All posts filed under: Grooming

Korres launches new Yoghurt Bath and Body Collection

Published by Mark Smith

Greek yoghurt is part of the DNA of Greek Culture so it’s no surprise that Korres has developed its Yoghurt Bath and Body Collection. It’s the perfect summer skincare range for the body, cooling and soothing and instantly transports you to a sunny Mediterranean island in the Aegean Sea. The new Yoghurt bodycare essentials, including Showergel, Body Milk, Body Butter and Hand Cream, are powered with the leading ingredient’s ultra-moisturising properties to deliver lasting hydration, deep nourishment and smoothing action. Koreas offer some great Greek themed bath and body collections and infuse the skincare line with some of the very best ingredients from the Greek islands too. Greek Υoghurt is renowned for its beauty benefits due to its high levels of lactose, proteins, minerals and vitamins, which all work to increase the moisture levels in the upper layers of the skin. In fact Korres was the first brand to add real edible Yoghurt when it launched the iconic, Yoghurt Cooling Gel. The range includes: KORRES YOGHURT SHOWERGEL RRP: £8.00 Creamy-foam showergel enriched with moisturizing Yoghurt , Wheat proteins …

Penhaligon’s Savoy Steam: inspired by the steam baths

Published by Mark Smith

Penhaligon’s Savoy Steam has a great story. The idea and resulting Eau de Cologne and Eau de Parfum were inspired by the steam baths that were once adjacent to the historic Savoy Hotel in London. Long gone and almost forgotten, the chance discovery of a poster of the steam baths led to a journey by the fragrance and development team at Penhaligon’s whereby they created something brand new. Long story short, this chance discovery led to these new blends. There’s also a nod to a very early fragrance: Hammam Bouquet, 1872 which also provides a stepping point for these delightful fragrances. They are designed to evoke the scent and sensation of steam. Now, quite how you truly capture that in an essence is beyond me. But it’s an excellent inspiration for the fragrance that you now find win these smart bottles. It’s fresh, refreshing and gives you a sense of purpose. I like this on hot steamy days when the air is heavy and you need a light refreshing boost. But you really do need to apply this …

The Spa Man’s summer skin essentials for 2017

Published by Mark Smith

Summer presents lots of skin challenges, so The Spa Man has curated his set of perfect summer skin essentials. From cleaning (most important) to hydrating (well essential really) through to SPF protection (now why wouldn’t you?). Then the finer points like eye cream, hydrating mist and a touch of fake tan. There’s something from everyone here in the summer skin essentials round-up for 2017. Verso Skincare Foaming Cleanser There’s something brilliant about Verso. Not only is it simple and easy to understand. The products are a dream to use and offer excellent results. It has a light, almost fruity fragrance a little like papaya. I LOVE IT. It’s soothing and purifying and perfect for daily use. This foaming cleanser will purify the skin without disrupting the skin’s protective function. It gently removes light make-up and impurities, leaving the skin translucent and clean. £32 www.feelunique.com Kiehl’s Cactus Flower and Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist Excellent a an all-round spritz when it’s really hot (keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling action). Or simply spray after cleansing …

You need this bath oil in your life (PS: it’s Olverum)

Published by Mark Smith

Olverum Bath Oil really is a product you really do need in your life. It’s relaxing, stress-relieving, soothes aches and pains and helps to clear the head too. Regular readers will know that I love to bathe. It’s one of the few times I truly stop. I put down the iPhone and iPad, step away from the computer and stop. I might light a candle, play some music and occasionally will read a magazine. But one constant is an excellent bath oil formulated with the very best quality essential oils. Olverum Bath Oil is one such oil. It’s a heady mix of potent oils that pack a punch. You don’t need much – they say 5ml is plenty and thus, it spreads the cost and makes it a reasonable purchase and quite pocket friendly. It has a carefully selected range of botanical oils and plant extracts that is unisex and perfect after a long hard day in the office. This blend has been around since 1931 when it was developed in Germany. Give yourself a little me-time right now. …

Elemis LUXURY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS FOR HIM - The Spa Man

10 best gifts for Father’s Day

Published by Mark Smith

It’s time to reveal the 10 best gifts for Father’s Day. Naturally, these all have a spa and grooming focus, to help keep your Dad looking good on the outside. Clarins Men Grooming Essentials This set of grooming essentials from Clarin Men will suit any Dad – sporty and active or one who prefers to chill at home listening to music. The Grooming Essentials Kit contains four of Clarins bestselling men’s products housed in a sleek navy wash bag. Contains: Super Moisture Balm 50ml Exfoliating Cleanser 125ml Smooth Shave 50ml Shampoo & Shower 30ml. Presented in blue wash bag. £35 (with a customer saving…£21.59*) *Based on ml value of standard size products www.clarins.co.uk Thalgomen Travel Kit Thalgomen is one of my go-to brands and I love the Regenerating Cream in this kit. Contains Regenerating Cream (15ml), Anti-Fatigue Serum for Eyes (10ml), Shaving Gel (30ml), Wake-Up Shower Gel (30ml) RRP £28 (worth £35) www.thalgo.co.uk Lock Stock and Barrel Styling Heroes Gift Set Groom to perfection with the Lock Stock & Barrel Styling Heroes Gift Set. Host to four …

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 …

Beast London male beauty store - The Spa Man

BEAST – the new retail store for male beauty in Covent Garden

Published by Mark Smith

BEAST, the new uber-cool store devoted to retailing male beauty products has opened its doors in the heart of Covent Garden. Stand alone male grooming shops have come and gone in the past. But maybe 2017 is the right time for a store like this to finally be a success. It has got the basics right – cool store design, great lighting, excellent location with high footfall. And what impressed me most was the curated range of interesting high-performance brands. You really need to check it out as you won’t find many of these male beauty brands in your typical high street department store. This is a good thing. The brands are eclectic and sourced from around the world from Vitaman in Australia to Verso in Sweden. There are 80 brands in total with newcomers and long-standing classic and cult items. Shopping has never been easier as the store is signposted by concern, skin condition or treatment type. It has the potential to shape up the men’s skincare market. Especially for retail. The products are displayed by category …

Six of the Best Beard Oils

Published by Mark Smith

The Spa Man picks six of the best beard oils. Designed to smooth, nourish and condition the beard, this category in the men’s grooming market really is having a moment. Beards continue to be “on trend” and no, we haven’t reached peak beard yet. That’s just the shaving companies trying to create a story. Adding a fine sheen to the beard whilst conditioning the hair is an essential part of the beard grooming ritual. Oils give less shape and style (balms and much better for that) but they do also work to condition and hydrate the skin if you work them through the hair. With all of these oils you will need to wash your hands afterwards. Some are really stubborn and take a while to remove. So here’s The Spa Man’s tried and tested selection of the Best Beard Oils. Brisk Cedarwood Beard Oil Apparently one Brisk grooming product is sold every minute. This beard oil contains a blend of natural and essential oils harnessing the earthy properties of cedarwood for its spicy, woody notes. …

'Dermot O'Leary for M&S - men's skincare

You heard it right: 24.hr Grooming for Men by Dermot O’Leary launches

Published by Mark Smith

Dermot O’Leary, has created a skincare range exclusively for M&S launching in store and online in time for Father’s Day this June. It’s not the first time a TV celebrity has moved into the male grooming or men’s skincare market. It will be interesting to see how it’s received. the price point is affordable and appeals to the widest possible market. Prices for the 24.hr Grooming for Men by Dermot O’Leary for M&S start at £5 for a Body Wash, £6 for Face Wash up to £15 for a Moisturiser. I’m looking forward to trying the products to see if they live up to the hype. The press info tells me that Dermot has tested a huge variety of products and wanted to apply his learnings to create a hassle-free, affordable grooming collection of his own. Fair enough. 24.hr Grooming for Men by Dermot O’Leary has taken over a year to create and will launch with six products initially, fragrances and gifting packages will also be available pre Christmas. 24.hr Grooming for Men by Dermot O’Leary Dermot explains:“This …

SenSpa launches new Thai Rituals Range

Published by Mark Smith

I was very excited to hear that SenSpa has launched the Thai Rituals Range. I’m a big fan of the brand and have loved each product range they have launched so far. Now you too can treat yourself with an escape to the Far East – at home! The SenSpa Thai Rituals collection combines the best of natural and exotic ingredients and essential oils, including organic hibiscus flower and slang slang. Its more floral than I expected, and lacks the distinctive notes of ginger or lemongrass. What you will find is a blend that is more complex, exploring some more of the lesser known scents of the Far East. With this capsule collection of four bath and body products you can transform your everyday bathing ritual in an instant. Each product has been expertly formulated to deliver an unparalleled at-home-spa experience. SenSpa Thai Rituals Range The SenSpa Thai Rituals range includes four inspiring new products: Float Away Bath Soak (£5.95, 250ml) – Combining bamboo shoot and frangipani extracts with neroli, ylang ylang and jasmine essential oils, this bath soak offers …

Best Christmas Grooming Gift for Men - The Spa Man

Best Grooming Gifts for Men at Christmas

Published by Mark Smith

It’s that time of year when you google: Best Grooming Gifts for Men. Yes, it’s Christmas. The Spa Man has selected a range of the best grooming gifts for men. Mindful of prices, there are just a couple of blow-the-budget choices and some which have much more pocket-friendly prices to suit every budget. A grooming gift set isn’t a lazy option either. Guys like to look good and here’s a chance to refresh their grooming regime. The Gym Kit Collection – Elemis Elemis gift sets are hard to beat in terms of choice and value, and it was difficult to pick just one to include. In fact I would go as far to say, that as a brand they do offer the best grooming gifts for men. I like Gym Kit Collection as it has travel/gym friendly sized products for that sports man in your life. Skincare, body care and even post workout products to sooth tired and aching muscles. Deep Cleanse Facial Wash – 50ml Anti-Fatigue Day Cream – 20ml Revitalise-Me Shower Gel – 200ml Aching Muscle …

ESPA Winter Spice Reed Diffuser - The Spa Man

Five of the best: reed diffusers

Published by Mark Smith

Reed diffusers are like a grown up’s version of a scented candle. They infused the air with a gentle scent and aroma that can be calming and soothing or fragrant and uplifting. The old saying that you get what you pay for rings very true in this segment of the beauty industry. I have put my nose to many a reed diffuser only to draw back in horror. Sweet, sickly, cheap and nasty. Gift shops are the worst culprits. Hideous. Reed diffusers in the spa market are definitely worth the investment and give a rounded fragrance for the home that can enhance the mood because they are generally based on a blend of high quality essential oils. They last for weeks and weeks so it’s definitely worth upgrading to quality reed diffusers. Put one on your Christmas gift list now. Five of the best: reed diffusers AromaWorks Serenity Reed Diffuser Uplifting and energising, the citrus, warm fragrance of lemongrass promises to energise the mind and body. Neroli calms and emotions and soothes stress. It’s a fabulous blend and one …

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 …

The Great British Grooming Co. - The Spa Man

The Great British Grooming Co. reviewed

Published by Mark Smith

It seems that every day there’s another men’s grooming launch focussing on shaving and beards and then along comes one that actually rather good, enter: The Great British Grooming Co. The Great British Grooming Co. has launched a capsule range of four products with a light fragrance that refreshes and revitalises the beard. It’s blended with the hydrating, nourishing and skin boosting properties of Argan Oil. I particularly liked the Beard Wash and Beard Balm. The scent infused into the products is slightly spicy, but not heavily so. Sometimes the fragrance used in men’s products – especially for the beard is way too strong, this is the perfect balance. The Balm helps to style the beard and give it a nice sheen without too much residue or heaviness. The products are priced very competitively and won’t dent your grooming budget too much. and you can gran them in Superdrug. Perfect! The Great British Grooming Co. Wash Beard Wash will help you to cleanse and keep your facial hair smooth, sleek and untangled. It can also …

Voya Lazy Days reviewed

Published by Mark Smith

I’ve been a fan of Voya for some time and was privileged to visit the home of the brand on the West Coast of Ireland a few years back to learn about the benefits of seaweed and the joys of a seaweed bath – which you can now enjoy at home thanks to the spa-at-home seaweed bath in a box – Voya Lazy Days. Voya hand-harvests organic seaweed using traditional methods and combines it with Dead Sea salt to create Lazy Days. The seaweed is dried using a special technique and packaged and sent around the world so that everyone can enjoy the hydrating, skin-caring benefits of a relaxing seaweed bath. Voya Lazy Days Placed in hot water, the seaweed naturally rehydrates and springs back to life in an instant and releases a kind of alginate which is both soothing and moisturising. It feels great on the skin and because the seaweed is in a mesh bag – its not too weird on the skin. For a full experience I ripped the bag open to allow the seaweed to float …