Men's Skincare Routine, The Basic Beauty Products we all Need

Skincare used to be something very foreign to me. I didn't know much about it and I didn't care to invest my time or money on it. That was until the last few years when I did get slightly obsessed with Lush's skincare range. Now although I think some of Lush's products are fantastic, I equally think that some are not worth the time. For me, Lush's products are a treat for sure, but I find a lot of them serve more for aesthetic purposes to show off on Instagram, instead of being good quality products with long term benefits. This doesn't apply for ALL of their products though as some I still do love, but, there isn't enough variety on offer from Lush compared to what's on the market from other brands. It wasn't until this year that I realised this, prompting me to branch out, and, try new things. This got me excited. So in this post I give you a run down of my 3 favourite skincare products that I've discovered throughout 2020, as being the bare necessities I think we should all invest our time and money in. Nothing fancy or over the top though, just the essentials for that sweet, sweet youthful skin!

I used to actively avoid skincare because I thought I wasn't the target consumer. I hate to say it, but I thought it was just for girls...don't you love being conditioned by gender norms?! I now realise how ridiculous that is because the target consumer is anyone who will give this multi billion dollar industry more money! Skincare is for everybody, no matter if you're a man, a woman, someone non-binary, or, anyone in between. It's for all of us. Not to sound like I'm in an AA meeting, but, I'm Liam, I'm a man and I love skincare!

It's great to see skincare brands making an effort to break the stigma, and, encourage guys like me to join in on the fun of flawless skin. Although, I'm not sure if they're helping or harming their campaign efforts at times by branding certain beauty products as "just for men". For gosh sake it's silly. The contents in these 'male only' products is literally the same ingredients as products geared towards women, so I think their efforts are just feeding into toxic masculinity. It's just making guys more insecure about trying different skincare products that don't have that male only branding, but also brands are missing out on potential earning from men. The marketing of gendering these products really does work though. It fed into my decision making for a long time about whether to dabble in beauty products that weren't geared towards my sex. The brands that advertise this way are bloody geniuses at it, but, it's a load bullshit! How different I am now that I'll happily give brands all the money they want for the promise of "skin looking younger in 10 days"...

I do think some brands are starting to see that they're missing out on an untapped customer base, so are wanting to show that it's okay for men to look after their skin. Obviously to normalise it, and maybe a slight financial motive? The companies who haven't advertised a range of unisex products need to open up their product line and make their products more male friendly. Both to make the beauty sphere more inclusive, but also because they'd be idiots not to! Whether that is making a line of male products similar to what's available for women, or just advertising all their products as unisex... If they can do something to encourage more guys to dabble in skincare, they'll be changing what gender means for the better, and they'll be making a nice penny for their efforts. Win-win.

So now what you're here for... These are my go-to beauty products; the 3 products I will stick with no matter what, are, 1. Hyaluronic Acid, 2. Niacinimide and, 3. Moisturiser with SPF. I've featured these 3 key products below.

1. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, The Ordinary

I've had a good time with this little guy. If there's any product that popped up the most when I was doing my skincare investigation many months ago, it was Hyaluronic Acid (HA). I purchase mine from The Ordinary, which is currently my favourite skincare brand! The magic of this product is that it keeps your skin so well hydrated. It does this by attracting moisture from the air around you and can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water. Not only that, it's a moisture retainer so when you've applied a moisturiser later on, it keeps that moisture nicely locked into your skin too. HA is a naturally occurring molecule in the body, which I think is why this product is so well tolerated. I personally have had 0 issues with it. As I use The Ordinary's HA, it also comes with vitamin B5 in the bottle. When applied topically this vitamin can enhance hydration and tone down any inflammation of the skin.

So if you want plump and juicy skin (who doesn't?), then this is for you! It's pretty useful long term too because it's no secret that as we get old, our skin gets drier - which is often why we get those bastard fine lines and wrinkles! So HA helps to prevent this, or at least slow down the process.

I apply this serum after my cleanser; around 8 - 10 drops, which might be a bit overboard, but my skin loves it! I don't use a toner, but if you do, then that should be applied prior to applying the HA. 

2. Niacinimide 10% + Zinc 1%, The Ordinary

Me and Niacinimide have become good buddies. It was this product that I got the most excited about prior to purchase and truthfully, it hasn't let me down. Although this serum is known as Niacinimide, it's actually a form of vitamin B3. When used topically, it is known to benefit the skin in a multitude of ways. The most common uses for why people use this product, me included, is to regulate sebum production (fancy term meaning it can control oil build-up); reduce pore size and unclog your skin; and, reduce any redness. So really this is a wonder product that people use for all sort of reasons. It's even used medically in hospitals to help people with burns and inflammation of the skin!

As the Niacinimide I purchase is from The Ordinary, the company also adds zinc into this serum. If you didn't already know, zinc is a mineral that can boost our body's immunity. Of course getting it from food is important, but when you apply it topically your skin is getting a concentrated immunity boost! So it can help keep the enemies at bay...like SPOTS.

This is a great product. Since using it, the most significant change I've noticed is how much healthier and clearer my complexion looks. It wakes up my skin, gives it a lovely shine and makes it just look
f r e s h.

Now I will admit that there is a lot of content out there promoting this product as magic, and it does come close. However, because of so much hype online it could influence your expectations too high. Now Niacinimide can do a lot, but like any serum it won't be able to solve everything. What I would say is to give it some time to do it's magic and it will reward you for your patience. I would say maybe 2 months of regular use and you'll probably see a difference.

In the beginning it had more of a placebo effect for me. All it really did the first week or so was make me look shiny and I was like, is this health?! As the weeks past though I could see how much clearer and nicer my skin was looking and then I realised, okay THIS is health.

Initially I was using this serum once in the morning and once at night. When running low one time though I decided to just use it in the morning only and not the night. I've stuck to doing this ever since and it's offered the same results for me as doing it twice a day. I now apply around 6-7 drops all over my face every morning, directly after using Hyaluronic Acid.

3. Bulldog Protective Moisturiser with SPF 15


Okay, the final product of discussion: a protective moisturiser. I think we all know the benefits of moisturisers are to, well, moisturise. It's an easy thing we can all do to achieve baby soft skin. I've found using one especially important because although I normally have combo skin, it often goes dryer after I shower and dry in the colder days and months (being in the UK, that's often). I use Bulldog's protective moisturiser because it's cheap and cheerful and has added antioxidants, but honestly I think using any moisturiser will do the job for you. I do however recommend this Bulldog moisturiser as it leaves my skin feeling and looking really great, as well as keeping it hydrated all day long. It's also important to moisturise to protect your skin barrier. I apply this twice a day, both in the morning and evening after using the previous named products above.

Now using a moisturiser isn't the main point I wanted to discuss, but rather what is inside this moisturiser and many others. I'm talking about S - P - F, or, Sun Protective Factor. SPF protection is something we all know to wear on hot days and in the summer months, but did you know it is recommended by doctors to wear SPF daily? That's because the sun's UV rays can pierce our skies even when they're flooded with clouds, and when we're in the winter months. SPF protection used to be one of those pesky things I knew I should have been applying but never did. Now however I see the light (cheeky sunlight pun).

If you're asking why is this so important, well, our sun's UV rays are extremely fierce and relentless. From a health stand point, by wearing SPF protection daily you're going to reduce your risk of getting one of the most preventable cancers: skin cancer. From a cosmetic standpoint SPF protection is incredible at protecting your skin from sun damage, which is a massive cause of premature ageing. Things like sun spots, wrinkles, skin discolouration and just the general youthful look of your face can effect your skin without this protection. No one wants that.

If you don't want to apply SPF protection yet still want to use other beauty products like some I've mentioned above (or even branching out and trying things like acids and retinols), I hate to inform you it's a waste of your time and money. The sun is the enemy when it comes to skincare. An SPF protector needs to be included in your skincare routine and when it is, all the other beauty products you use will work. Without SPF protection your skin will continue to be at risk of premature ageing and sun damage and no amount of Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinimide, retinol or other products can fix that. You just won't get the benefits your skin deserves because the sun is a *****. If there's anything I've learned about skincare, it's all about prevention! Look around for what SPF protection (or moisturiser with SPF protection included) will suit your skin, but opt for a broad spectrum that can protect you from the sun's UVA and UVB rays.

I hope this has been useful for all of you. No matter who you are, or how macho you are, give skincare a go. Your future self will thank you!

What are some of your top beauty products?

Liam

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A Gentleman's guide to grooming

Grooming is that one thing we all have to get around to doing as part of our daily or weekly routine. Even though a little tedious, it's got to be done. But what's it take to be a well groomed gentlemen? Well I've learnt a thing or two about this by now since I've developed from a 'no facial hair man' to a...little bit of facial hair man. GOODBYE PUBERTY. So here I am passing on what I know. They say you can tell a lot about a man by how he grooms himself so to look the part let me tell you what you've got to do. It's a simple as 1, 2, 3 and doesn't take very long so let's get started.

1. Exfoliate

I can't emphasise how important it is to exfoliate your facial skin prior to shaving or trimming. It does wonders for cleaning your hairs up as it creates a nicer slate to shave and trim on. According to Gilette, if you don't exfoliate, old skin cells, oil and dirt might be matting down facial hair and blocking your razors path. Yikes.

I use Cup O'Coffee exfoliater by Lush Cosmetics.

2. Trim/Shave

This one is a bit obvious but you're going to need a tool to do the deed with. Duh. Invest in a good quality razor or trimmer to get the best experience possible. It might cost a few bob, but it's a jolly good investment.

I use the Philips QT4000/13 trimmer for trimming and Gilette razors for a full shave.

3. Coconut oil/moisturiser

All this grooming isn't the easiest on skin so to keep your money maker in check, post shave you need something to rehydrate your skin with since it loses moisture during shaves and trims.

• Trim: You've heard it again and again, coconut oil is glorious. It has so many uses and there's always someone talking about its benefits. It's especially great for grooming in that it softens and hydrates facial hair. Perfect for post trim to keep your beard sparkling. Massage into the follicles and prepare to be amazed.
• Shave: Probably more important to hydrate than trimming after a shave as shaving strips away moisture and leaves skin feeling dry and dehydrated. Grab yourself a non oily moisturiser, something like Enzymion from Lush Cosmetics which is what I use post shave.

4. Tea tree

To end the grooming affair, dab or spray on some tea tree water onto where you shaved or groomed. This is to prevent any outbreaks in the skin. Happens to the best of us when we shave; spots just come out in full force. So to prevent this, the antibacterial elements in tea tree will stop spots in their tracks.

What's your grooming routine like?

Liam

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Skincare Routine

Nailing a skincare routine down can be quite the task when you don't know where to start. Toners, lotions, eye creams, cleansers - the list of products available goes on and on and gets you thinking, what do I really need? Well you're in safe hands with me as I share the top products you need to look after your money maker.

1. Daytime Face wash

You might have guessed this one already so snaps for you. A face wash is a must have for every skin care routine, that is if you want to be clean. Use every morning to get rid of all that excess dirt and oil that builds up oh so regularly #TheStruggle. Make sure to rub in a circular motion and target troublesome areas like your T-Zone.

I use Angels on Bare Skin.

2. Night time Cleanser

Another cleanser? Not necessarily; you could use your daytime face wash as your night time cleanser too, but if you don't want the effort of getting into the shower once again opt for a cleanser to use with some cotton wool pads. It's especially important to clean your face at night as your skin picks up a heck of a lot of dirt from being outside and in different environments all day. What's more, your body will absorb everything on your skin when you sleep at night. That's right; all of that dirt and oil you picked up throughout the day will be absorbed into your pores if you don't clean it off and God knows that's not how you get beautiful skin.

I use 9 to 5.

3. Toner

Toners are great for getting extra dirt off your skin that your cleansers could not get off so are well worth the investment, but they do more than that with many offering a little extra magic like reducing redness or being antibacterial for spot prevention. Spray one directly onto your face and leave to sit for 30 seconds before using a cotton wool pad to wipe it off.

I use Eau Roma Water in the day to reduce redness and Tea Tree Water in the night to prevent spots.

4. Face mask

Face masks are not only great for beautiful skin, but are pretty relaxing too and with so many different ones to choose from you're in for a treat. Choose one that has exfoliating properties to get best results as they remove dead skin cells and smooth out skin. A kaolin one is also best for drawing out impurities and toxins deep under your skin. Use once to twice a week, anymore than that may upset skin.

I use Don't Look at Me.

5. Moisturiser

A skincare routine is not complete without a moisturiser. No matter what your skin type, your skin needs moisture - yes even us oily people. It's best to use one at night as that is when your skin best absorbs products. Make sure to use after you have cleansed your face otherwise it will clog your pores with dirt, not ideal. Use a light amount and target under your eyes too to avoid wrinkles forming.

I use Enzymion.

Here's to better skin. Let me know your top tips for great skin below.

Liam

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Lush Cosmetic's Don't Look at Me

Since I've just got a new pot of Lush Cosmetic's Don't Look at Me, I feel compelled to tell you all about the product. It is one of my firm favourite's, if not my favourite vegan fresh face mask which they sell.  It is heaven to the skin and I use it as part of my weekly beauty routine, not that I really have one of those routine things down yet...

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die.

I normally use the mask once a week, sometimes twice alongside the Cup O'Coffee mask which I have talked about previously here.

You looked, didn't you? Same.

Similar to the other fresh face masks Lush sell, Don't Look at Me comes in a small pot weighing at 75 grams. Don't let that put you off though as you can get up to 5 or 6 uses out of it as it is filled to the brim. Plus it lasts for 4 weeks so there's no need to rush through the pot. It does need to be refrigerated within 24 hours of purchase though so make sure to put it in the fridge as soon as possible to lock in the nutrients and keep it fresh.

So. 

Much. 

Blue. 

I'll be honest, the first time I bought this mask it was because I liked the colour of it. Guilty.
BUT after using it once I realised it's pretty good for the skin too, bonus! The mask is packed full of a range of nourishing ingredients and some organic which means it is kinder to your face than some store bought ones.

It smells so 'lemony' you could swear you were surrounded by a field of lemon trees. It's beautiful.

The main benefit I have found from this product are the toning properties of the lemon juice which reduce redness and balance out the colour of the face whilst reducing blotches. It's nothing dramatic but it is a noticeable difference. In addition to this, the lemon and kaolin deeply cleanse your face and draw out impurities and toxins. Lush have underplayed how cleansing this mask is as it's a treat and very refreshing.

With that in mind it's not the smoothest of masks to put on but that's because of the ground white rice in it making it fairly gritty. Unlike other exfoliating face masks like Cup O'Coffee, Don't Look at Me appears to have finer exfoliants in it so although gritty, it is actually gentler on the skin. Having said that, it seems to be packed with more exfoliants than others so has the same impact at smoothing out the face. The exfoliating rice is especially effective on the nose as it can unblock pores and buffer out the rough areas which accumulate here.

Fortunately Don't Look at Me doesn't stop there as it is packed with softening tofu and murmur butter which moisturises your face whilst you sit back and relax. Be warned it is in no way a moisturising mask but it does soften the skin and hydrate it to an extent.

Lightly moisturising  ✓
Toning ✓
Exfoliating ✓
Cleansing ✓
Refreshing ✓
An all in one mask ✓

Easy peasy really lemon squeezey

As it's quite a thin consistency, don't be shy about spreading on a thick layer of this mask because sadly a little does not go a long way with this gem. Once spread, leave to harden for 15 minutes so it can work it's cleansing, toning and moisturising magic and then wet fingers and massage into face for one minute. Make sure to massage rougher areas or clogged up areas of the face for a little longer. Then rinse, dry and go check yourself out.
*Be aware the mask can get a little flaky after a while as it hardens on your face.

Ingredients:

Glycerine, Kaolin, Water (Aqua), Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Silken Tofu, Rice Syrup, Grounded White Rice, Rice Milk, Murumuru Butter, Bentone gel, Grapefruit Oil, Neroli Oil, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Farnesol, Perfume, Colour 42090

Face mask rating: ★★★★

Price: £6.95 for 75g

Have you got a favourite fresh face mask from Lush? *Alliteration points*

Liam

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Related links:

https://uk.lush.com

https://uk.lush.com/products/masks

Sweet, sweet lickable lips

There's a face exfoliator, a body exfoliator, a foot exfoliator and all thanks to Lush Cosmetics there is now an exfoliator just for your lips. Not only will Lush's lip exfoliators treat you to soft luscious lips, but they will make you taste as sweet as sugar. All Vegan friendly, they come in 3 tastes: Popcorn, Mint Julips and, Bubblegum. Compact, effective, 100% addictive and in the words of Lush they are "Lip-smackingly good".

I use the popcorn flavour.

Weighing at only 25g a pot, I never thought these scrubs would last very long but Lush proved me wrong. I have over 3/4 of a pot left and I bought this scrub around 8 months ago, that's with me using a pea-sized amount once to twice a week. Another plus is how full they make this pot - it is literally to the brim. You could compare Lush's lip scrubs to Pringles who are the only crisp company out there to pack up their pots. Well done Guys.

How to and what.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don't need a thorough step by step for this one! 

Using a small amount scrub your lips in a circular motion and leave to sit on for about 30 seconds to let the oils soak in, at least that's what I do. Then follow up by using a lip balm like the one I talk about here. Kissable lips? Check! The popcorn scrub is full of sea salt and caster sugar which act as great exfoliators for your lips, and as the materials are fine it's not very abrasive. Something which I was initially worried about. As a bonus, the scrub is also a tasty treat so just lick your lips when you're done and enjoy (note: do not treat this scrub as a snack as tempting as it will be. Willpower people).

Besides the smooth lips, the jojoba oil and coconut oil in the popcorn scrub act as a natural moisturiser, which can be a little oily but the oils soon absorb after about 10 minutes.

When I first bought this little guy, I was applying it like every hour.  I. Love. Sugar.

The only downside to this scrub is that it is very messy. Sugar EVERYWHERE people. I've learned my lesson of not using this in bed or out and about because it gets everywhere and people notice...whoops.  Would I purchase again though? 100%.

Ingredients:

Caster Sugar, Organic Jojoba Oil, Fine Sea Salt, Polenta, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Popping Candy, Flavour

Lip scrub rating: ★★★★★
Price: £5.50 for 25g

What's your favourite lip balm?

Liam

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For the love of lip balm!

Okay let's talk lips, shall we? If you're like me, you don't leave the house without your keys, wallet, phone and most importantly, lip balm. It's a necessity and you can't go a few hours before spreading some onto your lips. My all time favourite is Lush Cosmetic's vegan Buttered Brazils Lip balm.

This balm costs a hefty £6.75 for 12g of nut oils, waxes and butters - and although it's slightly pricey, it lasts for a long time. I made my second purchase of it after I sadly run out of my previous one last week. It lasted for around a month and a half, but that's with me applying it around 3 times a day. Really.

You only need to rub the balm 5 or 6 times with your finger to melt it before you have a perfect layer to smother on. It's quite oily so will leave a lovely shine, perfect if you need to pucker up for someone.  It also smells delicious, so everybody is going to be asking you what you have on. If you're after something with a subtle smell though, I would not advise using Buttered Brazils as it is so pungent. No exaggeration but people know I'm in a room because they can smell this balm on me. They say "Liam's definitely here". As for the taste, you may have guessed it tastes quite nutty - but with a hint of cocoa and golden syrup for added sweetness.

I've found this balm to be super moisturising and as someone who gets dry lips this is my perfect companion. 

The added cocoa butter and shea butter leaves a slight layer but it is absorbed in around 10 minutes, and after that you are left with super moisturised and soft lips. The only con of this product is that when you get to the bottom of the tin it is quite grainy so acts as more of an exfoliator than a moisturiser. With that in mind, it is still very moisturising but has a crumbly texture instead.

When I was vegetarian, I used Honey Trap from Lush which was great so when I recently became vegan I needed something of the same quality. Buttered Brazils hasn't disappointed me and I'm sure it won't disappoint me.

Ingredients:

Fair Trade Shea Butter, Organic Brazil Nut Oil, Candelilla Wax, Organic Castor Oil, Cupuacu Butter, Water (Aqua), Coconut Wax, Dark Chocolate, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Flavour, Cetearyl, Alcohol, Golden Syrup, Cocoa Roasted Extract, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Almond essential oil

Lip balm rating: ★★★★

Price: £6.75 for 12g

What's your favourite lip balm?

Liam

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Related links:

https://uk.lush.com/products/lips

I love a Cup O'Coffee in the morning

Don't you love the smell of coffee in the morning? Me too. Although I am far from being a 'morning person' I am more than happy to get up if it means slathering a Cup O'Coffee onto my face. You heard, I put coffee onto my face - and it's great! To be more specific, I use a vegan coffee based face mask from Lush Cosmetics which you can view here.

150g pot

As today was my first day back at work after two weeks off on holiday, I needed something to perk me up and get me feeling fresh for the day ahead. That's why I used this mask. Although I'm not new to this product, it certainly doesn't get old for me. I'm a big advocate of it and usually use it once a week in conjunction with Don't Look at Me.  Cup O'Coffee was one of the first products I ever bought from Lush along with a few other goodies which you can view here. After hearing from a friend how good it was, I gave into temptation and purchased it. Standard Liam. Not normally a fan of coffee (guilty), I am repeatedly blown away at how good this product smells. Although it's not a subtle scent, I find myself opening up the pot just to bask in the beautiful coffee aroma. It's really, really good. But there's more to this product than just it's scent.

As a kaolin based mask, Cup O'Coffee is great for cleansing the skin deeply and absorbing impurities, so if you leave this mask on your face or body for around 10 - 15 minutes your skin will thank you. Many Lush masks have kaolin in them so if the scent of coffee just isn't to your taste, you're sure to find one that you like if you pop into any Lush store, alternatively take a look on their website. But hey that's not my favourite thing about this mask. What I really love is the ground up coffee pieces you find in it, which act as great exfoliators.  After letting this mask sit on your skin for the recommended time, you rub the ground coffee pieces into circular motions; going harder for rougher areas like the nose. What you are left with is super smooth and soft skin. Who knew coffee could do more than just wake you up? I've used many different exfoliators but nothing beats this one and as it is full of mainly natural ingredients it shouldn't cause any irritation to you. Having said that, I would advise going in-store and asking for a free sample just so you can get the feel of this product before purchasing, it is especially important if you have sensitive skin.

It's very thick so a little goes a long way.

As someone with oily-combo skin, this mask has been an absolute treat at absorbing excess oils and clearing away rough areas for me so I plan to continue using it. If you have dry skin, I would advise using this mask very occasionally to exfoliate away flaky dead skin cell, but use it along with a moisturising mask like Oatifix.

Ingredients:

Organic Agave Syrup, Kaolin, Glycerine, Coffee Infusion, Talc, Ground Coffee, Bentone gel, Perfume, Vetivert Oil, Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute, Roasted Cocoa Extract, Coriander Oil, Caffeine Powder, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool

Face mask rating: ★★★★
Price: £6.75 for 150g l £12.25 for 325g

What's your favourite face mask? Let me know in the comments.

Liam
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Related links:
https://uk.lush.com