Youthful skin is characterized by its smooth texture, even tone, firmness, and radiant glow. It’s often free from common signs of ageing like wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots. Achieving and maintaining youthful skin involves a combination of proper skin care, healthy lifestyle choices, and protection from environmental damage. By understanding and implementing effective habits, you can preserve your skin’s vitality and keep it looking fresh and vibrant well into your later years.
1. Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water keeps your skin hydrated and helps maintain its elasticity. Aim for at least 8 glasses a day. Also, incorporate foods with high water content like cucumbers, oranges, and watermelon into your diet.
2. Use Sunscreen Daily
Sun exposure is one of the biggest contributors to premature ageing. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, even when it’s cloudy. This helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays that cause wrinkles and age spots.
3. Follow a Consistent Skincare Routine
Develop a simple skincare routine that includes cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and oil, exfoliate a couple of times a week to get rid of dead skin cells, and apply a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is crucial for skin regeneration. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Quality sleep helps reduce dark circles and puffiness around the eyes and gives your skin time to repair and renew.
5. Eat a Balanced Diet
A diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats supports skin health. Foods like berries, nuts, fish, and leafy greens can help keep your skin looking fresh and vibrant. Avoid excessive sugar and processed foods, which can lead to breakouts and dull skin.
Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated. Stick to these tips, and you’ll keep that youthful glow for years to come!
New Year, New Skin: This year I’ll have spot-free skin…
So we’re well and truly into the midst of January and the start of a new decade. With many amongst you making new year’s resolutions and trying to better yourselves. We at The Gay UK have decided to help you along the way. If your skin has ever caused you insecurities, carry on reading. Our grooming expert Thomas Swallow will have you skin-confident in no time!
This year I’ll have spot-free skin…
Like everyone, we’re all prone to the occasional spot and there are lots of factors that cause the appearance of our little red friends. Some of these are out of our control unfortunately and I’m sorry to tell our younger readers, that hormonal acne is something we can’t get rid of. There are steps we can take however, to keep our skin spot-free and manage hormonal breakouts. The main two are nutrition and our skincare regime. It goes without saying really if we eat a healthy and balanced diet our skin will reflect this. This means cutting down on processed food and instead basing our diets around nutritious whole foods. Don’t be alarmed if your skin seems to get worse when changing your diet. Things like this always seem to get worse before they get better and your skin is no exception. Persevere and reap the rewards.
When it comes to skincare however, it is a little more complicated. The main focus here is controlling your skin’s oil production and there are many ways to go about this. My top 3 tips though would be…
To cleanse your skin twice daily with a lightly exfoliating cleanser
Probably the most important factor in keeping our skin spot-free is to keep it clean. The easiest way we can do this is to wash our face twice daily. Now there’s a myriad of cleansing products out there, all with ‘miraculous’ benefits and selling points. The best way I’ve found of ensuring the product I’m using is doing the job I need it to however, is to make sure it is a lightly exfoliating cleanser. Now when I say this, I don’t mean it’s physically exfoliating my skin twice a day but that there is a chemical exfoliant present within the product, that helps break down all the dirt and oil. Which when living in London, is a godsend!
My current go-to cleanser is Fresh Wash by Monuskin, that uses papaya enzymes to lightly exfoliate the face. Leaving my skin clean and fresh but not stripped.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have when dealing with oily/spot-prone skin, is that they shouldn’t moisturise. This is such a big mistake to make. No matter what your skin type, your skin needs moisture and by all means, I’m not telling you to slap a thick cream all over your face each morning. You do however need to apply something to your skin or it will just became dry and irritated. In the case of oily/spot-prone skin instead of leaving this step out, opt for a gel/mattifying moisturiser. Not only will this keep your skin moisturised and healthy, it will help control shine/oil production throughout the day.
My personal favourite is Recipe for Men’s Anti-Shine Moisturiser. This beauty has seen me through the hottest of London heatwaves and tube rides. Always keeping me shine-free and looking fresh. If you’re familiar with the Central Line, you know this is no easy feat.
Incorporate a clay mask into your weekly skincare regime
Finally masking to many people is a luxurious and unnecessary step in a skincare regime. If you have oily/spot-prone skin however, I think this step is a definite must and by no means does it have to be expensive. By incorporating a clay mask into your skincare regime once a week, you can drastically improve control over your skin’s oil production. The clay mask absorbs excess oil and impurities, leaving skin purified and shine-free.
A great option for this is Bulldog’s Oil Control Face Mask. This inexpensive and effective mask will leave your skin clear and control oil production, when used on a regular basis. Plus it won’t break the bank balance, always a selling-point!
Want more tips from our grooming expert? Make sure to follow him on Instagram and Twitter (@urbanmaleuk) and look out for his next article, where he’ll tackle the age-old question of how to eliminate dark circles.
It’s no secret that over the last few years London has had some pretty amazing summers.
However, I’m also sure it hasn’t gone unnoticed, that Londoners don’t handle the heat well. Especially in the underground. The Central Line has become public enemy number one, and the once hated District Line is becoming a safe haven of air-conditioning bliss. With commuters turning into puddles on their morning commutes and meetings becoming awash with sweat-stained shirts. Our grooming expert Thomas Swallow is here to guide you on how to take the heat, keep cool on your morning commute and breeze through that client meeting. You can thank him later!
23:00 pm
If you want to wake up feeling fresh as a daisy and ready to take on the day. The first thing we need to do is do a little prep the night before. I promise it isn’t complicated boys, just simply apply roll-on antiperspirant before bed to your pits and lower back.
A little known fact is that antiperspirants are intended to be used in the evening, and this is when they are most effective. It’ll stop you waking up in a puddle and ensure you have a better night’s sleep. Getting you in the right frame of mind to start the day.
07:00 am
So we’ve had a dry and restful night’s sleep, and now it’s time to start the day. Grab your caffeinated beverage of choice, I recommend a double shot of espresso and head to the bathroom to get this show on the road. While our coffee is cooling, it’s time to jump in the shower. Get some lukewarm water running and scrub a dub dub. In the summer, I always use an acidic shower gel such as Bulldog’s Lemon & Bergamot, that helps to unclog my pores and keep my skin clear and fresh. Essential when applying the SPF boys, we don’t want spots!
Once my body is squeaky clean, I then turn my attention to my face. Turning down the temperature slightly, I apply my facial cleanser (currently loving the Recipe for Men Facial Cleanser) and then follow this up with my facial scrub. It’s important to note here guys that you shouldn’t over-exfoliate your skin. Keep the facial scrubbing down to twice a week and your skin will be glowing.
07:15 am
Now we’ve jumped out of the shower, it’s time to drink our coffee and brush our teeth. We definitely don’t want morning coffee breath! On days when I need to look my best, this is the time I’ll pop on a clay mask to smooth out my skin and soak up any excess oils, the Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask is a personal favourite. Essential if you want to remain shine-free on the tube.
While the mask drys, pop on some body moisturiser and apply some more antiperspirant. Better to be safe than sorry after all. About 10 mins later, it’s time to wash the mask off and move on to the next step.
07:25 am
Yet another mask you’ll be glad to know. Know this seems a bit excessive but like Yet another mask you’ll be glad to know. Know this seems a bit excessive, but like the clay mask, this is only on days I need to look my best. Pop on an Energising Sheet Mask from Bulldog and style your hair while it does its’ magic.
A winning hair combo at the moment for me is the Sidekick Zero Pre-styler and Night Fiber Paste by Danish brand By Vilain. One of the only combos to keep my hair in place, all day long. Definitely an investment worth making.
07:35 am
It’s been about 10 minutes now, and the sheet mask has done its’ work. So pop that sucker off and drop your towel. It’s time to get dressed. Even though it’s summer, it’s still important to look ‘presentable’ at work. So down a crisp white linen shirt and pair it with some well-fitted trousers and black leather shoes. You’re dressed for success.
07:45 am
Now we’re all suited and booted, and the excess from our face mask has soaked in. It’s time to finish prepping our face. It’s time to moisturise, and I can’t recommend one more than the Recipe for Men Anti-Shine Moisturiser. This bad boy has kept my skin matte even through the hottest of summer days and is a definite essential for any city-dweller during summer.
Mix a bit of their bronzing cream in for a subtle sun-kissed glow and follow up with their eye gel to reduce the appearance of any dark circles.
07:50 am
Now we’ve waited for 5 minutes to let all that goodness to soak in. It’s time for the final two steps of our morning skincare. Firstly, slap on the SPF! Sun damage is the number one cause of ageing to our skin, and so apart from the obvious health benefits, it’ll hold off the wrinkles. I’d personally recommend an oil-free option such as Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defence. It’ll keep you protected with an SPF of 50 but also won’t undo all the hard work we’ve just done and make you a shiny mess.
Secondly, grab a powder bronzer and lightly dust your forehead, cheekbones and jawline. Not only will this give you a subtle glow and carve out your features, but it’ll also help keep you matte throughout the day. Powder absorbs oil after all.
08:00 am
The final step before we head out the door now boys. We are dressed for success, and our skin is summer-ready and sweat-proof. It’s time to accessorise. My go-to accessories at the moment are these sunnies by Banton Frameworks and this navy briefcase from Maverick & Co.
A good pair of sunnies is definitely worth the investment. Not only are they a quintessential summer style staple, but unlike their cheaper counterparts, they actually protect our eyes from sun damage. This pair from Banton Frameworks fits the perfectly. High-quality, stylish and unique enough to make you stand out amongst the sea of Ray-Bans.
Similarly to the sunnies, a good quality briefcase is always worth the investment. You’re not aiming for something to use for a season here guys but something that will stand the test of time. Aim of a stylish staple and not a ‘trendy’ throwaway. Maverick & Co. fit the bill here perfectly. Creating a range of contemporary briefcases, that are high-quality and will last you well into your next promotion. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve had on mine so far guys. They’re definitely worth checking out. See their entire range here.
So there we have it guys, you are now ready to take on the day and beat that summer heat. Close that door behind you and show the Central Line who’s boss!
According to Cancer Research UK, malignant melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and 1 in 54 people will be diagnosed with malignant melanoma during their lifetime.
Silhouette of muscle boy on beautiful hot background
Around 15,400 new cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year; that’s around 42 new cases diagnosed every day. Yet 86% of these could have been prevented.
So here are five ways you can protect your skin this Pride season
Applying sunscreen to your skin before you go outside during the summer months and on cloudy days (UV rays get through clouds) helps reduce the risk of skin damage. Sunscreens are useful for protecting our skin from the sun’s rays, but will not protect us completely from sun damage on their own. Use them together with shade or clothing to avoiding sunburn.If you have fair skin or if you burn very easily, you will need the highest level of protection. Even if your skin tends to tan rather than burn, it’s still important to take care in the sun and use sunscreen.If you have naturally brown or black skin, the extra melanin pigment in the skin cells may provide a bit more protection against harm from UV rays but sun protection is still necessary.
When choosing sunscreen, you should:
Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The SPF provides protection against burning and UVB damage.
Look for sunscreens that are labelled ‘broad-spectrum’ as this shows they protect you from UVB and UVA damage. This is shown using a star rating system, so look for at least 4 or 5 stars for good protection.
Apply sunscreen liberally to clean dry skin, ideally before other skincare products.
Apply approximately two teaspoons of sunscreen to cover your arms, neck and face, and up to two tablespoons to cover your body.
Follow the manufactures instructions and re-apply frequently
Re-apply after you’ve been in water. Sunscreen can be easily washed, rubbed or sweated off and even sunscreens that claim to be ‘waterproof’ should be reapplied after going in the water.
Don’t forget to check the expiry date – most sunscreens have a shelf life of two to three years.
Don’t store sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals.
Midday hours are when the sun is at its hottest and highest in the sky. Find shade under trees, umbrellas, canopies or move indoors. A simple way to find out when the sun’s rays are at their strongest is to look at your shadow – if it’s shorter than your height, this means that the sun’s UV rays are strong and you need to be particularly careful.
When there’s no shade around, cover exposed areas, such as your arms or legs (close-weave clothes offer the most protection against UV rays) and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head.
Sunbeds are a risk factor as it exposes the skin to high levels of radiation. Ongoing concern about the use of sunbeds has led to the use of them being banned by law to anyone aged under-18 in the UK. If you’re keen to have a tan, the safest way to achieve it is to use fake tan.
For more information on staying safe in the sun, please visit AXA PPP healthcare.
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 Danish haircare brand By Vilain. It’s time to let these Danish twins teach us a thing or two about hair care. You got to #WorkHard to #StyleHard after all!
By Vilain was founded by Danish twins Rasmus and Emil in 2013, in the heart of Aarhus, Denmark. Created through the twin’s passion for hair and fashion. The brand has a central focus on quality products, that leave long-lasting impressions and give high-quality results. Like all things Scandinavian, the products are minimalist gems. Adding a sense of Scandi-style to your morning grooming routine. Their first product ‘Gold Digger’ (a personal favourite of mine) embodies this perfectly. A minimalist styling masterpiece, that elevates your hair and leaves you with a sensational style every time!
After spending countless hours trying out hair products in front of the mirror and creating over 500 hairstyling videos on YouTube. Rasmus and Emil, clearly have the knowledge to back up their product range. Their successful hair salon franchise in Denmark is a testament to this knowledge. Having been successfully operating for over 7 years, it’s clear that the twins understand what the customer needs and desires. Definitely make sure you pop along and say “hi” if you’re ever in Aarhus. I think I’ll definitely be planning a trip ASAP.
Also if you fancy seeing the twins in action, check out their YouTube channel linked below. Their videos are an absolute holy grail of hair styling and product information for men’s hair. Definitely worth a watch!
Following on from their sensational Gold Digger wax, which is still a best-seller to this day, the brand has just gone from strength to strength. Developing a myriad of high-quality styling, pre-styling and hair care products, that are so effortless to work with. Now having a product range that performs to such a high-quality across the board is no easy feat but they manage to do so with ease. Every product I’ve tried from this brand really has been truly exceptional. All have been easy to work with and I’ve enjoyed being able to change up the finish of my hair so easily, by just chasing the product combinations I use.
One thing I respect about this brand is just how confident they are in their consumers’ love of their products. When I initially chatted to the brand, they offered to send me over a range of their products from their pre-styling, styling and hair care ranges. The way they did this though, was not in the usual PR type of way. They simply said that we would love me to try out their products. If I liked them as much as they thought I would, then we could discuss doing something together. I respect that confidence and it wasn’t unfounded. They are now my go-to haircare brand and I’m looking forward to doing some projects with them in the future.
They have also recently just launched their Revolution wax, which is a collaboration between Silkhaar (their retail outlet/YouTube channel) and By Vilain. The wax is limited edition and essentially combines everything you need in a good hair wax. Look out for it appearing in this month’s top grooming list (#SpoilerAlert). I’m loving it so far! As of this week, they’ve also brought back an old classic the Night Fiber. Look out for my thoughts on that soon, my initial impression was pretty great though!
Ethos:
I always think it’s important to know what a company stands for and By Vilain stands by their motto of #WorkHard and #StyleHard. The twins stress, that their brand embodies the magic of innovation and the simplicity of Scandinavian design. They want to inspire men around the world, to set trends and be themselves without limitation. With their products enabling acting as a medium of self-expression and freedom for the consumers. Enabling them to be the very best version of themselves.
Pride Month is a pretty spectacular thing. Across the globe this month, members of the LGBTQ+ community have been out in force. To make themselves recognised, share their love and most importantly, remember those that thought for our present-day rights.
For some of us though, Pride Month is just the start of summer long Pride celebrations. London Pride is next weekend and we’ve got to keep ourselves looking and feeling our best. So we can be confident in ourselves and our community. Our grooming expert Thomas Swallow has got just the products to help you maintain your pride all summer long.
1. The Soap Brewery: Bar Soaps (£6.50)
Now I know we all started steering away from bar soap but I promise you, it is not the devil. Long gone are the days of your Dad’s Imperial Leather skin stripper. The Soap Brewery’s Bar Soaps are ideal for summer pride trips or just travelling in general. Easy to pop in your carry-on (they don’t count as liquids), you’re instantly set to stay fresh all way through the summer months. With ingredients kind to your skin, you will be left feeling nourished and squeaky clean. My personal recommendations are the Activated Charcoal & Tea Tree options. Both great to keep the body looking clear and avoid any post workout bacteria from the gym.
If you’ve seen my Brand Highlight of By Vilain, you’d know by now that I think they’re a pretty amazing brand. With their new limited edition Revolution Wax, they hit the mark yet again. The wax that is created in collaboration with their retail site Silkhaar and is everything you need in a hair wax. Strong-hold, lots of playtime to get it just right and a fragrance, that is to die for. Make sure to grab some while you can, as when this stock is gone. It won’t be coming back. Use code ‘THEGAYUK’ at checkout, to grab an extra 10% off site-wide.
British owned brand Lock Stock & Barrel, really hit the mark on their Recharge shampoo. It’s a rare feat for a shampoo not to leave your hair feeling stripped but actually nourished and this shampoo does exactly that. This product has quickly become a staple in my morning routine and creates the perfect canvas to style your hair. Allowing me to go longer between conditioning, I find my hair much easier to style and manage. I’d definitely give this one a go, especially in the summer months. To give our scalps a more gentle treatment, whilst coping with the summer heat.
I’ll have to be honest, I never thought I’d be mentioning Radox in one of these lists but I have kind of been loving their Bath Salts lately. With Pride and summer looming, I’ve been hitting the gym more and generally just taking better care of myself and my body. One thing that I’ve found essential throughout this process, is the need to relax and unwind after a long day. My muscles are aching and my body/mind just need a break. Here’s where the Radox Bath Salts come in. A few handfuls in a lukewarm bath and unwind for 20 minutes. I say lukewarm here, as nobody needs a boiling bath in the summer heat and just in general, hot water is terrible for your skin. I would say to avoid these if you have a fragrance allergy but if you tolerate fragrance well, definitely give them a go. I find them super relaxing and are a very good price point, for the amount you get.
Albeit more on the higher end of the pricing scale, PROVERB Skincare is definitely an investment worth making. Their Strengthening Skin Serum is an anti-ageing miracle. Fortifying the skin barrier, leaving skin looking plump, supple and full of life. Ideal to use morning and evening during the summer months under moisturiser, to help renew and fortify the skin barrier pre and post-sun exposure. It’s definitely something you need in your travel bag for your summer holidays. Because let’s face it, boys, we can age gracefully or like a leather handbag. Apply the SPF and look after your skin!
If you’re a blonde or ginger guys you’ve probably got questions about the right products for you, as well as what products will protect your skin. Worry no more, our style and grooming expert Thomas Swallow is on hand to help.
What are the best brow products for gingers?
Being a blond guy, I can totally relate to this problem. Unless you have brown/black hair, most brown products tend to be on the golden or warm side of the colour spectrum. So it’s so much harder to colour match a product to your brows if your hair is of a lighter hue.
Ideally here you’re wanting to define your brows but not make them mismatched to the rest of your hair. For most gingers/redheads, I would recommend opting for an auburn shade. This isn’t going to be a perfect match every time but it will get you on the right track. So depending on your natural brows being either blondish, reddish or brown, you can see which product works best for you.
My Recommendation:
I would always opt for an eyebrow pencil or mascara/gel when filling in my brows. This will create the most natural effect possible, adding that bit of definition but not making it glaringly obvious, that they aren’t your natural brows.
Alternatively, I would recommend eyebrow tinting. I recently went to get my brows and eyelashes tinted at Blink Brow Bar in London. By getting them tinted, you can add the definition you want and have the shade matched perfectly to your hair colour. If you’re interested in learning more about this, check out my article here.
With Pride Month looming just around the corner, our grooming expert Thomas Swallow is on hand to help you look and feel your best. Whether you’re gonna be chilling on Hampstead Heath or living your very best life at pride. Here are our top grooming product picks for the month. Prepare for the compliments boys!
1) By Vilain: RUSH Shampoo and Conditioner Duo (£33.30)
First on our list this month, is Danish haircare brand By Vilain. Founded by twins (Rasmus and Emil), who have pretty great hair. Have to admit, I have a little bit of hair envy here! I’ve recently been trying out quite a lot of their products and so far I can’t find one, that I don’t like. In particular, their RUSH Shampoo and Conditioner combo have become a quintessential part of my morning routine. Keeping my hair fresh and conditioned, whilst the menthol effect energises me for the day. My hair game has been on point lately guys, so definitely check this duo out.
2) Recovery Room: Protein Body Moisturiser (£14.99)
Next on the list, is the Protein Body Moisturiser by Recovery Room. Now if any of you follow me on social media (@urbanmaleuk if you don’t), then you’ll know over the last few months I’ve been putting my body through it in the gym. Completing my own personal fitness challenges and putting training methods to the test. So basically, my body has been pushed to its limits quite literally.
One of the things I’ve noticed from this is my skin has been quite irritated from all the exercise and having eczema, I try to minimise any irritation to my skin. What this moisturiser did, is calm down my skin. Which if you’ve ever had a skin condition like eczema, is pretty phenomenal. More so, it is loaded with plant proteins and amino acids to aid recovery post-workout. So whilst my body was constantly being battered and my skin was quite literally telling me to do one, this moisturiser stepped up. Eczema or not, if you’re hitting the gym this summer definitely pack this into your gym bag. I promise you won’t regret it.
Third on the list this month, is the Oil Balance Pro Moisturiser from PROVERB Skincare. Although a more expensive moisturising option, this product definitely gives you bang for your buck. Having quite an oily T-Zone myself, especially after a journey on the Central Line or the Pits of Hell, as commuters will know it. My skin is often left on the wrong side of shiny and what I noticed when using this moisturiser, is that my skin didn’t get this shine. Don’t get me wrong it was all supple and dewy but it didn’t look oily. So if you suffer from a bit of an oily T-Zone or have oily skin in general, definitely give this one a go. Make the investment and I promise you, you’ll thank me for it.
4) Bulldog Skincare: Energising Sheet Masks (£12.00 for 8 masks)
So next on the list, is a brand I hold dear to my heart. Bulldog is just one of those brands, that gets it right. No fuss, affordable male skincare, that’s high quality and these sheet masks are no exception. Like all sheet masks, they are intended to give a short term effect but with instant results. Unlike most sheet masks we see in the UK though, they are made from unbleached bamboo and are dehydrated. Yep that’s right, we add the serum ourselves. Which I personally love. The idea of a sheet mask sitting soaked in serum over a period of days, months or even years before we use it, is not the most comforting of thoughts.
Simply add enough serum to coat the entire mask and then unfold, to reveal the mask. Leave it on for about 5-10 mins and you’re left with radiant looking skin. Great for those mornings when you’ve not had enough sleep or if you just have a special occasion to go to. The morning of pride for example… Another great addition for our bearded fellas is that the beard line is detachable. So no longer will that pesky face mask fall off your face.
Last on our list this month, I think is a pretty special find. MAN CAVE has recently brought out a Micellar Cleansing Water targeted at men and I think it’s gonna save my skin during summer. If you don’t know what Micellar Water is, it’s essentially a no-fuss way of refreshing skin. You simply rub the product onto the skin and it helps break down any dirt or residue. No water or harsh scrubbing needed.
Now although this isn’t a new concept, it is the first product of its kind that I’ve seen targeted to men. Imbued with the refreshing Woodsman scent from the brand, it’s by far the easiest way I’ve found of refreshing my skin on the go. Which during summer in London, will be a godsend. So for any city dwellers out there, pop this in your work bag and reap the benefits all summer long.
Ever had a style or grooming question, that you’ve always wondered about but never had someone to ask? Then worry no more, our style and grooming expert Thomas Swallow is on hand to help. This month, he’s tackling the topic of Male Makeup.
What’s the best way to apply foundation, if I have facial hair? If I add foundation to it, it looks a mess and if I don’t I just get a line there.
The best way to deal with facial hair when applying foundation or any other type of coverage product i.e. BB creams is to not avoid or apply the product directly to the area. What you want to do, is apply the product to the rest of your face/neck (please don’t forget the neck) and then just run the excess product through your facial hair. This way you avoid a harsh line but you don’t coat your hair in product and it just creates an overall even finish.
My Recommendation:
I personally would always opt for a BB/CC cream or a light to medium coverage foundation. If going for a more full coverage look though, try and opt for a powder foundation. Powder products will always look more natural than liquid products through facial hair.
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.
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.
