66°30 Organics skin-care has been specially formulated by French men’s grooming enthusiast, Didier Arthaud. Didier has created a collection of men’s grooming products, divided into ‘cycles’ to target specific men’s grooming issues. The 66°30 Organics collection hosts 8 champion products which are completely organic and free from the usual nasties.

66°30? I hear you say. Well 66°30 is the earths natural resting point on it’s axis. The name reflects the brand’s natural approach to its formulations.

I’ve had a little play with a couple of the products and my favourites so far have to be the Extreme Cycle Essential Face Balm and the Day Cycle Ultra Moisturising Facial Fluid. Both are intense formulas which re-hydrate and help to repair the daily damage our skin endures.

Very competitively priced, the 66°30 skin-care collection is available from thegroomingclinic.com

Australian skin care brand, Eyre Botanics, never fail to impress. Their Fusion Hand & Body Moisturiser, in my eyes, is their champion product (quite possibly the best I have used). So, with summer just around the corner and hot days on the horizon, we decided to run a little pilot check on Eyre Botanics’ Deep Cleansing Mineral Mud Mask.

Internationally renowned skin-care brand, ESPA, have stepped up their game by ditching preservatives and fellow nasties for natural ingredients and a snazzy re-brand. The range is incredibly well established, but a slight adjustment has brought the collection of essential oil rich goodies into the treasury of champion stockpile.

ESPA’s Shave Mud not only offers a smooth, irritation free shave – it doubles up as nutrient intensive face mask. As a shaving mud, the formula offers great coverage and is easily dispensed. The first major brownie point goes to the scent. Essential oils create the most relaxing aroma and assist in soothing the skin. The mud is similar to a body cream’s consistency and lubricates the skin wonderfully. It’s exceptionally thick so use it sparingly. If you apply to much it will reduce the contact the blade has with the skin, thus reducing the effectiveness of your shave. The creamy texture of the mud leaves a subtle residue on the skin to aid recovery of over-zealous/sensitive shaving and reduces the discomfort of irritation.

As a face mask, ESPA’s Shave Mud does moisturise and soften the skin, but doesn’t dig deep down to remove stubborn grease and blackheads, it’s packed with natural nutrients though so it brings the skin’s texture back in form superbly. However, if you are prone to exposed pores or very oily skin, I’d recommend you try something else. For a quick moisture surge after a heavy night on the plonk or after a long haul flight, it’s pukka.

£19/200ml

espaonline.com

Prepare with Espa’s Clarifying Skin Scrub £21/70ml

ESPA’s Shave Mud review scores

Sponsored by ESPA

I’ve trawled the shelves of department stores for many years, searching high and low for a decent face mask. One which moisturises, cleanses and leaves pores clean and closed. It’s a tall order, face masks often just smell good and have drying agents which make the user believe that moisture is surging deep into the derma when, in actual fact, it simply evaporates into thin air. Read more →