Exfoliator / Scrub

Lab Series Multi-Action Face Wash

Feb 15, 2012 | Post by: Thom Watson No Comments

 

Lab series have created this to go beyond a standard facial wash and have done so using many of the basic principles of good skincare.

The wash gives a good thick lather that takes away excess oil, dirt and bacteria, whilst gentle grains buff away dead skin andy help to unblock pores.

As the grains are so gentle, the product is perfectly suitable for twice-daily use, because exfoliation should be gentle and often.

The wash is a little mentholated which helps to open pores making them prime for the cleaning.

The product is suitable for all skin types although I’d use some caution if you’re particularly dry and sensitive but for normal to oily skin types its great.

My skin was left feeling tingly and soft and allowed my moisturiser to be more easily absorbed. I also discovered how great this was as a pre-shave, allowing for a more smoother razor glide.

Lab Series Multi-Action Face Wash £17/100ml at Lab Series Online

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions

Feb 04, 2012 | Post by: Thom Watson No Comments

 

I did a brief introduction to this product range a while back in my Guide to Acne, but never an in depth product review. If you believe you do suffer with acne/serious spots then check the guide out by clicking here.

This, in my opinion, is the best option for clearing up spots and is honestly the reason I work for Clinique, a range of products that do what they promise, quickly, effectively and that follow the rules and science of great skin care. Peronsally, I have trouble with spots all the time; you’d never know to look at me, but that’s because I spend a huge amount of time ensuring they don’t appear, because my god, they really try to.

The range is composed of three core products [above]: Foaming Facial Wash, Clarifying Lotion and Moisturiser. The foaming facial wash is SLS free, which is important as some acne sufferers suffer from the most amazingly delicate and sensitive skin imaginable, and SLS can trigger this quite often. For those who aren’t as sensitive, like myself, I prefer the Face/Body Bar, which has a stunning lather on it and personally, I feel cleaner using it, and its amazing for those little spots you can get on the back of your arms.

The Clarifying Lotion is the exfoliator, now, no matter what you read, you should NEVER manually exfoliate spots simply because this can open the spot, cause the bacteria to spread and also increase the risk of scaring because you’re basically creating a wound. With this product, apply a small amount onto a cotton pad and wipe over the face gently, never going over the same area twice, so no scrubbing fiercely with it; this process will remove all the dead skin cells.

Finally the oil-free, anti-bacterial moisturiser is wonderful, hydrating the skin whilst penetrating through the top layers of skin to destroy the evil p.Acne bacteria. Sometimes it isn’t enough hydration as this product range is suitable for the oiliest of skins, so for those that are dry – combination add in some more hydration, but make sure it’s oil free, something like Clinique Moisture Surge often does the trick for me, coupled with some City Block SPF40 to stay well sun protected, but you can experiment.

Results vary from person to person but since using it, I barely get a single spot and the ones that do get through are tiny little nothings.

If you suffer from spots, then this is for you, if you hear people EVER say that Clinique skin care drys your skin, then that’s a pile of stink to be honest, because if you read this, you’ll understand how to use the products. Any resulting dryness is often caused by over use of the Clarifying Lotion and/or not adding in a little extra hydration when needed, so you tell them that, but obviously I must say that everyone has the right to his/her own opinion (but they’re wrong!).

Because I love this so much and for it’s contribution to the quest to help acne sufferers, which can be a confidence shattering concern, I award the Manface Approved Award.

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions £46.50/Complete Set at Clinique Online

Anthony Logistics for Men Facial Scrub

Jan 25, 2012 | Post by: Thom Watson No Comments

 

Well what a discovery. Until very recently I’d never heard of US brand Anthony Logistics. Priding themselves on being a step above the rest, with fragrance-free and allergy tested products and superior ingredients.

I was lucky enough to be able to try the Anthony Logistics for Men Facial Scrub containing Aloe Vera and Algae which calm and sooth the skin, Vitamin C which brightens and boosts skin, as well as Chamomile which refreshes.

Now, this has been designed for all skin types, so bead density not highest, but as it’s been created to be suitable for sensitive skin, this is absolutely perfect so as to minimize irritation on the skin. I find this is actually a good cleanser, although I would still recommend the use of a dedicated cleanser afterwards to ensure the best clean, but just using this before moisturising leaves skin feeling clean, refreshed and noticeably brighter. The beads contained are spherical rather than grained, which means skin is buffed away rather than scraped as some other well-known exfoliators do.

Looking at the ingredients, I’m nothing but pleased. It does contain parabens, but I will tell you that a lot of the paraben bullshit is just hype and bears no real meaning whatsoever. The product is completely fragrance free and contains no sodium laureth sulphate, a common foaming agent that can in some cases irritate the skin, and its absence thus ensures this product is perfect for those sensitive and delicate flowers. All I can say is that Anthony Logistics for Men Facial Scrub is really worth a try.

Anthony Logistics Facial Scrub £27.95/237ml at The Modern Man Online -  Get 10% off your first order by entering MANFACE12 at the till

 

Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off Formula

Aug 19, 2011 | Post by: Thom Watson No Comments

 

For any of readers that are as loyal to Clinique as I am, you will be thinking, “7 Day Scrub!? The thing they give away with EVERY gift going!?” Well yes, this does appear to often be the case, but there’s a reason why, because I can safely say, it’s AMAZING!

Unless you’ve got quite oily skin, acne – not just one or two occasional blemishes, like me, or high colour – redness, rosacea etc, then this is the product for you. It’s a pretty simply concept. It’s a facial exfoliator and is suitable to be used every single day, my skin tends not to need it quite as often as this, but I believe that the drier you are, the more you need, as your skin cell turnover can be quite high, hence sometimes flaking.

You apply the cream onto a dry face. “A DRY FACE!?” you scream, well yes, a dry face. Because this product has a wonderful gentle cream base, providing sufficient lubrication for the gentle granules to do a much better job on dry skin. Then depending on how sensitive you are, you can wash it off with water as I do, or simply tissue it off.

It unblocks my massive man pores, and also, for some reason, I do seem to get these wrinkles on my forehead, I think from being too emotive when I talk, I mean, I’m 20 for heaven’s sake! But after a go on this, they do seem reduced and much fresher looking, and will hopefully prevent me from looking like Gordon Ramsey (sorry, and to be fair, since he’s had them done, they look much better). But my skin feels like silk afterwards.

Also, great for my previously blogged about, dry lips. I use it on them during the evening and just wipe it off with a pad and then it allows my lip balm to soak in.

If you want to experience Clinique for the first time, it’s a great place to start, or if you want to boost your regime, then this is one for you.

  • Welcome to Manface

    Welcome to Manface, a Men's Grooming Blog. Here you can find all sorts of reviews and articles on Men's Grooming products, Cosmetics and Skin Care by Thom Watson, a specialist in skin care and derma-concerns. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me.

    All views are my own and do not represent those of Clinique or Estée Lauder Companies.

  • Adverts from people I like

    Ad by TheModernMan.co.uk. Get 10% off your first oder by entering MANFACE12 at the checkout

    Ad by Nkdman.co.uk

    Ad by Menareuseless.com. Get 15% off by entering MANFACE12 at the checkout.