All posts filed under: Face

How to treat pigmentation, dark spots and uneven skin tone

Published by Mark Smith

When someone asks: “How to treat pigmentation”, the number one message is all about prevention and protection and that is absolutely vital when it comes to pigmentation. It’s easier to prevent than to treat it. Having said that, there are some great ways that skincare boffins have discovered to help reduce dark spots, uneven skin tone and pigmentation using the latest skincare technology. We talk to some of the world’s leading skincare experts to discover what pigmentation actually is and how to treat pigmentation and dark spots too. What is pigmentation? Dr Murad explains: “Hyperpigmentation, age spots and freckles are all signs of melanin coming to the surface of damaged skin. Sun damage is a major, although not sole, cause of pigmentation and results in a less even skin tone which can make people look older. Sun damage not only causes hyperpigmentation but also results in a rougher, drier texture, dark circles around the eyes and wrinkles – all which add to an older-looking skin.” Dr Nicholas Perricone elaborates further saying: “Hyperpigmentation is one of …

Elemis Superfood Skincare range - The Spa Man

Elemis Superfood Skincare launches

Published by Mark Smith

Building on the success of its award-winning Superfood Facial Oil, Elemis has developed the cutting-edge Elemis Superfood Skincare range. The theory is that what’s good for your body is good for your skin – indeed! Nutrient-rich and vegan-friendly, the collection includes Superfood Facial Wash, Superfood Day Cream and Superfood Night Cream. Designed to support the healthy microflora on the skin’s surface, a pre-biotic complex protects the skin’s delicate microbiome. The new Supergreen Complex of kale extract and avocado oil plus Supergrain Complex with quinoa, black seed, and barley nourish the skin with anti-oxidants and omega oils for a healthy radiant glow. These are power-packed with anti-oxidants, omega fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to feed the skin with exactly what it needs. The Pre-biotic is designed to help support the healthy microflora on the skin’s surface, helping to balance and maintain the skin’s eco=system. Elemis Superfood Facial Wash The Superfood Facial Wash is a pre-biotic oil-gel product that removes make-up and cleanses the skin. It contains Supergreen Complex plus wheatgrass, broccoli and pumpkin seed oils, nettle …

Voya launches male range: Voya Man

Published by Mark Smith

Voya has created a capsule collection of targeted men’s products, suitably titled: Voya Man. It’s due to launch in February 2018. Voya is a brand I know and love. It’s renowned for its seaweed baths at Strandhill in Sligo and you can recreate this at home with its Lazy Days product. Read my review of that HERE I have experienced the seaweed baths in Ireland and even been hand harvesting seaweed on the wild Atlantic Coast of Ireland. This company is the real deal offering organic, seaweed-based products and spa treatments formulated with great botanical ingredients and aromatherapy oils to achieve impressive skincare and wellbeing results. Voya Man Voya Man is a three step regime designed by men for men. These facial products are performance based, acting against wrinkles, enlarged pores, inflammation and dehydrated skin. Targeting men’s concerns for healthy, hydrated, and irritant-free skin these formulations are proven to have visible effects. The anti-aging and hydrating properties of wild Irish Seaweed combined with active Sea Heather soothes the skin, and acts as a protecting layer against the weather/ …

Jack Black Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel launches

Published by Mark Smith

Jack Black Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel is a potent cooling gel with advanced ingredients and soothing extracts. It is applied with a cooling stainless-steel massaging roller-ball applicator to dissipate the fluid retention that creates the puffy eye appearance. It’s a handy little item to have in your travel bag or gym kit. The best tip with any eye product – is use it. It won’t work sitting in the cupboard. Morning and night is preferable for maximum results. This one promises to energise and refresh tired-looking eyes with a blend of hydrating ingredients, soothing botanical extracts, and nourishing vitamins which together help reduce puffiness, soften the appearance of fine lines, and brighten eyes. The clear, lightweight gel absorbs immediately with its mess-free, non-sticky formula. What’s in the Jack Black new Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel? Chamomile Extract: Helps soothe and de-puff tired-looking eyes Grape Seed Extract and Vitamins A, C & E: Encourages cell-turnover to help brighten skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines Panthenol & Sodium Hyaluronate: Provides lightweight yet effective moisturisation and …

What’s hemp got to do with it? Perricone MD launches CBx for Men

Published by Mark Smith

CBx for Men is the new capsule collection of men’s products from Perricone MD and boy do they deliver. I’ve been trialling them for over a month and have been suitably impressed with the textures, skin fell and results. I wondered what the CBx stood for – but it is a reference to phytocannabinoids, which is a key ingredient the three products in the Perricone MD CBx for Men skincare line. Formulated with Cannabis Sativa, phytocannaboids promise to visibly calm irritation, smooth the skin, balance oily patches, and help to maintain hydration in the skin. Phytocannabinoids are non-psychoactive cannabinoids derived from the cannabis sativa plant and have no recreational use. The phytocannabinoids used in the CBx for Men range are extracted from the mature stalk of the fiber-type hemp plant. Phytocannabinoids are said to deliver powerful antioxidant benefits which help stressed, oil-prone skin feel soothed, healthy and refreshed. These benefits are especially important for mens skin which tends to be dry and irritated as a result of shaving or frequent exposure to the elements. so this is …

Stoer Skincare for Men is modern, no-fuss and really works

Published by Mark Smith

Stoer Skincare for Men is a bit of a revelation. A simple, effective, modern range of skincare for men that’s no-fuss, straight forward and really works. Born in the wilds of the North of Scotland, the range has been created by Marianne Morrison who has an interesting background, having worked in the oil industry and prior to that as a skin therapist. Combining her knowledge of skin and working closely with lots of blokes, she got to know the concerns and attitudes of men to skincare. So all-in-all she gained some very valuable insights. Many years later and after much research and development she launched Stoer to market, firstly in Harvey Nichols and soon to spread its wings to other retailers. Its key premise is to protect and defend skin against the elements. Stoer Skincare for Men has been developed with signature Clima5 Technology – a unique blend of five skin-saving plant actives from around the world, from four very challenging climates. Clima5 has been encapsulated in cutting-edge ‘cosmetic drone’ technology which is said to …

FOREO Luna for Men

Published by Mark Smith

Gadgets and grooming go together. The razor is one of the most lucrative and innovative sectors and now beards as de rigour, there are swathes of tools and electrical items to preen and trim full follicled faces. A few years ago cleansing face gadgets swamped the women’s skincare sector and it was a natural progression for them to eventually target men too. And why not – everyone loves a clean face right? A deep thorough cleanse is fairly high on most men’s wish list, removing grim, dirt and blackheads. Gadgets do help and make the whole process quicker and easier. I’ve tried the quick action brushes and they work like a dream. Especially in the shower. For an even more high tech option, FOREO has launched FOREO LUNA for Men. It’s a cleansing device designed for a man’s skin and typically it comes in black. The press release hails it as the Ultimate Pre-Shaving Skincare Device for a Closer More Comfortable Shave after Just 1-Minute! Well I have to say I’ve used it as a …

nügg Face Masks

Published by Mark Smith

nügg Face Masks are rather dinky little travel-friendly face masks that are not only a great price (£3.29) they are an ideal pick-me-up for the face when its been a bit neglected. I decided to put them to the test on a break in Ibiza, knowing I would be out in the sun and swimming in the sea everyday. I knew my face would need an added boost of nourishing and hydrating ingredients and each mask in the range addresses a different concern – be it soothing, hydrating, cleansing, exfoliating, revitalizing and anti-ageing. nügg’s innovative facemasks are manufactured with what is said to be an innovative Natural Oil Dispersion Technology that uses physics instead of chemistry to blend oil and water which avoids the use of chemical emulsifiers that can impair the natural skin barrier function. Did they live up to the hype? So I tried out nügg Hydrating Face Mask and it does what it says on the tin. It felt cool on the skin, but not a menthol-style cool. It was probably just …

Best skincare for men: The Refinery Skincare Essentials

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Planning an escape in 2016? I have the perfect travel companion. I’ve said before that I’m a big fan of The Refinery range and have to highlight this great little travel kit. The blend of aromatherapy essential oils is spot on, it’s masculine without being over powering and the products hydrate and revive the skin in an instant. Great for travel, this skincare essentials offers some of the best skincare for men. The Refinery Skincare Essentials kit is a comprehensive collection of essentials, including the Refinery Revitalising Moisturiser, Refinery Eye Gel and Refinery Face Scrub formulated with carefully selected botanical extracts and essential oils with rejuvenating properties for skin that is clear, smooth and revitalised. Read more about the best men’s skincare shave products Best skincare for men: The Refinery Skincare Essentials contains: Refinery Revitalising Moisturiser 50ml: Enriched with anti-ageing ingredients, including creatine, vitamins C and E, plus essential oils of frankincense, sandalwood and vetivert, this powerful moisturiser penetrates deep into your skin to provide intensive hydration. Refinery Eye Gel 15ml: Lightweight and easily absorbed, …

Total refresh: LAB Series Multi-action Face Wash

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LAB Series Multi-action Face Wash is billed a dual action face wash – promising to cleanse and refresh the skin, dissolving excess oil, unclogging pores and removing dead skin cells. After trialling this for a couple of months, I can assure you it leaves the skin clean, fresh and feeling like it’s been resurfaced. It has a light creamy texture with little beads that ‘melt’ as you massage it into the skin. Fragrance-free it doesn’t overload your senses first thing in the morning and is packed with vitamins to nourish the skin too. Recommended for use morning and night, I added this to my skincare routine once a week, like a scrub. With thin skin on my cheeks I was once advised by a top facialist to exfoliate no more than once a week. But for most guys once a day would be perfect. Most importantly, a little goes a long way which makes it a cost effective purchase. £18.50 for 100ml. What else? It can be used as a pre-shave wash/exfoliate for lift the …

New from the LAB

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LAB Series has delivered some new sizes for its new PRO LS ALL-IN-ONE FACE TREATMENT which is a great all-rounder in that it offers four essential skincare benefits in one simple step: Soothing Moisturising Repairing Mattifying There’s a handy little trial size in 15ml which is just £5, so you can give it a test run without making the big commitment. The 50 ml size is £22, but my money is on the big one. It’s only £28 for 100ml. A much better buy. And for those savvy shoppers, from 14th May 2014 (until stocks last) receive a free LAB Series toiletries bag with any LAB Series purchase at Boots nationwide. www.labseries.co.uk

New face scrubs

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Giving your face a good scrub once a week will keep it looking smooth, fresh and help to reduce blackheads, excess oil and ensure your face cream had a good surface to work on. Get scrubbing. Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub Mazorin’s a great brand, designed as a range for executive men. It’s exfoliation action comes from Bamboo and Maracuja powder to unclog pores and clean the face without drying it. It also contains Salicylic Acid, a gentle chemical exfoliation to really refresh the skin and make you look human again. £15 from www.nivenandjoshua.com and www.mankind.co.uk Scaramouche & Fandango Face Scrub With exfoliating Prickly Pear extract and little beads help to slough off dead skin cells, the addition of a new active ingredient, Chronodyn Cell Energiser, helps to firm and tone the skin fighting the signs of fatigue. It’s a gel-based formula, not too scartchy on the skin and has a nice fresh scent. Perfect in the morning. £8 and available from John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges waitrose and other independent retailers. Rockface Face …

It must be Neville

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With a rich heritage (it comes from the people behind Cowshed) NEVILLE has been crafted for a city guy (mostly) and is loaded with natural ingredients that work hard to deliver results. Designed to act as a self-defence system against life’s natural aggressors: grime, pollution, weather and stress, all known to wreak havoc on skin and hair. It’s keen to promote its British credentials (great) and NEVILLE creates a premium feel, it’s very modern, you could say very Shoreditch, and naturally as it’s available at Shoreditch House. It’s all fairly no-nonsense, clear cut, straight forward and has a collection of 12 products that do what they say. I’ve picked out my favourites below. NEVILLE Face Reviver 50ml: RRP £25.00 Non-greasy daily use shield to protect skin against aggressive everyday elements. The blend of Vitamin A and E will help prevent inflammation repair damage, while Aloe Vera soothes, heals and hydrates thirsty skin. NEVILLE Shave Oil 50ml: RRP £20.00 Skin nourishing oil for a close shave. Natural essential Organic Olive and Jojoba Seed oils (packed full …

Molton Brown launches new men’s range

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Molton Brown has launched a new Men’s Grooming Collection based on three concepts: cleanse, shave and treat. Designed to deliver high performance results by caring for the skin pre- and post-shave, leaving it healthy and soft. It’s formulated with African whitewood extract for oil control and barley extract to replenish the skin’s protective barrier which also aids in the renewal of cell membranes. I’m due to give the products a trial run, but picked a couple to highlight in advance. Balancing Face Wash, £18/100ml Cleanse skin without affecting its natural PH balance with this gentle yet effective face wash. African whitewood extract combats excess shine and dirt whilst softening the beard bristles, ready for the perfect shave. Razor-glide Shaving Gel, £22/150ml A lightweight, soothing gel that gives a precise, cushion-soft shave. African whitewood extract combats shine and preps both bristles and the skin for the closet shave. www.moltonbrown.co.uk

Energize me

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Men’s skin creams, lotions and potions rarely talk of radiance or luminosity – it’s all about energy and performance. Fair enough – they basically do the same thing – but it’s how it appeals to the audience. Male grooming uses more straight talking language and note, just because a product says “For Men” doesn’t mean it’s any good. There are dozens of skincare ranges that aren’t specifically designed for men that are excellent and produce fantastic results. Recently I have put a couple of engergizing products to the test. These aren’t gender specific but focus squarely on the benefits to the skin. I was most impressed with Sothys Energizing Day Cream, it’s particularly good for winter skin. It has a rich, thick texture that cocoons and protects the skin and is great after shaving. It’s formulated with Siberian Ginseng extract to protect, Yeast extract + Rice peptides to stimulate and Lupine extract to regenerate. Then I turned my attention to a super serum. Serums are a little harder to judge in terms of efficacy as …