shaving cream

HEY LADIES! Get the best out of your man’s grooming products

Behind every stylishly groomed man, is his equally (if not more) stylish female counterpart. While the fairer sex may prefer using a rose or vanilla scented moisturiser, there’s nothing wrong with helping yourself to some of your husband’s or boyfriend’s grooming products when you’ve reached the very end of your overly priced ‘miracle’ jar of youth-enhancing fluid. Women are unfortunately subjected to pink tax, and often pay more than men for the same self-care products.

In honour of Women’s Month, we at The London Grooming Company have very generously opened our bathroom cabinets to our better halves. So ladies, if you find yourself in a fix – without any of your personal beauty favourites – or if you want the same high-quality creams and cosmetics for less, here’s how you can take advantage of men’s grooming products.

PRIMP WITH POMADE

Hide those unhinged fly-aways and stubborn stray hairs with men’s pomade. Skip the steely and inflexible crust caused by hairsprays, and slick a pearl of The London Grooming Company strong-hold pomade through your locks to create a glossy finish that’s easily malleable and soft to the touch. Leaving no greasy residue, it’s also water-soluble and easy to rinse out.

GET A CLOSER SHAVE

Girly packaging, quirky fonts, cute logos and feminine taglines come at their own separate cost. Trade your Barbie-pink razor for a more masculine and sharper-angled men’s version. Not only will you save money for more important things – like Fenty highlighter – but you will also get the closest shave and legs smoother than a Victoria’s Secret model.

BEARD OIL ISN’T JUST FOR BEARDS

Running low on your hyaluronic acid-enriched moisturiser or argan face oil? There’s no need to panic and make a last minute dash for the cosmetics store in your pyjamas. Instead, smooth some of your significant other’s beard oil onto your face. This gentle formula deeply nourishes your skin and moisturises skin cells. In fact, you will probably enjoy its luxurious silky effect so much, that you won’t ever want to buy your formerly loved and far too costly face cream again. Smelling like your boyfriend/husband is just an added bonus.

CREATE BEACHY WAVES WITH SEA SALT SPRAY

Achieve that sultry, rolled-out-of-bed look with The London Grooming Company sea salt spray designed to give your tresses sexy, voluminous waves, without drying it out. Spritz sea salt spray on different sections of damp hair, then lightly twist or scrunch your hair around your fingers. This helps the curling process and turns lethargic locks into alluring, beachy waves.

PRIME YOUR SKIN WITH AFTERSHAVE

A good-quality primer from a luxury beauty brand can set you back at least R500. Using a men’s aftershave balm will do the same job – more economically. Our lightweight aftershave balm and skin moisturiser is perfect for priming your skin before applying foundation and creates a smooth, matte finish that keeps your base on and your skin oil-free. The heady oud wood scent will also add an element of sensuality.

Now that you’ve been briefed on the ultimate guide to using (or stealing) your man’s grooming kit, you won’t ever be left with dry skin or out-of-place tresses.

On a side note: If your boyfriend gets suspicious about his rapidly-depleting products, you can always convince him to buy two of each 😉

ANGUISHED BY INGROWN HAIRS? Here are six ways to avoid them

We all remember our very first shave. That exhilarating feeling of finally becoming a man after spotting three stray hairs on your upper lip, and the rite of passage; painfully nicking yourself and having to walk around with a band-aid on your face for the next week.

Everyone advises you on the best razor to buy, how to stealthily cover up cuts, and which aftershave will prevent you from having a ‘Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone‘ moment. However, it seems that the one thing you have to agonisingly find out about on your own is ingrown hairs. Those provoking little pimples of anguish that cause your once porcelain-like prepubescent skin to become red, inflamed and bumpy. Ingrown hairs are essentially coarser hairs that have been trapped under the skin, causing it to coil and grow sideways and not upwards and out. Having naturally curly hair will make you even more susceptible to clogged follicles.

Sadly, you can’t outgrow ingrown hairs; it’s pretty much a reoccurring condition that’s a side effect of shaving, waxing and using depilatory creams. Fortunately for you, our honorary gentlemen’s code obliges us to share our tried-and-tested tips on how you can get rid of (and avoid) those irksome ingrown hairs.

REPLACE YOUR RAZOR

You know that rust-inflicted R20 disposable razor that’s been in your bathroom cabinet for four months? Throw it out. Immediately!

Look for a high-quality multi-blade cartridge razor or a safety razor (if you prefer things old school).

Keep your look sharp by replacing the cartridge every 25-30 shaves. Worn-down blades lead to a duller shave and razor bumps which present the ideal conditions for ingrown hairs to form.

USE A WARM TOWEL PRE-SHAVE

Heat up a towel and wrap it around your face at least ten minutes prior to shaving. Besides being cosy on winter mornings, this helps soften up your skin, making clogged hairs easier to emancipate. Shaving directly after you shower will have the same effect.

SCRUB UP

Exfoliating beads cleanse away grime, sweat and oil that keep ingrown hairs trapped. Gently rub a R2-coin-sized amount of face scrub in circular motions around your face prior to shaving, as well as a few days after. This will prevent newly-sprouting hairs from becoming snared underneath the skin. This relaxing, mini-massage will also expel dead skin cells that clog up your hair follicles.

LATHER ON THE SHAVING CREAM

A thick, creamy layer of high-quality shaving cream softens your hair, moisturises the skin and allows your razor to glide easily across your face with minimal friction.

We recommend The London Grooming Company shave cream which is ideal for sensitive-skinned blokes.

SLAP ON SOME AFTERSHAVE

Your post-shave routine is equally important to maintain smooth, bump-free skin. Slather on a moisturising post-shave product like The London Grooming Company aftershave balm which is known for its soothing and hydrating properties. It heals the skin, lulls irritation and prevents bacterial infections.

LET IT GROW

Constantly shaving over irritated skin that’s plagued by ingrown hairs causes more inflammation and can lead to skin infections. Consider taking a short (or permanent) break from shaving and grow out a beard. Not only are they trendy, but a well-coiffed beard adds to your unique charm, look and character. It will also save you from razor burn and free up your bathroom time for more important things like browsing the latest issue of Swimsuit Illustrated and reading blog posts on men’s grooming tips

GET PICTURE PERFECT SKIN – without using a filter

Photo-perfecting technology allows us to have a poreless complexion, hides any under-eye evidence of a wild night out and gives us smooth, acne-free skin when we conveniently forget to use a cleanser. Instagram, Snapchat, Photoshop and a multitude of face-altering apps may provide you with skin worthy of a Clearasil commercial, however, when the filters fade and the camera blurs, the thought of facing the real world with blemished and pimple-prone skin can diminish one’s self-confidence.

So put back your girlfriend’s concealer kit – there’s no need to resort to drastic measures. We’ve got you covered with a fool proof, fuss-free plan to bring your skin back from the edge of an oil slick, banish blemishes and create that all-natural ‘Mayfair’ filter.

Cleanse. Cleanse. Cleanse.

The first step to smooth skin is using a good facial cleanser, morning and night. As easy as it may seem to use a common bar of soap to wash off the day’s debris, it can strip your skin of natural oils and cause dryness and irritation. Do this step before you shave, as a coating of oil and grime on your face can hinder the quality of your shave by making it difficult for your razor to reach the surface of your skin. There are numerous cleansers targeted towards men’s needs, which can be found in the cosmetics aisle of your local supermarket or pharmacy. Choose between a face wash for sensitive, oily or normal skin.

Use Shaving Cream to Prevent Cuts

There’s nothing worse than the prickling feeling of nicking your skin while shaving. Spare yourself the pain, plasters and inconvenience by using a shaving cream that softens your skin and lays out a supple canvas for a perfectly smooth shave. We recommend The London Grooming Company shave cream, elegantly packaged in a chic black tin that’s also easy to travel with. It’s velvety, whipped formula creates a creamy lather and is suited for gentlemen with sensitive skin too.

Don’t Forget the Aftershave Balm and Moisturiser

Not just applied for its sexy masculine scent, aftershave has a far greater purpose than attracting the ladies. Aftershave balm is an essential step following shaving, as it soothes chaffed skin and contains antiseptic ingredients that prevent infections caused by those pesky, previously-mentioned cuts. Our daily shave isn’t complete without The London Grooming Company aftershave balm and skin moisturiser with its alluring woody oud scent and cooling formula that assists in the rejuvenation of your skin. What makes this salve even more versatile, is its built-in moisturiser. This saves you the hassle of adding yet another product to your skincare routine. The hydrating properties of the aftershave balm – which includes nourishing hemp oil – alleviates razor burn and bumps, prevents ingrown hairs and locks in moisture.

Banish those Blackheads

You’ve been avoiding it, but it’s time to address those unsightly tiny, black bumps on your nose. While blackheads seem to have leased out a lifetime’s stay on your nose, chin or forehead, there’s an easy way to evict them. If you shy away from booking facial extractions at a salon, why not try a purifying charcoal mask or nose strip. These inexpensive, fast-acting strips are glued onto the affected area using water and within ten minutes, you can satisfyingly peel it away, as it painlessly removes most of the blackheads. Maintain your smooth nose by making a paste with two teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda (found in the baking aisle) with a splash of water and gently exfoliate the area once a week to keep it bump-free – permanently!

Eliminate Acne… for Good

Unlike awkward school dances and maths tests, some things – unfortunately – don’t stay in your teen years. Acne can creep up on you in adulthood (usually the night before an important work presentation) due to stress and unhealthy eating, excess oil production and using chemically-laden face products. Combat the occasional pimple by using a mild over-the-counter ointment that contains benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinoid. If your acne has declared full-on cystic war, it would be beneficial to visit a dermatologist who may prescribe antibiotics or something stronger like Roaccutane, which comprises isotretinoin.

Iron Out the Wrinkles

There’s nothing more dashing or sophisticated than a few well-earned wrinkles as we grow older – just ask George Clooney for a reference! However, to prevent these fine lines from becoming craggy trenches, use an anti-wrinkle cream that features retinol. Hold off on the smoking as it restricts the production of collagen and elastin, the natural proteins that keep you looking 26, when your ID says Gen X. If the thought of Botox makes you cringe, try facial yoga or gently massage your skin in circular motions using your middle and index fingers.

Swap Soda for Water

We know… giving up that sweet, fizzy goodness for a fresh glass of H20 isn’t ideal, but the results are equivalent to a ‘Valencia’ tint. Drinking eight glasses of water per day will hydrate your skin from the inside, make your skin look refreshed, and helps flush out acne-causing toxins. Since it isn’t easy to change your daily drinking habits, apps like Drink Water and Hydro Coach will remind you to quench your thirst throughout the day.

Slather on the Sunscreen

A summer tan may have you looking like a bronzed Adonis, however, those toasty rays cause damage that goes far beyond the skin’s surface. The sun’s harmful UV rays cause free radical damage to your skin resulting in inflammation and subsequently; acne. These intense beams also darken previous blemishes and acne scars you may have, and singe chances of collagen and elastin production. What we’re really trying to say here is: “Wear sunscreen. Every. Single. Day.”

Now that you have our simple and doable #nofilter skincare routine pinned down, within a few months, you will begin to notice your skin looking brighter, clearer and more supple. The minimal effort is worth the results and the ultimate confidence booster; you will probably never have to use a selfie filter again! Probably…