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I’ve always been fascinated by the $670-billion juggernaut that is the cosmetics industry. The way trends go in and out of fashion, and what sticks around.

One thing’s for certain, men’s skincare is a trend that’s here to stay.

And what’s encouraging is seeing companies that specifically make men’s cosmetics, rather than big brands that have always been predominantly female-cosmetics, that are now focused on trend-hopping.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with women’s skincare products. I’ve used a lot of them before. I grew up with my mum giving me her moisturisers, sheet masks and pore cleansers to try.

But with men’s skin being slightly thicker, and with our facial hair requiring attention that’s somewhat ‘different’ to women’s, the products need to be different too.

And let’s not forget the issue that this is all fairly new for quite a lot of us. I mean I still don’t really know what toners do or how hyaluronic acid works.

But these products have been created specifically for men’s facial skin and our lack of attention span, and I think they’re pretty awesome.

Rhone Men’s Care

Founded, owned and made in Australia, Rhone has a blissfully compact range of products that not only feel great when you use them, but also do what you want them to as well.

Rhone Face and Beard Cleanser

This non-foamy (sodium lauryl sulfate, the most common foaming agent, tends to dry your skin out), gentle yet effective cleanser is perfect for guys.

It doesn’t need to be as astringent as women’s cleansers as it doesn’t have to take off makeup. However, it still cuts through the grime of the day and things like sunscreen to allow your skin to breathe and take on any of the goodness you want to put on overnight.

Things like aloe vera, willowherb extract, tamanu oil, papaya, organic hemp seed and gotu kola—an extract from an Australian native herb—all sooth, hydrate and cleanse your skin and facial hair so its ready for further treatment.

It also comes in a slick matte black glass bottle that looks good on the shelf.

Rhone Blue Clay Mask

Once a week, it’s good to slap on a mask that takes all the impurities out of your skin. This clay mask is great at that, but also nourishes the skin with ingredients like Davidson plum—another Aussie native, bilberry extract, and jojoba and sandalwood seed oils.

The clay is a lovely navy blue when you apply it, but lightens to an ashy colour as it dries and tightens, which takes about 15 minutes.

Made from Australian kaolinite clay, this is full of minerals and is gentler than bentonite clay, which is what many other face masks are made from. Interestingly, bentonite is usually from volcanic ash whereas kaolinite is a high silicate clay and was once used to make porcelain.

Rhone Beard Oil

Made with 100% natural ingredients and no added fragrance, Rhone’s beard oil is the perfect finish to your skincare process. It leaves your beard feeling nourished and soft, and the active ingredients help promote strong, even hair growth too.

This is made with oils from jojoba, ginger, organic argan, nigella sativa and, of all things, broccoli (does that count towards your five-a-day?). There’s also Kakadu plum here, which is packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C.

Apply a few drops of this oil to your beard once you’ve cleansed. It’s that extra touch of finesse that makes your beard feel and look so much better.

Shakeup Cosmetics

This UK-based brand has a pretty wide range of skincare products available, aimed specifically at men.

My favourites are the stick products they make like the You Do The Mask purifying and pore-cleansing clay mask, and the Hydrate In A Hurry moisturiser.

Because these are both solid-form products, they keep for longer but also travel well. No chance of getting stopped at the airport with these in your hand luggage and they won’t leak in your bag either.

You can read more about Shakeup’s range in our earlier story here.

Manscaped

Hailing from the USA, this brand has an enormous range of gear from moisturisers to clippers for your pubes, and even undies and T-shirts.

They’ve also had the most fun with the names of its products.

The range incudes the Lawn Mower groin and body hair trimmer, the Crop Reviver toner and refresher for your balls, and The Shed toiletry and travel bag.

You can read more about Manscape’s range in our earlier post here.

The post Skincare Products For Men You Need To Try appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Things have changed so much in recent years. Men have become mates with moisturiser, compadres with cleanser and amici with exfoliant – it’s come a long way from my dad’s era. I can still hear him say “get that sh*t off my face” whenever Mum tried to put a cream on him.

We laughed about it at the time, but really, it’s a strange by-product of toxic masculinity that meant men weren’t allowed to want to take care of their skin.

Thankfully things are a bit different these days, though there’s still so far to go. When you compare how many skincare products are available for women compared to those sold to men, that much is clear.

But the landscape is changing for the better.

Here are a few products I really love and that are not only designed with men’s skin in mind* but with our stupid ‘that stuff’s for girls’ mindset too.

Hopefully this will pave an even clearer way to better skin health for men.

*Men’s skin tends to be thicker, tougher, oilier and hairier than women’s, plus we don’t generally have the additional challenges that makeup presents to overcome.

Manscaped – Performance Package

Manscaped is purely focused on men’s grooming – especially in those ‘special’ places downstairs. They address and deal with what’s traditionally thought of as ‘manly’ but these days is better understood using adjectives like ‘overgrown’, ‘scruffy’, ‘sweaty’ and simply ‘smelly’.

They approach the very personal subject with good humour, effective products and beautifully engineered trimming devices.

Feel free to use our special code ‘MrAndMrsRomance’ for 20% discount and free shipping!

But here’s what you get in the extensive Performance Package:

The Lawn Mower

Specifically engineered to cut through thick, coarse hair without snagging, the Lawn Mower and its 7,000RPM motor is perfect for cleaning up the mess on the front porch! It also has ceramic blades that stay cool when you’re trimming.

It’s 100% waterproof and cordless, so you can trim in the shower and it comes with an adjustable attachment.

The Weed Whacker

Why we grow so much hair from our ears and nose is beyond me – but not the Weed Whacker. Its precision-engineered circular blade system and cone top allows the Weed Whacker to get right in there and remove hairs easily, quickly and – most importantly – painlessly.

Crop Cleanser

A pH balanced hair and body wash, the Crop Cleanser is the right way to shower. It means this shower gel is cleansing and hydrating at the same time.

The Crop Reviver refreshing ball toner

Spray a bit of Crop Reviver on the twins for a rejuvenating lift. The aloe juice calms and soothes, while witch hazel extract spruces and energises.

The Crop Preserver anti-chafing ball deodorant

A dot of this stuff on the goods and groin post-shower not only wards against nasty niffs that can happen down there, it also soothes the skin and helps with any downstairs rubbing – the unwanted kind of course.

Crop Mop Wipes

These individually packaged ‘refreshing ball wipes’ offer their anti-chafing, moisturising and deodorising services while you’re on the move. Great to have post-gym or while you’re travelling. Way better than the ol’ shower in a can.

Foot Duster cooling foot deodorant

A spritz of Foot Duster on your plates of meat puts a spring in your step. Just wait to air-dry before you put socks and shoes back on. Peppermint oil and menthol get rid of odours and tea tree extract in the spray kills bacteria, keeping your feet smelling sweet for longer.

The Shed

For your convenience, the Shed wash bag is big enough to hold the whole Performance Kit in one handy place.

The Performance Package also comes with a free pair of chafe-proof boxers.

Shop Manscaped products here – and don’t forget to use our special code ‘MrAndMrsRomance’ for 20% discount and free shipping!

E.S.K – Men’s Anti-Ageing Kit

E.S.K Evidence Skincare is an Australian-made skincare range. Aussie doctors, dermatologists and scientists have worked together to create these products that suit a range of skin types – including men’s skin – while also taking into consideration Australia’s unique climate.

Hydroxy Cleanser

A gentle yet effective cleanser that you use morning and night that shifts grime and oils that will stop other skin products working.

It’s surprising how important this step is. Using your shower gel on your face doesn’t do the same thing btw.

C Serum Lite

This vitamin C serum acts as an antioxidant and boosts the skin’s own anti-ageing processes and helps with fine lines and roughness. You use this in the morning after you cleanse.

Zinc Shade

After your C Serum, this zinc-based moisturising cream gives you a light protection from the suns UVA (which causes skin-ageing) and UVB (which is the one that burns) with SPF15.

You can (and should) apply another moisturiser after this and if you’re going in direct sunlight for a prolonged time, you should apply a stronger SPF.

Ultimate A+

This Vitamin A cream goes on after you’ve cleansed in the evening. Vitamin A is a retinoid and acts as a skin resurfacer, promoting production of the all-important collagen.

$288.00 RRP from E.S.K

iS Clinical

iS Clinical’s impressive products have been engineered and tested to the highest standards. Because they’re so concentrated, you don’t need much each time you apply. The products here come in dropper bottles, so it feels more like a science experiment than skincare.

I started using the products from iS Clinical’s New Year Skin Clear kit and after about a week, I noticed significant improvements in my skin. Reduced wrinkles, a healthier glow and generally better complexion. Very impressed.

This is what comes in the kit, but you can buy each element independently.

Cleansing Complex

This is a thorough yet gentle cleanser that you use day and night. It pulls out all the dirt and oils from your pores but doesn’t strip your skin and leave it feeling tight or dry.

Pro-Heal Serum Advance

After you’ve cleansed in the morning, this Vitamin C serum revitalises skin with antioxidants and healing properties.

Active Serum

The most effective part of the kit I have, the Active Serum is (probably) a Vitamin A retinoid that really helps with the production of collagen in the skin. The reduction of lines my skin has experienced is thanks to this stuff.

Hyrda-Cool Serum

This super-hydrating serum goes on morning and evening. Ingredients include Vitamin B5 and Hyaluronic acid, which not only hydrate but make other moisturisers you use more effective too.

What are serums?

Most engineered, scientific prod that stays on your skin longer than any other product. They’re super concentrated and treat everything on your skin. From moisturising and to exfoliating.

They tend to be more expensive than other types of skincare products, but because you don’t use much each time (just three or four drops), the small bottles last quite a while.

iS Clinical products are only available from certified cosmetics clinics and beauticians, but many have online shops.

You can find the list of authorised retailers here. 

What does ‘skincare’ mean?

Skincare is all about the morning-and-evening routine of keeping your skin healthy.

As a very general rule of thumb, you need to treat in the morning and repair in the evening.

So in the morning after your shower: cleanse, treat and moisturise.

At night just before bed: cleanse, vitamin serum, moisturise, oil.

The ‘treat’ part is working on your specific skin type, so you need to know if you’ve got oily, dry or sensitive skin etc. It’s also important to protect your skin with SPF. This preps your skin for the day ahead and protects it.

‘Repair’ is exactly that – replacing depleted vitamins, removing dead or old skin layers and encouraging cell renewal.

Moisturisers act more as a barrier, locking in all the good stuff you’ve applied, and skin oils help with that too. They also smooth out your skin.

Taking care of the skin on your face is just as important as looking after other elements of your general health. It’s worth investing in.

Check out our other stories on men’s grooming, shaving and cosmetics here.

The post Skincare for men – 3 ways of caring for your skin appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Gone are the days when skincare was seen as a ladies-only pursuit. Men no longer want that craggy cowboy look, and ‘old leather’ has been replaced with ‘youthful glow’ for our preferred skin types.

And men around the world are now realising what they’ve been missing out on this whole time: putting moisturisers and stuff like that on your face actually feels awesome!

There are some who don’t like it though. My dad is of the generation where men didn’t do things like that. He still hates having creams and lotions put on him – even sun cream.

Thankfully my mum encouraged me to and shared her expensive skincare regime with me. I often wonder how old I’d look now if she hadn’t.

Since then, the range of men’s skincare tips and products has really expanded. These days, you can find lots of skincare products for men that don’t smell too perfumed and come in more masculine packaging.

Here are 10 skincare products for men and how to use them. They smell manly, they’re easy to put on and best of all, they feel awesome!

Easy skincare tips for blokes – 10 products that work for us

1. Skin by Ecostore Multi-Nutrient Facial Oil

Good for: softening and replenishing skin. Makes your face feel like it’s 20 years younger.
Use it: every morning or before you go to bed after a shower.

Thick, luxurious oil that has a wholesome, slightly savoury almost musky smell. Made with naturally replenishing oils like avocado, apricot and kiwifruit seed, and is packed with collagen-stimulating omega oils, vitamins and CoQ10. Soaks into the skin, and smooths and revitalises instantly. Not a travel resource though as the bottle leaks a bit when not upright.

Find it here.

2. Glow Lab eye serum

Good for: crow’s feet and lines around the eyes. makes your eyes almost feel wider open somehow.
Use it: every morning after your shower.

Gentle and light yet moisturising. Feels lovely and the packaging reminds me of a professional beauty salon… or what I think a beauty salon would have! 1 pump is more than 2 eyes’ worth but used the rest on my forehead. I need all the help I can get.

Find it here.

3. Glow Lab moisturiser

Good for: soothing, strengthening, protecting and enriching skin.
Use it: every morning after serums and oils.

I like the different natural extracts in this: rosehip, macadamia and shea butter. It somehow feels about 3°C cooler than anything else. Soothing, enriching and softening. Glow Lab products are all free from a long list of usual nasties, which is reassuring.

Find it here.

4. Glow Lab gel cleanser

Good for: avoiding blemishes and build-up of oils and dirt on skin and in pores.
Use it: every day in the evening before you moisturise.

Apply to dry skin then activate with a splash of water. Gently foams and cleanses, and leaves face feeling fresh without drying it out or feeling stripped. Uses fruit acids and Vitamin C to clean and balance skin. Smells lovely and herby.

Find it here.

5. Handsome facial moisturiser

Good for: help with anti-aging, cell regeneration and softening skin.
Use it: every day, morning and night.

A velvety, smooth and rich cream. Absorbs easily and makes skin feel instantly more elastic. It’s made with lots of different herb, flower and oil extracts including cedarwood and bergamot – which could explain the masculine yet perfumed fragrance. Many of those extracts are labelled organic. Top 3 ingredients are water, aloe vera juice and sesame oil, which make it a soothing, hydrating product.

Their tagline “Not tested on animals, only the handsomest of men” makes me like brand even more.

Find it here.

6. Modrn Man 2-in-1 anti-aging face wash and shaving cream

Good for: deep pore cleansing and skin renewal, plus softens stubble to help a clean shave.
Use it: every time you wash your face and every time you shave.

A quality product that has a 2-in-1 feature. Why not wash your face at the same time as shaving? Provides deep-cleansing foaming wash that is refreshing and feels like every pore is clean. Smells great – very manly and sporty. Don’t know how well the shaving cream part of this product does, but it does leave my beard feeling great.

Find it here.

7. Modrn Man anti-aging 2-in-1 moisturiser and SPF30

Good for: moisturising, anti-aging and protection from UV-based skin cancer.
Use it: every day 10 minutes before going out in the sun.

At last a moisturiser with sunscreen for men. And this one is mostly zinc-based (3.5% zinc oxide, 2.8% titanium dioxide), which is even better. As a moisturiser, it’s a bit heavy and can pull a bit on delicate eye areas, but still leaves your skin feeling hydrated. As a zinc-based sunscreen, it’s excellent. Physical barrier sunscreens (as opposed to chemical ones) tend to ‘ghost’ your skin and refuse to absorb or dissipate in colour. This one goes in quite easily and feels soft and protective on your skin.

Find it here.

8. The Ordinary retinoids

Good for: removing surface layer of skin and encouraging new cell growth, so leaving skin fresher and cleaner.
Use it: after serums and before moisturisers up to 3 times a week. Better used at night as UV sensitivity is heightened after use.

This chemical exfoliant comes in a little dropper bottle, so it feels like you’re conducting some kind of chemistry experiment on yourself! It’s a strange liquid that’s slightly chalky – thick yet runny at the same time. A small amount on your face in the evening before bed strips your skin down so you wake up with a surprisingly bright complexion.

Find it here.

9. Skin Doctors Eyetox anti wrinkle eye treatment

Good for: reducing appearance of wrinkles, smoothing and firming skin, and improving its texture.
Use it: morning and night on clean skin.

This serum reduces crows’ feet and under-eye wrinkles. Enhances synthesis of hyaluronic acid, which is heavily involved with repairing skin. A single pump (which ends in a satisfying ‘click’) from the little bottle produces more than enough of the serum to cover both eye areas with some left over for any other wrinkles you want to have a crack at! The formula’s very light and has a faint citrusy, flowery fragrance, but it’s not overpowering.

Find it here.

10. Algenist Perfect Clarifying Pore Corrector Mask

Good for: reducing pores, absorbing excess oils and smoothing the skin.
Use it: on clean skin 1-2 times per week.

This stuff is incredible. And a lot of fun. The deep reddy-brown clay mask gets its colour from the red algae extract Algenist is known for. After you’ve cleaned your face, a thick layer of this stuff – left for 10 minutes – leaves your skin feeling so soft, smooth and firm it kind of blows the mind.

Your face honestly feels so much younger. Plus it’s a lot of fun smothering your face in something between war paint and mud, and things can get a bit messy. Can’t recommend this product enough.

Find it here.

If you enjoyed this post and are looking for more skincare tips for men that I’ve put together, you should check these out:

17 shaving tips for men

Pre-shaving skincare products for men

Men’s skincare products – the ultimate conundrum

What treatments and potions do you use to keep your manly yet youthful looks? Do you have any skincare tips that could help me? Tell us in the comments!

Products received as samples but thoroughly tested on me!

The post Easy skincare tips for blokes – 10 products that work for us appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

She loves it when I’m not all scratchy, and I suppose I look a bit cleaner too!

To go out on limb, I’d say even with the advent of beard resurgence, most women still prefer to kiss a clean-shaven face. The problem is a lot of guys find is that shaving is a chore and can cause more discomfort than having a bit of stubble.

That’s because shaving truly is an art form. It’s not like in a Schwarzenegger movie where the baddy hacks his beard stubble off with a Bowie knife.

There’s a reason so many companies (none of them owned by Bowie) are pumping out so many shaving options and products. Not all of them will work for you, but it’s important to get into a good shaving regime that includes more than just a razor and water. It doesn’t take much longer than a ‘quick shave’ and you’ll be happier with the results.

Here are our 17 top tips for a good shave. By the way, tips 3 to 9 are practical shaving instructions. The rest are about product advice.

1. Don’t settle for one shaving product type – experiment. Here’s our post on comparing 4 shaving product types. I like the traditional shaving stick or the Oscar Shaving Gel. There is another one I use: Bulldog produces skincare just for men and their shaving gel’s good stuff. They’ve also got a sense of humour. On the back of the shaving gel bottle, they explain: “Unless you’re a geography teacher or a communist revolutionary, you’ll need to shave sometime.”
2. Try different razors. Different razors will suit different hair and skin types. My brother can’t use anything more than 3-blade razor because his beard’s too thick.
3. Shave after a shower. Warm water & steam soften beard and make it easier to shave. Some shave during but I like shaving in front of mirror.
4. Use an exfoliant or facial scrub in the shower before shaving. It removes dead skin and reduces the chance of ingrown hairs. Here’s our review of two different types of man scrub. Bulldog also do a good Face Scrub product I’ve just discovered.
5. Shave sides of face first (skin here is toughest) then mo, then sides of neck, then chin then throat last, where skin is softest and the shaving product has had the maximum time to work and soften hair.
6. Always shave with the hair – i.e. your hair from your sideburns usually grows down towards your chin, so shave down towards your chin. Everyone’s hair grows in different patterns – get to know yours.
7. Never shave against the grain of your beard – this really irritates your skin and can cause infections. You get a closer shave but that luxury only lasts a few hours. It’s not worth it.
8. If you want a closer shave, shave across the grain i.e. if your beard grows down towards your chin, shave towards your nose or towards your jawline. This won’t irritate your skin and will get closer than just shaving with the hair.
9. Always wash off excess soap/gel/oil with cold water – this closes pores and makes sure your skin doesn’t get infected.
10. Don’t try and shave every day – especially if you get shaving rash. It’ll only make it worse. These days – unless you’re in the army or work for Don Draper – your boss won’t mind a day’s stubble. It’s better than coming to work with a bloody pulp for a face!
11. Invest in a good quality razor or electric shaver. They’re expensive but worth it. Don’t – DO NOT – use disposable razors. These are for making extra thin slices of parmesan or for people who think shaving pets is fun. Disposable razors do not hold an edge for a whole shave and will rip your face off like Hannibal Lector.
12. Allegedly, putting your spare razor blades in the freezer makes them last a million times longer. I’m not convinced but if you want to try it, please let me know how you go!
13. Change your blades regularly. Blades are not made to last forever and using a blunt blade will do you no favours. On the other hand, sometimes the blade just needs a clean. Check out this razor cleaner and sharpener here.
14. Stick to wet shaves – they take longer but you get a better finish. I can’t use electric shavers. They burn my skin and don’t give a very close shave. I haven’t tried one that has won me over yet.
15. Moisturise after shaving. Your skin will be in shock after you’ve cut all the hair off it. Give your face a break. You’ll look younger for it too! I’ve stolen Mrs Romance’s Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15. I also like the Bulldog moisturiser though – it smells good but not in a girly way!
16. If your favourite time after shaving is the next day, the Gillette Fusion Proglide 3-in-1 Styler is excellent. Even if you want to keep a short beard in check, the interchangeable heads make it easy. It also transforms into a wet-shave razor and is completely waterproof so you can groom in the shower. I love this gadget – it even makes me want a beard a little bit!
17. Go easy on the aftershave – people don’t like it when you stink even if said stink’s expensive! I often just use an aftershave balm then put on a bit of aftershave before I go out. three or four sprays is plenty.

L’Oreal’s aftershave gel isn’t bad and I like the Biotherm Homme range, but the Bulldog Aftershave Balm is the best. As Bulldog so rightly says: “Isn’t it time you took a long hard look in the mirror and said, ‘I need some after shave balm’? Of course it is.”

I know this seems like a long list, but once you’re set up, it won’t take you more than 10 minutes to shave. Once you’ve got the basics in there, you can tweak the details until you’ve got all you favourite products at each stage of your shave.

Do you have any favourite shaving products you like to use? Tell us about them in the comments.

The post 17 Shaving Tips for Men appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

I’ve tried quite a few and thought I’d share my findings.

Soap stick and brush

To be honest, I’ve found this old-style product to give the best results. Soak the brush in a basin of hot water while you wet your face and rub the stick over your stubble. Ring out the brush then use it to froth up the soap on your face.

I use the Palmolive soap stick. It’s perfume free and leaves a good finish. If – like me – you have sensitive skin and suffer from shaving rash, this is the best product.

Make sure you get a good quality brush but be aware – some bristles are from unethically farmed animal products.

Shaving oil

I really wish this stuff worked better. You pump a small amount into your hand and rub it into your stubble. The oil is supposed to lubricate the blades but it doesn’t really. Instead it collects all the cut hair and glues it between the blades so your razor can’t cut.

You have to scrape out the goop on the razor every three or four strokes. It’s very annoying and doesn’t leave you with a very close shave.

It’s a real shame because the oil does leave your skin feeling very hydrated and soft, and the small bottles travel well.

Shaving foam

These canisters of compressed gas that squirt foam into your hand are much better than they used to be. I’ve been using a Gillette Sensitive Skin for a while and have found it’s pretty good. It used to react badly with my skin but not anymore.

You only need a blob about the size of a ping pong ball to cover your face – you don’t need to turn into Santa every time you shave!

Shaving gel

I’ve recently started using this and I’m pretty happy with the results. It’s somewhere between a soap and the oil. You only need a couple of pumps of the gel on wet skin. It kind of foams up a little bit as you rub it into your stubble.

Leave it for about 20 seconds while you get your razor ready. Then just shave as normal.

The shave still isn’t as close as the foam or the soap, but it’s pretty good and it leaves a nice moisturising finish.

I’ve only talked about a few brands here, and there are literally hundreds to choose from.

If you’ve had a good experience with other products (or different experiences with the ones I have mentioned), let me know in the comments!

Title image compiled by Mr Romance.

The post The Secret to the Perfect Shave – Our Review of 4 Types of Shaving Product appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

Mrs Romance sometimes buys them for my birthday or Christmas… yes, it’s an underwhelming gift idea, but it’s a pretty good stocking filler.

There is an alternative, however. And I think it’d make a pretty bloody good gift for Chrimbo too. The Razorpit Razor Blade Sharpener. When I first saw it five months ago, I thought it was a joke or yet another scam gadget full of promises but really only creating more landfill.

I’ve been testing the Razorpit for the past five months and so far, I’ve been very impressed. It doesn’t really sharpen the blades of your razor. More, it keeps them sharp. It’s very simple and quick to use, and you do it every time you shave.

All you do is put a bit of shaving foam on the ‘pit’ after you’ve finished de-hairing, then push the razor along the flat surface a few times. The friction from the textured surface of the Razorpit cleans the particles of hair, and soap and skin residue from the edges of the blades. It’s the same process as when a barber strops the open razor to clean it.

It’s the residue on the edge of the blades that you think the razor’s blunt.

As I said, I’ve been testing this for five months and so far I’ve only had to change blades once! And that was because I tried using shaving oil instead of soap. What a nightmare that stuff is.

Anyway, if you’re trying to think of something to get your significant other this Christmas or for a birthday, this is an excellent option.

Unfortunately it means Mrs R has to think up something else to put under the tree for me, but I’m sure she’ll think of something.

You can get one of these little fellas online or possibly from a good pharmacy along with all your other skincare and grooming needs.

In Australia, they’re available in the Shaver Shop for $29.95.

In Europe you can go straight to the source at Razorpit.com for €25.

And if you’re in the UK, you can go to my favourite Man Cave site, Firebox.com for £19.99!

Images by Mr Romance.

The post Razorpit razorblade sharpener – shave yourself a fortune! appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

But one day, Mrs Romance had a bring-a-friend invitation to her beauticians. Her real friend dropped out so, being a great guy, I stepped in. I did the whole ‘well, I don’t really want to, but I’ll go because you want me to’ thing, secretly looking forward to experiencing ‘a pamper’.

I am happy to say the whole experience was in no way emasculating, which is nice! And at the end, the therapist lady did a diagnostic check on my skin. For my neck, she recommended a facial scrub to use in the shower. So, being the good wife, Mrs Romance got me some!

Now I use it in the shower before I shave and I tell you what, I’ve had virtually no neck spots since.

Which products do I use?

For a long time, I used the Dermalogica Daily Clean Scrub. I say for a long time because one tube lasts that long.

You don’t need to use that much, and as I said, I only used it before shaving – not every day.

Recently, Mrs R has given me this: the Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub.

It’s pretty good and doesn’t smell of anything much, which I appreciate. I don’t want to finish up ‘smelling like a tart’s handbag’ as my dad would put it.

My only reservations – apart from not being able to pronounce the brand name with any confidence – are there’s not as much ‘scrubbiness’ in this one as the Dermalogica and the packaging isn’t very good. The lid doesn’t come off very easily and every time I open the tube, I feel like I’m going to pull the whole thing apart.

Otherwise, I really like the product and I will continue to use it.

So if you’re a guy with neck spots (they’re caused by ingrown hairs, by the way) or a lady with a neck-spotted man, get some of this. It’ll fix it up in no time!

Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub
$10.99 AUS (Priceline)
£4.99 UK (Boots)
$7.99 USA (CVS Pharmacy)

Dermalogica Daily Clean Scrub
$35.00 AUS (Dermalogica.com.au)
£24.80 UK (Dermalogica.co.uk)
$21.60 USA (drugstore.com)

Do you use manly skin-care products? Tell me about them.

Check out more reviews on men’s skincare products here.

Images from Dermalogica.com.au  and Biore.com.au – adapted by Mr Romance.

The post Men’s Skincare Products – A Pre-Shaving Ritual appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

It’s quite funny talking to other men about skin care. You both edge into the conversation, testing the water wondering if the other guy’s going to take the piss.

Once the guard’s down, there’s about five minutes max before: “[cough cough], yeah, so, see the game last night? Yeah. Cars. Boobs. Yeah. Beer. [Cough.] Let’s fire up that barbecue.”

It’s like admitting to using face cream will cause an instant skirt to appear where pants once were.

I’m lucky in that my mum made me try things like moisturiser from an early age. I’m skin-care emancipated. I don’t have a cosmetics cupboard or anything on that scale, but I do have a couple of bits and pieces I use to help fend off the wrinkles.

Show a guy an exfoliating scrub and he’ll get very grumpy. But shaving is a form of exfoliation.So why don’t men like skin care products?

Give him a moisturiser and he’ll sulk for ages. But every time he puts sunscreen on, he’s moisturising.

This tells us it’s not what you’re selling, it’s how you sell it.

It’s a semantic problem cosmetics brands are trying so hard to break into. After all, by nature’s law of averages 50% of humans are men – think of all those un-moisturised faces to tap into!

One brand I think is doing a pretty good job is L’Oreal’s Men Expert range. Their Hydra Energetic X-treme Cleanser is a great idea. It comes out black like mud – you put mud on your face to wash! Brilliant! It appeals to the inner boy we all have: mud pie time!

And this is the virtual truth.

It contains charcoal powder, which helps purify the skin. You plaster it on and once you give a rub, it foams up into a big manly froth and cleans off everything – even makeup. Just kidding.

I love this stuff and I use it every few days. My only reservation: the instructions say to use a walnut size blob. I think that’s way too much. I get a good clean face with about the size of a pea or hazelnut.

So if you’re trying to get your man into a basic face-cleanse routine – or if you are man looking for where to start, this stuff’s perfect.

$13.99 AUS (Priceline)
$6.39 UK (Boots)
$8.49 US (online)

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