After taking the USA by storm for the past 12 months, men’s shaving range barc is now available for the first time in the UK. The barc collection consists of 2 hero products: barc Cutting Up Shaving Cream and barc Bump Down Razor Relief.

barc provides the perfect platform for the smoothest, closest shave and helps to protect the skin from sensitivities. The products are fragrance-free to minimise irritation and maximise the result. The barc range is exclusive to the TheGroomingClinic.com and prices start from just £11.

To mark one of the biggest celebrations in modern British history, the official shaving experts, Gillette, have launched a special edition ‘Gold’ re-brand of their latest collection. Featuring the highly acclaimed Fusion Proglide and the super-effective warming face scrub, Gillette’s ‘Gold’ range carries not only the pride of the nation, but the pride of shaving.

I have to admit that purchasing grooming products whilst engaging in my weekly food-shop hasn’t always been my approach, but I have to admit that Gillette have really stepped up their game of late, and the ‘wet’ products are giving the professional ranges a run for their money.

Notably, Gillette’s Warming Thermal Face Scrub is very possibly one of the best around at present. On contact with the skin the scrub warms and opens the pores whilst the gentle exfoliating beads dig deep for dirt. If you suffer with blackheads, this is the one for you.

The collection is available nation-wide in supermarkets and health stores, and prices start at around £6.00

In the name of austerity, and with the threat of a double-dip recession looming, I decided to economise on my shaving kit and try Boots Blade 3 Razors. There are some things in life that simply don’t accept less expensive alternatives, and after trying Boots Blade 3 Razors, shaving is one of them.

I have used Gillette Mach 3, Proglide and the likes for as long as I can remember but the cost of them seems to sky rocket with every new release. I tried Boots Blade 3 Razors system which on appearance looks very similar to the Mach 3 cartridge but in action, proves to be similar to a shard of broken glass. I started my shave at my my side-burns and all seemed well, I then moved onto the more tricky areas like the chin and around my lips and all hell let loose. I experienced numerous nicks and cuts and my skin felt incredibly raw after using them.

To cut a long story short – don’t bother!

eShave is one of the more contemporary brands amongst a huge collection of traditional shaving collections. eShave was founded in 1996 by Danielle Malka, previously a marketing executive for European beauty brands. Given Malka’s expertise in the skincare industry, she set out to educate the UK’s barbers about the world of shaving and quickly developed a reputation as a men’s shaving expert. Following on from her success as a shaving mentor, Malka went on to found one of the biggest shaving brands in the world, eShave.

Being her ‘baby,’ Malka set out to create a shaving collection which incorporated her love for artistry and design. Being a perfectionist, she is involved in every step of the eShave journey ensuring great quality and maximum performance.

Danielle, a previous artist, designs all of the shaving brushes and razors which then go on to to be handmade to ensure first rate quality.

As well as handmade razors and brushes, eShave have the most amazing collection of shave soaps, shave creams and everything else you could think of that is shaving related. With innovative scents and superior formulations, eShave is rapidly becoming a leader in the shaving domain and is most definitely one to watch out for.

eShave Orange Sandalwood Pre Shave Oil

Current accolades include Men’s health Grooming Awards winner 2010 and many more.

eShave

Kyoku for Men Sake Infused Shave Cream comes in 2 variations. One is for normal skin and the other is for sensitive skin, but they both do a very similar job. Essentially, both varieties ensure a close-comfortable shave, however the sensitive skin version does this with added care.

I tried Kyoku for Men Sake Infused Shave Cream for normal skin. My skin does get irritated from time-to-time, and to put the formula to the ultimate test, I wanted to see if it could help to protect my face and neck using just the normal formula. I used Kyoku for Men Sake Infused Shave Cream with a shave brush. I’ve always avoided using a badger hair brush, I always associated them with mess and lots of hassle cleaning them after shaving. Well, I now declare myself a convert. If you avoid using a shave oil with the brush it’s easy to clean it.

So, badger hair brush dipped into hot water and lather up the cream. The cream ‘fluffs’ up into a rich lather which spreads through the growth really easily. I always tend to give my growth a couple of minutes to soften before taking to my blade. Kyoku for Men Sake Infused Shave Cream maintained its lather during this time. Off with the blade it was, and I have to say the results are pretty amazing. The blade glides easily but still has total contact with the face and the growth. This gives a really close shave and prevents irritation. I’m really pleased with the performance of Kyoku for Men Sake Infused Shave Cream and I’m looking forward to trying the sensitive skin version.

Kyoku for Men Sake Infused Shave Cream £25

If, like me, you suffer the effects of a common shave rash you’ll move hell and high water to find a solution to prevent this unsightly mis-hap. A good astringent is the first step to solving this mystery, followed by an intensive treatment cream which will hydrate and ‘lubricate’ the shaven area and hopefully prevent/reduce the onset of the red rash plague.

F.A.B. Ultra Repair Cream is a thick, ultra-concentrated formula which helps to treat dry skin, eczema and general skin related issues. As it worked a treat on my dry areas, I decided to apply it after my daily shave. I used my Skin Doctors Ingrow Go solution to prevent any ingrown hairs then slapped a bit of F.A.B. Ultra Repair Cream to see if it’s up to the job! The formula is smooth and easily applied, it doesn’t soothe on application but it does hydrate the neck area magnificently. Keeping the area moist is one of the most important steps to success on the ‘rash-free road.’

So, enough of my self absorbed approach to this review, would I recommend F.A.B’s Ultra Repair Balm? Absolutely. Not only is it great at beating a raging shaving rash, it cleared up the patch of dry skin on the back of my hand. My advice would be to keep this product on reserve for when you really require something potent to tackle your most troublesome areas.

Please note: It’s great to help clear Keratosis Polaris too. (Rough skin on the upper arms)

£8.00/56g  www.firstaidbeauty.com

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Review Scores:

With designer stubble and manicured beards holding a firm position on the style stakes for any modern dandy due to wed, what does the bride-to-be think about wedding day growth?

A recent study carried out by leading shaving brand Gillette (P&G) has revealed that a fluffy mush won’t make your female counterpart feel like a princess on her special day. Research shows that 65% of women would rather their groom take the time out to crop his growth before donning his morning suit. The wedding day for her is all about feeling like a princess, and when you hear the words “you may now kiss the bride” a grizzly approach simply won’t suffice.

With this in mind, here’s our 5 steps to success when it comes to barbering your beard before the big day:

Shave that morning: if you have a heavy growth, shaving the night before won’t cut the cloth, by dusk your 5 o’clock shadow will have already adorned.

Shave after showering: Male grooming expert and the brains behind Nicky Clarkes brand new Grooming Vault, Kelly Simpkin (featured right), advises shaving after showering. “The benefits of hot water softening the growth and dilating the pores will increase your blades’ effectiveness.”

Use a sharp blade: a decent blade doesn’t come cheap, but for your pre-wedding shave invest in a new cartridge to ensure an irritation-free, close cut.

Use a good oil: non-drying and intensely moisturising, shaving oils are the modern day fundamental to any successful shave.

Don’t wash your face afterwards: Removing the goodness offered by your shave oil defeats the object of using it. Simply splash gently with cold water to close the pores and leave the oil residue behind to work its magic.

Read more →

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

One of the first lessons we learnt in life was not to judge a book by its cover. Well, recall those skills from your mental archive and apply them to this product. Bluebeards Shave Cream isn’t packaged in the most attractive vessel, nor is it branded elegantly, but the what lies within is worth its weight in gold.

A good shave cream bonds with both the skin and the hair. Bluebeards Shave Cream creates a great lather before it even reaches the face so no chance of it drying you out. The formula can be used with or without a shave brush so convenience is more than taken care of.

On application, the cream leaves a lubricated surface on the growth and the skin beneath it, making your shave a much more pleasurable experience. It is often said that the performance of a shave cream can be judged by the residue it leaves behind post shave. Bluebeards leaves the skin soft, supple, free of hair and free of rashes, so I’m sure any shaving aficionado would agree when I say that Bluebeards is a great addition to the bathroom cabinet.

What to watch out for:

# If using this product with a shave brush ensure that the bristles are damp not wet.

# Be generous with the application, good coverage = good shave.

# Don’t be over zealous. One sweep with a good blade is sufficient enough to remove the growth.

/Bluebeards Revenge Luxury Shave Cream Review Scores:

£14.99/180ml

bluebeards-revenge.co.uk