For in-depth moisture, I have been using Argan Oil. This magical product is not too heavy and not too light—making it perfect to use on all skin types. It’s packed with omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and linoleic acids, all of which work to lightly moisturize your skin, soften dry patches, and even reduce acne. I use it on my hair too and recently have been using 100% organic Argan Oil from The Ordinary.

I have also been testing out Re-Gen Oil which is cultivated in a not dissimilar way to Bio Oil – even the branding looks similar. It is a specially formulated product which helps to prevent and provides treatment for stretch marks, scars, dry skin and blemishes. It’s not tested on animals and based on a 2-month cosmetic study by Derma Consult GmbH Germany – 77% of subjects confirmed smoother and more flexible skin and 63% noticed a reduction in wrinkles. Truly a winning formula.

If you’re in the market for a great face mask, DEWYTREE provide a really great variety that are super efficient and easy to apply and remove. DEWYTREE is a Korean brand providing a clinically proven “Nature Recipe” that heals tired and exhausted skin through natural means.

My hair has grown out a tonne since I shaved it off at the end of last year, so much so that I can bring the top into a man bun, so as well as using Argan oil, I have been testing out SLS and Paraben-Free product Hair Burst Volume & Growth shampoo, conditioner and elixir which has not only added volume but an incredible scent of avocado and coconut.

In terms of sending internal love to your skin, I would still recommend taking Turmeric daily (which you can buy from most pharmacists and Whole Foods) and flax seed oil. I would also recommend ingesting a CBD or Hemp Oil product to create an immunisation towards cancerous and acidic elements that might be in your system.

Until next month!

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The facial itself was with Dermoi therapist, Gabs, whose technique was immaculate. I am really particular about symmetry and coverage (which I think all clients should be tbh), and truly Gabs’ methods (which she talked me through), technique and overall energy were all first class.

The products used by Dermoi for my facial included @osmosis.eu Renew: Youth facial, a powerful treatment with clinical ingredients that boost collagen and increase cellular renewal. The facial also features 2.5% Retinaldehyde, a stabilised form of Vitamin A that has been scientifically proven to prevent and reverse signs of photoageing. Vitamin A encourages healthy skin production and increases elasticity, helping to keep skin firm, healthy and youthful. The Renew Youth facial uses a powerhouse combination of customised active powders, serums, masks, massage techniques and technology to create immediate and long-term results too.

Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone who has a tight schedule and doesn’t always have time to travel to the clinic! For more info, visit: dermoi.com.

We’re so happy @nikthakkar, hailed as one of London’s greatest creatives by major fashion houses and publications, took the time out of his busy day to come and see us for a treatment. We’re obsessed with Nik and his boundary-pushing multi-platform art! He had our @osmosis.eu Renew: Youth facial, a powerful treatment with clinical ingredients that boost #collagen and increase cellular renewal. This facial features 2.5% #Retinaldehyde, a stabilised form of #VitaminA that has been scientifically proven to prevent and reverse signs of photoageing. Vitamin A encourages healthy skin production and increases elasticity, helping to keep skin firm, #healthy and youthful. The #RenewYouth facial uses a powerhouse combination of customised active powders, #serums, masks, #massage techniques and technology to create immediate and long-term results!

A post shared by Dermoi (@dermoiapp) on Jul 13, 2018 at 1:22am PDT

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The range and overall experience includes active ingredients that protect and repair skin from daily elements to keep it healthy and youthful looking whilst promoting a routine that all men can subscribe to.

My recent experience was by means of a facial at The Harley Street Skin Clinic with the wonderful Sally Boden. As someone who has had quite a few facial treatments, it takes a lot for me to be genuinely overwhelmed by an experience, but I have to admit that Sally and the Monroe of London process is possibly the finest in recent memory.

As someone with mild OCD in the form of symmetry whether it is in the gym or general grooming technique, it made me so happy to feel Sally’s fingers work my face in the most inclusive and balanced way – not always a skill set that all facialists (even the most professional) can boast. From a technical standpoint, I particularly enjoyed the use of the Glycolic Serum which works by eating away at the glue between the cells, it is a natural exfoliant, which gently sloughs off dead skin cells. You can learn more about it here. Another great element was Sally’s technique with magnets around the eyes which acts as a wrinkle reduction treatment using opposite polarity which also delivers the most hypnotising, almost meditational state.

You can shop the products and book an appointment by visiting www.monroeoflondon.co.uk A short video of my skin immediately following the facial can be seen in my Instagram Highlights under EGO.

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In partnership with The Representation Project, grooming brand that heroes the “messiness of masculinity” Harry’s has released a short film as part of its campaign called “A Man Like You”. The film has a classic sci-fi element but with a progressive message in a time when a lot of the expectations that have historically been placed on “men” have started to dissolve.

Harry’s “A Man Like You” brings to life the conversation of what it means to be a man today and tell the story of an alien navigating how to be a man with the help of a boy. As a result of the alien’s many questions, it is the boy who learns that the traditional ideals of masculinity imposed on men are too narrow for today’s world.

On a product note, I have been testing Harry’s for a couple of weeks and I am blown away by the quality of the product – particularly the peppermint face wash which contains volcanic rock coupled with natural essential oils of eucalyptus and mint. All Harry’s products are also paraben-free, sulfate-free, and never tested on animals. Phew.

The direction of the film follows last year’s review by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on harmful gender stereotyping in advertising which seeks to develop new standards on ads that feature stereotypical gender roles or characteristics. Harry’s also sets aside 1% of their annual sales for their social mission partners and given their time to organisations they care about. Now we’re taking that a step further and partnering with programs that are devoted to creating a happier, healthier future for men everywhere. Partners include The Representation, Project , A Call To Men , Bronx Freedom Fund , and CALM (UK).

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Sadly, there are times in life when it’s simply impossible to take the time you need to keep yourself looking your best. Maybe you’re short on time because you’re travelling through Europe, or you head off on a bachelor party to play paintball and need to clean up for the subsequent evening out. Whatever the reason, you need to look your best, and the clock is ticking on achieving your usual high standards.

In an effort to provide some clarity, here are a few essential tips for bringing your physical appearance back to its best, even when time is short.

#1 – Carry Vaseline everywhere you go

Vaseline is a lifesaver if you’re in a pinch and need to smarten your appearance without spending hours in front of the mirror. You can use Vaseline to:

Neaten your hair
Tame stray beard strands
Moisturise your cuticles
Ease unsightly dry lips
Help your eyelashes stand up, which will make you appear more awake

You can buy Vaseline in small pots that will slot into your pocket, ready to be deployed in a moment of urgency. It’s just important to remember to use a light touch; just rub your fingertips over the product rather than digging your fingers in. You’re looking for control, not to make yourself appear unpleasantly greasy. Use sparingly, and you can always apply more if you find you need it.

#2 – Multipurpose tools

Clippers or nail scissors are useful if you’re a fan of short nails, but they can also be used for a variety of other tasks. They can trim stray eyebrows or beard hairs, helping you to return to looking sleek and well-groomed even when you don’t have the time to go through your full routine.

#3 – Colour correcting makeup

Makeup for men is finally becoming more common, as guys accept the artistry in personal appearance improvement. One of the most vital pieces of makeup you may wish to carry with you is a colour corrector.

Colour correctors double as concealers. They come in a range of colours, some of which can look frighteningly vivid. However, when used sparingly, they’re invisible on the skin and make a huge improve to colour, texture, and pigmentation issues in record time.

There’s a great guide to using colour correction in this post, which should help you identify the colour you need to help mask any skin issues you have. If you’re in a rush and want to instantly improve your appearance, colour correction is definitely a viable way to achieve this.

In conclusion

Follow along with these tips and you’ll be back to your sharp, groomed, stylish self in no time.

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Located in the center of the brain, the pineal gland responsible for melatonin synthesis and also helps convert signals between our nervous and endocrine systems. Melatonin itself is thought to act as a neuro-protector that could play a role in the aging process and Alzheimer’s, so when it is affect up by things like fluoride, you can imagine the impact it might have.

Drinking bottled water to avoid this is one thing, but what about toothpaste? I had the chance to test out LEBON’s organic and natural whitening dentifrice “Le White”, specifically Menthe Douce & Thé Vert. I have to say, it is without a doubt the tastiest toothpaste I have ever experienced. The history of the brand goes back to Monaco in 2014 where it was created by sea and nature lovers Stephanie, an Art Historian and professional Photographer along with her husband Richard, Pharmacist MD in Dermatology. That definitely explains the refined palate that the duo created, and the most important element – a non-ending “free of” list: “cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfates, fluoride, titanium dioxide…”

You can explore more about the ingredients here.

This month, particularly considering how the cold affects the skin, I wanted to spotlight the Men’s Exfoliating Mask from Optiat which is vegan, sustainable and certified organic. Unlike most masks at this competitive price point (£17.99), this involves a little bit of prep by mixing the product to form a paste. In my experience, these tend to be the best types of masks as they activate on the skin as opposed to during the production process. The experience is actually really re-vitalising, especially in comparison to some of the other charcoal based masks. The tone is also a very natural organic dark green coming mostly from the unloved hemp husks. The entire process feels really organic and leaves the skin invigorated afterwards.

To compliment, and in the brutal cold, organic and ethical skincare brand Odylique has an incredible avocado 24-Hour Replenishing Cream which acts as a deep night moisturiser or rich day cream (depending on your day!) programmed to diminish lines using the most famous fruit in the world. Extracts of sea buckthorn and horsetail promote skin regeneration whilst the cold-pressed avocado and olive oils provide protein, minerals and anti-oxidant vitamins. For such a deep moisturiser, I would normally recommend using it at night or on a day when you are not seeing as many people, as even though it is light, it does have a quite specific scent. It feels great on the lips too, so make sure you use it there if you get the chance!

On the note of scents, you may have noted the returning trend of Tuberose (pictured in the header). Once popular about 8-10 years ago, the cycle is back in full romantic swing. Gucci’s 2017 scent Rose is based with tuberose and one of the delights from Urban Apothecary’s candles and diffuser collection is the luxury tuberose scent. As a nocturnal human being myself, I always liked tuberose as it’s a mysterious botanical that releases its carnal, buttery scent at night. Of course with the candle, you can now bring this to life ay any time of the day. The experience is refined – as with all Urban Apothecary collections and it is made using 100% natural soy wax, hand poured in England by skilled artisans.

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That said, I went to see specialist Pietro Simone last Saturday, who is based out of Nyumba on Sloane Square for my first session. Overall, the technology replaces the traditional method of “suction-traction massage” and focusses on the lymphatic systems to deliver results. Working the body’s natural mechanisms, it breaks down, removes and re-shapes fat whilst stimulating elastin and collagen production. It’s marketed as painless, which is definitely true for the first session, which entailed the transmission of low frequency vibrations via a cylindrical handpiece that rotates on your flesh. I have to say that watching Pietro at work was fascinating in itself, he is nothing short of a body artist, working like a sculptor with his angles and strategic precision movements with the machine to achieve results. Intention is everything and the machine acted as an instrument and extension of his will power to achieve a specific result. Never have I felt more like a Greco-Roman sculpture in progress until that day.

For those of you interested in the technological detail of how it works, the secret lies in a patented and FDA registered endoSPHÈRES Therapy Method that draws on micro-vibration and micro-compression technology. The micro-vibrations increase the body’s temperature (you will definitely feel some warmth!), triggering a natural process within the skin that removes toxins and degrades fat, leading to impressive sculpting as well as cellulite-reduction. This, coupled with micro-compression in the form of 55 rotating spheres, creates a pulsating force where fat deposits are pressurised and as a consequence loosen to finally break down, which the body can then naturally remove and allow the re-shaping of the fat and adipose tissue. But that’s not all, the same unique vibrations; stimulate the fibroblasts in our skin responsible for elastin and collagen production, providing long-term anti-ageing benefits whilst improving oxygenation and circulation.

Immediate results were definitely visible with smoother skin on my buttocks and abs, I even felt toned enough that night to wear a Givenchy shirt that bears some midriff!

As I was on my way to America, we squeezed in a second session three days later – which to be honest, was a little too soon. The post experience pain is like DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), so you need to give yourself at least five days to a week to go for a second time (after that you can go more frequently!). I was definitely too sore to experience the second session to its fullest extent.

Overall, I would definitely recommend endoSPHÈRES and when I return from the US, I’d love to see what progressive transformation results are really achievable through multiple sessions (in conjunction with my plant-based diet) and shall make sure to document for you. It’s definitely a solution for troublesome areas such as lower abs, love handles (for me particularly) and as it’s non invasive, you can go as often as twice a week for a total of 6-12 recommended sessions. Treatments are approx £120 but you can secure a package deal if you book in advance.

Photography of Nik by Joseph Sinclair, endoSPHÈRES illustration c/o endoSPHÈRES

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But, does the product stand up to the classic men’s grooming experience that we’d expect from a premium brand? In summary, yes. The overall standard grooming experience offers exfoliating, cleansing, toning, multi-action emulsion and moisturiser. You can also check out the full selection here. As someone who is quite sensory inclined, I was really in awe of how the products are scented with fresh notes of aloe vera, camelina oil and green tea, reminiscent of a spa in Bali.

Overall, Bulldog is definitive brand proof that we don’t need to compromise experience or quality when choosing an ethical product stance.

Product photography by Nik Thakkar, photo of Nik Thakkar by Dimitris Theocharis.

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The fragrance itself is set for release on July 14, 2017 and features sea salt, sea notes, agarwood (oud), pink pepper, styrax and seaweed and holds a very optimistic and futurist middle earth energy which is both sultry and revitalising.

On a related note, fusing sky and earth in a not dissimilar way is the Horizon Fragrance from Davidoff. It holds a woody aromatic scent with middle and base notes from vetiver and virginia cedarwood, combined with rich black cocoa which seamlessly injected.

The TV spot actually really brings this to life for you.

Finally, on a sex positive note, I wanted to highlight genius new brand ‘ONE‘, where over 200 vibrant designs of condom packaging are featured, created by the public where new designs are submitted and voted on at onecondoms.com. Creatively can exist in the most surprising places, and hey, it’s a talking point!

Banner photo credit: Nik Thakkar by Joseph Sinclair with grooming by Tom Ford
Oud Minerale still life shot by Nik Thakkar

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My favourite, Tom Ford just released body sprays for Fleur De Portofino, Mandarino Di Amalfi and Costa Azzurra – all guaranteed freshness on an immediate level and a cerebral journey to Italy at the same time… you can shop these online or at Harvey Nichols.

Midnight recover oil from Kiehls
Apply this before you go to bed and you’ll see results by morning. It’s full of natural concentrates that help your skin to replenish moisture and look visibly younger by morning. You only need a few drops.

Water mint body wash by Molton Brown
I love using this shower gel first thing in the morning, it’s so invigorating especially if you have had a big night or been up late working.

Murine Tired Eye Drops and Optrex eye warming mask from Superdrug
These are great when you need to look wide awake and alert but might feel anything but…and you can secretly use them with contact lensers.

When I get back in, I like to use warming eye mask from Optrex to unwind and refresh. It only takes a few minutes and provides almost instant relief, which is especially helpful if I’ve been on my laptop all day or under studio lights.

Product photography: Nik Thakkar
Photography of Nik by Joseph Sinclair, edited by Jens Molsom

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