3 ways to get your life CLEAN with Space, Avant Garden and Reserve

Updated: 16/11/2022

What does it take to smell Clean? About £82 and a trip to SpaceNK in the UK, is all! The brand name has fast-become synonymous with quality and sensational fragrances, born out of consciousness and the desire to be decent. The Clean Beauty Collective Inc. was established in Ottawa, Canada in 2003 and in NYC in 2009, toiling away at its mission to create and manufacture products for mindful consumers seeking not only quality in their beauty products, but also peace-of-mind that their products are simple, trusted and conscious. Combine all that together and you’re gifted the three CLEAN ranges of Reserve, Avant Garden and their latest addition, Space; for the home. All about CLEAN Reserve With quality finishings on their fragrance bottles like sustainable wood caps, a fully recyclable bottle, manufactured in a solar-powered facility and corn-derived cellophane, all delivered in recyclable boxes, its a brand that knows very potently, the difference between right and wrong. On top of that, the Reserve range is the culmination of a unique, creative collaboration with three of the world’s top fragrance houses chosen because of their commitment to sustainability and philanthropy, marrying a trueartisanal perfumery with high-quality raw ingredients for an olfactive journey for the nose, like no other. You’ll find the CLEAN Reserve range in smells like these: Sueded Oud – a balance of freshness and deep incense, surrounded by warmth and earthiness Citron Fig – is an explosion of freshness with a unique blend of citrus, spices and woods. Rain – blends Amazonian rain with… Read More

Category: FEATURES, GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Clean, Clean beauty, Clean London, Clean Space NK, Space NK Clean perfumes, SpaceNK

Two products to make sure your skin survives the English summer

by James Banham

Posted: 03/07/2020

If there’s one thing that summer in England is not, it’s hot. So, with all the dehydrating moisture in the air, thanks to the seemingly incessant summertime rainfall, your skin’s not going to be at its best. Unless you discover Lipikar products from La Roche Posay; then things’ll look up. The Lipikar AP+M Baume and Toleraine Ultra-Sensitive Moisturiser are ideal. Perfect for sensitive, very dry skin, it’s even suitable for newborns, babies, children and adults as a body balm formulation designed to reduce dryness and soothe skin. Enriched with prebiotic Aqua Posae Filiformis and Microresyl to help rebalance the skin’s Microbiome as well as Shea Butter and Nicinamide to replenish the skins protective barrier. Then the Toleriane is a punch to the wellbeing of the skin, packed kindly inside a small, little tube. Enriched with Neurosensine to visibly reduce redness. Also contains La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, which is naturally hydrating and soothing. Has a minimalist formula that’s been stripped down to the essential ingredients. Summer skin dramas? See ya.

Category: GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

Tags: La Roche Posay, La Roche Posay Lipikar, Toleriane

All about American Crew Acumen – the holistic range for men

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by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

Fifteen products make up the American Crew Acumen range, products for men that do more than just scrub you up. Complete with Vitamins B5 and E, they’re purposed to actively enhance your skin and hair, as opposed to just making it smell nice and look clean. “Acumen brings an element of sharpness, sophistication, and aspiration to the skin care, beard grooming and body care routine, according to its founder, David Raccuglia. “This is more than a regime. We hope to instill a ritual to elevate a man’s look and the self-assurance to get him where he needs to be.” Complete with other benefitting kickers as hyaluronic acid, ginger root extract, bisabolol and cranberry extract – which increases blood flow, helps to retain moisture and fight free radicals – it’s a truly all-encompassing range. Especially when you consider it includes everything from pomade to exfoliant; eye gel to after shave cooling lotion and another 11 products in-between. See them all at Selfridges. Find the range and follow the shower, shave, care, style journey online as you treat yourself. More at americancrew.com

Category: FEATURES, GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

A nourishing, overnight hand mask that works its magic while you sleep

by Emi Berry

Posted: 04/06/2020

With all the handwashing and sanitising we’re doing these days, it’s no wonder your poor old hands are feeling somewhat dry, sore and damaged. While alcohol-based sanitisers are great for eliminating germs, it’s also stripping natural oils from your skin, so you need to make sure you restore all that moisture to prevent developing dermatitis or other pesky skin irritations. Natural skincare brand, Herbs + Heart have just launched the ultimate hand care product to combat dry skin! Their After-Sanitiser Overnight Hand Mask (RRP $24) is an effective treatment for over-cleansed and under-nourished hands. It’s ten times richer than hand lotion and designed to use at night and work its magic while you sleep. Simply apply the mask to your hands just before you go to bed, ensuring your skin is hydrated and ready to face further handwashing and sanitisation the following day. For the ultimate deep hydration treatment, pop on Herbs + Heart’s Cotton Overnight Gloves (RRP $5) after massaging your hands with the creamy mask and allow your hands to repair whilst you snooze. The After-Sanitiser Overnight Hand Mask is manufactured in Australia with locally sourced ingredients and is naturally formulated with mango butter and hemp seed oil. It also contains a powerful combination of vitamins A, C and E, as well as omega fatty acids 3, 6 and 9. Take a look at the full range of products from Herbs + Heart here.

Category: GROOMING, HEALTH & FITNESS

Tags: dermatitis, hand cream, hand mask, Herbs and heart, skincare

Good self-care starts with locally made, ethical and sustainable brand ‘Peggy Sue’

by Emi Berry

Updated: 04/06/2020

There’s so much to love about organic skincare brand Peggy Sue. Sustainable, ethical, natural, Australian made and owned – it ticks all the boxes for those seeking a more eco-friendly, plant-based alternative without the inflated price tag. The gorgeous Peggy Sue range is paraben-free, petroleum-free, sulphate-free, palm oil-free, silicone-free and has no artificial colours or fragrances. No nasties, just the really good stuff! Based on the NSW South Coast, Peggy Sue founders Alysha and Shanah created their beautiful brand to help us ‘slow things down with meaningful moments of self-care’, while caring for the earth together. And when coping with adversity like many of us have over the last six months during the health crisis, it’s more important than ever that we continue to care for those around us and more importantly, ourselves. Self-care matters, so what better way to take care of yourself than by adopting a daily ‘me time’ regime, using quality products that enhance your mental and physical well-being and knowing that you’re doing it responsibly. Go you! Pucker up, Sugar Lips! 95% of Peggy Sue’s range can be refilled, which reduces their carbon footprint and breaks the consume-and-discard cycle. Take for example the organic Lip Conditioner (RRP $14) that is housed in a gorgeous bamboo twist tube. Once you’re down to your last few applications, jump online and simply re-order a refill for $12. The key ingredients in the Lip Conditioner are organic beeswax, organic shea butter, fractionated coconut oil, organic olive oil, natural vitamin E and vanilla oil. If you… Read More

Category: GROOMING, HEALTH & FITNESS

Tags: beauty, beauty reviews, Emotional wellbeing, Health wellbeing, Peggy Sue

3 products to keep your skin glowing this winter

by THE F

Posted: 08/05/2020

Winter’s rough on your state of mind, there’s no denying, but have you ever thought about the havoc it wreaks on your skin? CeraVe have, so have quickly shot to the top of the game in the world of winter skincare for men and women, pumping out some quality products that take away the need to think about how you’ll keep yourself nice as the sun disappears. And for those with a more sensitive type of skin, they’ve got your back, too, with each of their products give the OK tick by dermos for those with ezcema, dermatitis, psoriasis and more. They’ve got a hand cream, the CeraVe Reparative Hand Cream, which has a non-greasy formula that moisturises dry, cracked hands. Formulated with three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it provides long-lasting hydration and restores the skin barrier to promote soft, smooth skin. Further to that, the CeraVe Moisturising Cream is formulated for dry to very dry skin, this hero product showcases a rich, oil-free formula to moisturise and restore the protective skin barrier. It features a combination of skin-identical ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin delivered via MVE Technology to provide 24 hour hydration. Paraben-free, fragrance-free, allergy tested, non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic, CeraVe’s Moisturising Cream is suitable for sensitive skin. While finally, for those who’re after more of al all-over experience, the CeraVe Moisturising Lotion is ideal. It’s a lightweight, oil-free formulation for those who prefer an elegant lotion texture, CeraVe’s Moisturising Lotion is formulated with three skin-identical ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerin, delivered via MVE… Read More

Category: GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Best skincare sensitive skin, cerave, CeraVe skincare guide, skincare, Skincare grooming guide, Winter skincare

Why is Argireline so effective in fighting wrinkles?

by THE F

Posted: 07/05/2020

Skincare can be hard, especially through winter months. New product argireline undies it all, making skincare and grooming simple.

Category: GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Argireline, How to fight wrinkles, mens skincare, SKincare guide, What is argireline

Lockdown hair tips from an American Crew hair professional

by James Banham

Updated: 22/05/2021

We’re all looking at well over four week’s lockdown for Covid-19. It’s boring, we’re screaming out for a dinner in a restaurant, a drink with friends or, for most, a haircut! That’s where pros like Luke Munn, the American Crew 2020 All-Star Challenge Australian Winner comes in with his tips for how to keep your hair looking decidedly less hideous for the times you don’t want a barber breathing directly in your face. We had a chat and got his insider tips. “My biggest DIY tip is to not colour or cut your own hair at home. It will create more work for you in the future. Use this time to instead experiment with longer styles. Long hair is back in trend and I think that using some base products from the American Crew Line you can create manageable hair at home. For long hair, I love using something like the Grooming Spray or the Tech series Boost Spray. These products will allow you to add volume and texture to your hair which will allow you more freedom in how you style your hair. If you had longer curly hair, the Fiber grooming cream I find is a solid product choice when scrunched into the hair. Shorter curls I always find myself using Boost Powder and Defining Paste, these are the products I use myself and always find myself going back to them as an overall great product. If you have the chance have your stylist explain how to style and allow long hair to grow nice. Some barbers may still be… Read More

Category: GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

Tags: American Crew hair guide, American Crew hair style, Covid 19 lockdown hair guide, How to cut your own hair, How to do hair American Crew, Lockdown hair tips, Lockdown hair tips from an American Crew hair professional, Luke Munn

Because your hair needs to eat, too: The new John Frieda detox and repair range with avocado

by James Banham

Posted: 18/03/2020

Avocado is amazing for the bod and as it turns out, great for the hair, too. The new range by John Frieda contains works on clarifying the hair’s surface so that conditioning treatments can penetrate the hair more effectively. Using the potent combination of avocado oil and green tea, these antioxidants are high in vitamins A, B and E, helping to restore hair health and moisture levels, leaving you with instantly revitalised hair full of smoothness and shine. Why? Well, stressors of heat styling, chemical treatments, product build-up and environmental influences can leave your hair feeling dry, brittle and lacklustre. John’s got your back. See more about the range and get your own here.

Category: GROOMING, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Avocado hair range, John Frieda

Haircut and a cocktail: Why Sharps barber is doing Metaxa cocktails

by James Banham

Posted: 18/02/2020

Everybody loves a drink. Everybody needs a haircut. Combine the two and you’ve got a great after-work activity, delivering you a new look and slightly cloudier judgement, making for an even better time. Sharps is serving Metaxa. A Greek spirit from 1888, it’s known as the original Greek spirit and is all about its vibrant yet smooth, Metaxa’s unique taste takes you on a voyage that piques your curiosity and encourages a sense of exploration. They celebrated the whole collaboration at the end of 2019, by teaming up with travellers who’d share stories and anecdotes from their travels, overcoming adversity and challenges, the world’s first expedition to officially reach the furthest source of the Essequibo river in Guyana and complete its descent by kayak, last year. In any case, seize the spirit of exploration, try a new do and head to Sharps for more. They’re serving up Metaxa 12 Stars and ginger rock cocktails, too. Find out more and make a booking at the Sharps website.

Category: CITIES, GROOMING, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Haircut and a cocktail Why Sharps barber is doing Metaxa cocktails, Sharps, Sharps barber