Tips and tricks to grooming

Beards have been undergoing a revival for the last couple of years, and while they can look stylish when well cared for there will come a time, and heat when the beard has to go. But, how do you banish a lengthy beard while avoiding shaving rash, bumpy irritation and razor burn after months of shunning your shaver? Well I managed to go from this to this and if it is something you are thinking about, want the man in your life to think about or maybe even do...Read on….

Step One

First things first, trying to shave a beard directly off your face when it has some length to it is a no-no. The first step has to be to take the beard right back down to the skin leaving just a stubble. A beard trimmer or electric shaver is ideal for this and you can’t go wrong with a range of models to suit any budget, such as this Blade Shaver from Panasonic.

Step Two 

Before shaving take a warm shower to open up the pores in your face and soften the stubble. By doing this it should make it easier for your razor to cut each hair, giving a closer and more comfortable shave.

Step Three

Gently exfoliate your neck and beard area. By using an exfoliator with beads or grit like grains in a circular motion you can free any ingrown hairs and wash away any grime from the pores. This should leave a smoother surface for the razor to pass over and in theory reduce any cuts.

Step Four

Apply a shaving cream or gel of choice - from my experience, using a low lather gel or cream results in a better shave as the razor glides better over the face and doesn’t clog as much leaving stripes that require further attention.

Step Five

Make sure you have a fresh, sharp razor. There is no point following these steps if you are going to attempt to shave using a razor that has all of the sharpness of a blunt butter knife. The sharper the blade, the fewer passes of the beard area that are required.

Step Six

When shaving don’t press too hard and avoid shaving against the direction of hair growth. Going against the direction of growth results in hairs being cut at differing lengths encourages ingrown hairs and that my readers are the main cause of the redness and itchy feeling.

Step Seven

Rinse off any remaining shaving gel or cream with cold water. Not only does this spank you wide awake but it also serves to close the pores. Using a post-shave balm, cream or serum is a crucial step, it helps to replenish your skin’s natural moisture and keep any skin irritation at bay.

I am lucky that my wife likes the beard, it took a good 7-8months to go from a 5-O'clock shadow to a fully grown beard and having now shaved it off, I do miss it, brushing it became something I did when relaxing, but then I think what I would have had to put up with in this insane heat, travelling on the tube twice a day and realise it was actually a very clever and astute move! To keep up to date with my beard and where it grows, you can find my blog right here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

L'Occitane Terre de Lumière L’Eau

If you like your floral perfumes then Terre de Lumière L’Eau from L'Occitane is the perfect addition to your fragrance wardrobe.  Sitting within the Oriental Floral family, this is perfect for a hot Summer's Day because it is not overpowering, not overly musty and not overly sweet.

One thing I love about fragrances from L'occitane is the description given to the scent and for this one, it goes like this:

Luminous and exhilarating, Terre de Lumière L’Eau is a tender floral eau de toilette that breathes femininity. 

It’s the scent of daybreak, that beautiful moment when the sun’s rays emerge gently over the horizon. Inspired by Provence at first light, the serene notes of this tender, floral fragrance evolve slowly, giving each accord the time to reveal itself fully, like the unfolding dawn…

Terre de Lumière L’Eau opens with the notes of Bergamot, Pink Pepper and Blackcurrant which give it quite a fruity hit and just as it settles, the middle note of Pink Peony re-energises the floral side of the scent and gives it, for me, that wow factor and then the base notes of Bitter Almond Essence, Tonks Bean and White Musk turn this fragrance into the most beautiful light floral fragrance which has amazing longevity on my skin.

The bottle which takes on an Ombre pattern with a sold white section at the top is circular in shape and when it captures the light, it does create a rainbow.  Terre De Lumiere has a special meaning for L'Occitane and it is quite a beautiful description:

As the day draws to a close, the sky is set alight, embracing all the shades of gold. Beauty is suspended in time as this stunning spectacle reaches its height. This is the golden hour. Meaning "land of light", L'OCCITANE's new collection is inspired by the special time of day in Provence known as the golden hour... A short moment at dusk as the sun falls and the sky fills with golden and purple light. The air is filled with the most fragrant Provençal scents.

As well as Terre de Lumière L’Eau, the L'Occitane fragrance collection is quite extensive and well worthy of looking into here. For this scent, it comes in two sizes 50ml (£49) and 90ml (£65).


*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Mintd Box - 2nd Birthday

July is my favourite month (because it is my birthday month) and today I am sharing with you the second birthday beauty box from Mintd which you might have seen the full reveal of HERE on my Instagram not too long ago.

For a beauty box to make it to a second year it is quite an achievement and there is something a little special about Mintd box and that is that it is a monthly / bi-monthly luxury beauty subscription which sends to you a carefully curated selection of 4-5 full/deluxe sized luxury beauty products from exceptional luxury brands. Products across the skincare, makeup and haircare spectrum are carefully selected and handpicked from a broad section of innovative, exclusive and luxury that there is out there.

So to mark the second birthday there are four amazing brands from which there are four amazing products which are: 

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser (£35) - Sunday Riley is a brand I have been wanting to try for some time now. Everyone I know who uses any of the products is a huge fan and cannot promote them enough. Described as being a lightly foaming cleanser which contains a cocktail of vitamins, minerals & essential oils to tone and balance normal to combination skin.

So you will find ingredients such as French green clay and Moroccan rhassoul clay which work to gently lift away excess oil without drying out the skin. There is also the use of neroli essential oil and the powerful antioxidant vitamin C. Black pepper helps to boost the circulation as well as helping to rejuvenate tired skin and finally the use of frankincense which works to promote cellular regeneration to give a firmer and smoother face with visibly reduced pores. The luxurious gel formula calms and soothes irritated skin, bringing back balance and brightening the complexion.

Omorovicza Rose Lifted Serum (£90) - This is one of my favourite brands and this happens to be a product I hadn't yet tried. Described as being a luscious healing skincare product, it screams luxury and this is something I love about the brand.

The formula for this serum is really lightweight and uses natural ingredients to leave the skin feeling soothed and rejuvenated.  The use of natural sea mayweed works to relax muscles, smoothing expression lines and wrinkles, then we have Ruby crystals which give the skin an instant youthful glow so the complexion is left looking radiant and revitalised and of course there is the Hungarian Thermal Water which is used in every product from Omoroviza for its mineral-rich content.

Oskia Skincare Renaissance Mask (£51) - Described as being a spa in a jar this Renaissance Mask by Oskia is simply divine. A buttery balm that increases skin radiance and minimises the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles, it is formulated with beauty-boosting nutrients and essential vitamins and minerals that enhance cell turnover.

This mask works to even out and brighten the complexion by reducing melanin production, leaving skin feeling fresh, re-energised and youthful. Initially pink in colour, once applied to the skin the mask turns white once signifying the product has been applied effectively. What I love about this mask is the texture and how it makes my skin feel as I apply it and then after using, my skin feels so hydrated.

The final product in the box is the De Mamiel Dewy Facial Mist (£14.10) - Described as being a serum that works like a facial mist, this unique serum is formulated with essential oils so that the skin is repaired and protected, and the mind and body are calmed for an overall sense of well-being.

Ever since I started using this I have become quite obsessed with it. It can be used at any time of day - perfect in the morning for awakening the skin after cleansing, as a quick refresh mid-afternoon, to refresh your makeup before a night out or even to be used before bedtime to soothe.  It lightly coats the skin rather than drenching and it smells just incredible.

This is one incredible box,  The value of this box is an incredible £190.10 but it can be yours for just £70 which includes free delivery within the UK but it is also available for worldwide shipping. If you want more information about previous boxes and more details about the subscription services on offer right here.  There is currently an offer of a free Omorovicza Oxygen Booster should you signup to 3, 6 OR 12 Month plans. 

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here