We sent our Editor and Chief to get stamped! He was very happy with the results.
It is with some hesitation that I do anything to interfere with my face. Creams yes, pills yes, needles in the face in the name of a more youthful complexion? I wasn’t so sure.
With images of Kim Kardashian’s blood soak vampire facial in my mind I headed to RUSH in Piccadilly, in my lunch break to meet Epsom Skin Clinic’s senior specialist Charlotte Botting. After asking what I thought my problem areas were, (all of it) she talked through the pros of the eDermastamp treatment and its benefits. I was assured that this was the treatment that would work best for me.
First off you have to understand why we start to look craggy after the age of thirty. Collagen, your natural youth serum and the compound that gives your skin its natural elasticity stops producing. Collagen’s job is to create mesh like bonds which keep the skin firm and stop it sagging. When we are younger skin is made up of around 80% collagen.
The eDermastamp process is rather simple I was told. Using a pen like device the specialist literally roles six fine precision needles across your entire face. The 1.5 millimetre needles cause controlled trauma under the skin, stimulating cell proliferation, which results in new collagen formation, the body’s natural healing chemical and youth maker, rushes to the area to repair the damage. It sounds horrific and painful – but in truth it isn’t.
First off, your face is thoroughly cleansed and carefully numbed with a cooling antiseptic and anesthetic cream. Charlotte, put me at ease with her friendly banter and chat, she tells me that she’s tried all of her treatments, I try to raise my eyebrows to question this (as she looks just incredible and not at all like a reality TV star on some obscure digital channel…), but I find the anesthetic has done its job rendering my eyelids somewhat useless. Then it begins. I brace myself; fear for the worst yet nothing more than a light humming vibrating saunters across my forehead.
If you’ve had microdermabrasion, this is actually less painful – and MDB isn’t painful at all.
Carefully my faced is circled, every inch was “stamped”, there were more tender moments, around the nose and above the eyes where it’s a little more uncomfortable, but that’s all it is – discomfort, nothing more that a light scratching, which lasts around 5 seconds.
After, I’m red and a little puffy, but I’m told this will go away in 24 to 48 hours, which it does. So it would make sense to not have any big events planned in the days after your treatment. As for any discomfort felt in the days following, I would say, no worse than mild sunburn for 24 hours and very mild bruising for up to three days after. Simply put it doesn’t hurt.
A week after, I start to see the signs that this actually works and within a week and a half I’m looking younger, fresher and tighter, but in a good way – not in a ‘I’m-about-to-appear-in-a-Celebrity-Big-Brother-quick-fill-every-inch-of-my-face-with-filler’ way.
Six weeks after the treatment and my skin still looked great – and tighter and I didn’t even have to stick to any daily skin regime. It almost felt naughty, like I cheated ten years off.
Gentle polling of friends and strangers, I ask how old I look – anything from 7 to 10 years younger than I actually am… My lunchtime facelift has been completely successful.
For £125 this could become my new skincare regime.
Here at THEGAYUK, our styling team love nothing more than scouting the globe to you the latest and best products.
Whether that be grooming products, clothing or tech, we’ve got you covered. As part of our endeavour, we’ve decided to highlight one brand a month. To give you the low down and highlight some of our personal favourite products. This month is all about Aussie fitness brand Pedal to the Kettle Activewear.
The name of the brand is inspired by the term “Pedal to the Metal”. They combined this term with their love of functional training and kettlebell training, to come up with the name “Pedal to the Kettle Activewear*. Their love of fitness is at the very forefront of this brand and its creation.
Vanina and Maria’s (the founders) own personal struggles with fitness brought the brand into existence, following their move from Melbourne to Sydney. Both feeling overweight and miserable, they took to fitness to reinvigorate themselves and create a more positive outlook on life. Their brand took to representing this hard working and productive mentality, with the creation of stylish activewear with an edge. Just like Vanina and Maria.
The result, functional and stylish activewear made to the highest attention to detail and quality. With the same quality control going into their products, as the nutrition and training regimen fuelling their bodies.
There’s also a flat shipping rate of 20 AUSD for worldwide shipping, so no matter where you are. You can be part of the Pedal to the Kettle Activewear family.
Follow Pedal to the Kettle Activewear on Instagram
History:
Fairly new to the fitness scene, Pedal to the Kettle Activewear was only a registered company since April 2018. Throughout the remainder of 2018, the duo behind the brand spent endless hours refining the logo, concept and sourcing the best quality fabrics for their new brand. Then in November last year, the day finally came for the brand to launch online and since then, they’ve been going from strength to strength.
They launched the store with their Black & White collection, aptly named because who doesn’t love a bit of minimalist black & white. This collection marked the brand as a unisex fitness from the very start. As the duo said, they wanted everyone to train and feel empowered. No exceptions.
Product Range:
Following its initial collection, the brand has gone from strength to strength. Their male range now includes a variety of products from tanks to shorts and is constantly growing. Jazzi’s collection is a personal favourite of mine, bringing a hot pink into the men’s range, to represent the brand’s affiliation with breast cancer research.
Hot off the press, they are currently working on a new collection. So make sure to keep an eye out on their socials. From what they’ve said, it’s very exciting! With possible collaborations between organisations, that use fitness to help LGBTQ and mental health causes.
Ethos:
Having been in an open discussion with the duo behind Pedal to the Kettle Activewear for a few months now, the phrase “Fitness saved us, fitness saves and changes lives.” has popped up a bit. What I took from this is how much of a driving force their personal passion for fitness, is behind their brand. Constantly being supportive of my fitness challenges (coming soon), Vanina and Maria really do believe in their brand as a way of empowering their customers through fitness. Having both faced emotional challenges growing up and accepting themselves, as being part of the LGBTQ community. The duo emphasises how much fitness has enabled them to feel accepted in a community and how it has helped act as a driving force behind their personal self-acceptance of themselves.
As mentioned previously, the brand is also linked to breast cancer research through Jazzi’s collection. This collection was made in honour of the duo’s friend, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in Sep 2018. After a double mastectomy, their friend is well and truly beating cancer’s ass and from this inspirational battle, the brand now donates 2 AUD for every piece of the collection sold. So wear pink boys, it’s for a good cause!
The brand also supports LGBTQ causes, they are focusing on creating links within the LGBTQ community. To promote acceptance and raise awareness and highlight the struggles, that people face. All in all, the ethics behind this brand strike a cord with our styling team. THEGAYUK is definitely behind this!
Now, we all know no body is a wrong body. Body positivity is hot, and knowing what you’ve got and flaunting it is the best way forward in any case. Still, if there is one thing big-mama Eureka O’Hara has taught us it is the importance of proportionising.
So, if you’re looking to “Proportionise (TM)” properly for your body type then listen up, as here are five tips to a slimming style for any guy.
1 – There’s Truth To The Stripes
Okay, it’s something we have heard forever – like, I literally remember being a closeted tween and hearing Trinny & Susanna discussing this. Despite their sometimes bad hype, vertical stripes can still do a lot to slim down a figure and elongate the torso. (It’s pretty simple stuff when you think about it, really – anything you wear that will pull the eye up and down is going to make you look taller and slimmer compared to something that will force the eye side to side.) Even better, stripes are still in trend and you won’t struggle to find an option to suit any mood, season, or occasion. #trustthestripe
It’s another simple one – I bet you can see where this list is going now – but just try to match the colour and tone of your footwear to your trousers as much as you can. Sure, this gets more difficult (if not impossible) as the warmer weather hits and the short shorts reemerge. So, just keep it in mind for when you do indeed have no choice but to wear trousers – or even for those days when there is just a bit of a cold snap in the air. Brilliant options here are Chelsea boots or hi-tops, basically, any footwear that can slide under the bottom of your trousers instead of leaving an unsightly slither of pale ankle in between the trou and the shoe. The “Science” here works in the same way as the striped shirts, and by creating a constant block of colour from the waist down your legs are elongated and as a result, also appear slimmed down to boot.
Now, this is a bit of a difficult one, as I know how tempting it is to opt for the comfy, oversized, hide-all option that is an oversized Tee or Sweatshirt. But trust me, that Moomoo won’t do you no good, Mama. While it might seem counterintuitive when dealing with slimming down a larger framed physique you need to opt for the more fitted options – and this is the case whether choosing jeans, tees, sweatshirts or jackets. Just think – extra bulk will cause extra bulk, and that’s the last thing you want to do, right?
Go for Big and Tall sections if you struggle to find a decent fit, but stick with their versions of slim fits to taper everything in as much as possible.
I know, I know, we were just talking about how working the matchy-matchy look can slim you out, but this is different, so give me a chance. Matching tops to bottoms, and trousers to shoes sure can work to slim out a figure, but if you’re wanting to push the boundaries and work on that adventurous nature of yours then there are always options. If you can opt for a light jacket or shirt be sure to leave it open with a contrasting colour or print layered beneath – imagine a black jacket with a white tee, it’s pretty simple (again) but that strip of white down the centre is really going to stretch out the torso and do all the work for you. (Just remember, don’t add bulk – stay fitted and light and all should be okay.)
5 – Finally, The French Tuck, It’s Not For Everyone.
While Queer Eye may be an obvious fan favourite for all (and rightly so IMHO) the French Tuck is not. It’s as simple as that, really. It’s a style choice made in almost every episode that quite often makes me want to tear my own hair out. The thing is, yes The French Tuck is a great option to add borders and dimension to a look – and it can honestly completely transform the appearance of a plain white Tee. However, if you have even the slightest tummy this may not be the way forward for you. On a plumper torso, something like the French Tuck can just work to define the problem area even more. That being said don’t rule it out just yet, as obviously the great Tan France does know his stuff. Instead, try it out before you leave the house, then stop, stare in the mirror and really assess whether it works for you and your body type or not: it will work for some, but it’s definitely no magic fix-all. Take a look and trust your gut … You’ll know.
Deciding what to put in your gym bag is not an easy task.
You want to look sexy in the gym but not too thirsty. You want to appear playful but not desperate. You want functionality but you don’t wanna be basic. Most importantly you wanna be ready for anything the gym and the locker room has in store for you. You never know, that dream about the hunky PT might come true one day. Rest assured though, THEGAYUK has you covered.
Here is Locker Room 101, your one and only guide for everything you need in your gym bag!
1. Pedal to the Kettle Activewear: Terry Cotton Shorts
Remember when we said you wanted to be functional but not basic? Pedal to the Kettle Activewear sets the bar on this. The Aussie newcomer is known throughout Oz for its high-quality fabrics and functional, yet stylish activewear. These shorts are no exception to the rule. Made out of a blend of French Terry Cotton and polyester, they are both breathable and comfortable in and out of the gym. The minimalist design is subtle enough to cross over into everyday casual wear and you can instantly feel the high quality of the fabrics, as soon as you pick them up.
They’re also the perfect length for showing off the leg day gains and the well-deserved bubble butt you’re now rocking. So they’re guaranteed to get you some attention too. Maybe even from your gym crush, if you’re lucky!
For those of you lucky enough to have a pool in your gym or maybe a cheeky hot tub, I present to you the perfect mixture of cute yet sexy swimwear. JJ Malibu has truly outdone themselves here on the cuteness factor. The panda emoji design is scattered across these slinky speedos and is guaranteed to make you the centre of attention. A sure fire way to make all men at the pool and even that cute lifeguard stand to attention. As the brand says, this lucky panda is intent on getting you lucky!
Wearing these speedos really does bring out your fun and cheeky side and they’re definitely a conversation starter. It may be the fact that the flattering cut emphasised my package and bubble butt. However, I’ll try to keep it down to the cute panda on my crotch. My ass was slapped a few times though. Either way, they’re definitely a winner in our eyes!
3. Bullseye Gear: Police Dept Navy Blue Swim Brief
Carrying on with the fun and sexy swimwear, next on our list is Bullseye Gear’s Police Dept Navy Swim Brief. The flattering cut of these swim briefs helps emphasise you in all the right places and like our panda speedos, are a definite conversation starter. With police printed across your booty, feel free to make some arrests. Just be careful of withdrawing your pistol from its holster around the pool. Maybe save that part for the locker room!
Definitely not your dad’s tighty whities, these classic briefs from BOX Menswear should be a definite staple in any man’s gym bag. With a flattering cut and premium quality fabrics, these briefs are perfect for gym workouts and everyday wear. We’ll be honest they look pretty great in locker room selfies too. Not that we’ve been paying close attention to their Instagram page or anything…
Whenever you hear the words, Andrew Christian, you know it’s gonna be something sexy. This tank is no different. From their VIBE range of sporty but sexy activewear, this tank is both breathable, functional and sexy AF when on. Showing just the right amount of skin, the breathable fabric allows you to workout to your heart’s content, without the dreaded sweat stains. Not a cute look boo!
Trust us on this, we tested it through a HIT workout and it held its own. Making it the perfect tank to wear for the token gym selfie. Let’s face it if it isn’t on Insta, did you even workout?
Have you got a style question you’d like to ask our expert Thomas? Send an email to style@thegayuk.com or reach out to him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/urbanmaleUK@UrbanMaleUK
The world of male grooming can be a daunting place. With a myriad of product types and treatments available, it’s hard to know what products you need to be using and what treatments are right for you.
This is why at THEGAYUK, we have sent our beauty expert Thomas Swallow to try them out and decode the enigma of male grooming.
Carry on reading below, to hear about Tom’s experience trying out Eyebrow/Eyelash Tint and Eyebrow Threading. Missed the first two instalments of this series? Click here to find out about Tom’s previous adventures, where he tried intimate waxing and a dermalux facial.
So this week you lucky folks get three for the price of one. Yes as the intro would suggest I tried out not one, not two but three male grooming treatments. All focused on taming the two bushy caterpillars on my face that I call my eyebrows and as we didn’t want my lashes getting jealous, we threw them into the mix too. I just wanted to take this chance to thank the team at Blink Brow Bar in Fenwick’s, London for helping with this feature. As you’ll find out as you read on, I couldn’t have been in better hands for this. I did indeed feel very pampered.
So let’s get started with the first two treatments that I had done this week. Eyelash and Eyebrow Tinting is the process of chemically dying your brows and lashes to achieve a darker/more defined colour. Basically just imagine the more professional version of shoving Just for Men on your eyebrows, when you had a bit left over from your beard. Please don’t put that stuff near your eyes though, I beg you! Being a blind panda ain’t a cute look.
The Treatment:
Tinting your eyebrows and eyelashes is one of those things, that I personally found super relaxing and satisfying. Essentially you get to just lay back and close your eyes for 10-15 mins and when you open them again, you have not only great looking brows and lashes but a more defined face. Brows really do shape your face gents, so make sure to never overlook them.
So the treatment will essentially start two days prior to your first appointment. This is when you will do a patch test for the tint, to make sure you aren’t allergic. Following this on the day of your appointment, your treatment will start by your clinician asking you about your desired shade results. Whether you want a more subtle or more dramatic look, they can tailor the results to suit you. This stage is great, as it really does personalise the treatment to yourself and guarantees you get what you want from the treatment.
Following this, your clinician will mix up your tint and then ask you to lay back so they can apply it to your eyebrows. They do the eyebrows first, as they usually, they take a lot less time to tint than your eyelashes. After the tint has been on a few minutes, they will remove the tint with a moist cotton pad and ask you your opinion on the colour. If you’re happy great, if not they will re-apply the tint to achieve the colour result you want.
After your eyebrows are the desired colour, your clinician will then move their attention to your eyelashes. Honestly, this sounds a lot scarier than it actually is. Essentially your clinician will line underneath your eyes and your eyelid with a barrier cream (usually petroleum jelly) and then place halved cotton pads under your eyes, to avoid any excess colour running onto your skin. They will then ask you to keep your eyes closed and they will begin to apply the tint. This is a weird sensation I must admit and sometimes there can be a slight tingling sensation but the important thing here is to keep those eye closed. I promise the sensation if any will die down quickly. Your only job now for the next 10 mins or so is to relax and you may even have a little nap if you’re like me. It has been a tiring few weeks, don’t judge.
My clinician was also super lovely and gave me a shoulder and arm massage while the tint was developing. This was definitely a super sweet thing for her to do and definitely made the whole experience more memorable.
After the tint has developed for roughly 10 mins, your clinician will begin to remove the tint from your eyelashes. Again it’s super important you don’t open your eyes till your clinician tells you to. It may be tempting but trust me it will sting if you do. They will start the removal process by using damp cotton pads similarly to the eyebrow tint but then due to the sensitive nature of the eye, they will then go on to use water directly on the area to remove any residual tint. Following this process, they will give you two more damp cotton pads for you to use yourself. This is so that you can be sure that all the tint has been removed from the eye. You can now open your eyes and see your newly defined lashes. If you have blue eyes like myself, by the way, I couldn’t recommend this more. It really does make your eyes pop and look so much more intense, in a good way.
After-Care:
As always we like to advise you on any necessary after-care for the treatments I try out and to be honest for this treatment, it’s very minimal. Essentially just avoid washing your face till the morning after to increase the longevity of the tint. Simple, right?
Moving on to my third and final treatment I tried this week, I tried the treatment made legend by my female friends. Yes, I indeed tried Eyebrow Threading. Now if you don’t know what eyebrow threading is, it’s essentially the process of using a piece of tightly wound thread to remove hair from the skin. If you’re like me and have female friends that have told you about threading you’d also know it has a reputation for being very painful.
After trying it myself this, I’ve got to say I don’t really understand how it’s painful. It’s a little uncomfortable but it isn’t painful. You essentially feel a light pull and then nothing. Of course like waxing the amount of pain is definitely down to a lot of factors but if you have a good clinician, I don’t see why you should be in pain.
The Treatment:
Anyway now we’ve dispelled that myth and threading clinicians across the country are thanking me for an increase in clientele. Let’s talk about what actually happens when you get your eyebrows threaded. Similarly to the tinting process, your clinician will first do a consultation on how you want to shape your brows. Being myself and liking the natural look, I opted to just get them tidied up but keeping to my natural brow shape. You will then lay back and your clinician will tighten the thread and start the threading process. I was asked to hold my eye area taught with my fingers for the first half of the process for each eye. This was to reduce any pain and make the removal process that much smoother.
The whole process for each eye took only a couple of minutes and as I said previously, really wasn’t that painful. Following the initial removal, my clinician they asked my opinion on the results and then suggested some further alterations to my brows they could do. This was a great step to include as you could tailor your results to your tastes and the added suggestion was most welcome. Essentially she just asked if she could cut a small section at the front of my brow to make it more even, which of course I said yes to.
Following this final snip, my brows were then perfectly shaped and the clinician added some soothing aloe gel to the area, to reduce any irritation caused by the hair removal.
After-Care:
Similarly to the threading, after-care for threading is very simple. Just don’t wash the area till the morning after and avoid any irritants such as perfumes. Again super simple, right?
Pricing:
As with all the features in this series, we can’t give you a definitive price for the treatment. As it really does depend on your clinician and where in the country you live but we can give you the pricing for Blink Brow Bar, to give you a bit of a guideline.
Eyelash & Eyebrow Tinting: £30.00
Eyebrow Threading: £21.00
Final Thoughts:
So it’s safe to say I was pretty impressed with the immediate results these treatments offered. As I said previously my eyes looked more striking, my brows looked more defined and my face as a whole just looked more chiselled. Personally, I think that going forward this will be an essential step in my grooming regime and I’ll definitely be going to the team at Blink Brow Bar in Fenwick’s, London to keep it up.
I really couldn’t have asked for a better team to do this feature with. They really did tailor the treatment to my specific needs as a client and the results spoke for themselves. I would definitely recommend giving these three brow/lash essentials a go ASAP and if you’re near a Blink Brow Bar branch hit them up. You can thank me later.
Want to see previews of what’s coming up or just what Tom gets up to in his day to day life? Drop him a follow on his Instagram below, where you can make suggestions for any grooming treatments you’d like to see him try in the near future.
So it’s April and we are now firmly into the Spring season.
That means the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. Time to step up the grooming routine boys, it’s hotting up! Here are our Top 5 Grooming Items for April 2019.
1. Recipe for Men: Alcohol-Free Antiperspirant Deodorant (£15.00)
Now I know this seems a little pricey for something you put under your armpits but trust me here boys, this deodorant is worth every penny. This deodorant is not only alcohol-free and as such less damaging/drying to your skin but it’s the only thing that has ever stopped me sweating on the London Underground. In my opinion, anything that can keep you feeling fresh on the tube is worth the money. This product even stood up to our heatwave last year, so invest and trust me you won’t regret it. Also never left deodorant marks on my clothes, so a bonus!
Now I have to admit I wasn’t really buying into the whole anti-pollution skincare bandwagon at first. It all seemed a bit gimmicky to me. Living in London though, the epicentre of UK pollution. I decided to give this anti-pollution serum by MAN CAVE a try. One because it’s affordable and two because I have always heard great things about this brand but never tried any of their products.
My impressions at first weren’t that great I’ll be honest. It nourished my skin but it didn’t really seem to do anything drastic. Then about 3 weeks into using this serum, I noticed that I wasn’t getting as many breakouts. Now, this was the only product I had added to my skincare regime at the time and so I can only presume, that this was the reason behind this. It has anti-irritation ingredients and is supposed to reduce the amount of stress your skin undergoes from environmental factors on a daily basis.
Seeing these effects happen on my skin over the course of using this product, I am now sold on the anti-pollution skincare bandwagon. This serum genuinely changed the way my skin was reacting to my environment and the result was much clearer skin. So I would definitely recommend this to any city dwellers out there, especially in London.
I’ll be honest, I had never heard of Monu Skin before I received this product in a subscription box I was reviewing for you guys (the review will be up soon, so look out!). This product really stood out to me though and so I had to share it with you.
Essentially this is a lightweight eye gel, that is intended to wake up your eye area and reduce fatigue. What I loved about it, was that it was a product I could use in my morning and night routines but achieve different results. In the morning, the product would instantly reduce any puffiness around my eye area and make it look like I actually had 8 hours. Unlike the more realistic 6 on a good day. Then in the evening after a long day, it instantly soothed my eye area and took any fatigue from the day from my eyes. Over the course of using the product, I had people visibly notice that I looked more awake and that my eye area looked more youthful in general. So I would definitely give this one a go if you seem to be burning the candle at both ends lately like myself.
4. Timeless Truth: Hydra-Intense Black Charcoal Mask (£5.25)
Who doesn’t love a good sheet mask? Quick, simple and instantly visible results. This Hydra-Intense Black Charcoal Mask from Timeless Truth is no exception to the rule. Leave the mask on for 15-20 mins and what you’re left with is a more plump and radiant complexion. The charcoal in the mask also helps to draw out impurities. So I don’t personally think we can go wrong with this one.
Pro-tip: get the excess serum from the mask and sachet after application and apply to the face and neck. You don’t want to be wasteful after all.
5. PETER THOMAS ROTH: 10% Glycolic Solutions Moisturizer (£35.50)
Last on the list for this month, is an entry from skincare giant PETER THOMAS ROTH. There is no doubt that this brand is known for its high-quality products and these products having a high percentage of active ingredients. This moisturiser is no exception. With 10% Glycolic Acid, this product gently exfoliates away those dead skin cells that lead to a dull complexion. Following using this product for a good 4/5 weeks, what I noticed was that my skin looked more radiant and my complexion was much more even.
I personally used this moisturiser as part of my nighttime skincare routine, as I didn’t want the acid reacting to any UV exposure but always find what works best for you with skincare. If using this during the daytime though, I would definitely recommend using an SPF. Just to be on the safe side with any sensitivity.
Also when using this product at first, you may experience a slight tingling sensation. What I learnt, was that my skin was just getting used to the active ingredient (Glycolic Acid) being present on my skin and this tingling went away by the end of week one. If your skin does react badly to this product though or you are prone to sensitive skin, then it may be best skipping this one.
The world of male grooming can be a daunting place.
With a myriad of product types and treatments available, it’s hard to know what products you need to be using and what treatments are right for you. This is why at THEGAYUK we have sent our beauty expert Thomas Swallow to try them out and decode the enigma of male grooming.
Now I have to admit until I first went into 193 Whitecross Street for my previous adventure in intimate waxing, I hadn’t really heard of a Dermalux facial before either but once Elizabeth from London Professional Aesthetics explained the procedure to me, I knew I had to give it a try.
Essentially the Dermalux Facial is an LED light facial, where the different wavelengths of light penetrate the skin and cause different positive reactions. The treatment can be targeted to specific skin concerns and tailored to fit every client’s needs. All resulting in less-inflamed and more rejuvenated skin. A quick summary of what each of the 3 wavelengths of light do, can be seen below.
Infrared Light:
Supercharges cells in the Dermis, enhancing rejuvenating properties within the skin, increasing hydration levels and boosting collagen levels. All resulting in a more youthful and radiant complexion.
Near-Infrared Light:
Causes regeneration in the skin’s deepest layers, increasing blood circulation allowing an increased flow of nutrients and oxygen to the skin. Accelerating repair, reducing inflammation and reducing sensitivity for those suffering from skin conditions, such as rosacea.
Blue Light:
Targets bacteria in the Epidermis and causes a chemical reaction, whereby spots are reduced and the skin is left blemish free.
During the Treatment:
Each Dermalux Facial treatment at London Professional Aesthetics starts with a sit-down consultation with Elizabeth to build a profile of your skin and to record any relevant medical information. Having been a Nurse Practitioner in the NHS for many years, it’s safe to say you’re in good hands here.
Following the initial consultation, Elizabeth will then go on to cleanse your face with a mild chemical exfoliant. This is to remove any dirt from the skin and leave your skin in the best state, to absorb the LED light.
She will then take you down to the Dermalux Facial studio where all the magic happens. Once down there Elizabeth will set up the machine for your desired treatment and then ask you to lay down, while she positions the machine and puts goggles over your eyes. The next 20 mins or so of the appointment is quite simple, you lay back and relax. It’s ok to fall asleep here, the light is very soothing and I have to admit, I did have a cat nap.
After your 20 minutes of bliss, Elizabeth will then finish the treatment by prepping your skin with a vitamin C serum and some SPF. Always important to use following any vitamin C treatment! Basically, you end up leaving with a visibly brighter and clearer complexion.
Elizabeth would recommend repeating the treatment once every one or two weeks, in order to achieve the long term benefits.
Pricing:
Like the waxing, of course, we cannot comment for every aesthetician in the country who does this procedure. In terms of Elizabeth from London Professional Aesthetics though, who by far we would recommend over the rest. The pricing is as follows:
Single Session: £50.00
A course of Six: £260.00
A Course of Twelve: £500.00
Final Thoughts:
I have to say from start to finish, I couldn’t fault any aspect of this treatment or the service I received by Elizabeth and the London Professional Aesthetic team at 193 Whitecross Street. In terms of the treatment, I visibly saw a difference in my skin after one treatment and continuously saw this difference in my skin for at least the next two weeks. As a regular aspect of my grooming regime, I would definitely invest in this treatment if my skin concerns were more prevalent. Due to me having very few breakouts and my face being the one area of my skin, that isn’t very sensitive. I personally wouldn’t go every other week to get the treatment but in terms of an instant pick me up for my skin when getting ready for an event, I would definitely do so! To sum up, it’s a pretty amazing treatment and I will be making another appointment very soon.
Here at THEGAYUK, our styling team love nothing more than scouting the globe to find you the latest and best products.
Whether that be grooming products, clothing or tech, we’ve got you covered. As part of our endeavour, we’ve decided to highlight one brand a month. To give you the low down and highlight some of our personal favourite products. This month it’s all about Greek underwear giant Modus Vivendi.
History:
Founded in 1989 by Greek designer Christos Bibitsos, Modus Vivendi has been synonymous with high-quality menswear and particularly underwear ever since. With the launch of their online shop in 2005, the brand expanded into the international market and the world went crazy for Modus Vivendi.
Now a staple in every gay man’s closet. The brand’s provocative designs coupled with models such as Logan Moore, stand out from the crowd and are sure to be popular for years to come.
Product Range:
I know we’ve mentioned Modus Vivendi as an underwear giant but the brand does a lot more than making some of the world’s sexiest undies. With product ranges comprising of underwear, swimwear, gym wear and accessories, the brand is an all-rounder. With all designs being provocative, eye-catching and unique, they will definitely get you noticed for all the right reasons.
With the entire manufacturing process taking place in Thessaloniki, Greece in the company’s own factories and with locally sourced materials, the high standard of quality from this brand is ensured.
Ethos:
Translated from Latin, Modus Vivendi means a way of life and this is what the brand tries to embody. They want their designs to represent a lifestyle and that lifestyle is very simple, you do something because you love it. If you’ve ever owned a piece of Modus Vivendi, you’ll completely be able to relate here. You feel sexy, confident and empowered. You’re standing out but because you are being yourself and expressing yourself through their designs.
This brand ethos definitely creates a friendly environment within the brand itself. Pornstar/model Logan Moore (Instagram) has worked quite often with the brand and we were lucky enough to ask him about his time modelling with them.
“Working with Modus Vivendi was so amazing, it felt like a welcome into the family and next to that the brand is awesome. The staff and owners are even more amazing. I was their first gay model and pornstar that they booked and I felt honoured.”
Here at THEGAYUK, we like to highlight to you new products each month to keep you looking and feeling your best.
With spring just around the corner though, we thought we’d take this one step further. It’s time to clear out the old, bring in the new. We’ve already shown you the best grooming brands for Spring 19 and now it’s the time to get your wardrobe to match up to your fresh-face. Here are our Top 3 Menswear Brands for Spring 19.
1. Plain Bear:
Peckham based indie brand Plain Bear has been a personal favourite of mine, since the first time I saw their stall at Greenwich Market back in 2017. Established in 2013, the brand which is iconic across London for its bold minimalistic prints has gone from strength to strength. From humble market roots in Greenwich and Spitalfields to a defined brand with a state of the art design studio in Peckham, this brand is definitely one to invest some money in. The designs are timeless and will go from season to season. For Spring 19, I would invest in some of their printed T’s and maybe a cheeky jumper. After all, the UK isn’t known for its great weather!
Check out the brand’s social media below and their website: plainbear.co.uk
Founded in London and supporting CALM, with 5% of all sales going to the charity. Centre Front Menswear is definitely a brand, that The Gay UK can get behind. By combining the latest trends with classic design, the brand is able to stand out amongst the crowd of season based designers. The brand’s goal is to create wardrobe staples, that although reflecting current trends aren’t going to go out of style in a few months time. This staple mentality, not only leads to the high quality of the fabrics and production methods but also gives the consumer everything they would expect from a top-end designer, for a fraction of the price. It creates a true midpoint in menswear, bridging the gap between the high-street and designer brands. Perfect for those staple pieces, that should be in every man’s wardrobe.
Check out the brand’s social media below and their website: centre-front.com
Unisex brand Pandora Apparel is pretty remarkable. Created out of a lack of high-quality and sustainably sourced unisex clothing available on the market, Pandora Apparel intended to fill that void and they did so in style. Founded in 2017, the brand does not “believe in gender separation or fast fashion” and wanted to impact the fashion world, without impacting the planet. All designs from Pandora Apparel are taken from digital images, that are pulled apart and re-worked into unisex clothing designs and what this does is create a unique and minimalistic look, that won’t go out of trend. Did we mention, that all their designs are limited edition? So make sure to grab them now, while you can.
Check out the brand’s social media below and their website: pandoraapparel.co.uk
The world of male grooming can be a daunting place. With a myriad of product types and treatments available, it’s hard to know what products you need to be using and what treatments are right for you. This is why at THEGAYUK, we have sent our beauty expert Thomas Swallow to try them out and decode the enigma of male grooming.
CREDIT: Depositphotos ( FILE PHOTO)
Carry on reading below, to hear about Tom’s experience trying intimate waxing for the first time. Yes, you heard right, he even put his manhood on the line this week!
So as the intro suggests, this week to kick off this new series I put my manhood on the line and leapt into the world of male intimate waxing. I really don’t do things by halves, could have started with a cheeky chest wax but no, not me. With the help of Jimmy Bodur Male Grooming inside the 193 Whitecross Street clinic in London, we went all out and did the full Hollywood wax experience. Yes, I am now quite literally as smooth as a baby’s butt!
So if you’ve ever been curious about waxing your meat and two veg, then make sure to carry on reading. As myself and Jimmy take you through the whole procedure from preparation to after-care.
So what is intimate waxing?
(C) BIGSTOCK (FILE PHOTO)
I suppose the best place to start for those of you who don’t know, is to explain just exactly what intimate waxing is.
The basic premise of waxing is to use warm or hot wax, to physically remove hair from the body. In the case of warm wax, this is often done with the help of waxing strips that adhere to the wax and help the remove the product and hair from the skin. When dealing with hot wax, however, the use of a waxing strip is often not needed. The wax is left to cool on the skin and then removed directly.
Intimate waxing as the name suggests is the same premise but centred around the removal of hair from the genital area. There are two main types of intimate waxing offered to men:
The Hollywood Wax: The complete removal of all hair from the pubic triangle, balls, penis, scrotum, buttocks and crack.
The Brazilian Wax:The complete removal of all hair from the balls, penis, scrotum, buttocks and crack. While only trimming down the pubic triangle.
So, of course, we went for the Hollywood option! It was the week of my birthday, we had to go all out!
How to prepare for intimate waxing?
(C) BIGSTOCK (FILE PHOTO)
Now, this is something that I definitely thought was more daunting than it actually was. Personally, I thought there would be a multitude of steps in getting your skin/hair ready for waxing. Whereas Jimmy outlined it all in 3 simple steps:
1. Don’t moisturise the area on the day of waxing, otherwise, it will be harder for the wax to adhere to the hairs.
Don’t do any sports or gym work for at least 3 hours prior to your appointment. We need to be clean and avoid sweat here guys!
Finally, simply don’t shave or trim the area being waxed. I was personally conscious of this, may have let the bush grow out a bit to make sure it was long enough. Jimmy very simply said though, if it needs trimming I’ll do it. If the hair is too short or too long, the wax can’t adhere.
Simple right?
During the treatment:
Now, this is the bit that I know you’re all the most curious about. We’ve all heard the stories of how much waxing hurts and I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s painless. When being waxed you are physically ripping the hair from your skin and so, of course, it is going to painful. Especially in sensitive areas. <
What I will say though, is that it is in no way as painful as you think it is going to be. The best way I can describe it is a burning sensation that goes away just as quickly as it comes. Of course, there are certain areas that are more sensitive and naturally feel more painful than others but with a light bit of pressure from Jimmy’s hand on the skin afterwards, the burning sensation quickly disappeared.
This is why it’s important to have an expert clinician like Jimmy doing a procedure like this though. The pain you experience is directly relational to how good your clinician is. If they can get the wax on and off in a quick and effective motion, the pain will be minimal. If they don’t know what they’re doing and are tugging at the wax, it’s gonna hurt like hell!
So now the pain rumours have been dispelled, let’s get on to going through the procedure:
Jimmy had me get on my elbows and knees to wax my buttocks and crack. This position although a little embarrassing is the best position you can be in for getting waxed in this area. The skin is made taught in the position and ensure the wax can be removed easily and effectively.
He started proceedings by checking the temperature of the hot wax against my skin and then dripping some down my crack. By doing this step first, he was allowing the hot wax to cool and adhere to the hair between my cheeks as long as possible.
While cooling he then went on to use warm wax along with waxing strips to remove the exterior hair on my buttocks and lower back. By doing warm waxing in these less sensitive areas, he was able to remove the hair in the most effective and speedy manner.
It was time to wax my crack and honestly, I thought this part was going to be the most painful out of the entire treatment. You know, nerve endings and all that! Surprisingly though, it was the least painful and after expressing my shock to Jimmy, he explained why. Basically, using hot wax is a much more painless method of hair removal than using warm wax and therefore he only ever uses hot wax on sensitive areas.
Jimmy then went on to moisturise the entire area and by the time he was done, I was pain-free and smooth as a baby!
After I had my smooth baby butt, I was asked to lay on my back and think of England. It was time to wax little Tom! Now similarly to waxing my crack, Jimmy used hot wax to remove the hair from my frontal area. This was by no means as pain-free as having my crack waxed but it wasn’t unbearable. Surprisingly though, it was my pubic triangle that actually caused the most pain but as I said earlier, with a light bit of pressure from Jimmy the pain was gone in seconds.
Finally, once all the hair had been removed, Jimmy went on to moisturise the area and once again by the time he was done, I was pain-free. Job’s a good’un, as my dad would say.
After-care:
Similarly to the preparation stage, I thought this would be a lot more complicated than it actually was. The basic premise for after-care, was as follows:
Just don’t shower for the first 24 hrs and when you do, make it a cool shower. You need to let your skin recover after hair removal and the best way is to let it rest for the first 24 hrs, while the skin barrier repairs.
Avoid any fragrance for the first 24 hrs and avoid any sporting activity for the next 48 hrs. As with the showering, this is to avoid any unnecessary irritation to the skin.
Following this initial period, the after-care is straightforward. Exfoliate once a week to avoid ingrown hairs and apply moisturiser regularly to avoid irritation.
How much does it cost?
Well obviously we can’t speak for every single salon in the UK but in terms of Jimmy, who is by far our recommendation. The pricing is as follows:
Male Brazilian Waxing: £50.00
Male Hollywood Waxing: £60.00
Personally, for the level of service you get, I think the pricing is completely justified. Obviously, this is all subjective but for a treatment that lasts for around 6 weeks, I think the results by far justify the pricing.
Final thoughts:
You know I can safely say, that I’m glad I tried the whole Hollywood waxing experience at least once in my life. It’s a strange sensation at first being completely hairless down there but I think aesthetically everything just looks well-groomed and sharper.
So would I have it done again? You know, I probably would. I would definitely have my ass waxed again, as I don’t feel I could deal with a hairy crack again after this but I would possibly opt for a Brazilian wax next time. Basically, I’d go through it all again but maybe just trim the bush. You know to avoid the most painful part!
Finally, I just wanted to say a massive thank you again to Jimmy Bodur Male Grooming and the entire 193 Whitecross Street team, for all their help in making this feature. He’s a great guy and they are a great team, so I definitely recommend giving them a visit the next time you are in London!
Damn this year is going by quick! We are already in March and yes, that does mean that Winter has finally gone and Spring is finally here. This month’s feature is all about being fresh and walking into spring with a smile on our faces. Here are our Top Grooming Items for March 2019.
1. FIT Skincare: Moisturising Ultra Serum (£50.00)
Now if you’ve never tried a serum in your skincare regime before, then I definitely recommend you start doing so ASAP. Serums are generally more concentrated moisturisers full of active ingredients, that do work miracles for the skin. This one in particular from FIT Skincare is no exception. The lightweight formula sinks into the skin and visibly hydrates more than a moisturiser ever could. Since using this product, I have stopped seeing blemishes in my beard line and I can only presume, that this has something to do with it.
Available at: fitskincare.co.uk
2. White Glo: Diamond Series Whitening System (£15.00)
Remember when I mentioned walking into spring with a smile on our faces? Here’s the reason why. This 2 step kit from Aussie brand White Glo, has given me visible results in less than 2 weeks. I never had major discolouration on my teeth but like everybody, I am partial to the odd coffee and glass of Malbec. I said I was London’s answer to Carrie Bradshaw for a reason. What this kit does though, combines a whitening treatment with a daily dental regime. The whitening gel is used for 10 mins daily, to achieve a brighter smile without abrasion and then the White Glo® Professional Choice toothpaste locks this treatment in place while providing your daily dental care. You do have to use the product for at least a week, in my opinion, to start seeing visible results but when you do, it is definitely worth the wait. I have been shocking myself in the mirror with my new brighter smile!
Another important aspect of stepping into spring is that ever important spring fragrance. Our pick for this season is Vanguard Eau De Parfum by Mr Vanguard. If you’ve never heard of Mr Vanguard before, they are an award-winning perfume brand from the UK, that pride themselves on the uniqueness and longevity of their fragrances. Having put this to the compliment test, yes I did see how many people complimented me on my aftershave for a week. I can safely say this one seems an all-around winner.
4. Rosalique: 3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula (£29.99)
Now, this is one for anybody who has ever suffered from red and or inflamed skin. Yes, it’s one for us sensitive souls out there and will make our skin that little bit less sensitive. Rosalique is quite an ingenious product. It instantly covers redness with the green pigmentation, whilst protecting from UVA and UVB damage with SPF25 and then in the long term, it gently reduces redness within the skin. My advice here though is to only use a little product. The green pigmentation is quite strong and so this is definitely one to use sparingly. Once I got the quantity right, I started to see the results immediately and my skin has gotten less inflamed over the last month using this product.
5. Kiehl’s: Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men SPF19 125ml (£33.00)
Another solid product from Kiehl’s and one that has yet again been in my bathroom cabinet over and over. To put it bluntly, this moisturiser is hard to fault. It keeps your skin energised, hydrated and even controls oil production, keeping you shine free all day. Now, this was the original, they’ve now made it even better and added broad-spectrum sun protection to the moisturiser. Boasting a more than adequate SPF19, this moisturiser is ideal to see you through the Spring months. If you fall in love with it, as we’re sure you will and carry on using it into the Summer months, we definitely do recommend adding an extra SPF into your routine. It’s set to be another scorcher guys, say no to premature ageing and use an SPF daily!
