  This shaving cream remains on the top of the list for the quality lather that it can produce.  It is also known for being ”the” shaving cream, that many other shaving creams try to imitate.

The name?… Proraso Shaving Cream

At times this cream can be very hard to find.  But once you find it, and try it, you will never forget where to pick up another!

Proraso Shaving Cream, is a traditional shaving soap that is designed to be used with a badger brush. But, if you’re short on time?  No worries… Proraso also provides the same cream in a tube, so you can go brush-less.  Either way you decide to use it, be prepared to experience more lather than you could ever dream of!

As I have stated in many of my posts, moisture is the key to a smooth and comfortable shave.  So don’t wait too long to experience this cream.

“It’s not a wax, not a paste and not a creme…” So what is it? It’s an amazing invention in hair grooming that combines all three!

Sumotech by Bumble and bumble

Finish – Matted: For when you want a product that gives good hold without the blinding effects when you’re in the sun!

Texture – Creamy-paste: Allows your fingers to style like a pro, without making it seem like you spent forever in the mirror.

Hold – Mid-weight: Provides a subtle hold that lasts all day but also allows the freedom to re-style at any point with just the use of your fingers, all without weakening the hold.

Sumotech is a fantastic addition to your grooming kit. Priced competitively between $22 -$25, you can’t go wrong. Trust me, I’ve been using Sumotech for the past 3 years, on roughly 85% of my customers!

In short, get it!

It’s cold, it’s dry and your skin’s trying to tell you something.  You know, sometimes you need something stronger, something you can trust that will give you all day moisture protection, without the worries of having to re-apply throughout the day.  Is there really a product out there that can give you this, and then take it further by also smoothing out your fine lines?

Well there is, and its been around for a long time so I’m going to help it get the buzz it truly deserves!

Dermalogica’s – Instant Moisture Balance

Designed to hydrate, improve elasticity, and reduce fine lines… How you ask?

With Vitamins of course!

• Vitamin A – helps to increase your skin’s elasticity
• Vitamin C & E – aids in reducing skin damaging free radical activity, which helps the lipid barrier (skin’s outer layer), seal in moisture.  The more moist your skin…the less lines you see!

This moisturizer truly packs a punch with its all-in-one design. It is a bit pricier than other products in it’s category, but I’ve been using the same tube for over 3 months now, and I still have a little bit left!

Get it!

We’ve all used, or at least heard of the company Vaseline… right?  For me, it was the first time I ever heard the words “Petroleum Jelly”.  I used this brand well into my teenage years, but as I got older I stopped.  I was in search of a better product, one that made my skin feel healthier and that was less common on women’s bathroom counters.

So, now that I have my grooming regimen down pat, Vaseline comes up with a line specifically for me, I mean “men”… sorry!  They realized, along with so many other product lines, that the needs of men are very different from their female counterparts.  For one, “a man’s skin is much thicker and far oilier than a woman’s”.

After years of research, Vaseline has created - Vaseline MEN – Body & Face and Hand Lotion.  It is designed to be quickly absorbed into the skin, leaving the skin protected, but not greasy.

I chose this product as my first Product of the Month, for several reasons:

(1) It is a great product for under $10.00

(2) It can be found in most drugstores (where most men shop for their grooming supplies)

(3) Michael Strahan is the spokesperson… (Go NY Giants!)

All jokes aside, I am impressed that Vaseline researched and found a way to make a product that is relevant to today’s “New Age” man.

Another month has come and gone, but the one good thing I always seem to look forward to is the opportunity to review another great product!  This month I decided to stay with the theme of hair grooming, and found a great shampoo, conditioner and a daily hydrator all within the same line for your enjoyment.

So without further adieu…please welcome Frederick Benjamin grooming!

All three items are packed with 4 natural oils: Spearmint, Nettle, Clove  and Hemp Seed.  So, forget the coffee! The combination of these 4 oils, create a whirlwind of aromas that not only wake you up in the morning, but tingles just enough to feel like it is massaging your scalp! 

And yes, if these products are tingling your scalp…they are working!

Shampoo – Invigorating Cleanser- gentle cleansing agent, designed to exfoliate the scalp and unclog pores without stripping its moisture.  

Conditioner -  Invigorating Moisturizer - Relieves itching, flaking, and replenishes moisture to restore softness and elasticity.

Daily Hydrator – Leave-in Conditioner – Lightweight and oil-free.  Softens, shines, cools and refreshes!

I know, I am not the only one that likes for something to “feel” like it’s working.  I mean honestly, most men are just this way.  And, this is where Frederick Benjamin grooming, got it right!  It cleans, moisturizes, and you know it!