In Rotation: October 2013

I've got some excellent products to test out this month, including a couple of face masks to give my skin that extra love and care as the weather gets colder. I've already given my humble opinion on the Kiehl's cleanser and the Clarins Men Fatigue Fighter. But I'll be bringing you views and reviews on the rest of these products in good time, so keep an eye out!

Clockwise from centre top:

Korres: Saffron, Amber & Cardamom Eau de Toilette

Aesop: Bitter Orange Astringent Toner

Clarins: Foot Beauty Treatment Cream

Gentlemen's Tonic: Traditional Shave Cream

Clarins Men: Fatigue Fighter

Elemis: Post Shave Recovery Mask

Kiehl's: Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser

REN Skincare: Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask

In Rotation: September 2013

Sharing the contents of one's bathroom might under any normal circumstances be considered, well, inappropriate. But as I review this stuff all the time I thought it might be fun to share some of what is currently in my grooming rotation for September.*

If there hasn't already been a review of each of these products then there soon will be, so bear with me!

On that note, here you have it (clockwise from top):

Redken: intra-force daily stimulating treatment

Dermalogica: invigorating shave gel

Elemis: deep cleanse facial wash

Aesop: oil free facial hydrating serum

Kiehl's: men's aftershave balm and moisturiser

Baxter of California: night cream AHA

Murdock London: hair doh

Korres: vanilla plum body milk

Diptyque: tam dao eau de toilette

Molton Brown: revitalising eye treatment

PS, you can ignore the olive green tiled background, I happen to like my bathroom so there!

* of course, this is only a snapshot - I'm using new, different and extra products all the time.

Product Review: Elemis, Time for Men Deep Cleanse Facial Wash (£18.50, 200ml)

Elemis - bringing the spa home

The lovely people at Elemis PR sent me their Time for Men Deep Cleanse Facial Wash a wee while ago. I’ve been using it consistently since then, and thought I would share my conclusions.

This is a gel cleanser, designed for any skin type. I have been using it twice daily, both as a pre-shave cleanser and to remove all that city dirt at the end of the day. And as the formula is designed to prevent ingrowing hairs, this certainly offers a targeted and useful pre-shave option for any modern man.

Made with a blend of oak bark, spearmint and peppermint, the wash provides a spirited wake up moment in that morning shower. You can also see the oaky content in the colour of the gel, which is dark and rich. Almost a bit tree-sap-eque (or perhaps I’m just making that up!?).

Because it’s a gel cleanser, this is very simple and easy to use. None of that hassle you can get from some other cleansing products (which, let's face it, is very welcome early in the morning when every extra minute in bed counts). Squirt just less than a 20p sized amount onto your palm and then lather onto your face. Don’t expect a huge lather, but a gentle massage will be enough to ensure even and well-distributed application. 

Because I have found that this gel doesn't give you that immediate "moment" (when you just know your skin's skeaky clean), I have been leaving the stuff on for 30 seconds or so before washing off with warm water.

Kiehl's - classic

Korres - doing it natural

As with most Elemis products, this isn’t cheap. The classic Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Face Wash, for example, is £17.00, and you can get a good natural product from Korres for only £10.50 from feelunique.com. But, if you’re looking to splurge then you could definitely do worse!

Product Review: Elemis Time for Men, Time Defence Wrinkle Delay (£54.00, 50ml)‏

Straight up: this is an anti-ageing moisturiser and I'm 26. So, perhaps some of the qualities of this product are a little lost on me. Having said that, I do like Elemis' Time Defence Wrinkle Delay very much.

Elemis - pumped and plumped

And I'll tell you why. First, quite frankly it just feels lovely. Silky smooth and quite fine, Elemis have captured well the way you want an anti-ageing moisturiser to feel on the skin.

Secondly, and importantly for me, the finish is non-shiny. I have mainly been testing this product as a night cream, so I question how well it would cope with a day out in the hot and sweaty city, but then not many products can.

On the anti-ageing piece, the anti-oxidant ingredients are designed to pump and plump the skin. They seem to do just that - my skin is certainly left feeling well hydrated and smooth.

Finally, it's totally fragrance free (unlike many other products claiming similar), leaving you free to scent up of your own accord.

No. 7 - doing a job for £23.00

To preach, it pays to use anti-ageing products before you feel (and, more importantly in this scenario, look) "aged". They tend to be preventative, rather than curative and as such you want to splash out on the right product at the early signs of ageing. I don't think the Elemis product would be any different.

Any anti-ageing moisturiser is going to be priced more highly than the average generic moisturiser. Even the Boots classic No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Moisturiser is £23.00. At £54.00, I can't deny that Elemis have priced themselves towards the top end of the market.

However, when my time comes, I may well be tempted by it.