prep

Dial for Men: The Lazy Approach to Showering

Thu, 27 May 2010 22:07:29 +0100

We have all been there. Waking up on a Monday morning tired and hung over. The last thing we want to do is add anymore chores to showering. Lather, rinse, and repeat? I dont think so. Dial has created a men's line that cuts shower time. Dial for Men is a hydrating wash for skin and hair. All in one. The smell is addictive and won't dry out your skin.

Dermalogica Exfoliating Brush.

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:29:07 +0100

I have been hearing great things about Dermalogica products for a while now but I haven't really had the need for something so intense. However, the face wash I'm currently using is ridiculously liquidy. It lathers up but falls right off my face once i put it on. I was perusing the Dermalogica section at Ulta the other day and I came across their Exfoliating Face Brush. I use it now with my face wash and it is fantastic. I really feel that my skin is cleaning so much better. You can purchase the brush anywhere Dermalogica is sold or at their website, HERE.

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Skin Care Tips from MarioBadescu.com!

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:29:57 +0100

Mario Badescu products have been featured on our website in the past, and we are excited to provide you skin care tips from their website!

Tip # 1 Do use the proper products for your skin type. There is no one-size-fits-all skin care regimen. Every skin and lifestyle is different and your skin care should reflect this. What you use, how and when is very important for women and men alike

Tip # 2 Do not leave you skin unprotected from the sun and elements. Sun exposure is the primary reason for premature aging and damage to the skin. Exposure to cold, dry air can leave the skin chapped and wind burned

Tip # 3 Do use lukewarm water to cleanse and shave. It keeps excess oil production at bay and protects the delicate capillaries under the skin from damage.

Tip # 4 Do not grab a bar of soap or random cleanser to wash your face. Bar soap strips the skin’s natural oils and is strongly alkaline weakening the skin’s protective acid mantle. Soap also leaves an invisible residue behind, dulling the skin’s surface.

For more great skin care tips for men, visit mariobadescu.com!

Product Review: Nivea Active 3 for Men

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:10:45 +0100

I've been using Nivea's Active 3 body wash/shave cream/shampoo for a few weeks now and I have to say that it is an O.K. product. Not the best, but not the worst. It does everything it says it can do. I was able to shave, wash my hair and body all with the same product.

It was very time-friendly [which is very helpful for someone who is time-challenged, like me] but it left my skin feeling like something was left behind. When you take a shower, you are supposed to wash everything off so your skin feels clean and moisturized, right? Well, my skin felt kind of slick, as if everything was not properly rinsed away.

As far as a body wash, I didn't like it. When it comes to the shampoo, it worked fairly well. My hair felt clean and considering that the main styling product I use in my hair (Paul Mitchell Spray Wax) is a little difficult to remove, that's saying a lot.

As a "shave cream", it gets the job done....sort of. It doesn't give you a lot of lather to begin with and it starts falling away almost as soon as you put it on your face. Thanks to the slickness that is left behind after washing it away, my shaves have resulted in all-around smoothness. However, i don't like the feeling that something has been left behind on my face.

I'm giving this product a 7 out of 10 stars. While I appreciate the help with getting me ready quicker, I could definitely use less of the slickness after the rinse.

I've checked out a few other reviews of this product and most guys seem to be happy with it. One even recommended it highly to travelers; less to pack and more functionality. Here's the thing, we all have different reactions to different products. If you've tried it and have something to add to this review, let us know!

To find out more about Nivea's Active 3 3-in-1 Shower Gel [and to watch what I find to be a pretty funny instructional video], click HERE.

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Lip Service.

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:41:38 +0100

I remember an episode of this little show called Friends [maybe you've heard of it?], where Joey's secret to getting the kiss at the end of a first date is a little bit of raspberry lip gloss. There is no way I'd ever wear lip gloss [unless I got paid] but I do know how to make my lips look healthy and...hmmm, inviting? No matter what season it is, I keep hearing about proper lip care "for the season". How many different ways can there be to care for your lips?! Well, my solution is to care for your lips year round.

While the ladies sometimes enjoy that little bit of scruff on a man, don't let it be from your dry, chapped lips. I've tried MANY different lip balms and now I'm sharing 3 of my favorites with you.

Jack Black (not the actor) products are really a top-of-the-line, made-for-men line of skincare. Every product I've ever used from the brand has never failed to impress me. Their lip balms are no exception. I usually use the Natural Mint flavored one. It always helps when my lips are feeling a little less than perfect. Of course, all their lip balms are packed with SPF to protect from the sun's rays and the natural mint even helps freshen your breath. As with everything, a little goes a long way. While this has a very, very light shine to it (as with any lip balm), overuse will look glossy. Pick this one up at GetJackBlack.com, and be sure to check out their range of products.

The reason I love these products is stated directly on the packaging....NO FAKE CRAP. These are all natural, truly functional lip balms. There is a limited availability of this product because they don't supply to "MegaCrapStore"'s. Their entire collection is available for purchase online. Even though this lip balm comes from a company that makes a lot of novelty products, this lip balm works. Get it at BlueQ.com.

This is the one to go for when you have some crazy, messed-up lips. DO NOT wear this one out of the house. I use this at night, mostly during the summer when my lips are drier than usual. It is very thick, but works to seal in moisture and smooth out rough spots. At $15, this is the most expensive of the bunch. It is worth it though, as you can use it on other dry spots as well [even on your cuticles] and it definitely works to fix your dry lips. Get it at Murad.com.

BONUS: This one should be a given but ChapStick makes some of the most dependable lip products EVER. My go-to lip balm is definitely the Mint ChapStick. The problem with ChapStick [as I recently discussed with Matt, TMFB food editor] is that once you stop using it, it seems that your lips take it out on you. Dryness is almost immediate after a few hours without ChapStick. Maybe they should call it CrackStick? hmmm....

Got any other lip balm suggestions? Shoot me an email and let me know!

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

A Quick Pick-Me-Up.

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:58:23 +0100

If your face is looking a little tired after a rough day at work or even if you've been missing out on sleep, this masque will wake your face up with an extreme cooling sensation and some very deep cleansing. It's Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque. It helps get rid of blackheads (which, for some guys, are a never-ending story), calm redness and it can even be used as a spot-acne treatment. Now, are you ready for the best part?! It only costs $4!!! That's right! FOUR DOLLARS! Two warnings: 1] use it PRIOR to shaving. It will burn if used after. 2] you probably wouldn't wanna walk around the house with this masque on while in the company of a lady. It doesn't look very nice BUT it definitely works.

You can find this product at your local drugstore or check it out on Drugstore.com.

If you've tried it, sound off in the comments! If you're going to, let us know how it works....

-Farzad
farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Summer Fragrances. Editor's Picks.

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:40:02 +0100

A man's cologne tells a story. The scent has the ability to attract or repel people from your social circle. You only have one chance to make a good first impression, so you might as well smell good in the process.

First of all, don’t bathe in your cologne. A spritz here and a spritz there is good enough. You don’t want to make people pass out from the fumes when you pass by. We have all made that mistake before, you know who you are. Lets go with one spray in the upper chest/neck area and one spray on either arm. You can do a spray on each arm, if you please, but limit yourself to 3 sprays!! When you put cologne in places that sweat forms, its smell reacts with your body chemicals to produce your own unique scent; if the cologne is right for you, this truly is a "scent" and not an "odor". If the cologne is not right for you, then that's a different story.

Before I start the top 3, I just wanted to let you guys out there know Acqua Di Gio will not be on this list for onemajor reason...do you know anyone who doesn't own a bottle of this cologne? Trust me, this product has run its course. It's over and done with and now makes people want to vomit. It is time to branch out and smell different people!

My Picks:
Number 1 for this summer is Tiffany for Men. I know what you're thinking, "Did he just mention the expensive, famous-for-mostly-women jewelry brand? That's right, and you wont break the bank in order to smell classy. After you purchase this cologne, you really can afford to have breakfast at Tiffany's. At $75, this cologne is subtle and smells great. The scent isn’t overpowering and will make a lasting impression on the people you meet. Made with citrus oils and rich woody aroma, this scent is great for outdoor gatherings.

Number 2 is Lacoste Esstentials for $65. This cologne is sure to get the ladies' attention. The scent is infused with spices, for a fresh, heart pounding smell. Splash it on and head out to the bar. Also check out Lacoste Redand Silver.

Number 3 is Dirty English by Juicy Couture, for $52. This scent is brings out the passion. Mixed with pepper and mandarin, this scent is for the evening and will help you live fast and in the moment.

Farzad's Picks [written by Farzad]:

1- Marc Jacobs Men by Marc Jacobs - This is the perfect cologne for any occasion. Its subtle enough for a quiet dinner with your girlfriend and it definitely comes out to play when you do. Remember what Joey said about the cologne reacting with your body's chemicals as you sweat? Well, this cologne is a perfect example.

2- Prada Man by Prada - So fresh and so clean, clean! Seriously, if you are having a stank day, try this. It smells clean and soapy, but not like you just stepped out of the shower. I'm talking clean like "fresh" clean. Give it a spray and you'll see what I mean.

Dalit's Pick [written by Farzad]:

Le Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier- When I [Farzad] asked Dalit what her favorite fragrance on a guy was, she immediately responded with this pick. I totally agree with her that it smells really good but it is a bit strong so you might want to go easy with this one. I mean it, maybe just one spray. Before you get dressed. One day early......ok, so maybe it's not THAT strong, but you really do wanna go light on this one.

*Click the cologne name to be linked to their site for purchase or inquiries.

-Joey

joey@themensfashionblog.com

**Remember to spray accordingly. Friends don't let friends over-saturate**

ClarinsMen Products.

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:58:29 +0100

I don't know about you but I have always had trouble with shaving. I use an electric razor on a daily basis but every once in a while, I feel the need to shave with an actual razor. My problem is that I don't have the slightest clue what to do. Today, I tried something different. As opposed to shaving cream, shave oil is much more beneficial to your skin. Most shaving creams contain soaps, which dry out your skin. If you have very oily skin, this could work in your favor, but if you have normal to slightly oily skin, as I do, this can pose a problem. The great thing about shave oil is that it immediately softens your hair, making shaving easier, and it hydrates your skin. I might have gone a bit overboard this morning with 2 pumps of the oil (I'm sure I would have been fine with just one) but the end result was like nothing I've ever had before. My face was literally softer than a baby's ass.

Try ClarinsMen products. They aren't reformulated women's products, rather they are made specifically for men's skin. I recommend the Huile de Rasage (shave oil) and the Baume Hydratant (moisturizing balm). Both products are definitely worth it. Each one weighs in at just over an ounce and while that may not seem like much, you really don't need a lot to achieve great results. Shave oil = one pump. Moisture Balm = 1/2 pump. Use the Moisture Balm after shaving, in place of after shave, to soothe your face and aid in repair of whatever mishaps you may have had during shaving.

Click HERE to go to the men's section of Clarins.com.

-Farzad

farzad@themensfashionblog.com

Foot for Thought.

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:57:15 +0100

I originally meant for this to be posted later in the week, but seeing as how our Special Features Contributor created a post about flip-flops, I knew this had to come sooner. Yes, it’s summertime. Yes, it’s time for flip-flops. NO, you cannot go out with raunchy feet.

Whether you’d like to admit it or not, people are conscious of how others dress and look. The harsh reality is that they DO judge based on people’s appearance. If you are rockin’ some really cool flip-flops, they won’t be the first thing that girl 4 tables down will look at. She won’t be able to see past the dry, flaky and unappealing things stuck in the flip-flops. YOU MUST CARE FOR YOUR FEET!! [I hope I didn’t yell….] Hydrate! Clean! Trim! Exfoliate! Moisturize!!!! [I can’t stress the last one enough]

I’ve prepared somewhat of a “tutorial” to help you out with basic foot-care:

1] The very first thing you need to do is CLEAN your feet. The easiest way I’ve found is to just get in the shower, and scrub ‘em down! You can just use bar soap and a foot brush or a foot scrub (which would incorporate Step 3: exfoliation). This is important as a first step because in order for you to know what needs to be fixed, you must be able to see the problem clearly.

2] Next, after you dry off, of course, TRIM your toenails. Remember to go straight across!! If you cut your toenails on a curve, you could end up with painful, very unattractive ingrown toenails. Once you’ve trimmed the nails [straight across!!!], use a nail file to smooth them out. This is the time to round them out…but don’t get crazy with it! Move the file from side to side across the tip of the nail. Make sure not to go in an up/down motion because you’ll end up with chipped toenails. When you’re done, be sure that you have no jagged edges sticking out that may scratch up your girlfriend’s legs. Consider this, self-maintenance is not so much a service to yourself, but a courtesy to others.

3] This is the part where we make your feet as soft as a baby’s bottom through the art of EXFOLIATION. Yes, your feet will be that soft. Now, it’s up to you on the method here but I’m going to list a few options depending on the roughness of your feet.

- Light - got a face scrub? Use a little on slightly rough feet…saves you a trip to the drugstore! Whatever scrub you’ve got, it’ll be a nice pick-me-up for slightly tired feet.

- Medium - For feet that are a bit flaky, try Kiehl’s Ultra Moisturizing Buffing Cream. It has exfoliating particles to gently get rid of rough spots.

- Crazy Rough - For feet that are a bit too caveman, you might have to reach for the Ped-Egg. It’s kind of like a cheese grater, but for your feet. This is sure to get rid of any flakiness on your feet.

- Oh Dear God!! - If you’re feet are just SO funky that none of the above has worked for you, go to a professional. Just suck it up and go to a spa! It’s definitely worth it because it feels good!!!

4] Now that you’ve got your feet flip-flop ready, don’t forget to moisturize! This is probably the most critical step. Try this little experiment: only moisturize one foot, and then, look at the difference between the two. Does one look like it was lopped off of a corpse? Yeah, I thought so. Now do you see what I mean about proper moisturizing? It can make a WORLD of difference. The cream that does exactly what its name says is the Miracle Foot Repair Cream. It covers everything regarding your feet. Stink? Check. Dryness? Check. Cracks and itchiness? Check and check! And it makes your feet feel damn nice, too!

So there you have it, the [almost] foolproof guide to summer feet. It really only takes about 20 minutes to get your feet in flip-flop shape. And if you don’t have 20 minutes [liar!], just make sure your toenails are trimmed and your feet are moisturized. Trust me, it does make a difference.

Skin Care That Actually Works!

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:56:31 +0100

So here I am, helping out a friend with his blog, and hopefully he puts my contribution up. Skin care is a very important subject that goes hand and hand with fashion. If your face doesn't look good, then you don't feel good.

Many of the brands that you can find at your local store usually do not do the trick. Facewashes like Neutrogena and Clearasil usually cause more breakouts and tend to dry out your skin, instead of providing the necessary nutrients your skin needs daily.

I found this special skin care line online and also found counters at various high end department stores like Nordstroms. Mario Badescu is the line that carries it all. Treatments that cover acne, acne scarring, and even back and chest problems. The line also includes numerous serums and lotions to help fight wrinkles and keep skin hydrated. Mario Badescu is known for their Drying lotion. This magic lotion dries up pimples over night. I didn't believe it at first and for the price of $17.00 for a 1oz bottle, I was skeptical. Luckily for me, I had a pimple!! I wanted it to go away fast so I finally decided to give it a try . I applied to lotion to the troubled area and overnight, the pimple reduced in size and the redness was gone. They even have a special section just for guys.

I highly recommend the peppermint shaving cream that mosturizes and hydrates your skin, rather than causing red bumps and dryness. Mario Badescu is your one stop shop for all your skin care needs. Thanks Mario!

Peppermint Shaving Cream

Drying Lotion

To purchase these products, and to see their full line,

visit www.mariobadescu.com or nordstrom.com

-Joey DePierro, Special Features Editor

joey@themensfashionblog.com