Tried & Tested - Kazumi Root Vanish
There is nothing wrong with growing old gracefully and there’s also nothing wrong with trying to disguise the grey in your hair or beard, if that’s what you prefer. I’m not really bothered either way. I was once told red hair didn’t go grey, well that was a load of rubbish as my beard is now full of grey hairs. ‘Salt and paprika’, I once saw it described as, the guy even had TM - trademark - next to it!
Root Vanish by KAZUMI - £30
Anyway, dying hair can be a tricky one, as it can look too deep and flat and obviously dyed or the thought of something permanent can be a little scary. Men don’t want to look obviously dyed if they’re going for a natural colour.
The brainchild of Hollywood master colourist Kazumi Morton and championed by pioneering Japanese beauty brand KIWABI, Root Vanish by KAZUMI is firmly rooted in both Japanese heritage and innovation.
Right - TheChicGeek using 'Copper' - Before (left) & After (right)
"I wanted to create colours that didn’t end up looking dull, flat or gloopy once applied and couldn’t find them anywhere in the U.S. During one of my trips back to Japan, I found a unique gel formula that effectively covered greys without leaving any residue or drying the hair and scalp.
"To this, I added the extracts and oils of 22 botanical ingredients known in Japan to hydrate and promote healthy hair such as yuzu, ginger root, persimmon fruit and Japanese black seaweed,“ says Kazumi.
TheChicGeek says, “I like the idea of this and also the wand and brush feels like a quality product. You press the button at the bottom - it did take a few presses - to release the dye, then apply to the chosen area. I think because my beard is longer I could blend with the brush, rather than use my finger, which I've heard you need to clean quickly after, or it will discolour.
The product has no fragrance, which is good and when dry it doesn't rub off.
Results - It did remove the majority of the grey and did give my beard a depth of colour which looked natural. It's easy and quick to use and could be included in a morning grooming regime. All I would say is, just make sure you thoroughly wash your beard/face at the end of the day to remove the dye and stop it staining you towels and pillows".
Available at Boots & CultBeauty.com
Tried & Tested - Ermengildo Zegna - Acqua Di Bergamotto
Light and fresh, this invigorating fragrance based on Italian Bergamot contains notes of Calabrian bergamot, from Zegna's own special farm, along with rosemary, vetiver, and neroli, all said to 'emulate the cooling breeze, lush green fields and blue coastline' of Southern Italy.
TheChicGeek says “Nothing is more Italian or Italian summery, should we say, than the bergamot. This large citrus fruit has long been the main ingredient for that freshness in men’s fragrance, particularly some of the original Eau de Colognes which date back many hundreds of years.
This pretty much does what it says on the tin, but with a more contemporary spin. The other elements - the rosemary and vetiver give it a slight ‘marine’ hit of woody freshness to the citrus.”
Left & Below - Ermengildo Zegna - Acqua Di Bergamotto - 100ml - £76
Tried & Tested - Crème de la Mer Renewal Oil
This highly potent, multi-faceted dual-phase oil is a luxurious formula created with the highly active oils of the famous Crème de la Me ‘Miracle Broth’ formulated for the face, but indulgent enough to be used on hair and the body.
Designed to mimic the skin’s hydrolipidic structure with a combination of water and inspired by The Miracle Broth’s oil of eucalyptus and sesame, you activate it with a gentle shake.
TheChicGeek says, “Facial oils are all the rage ATM, this is my second in as many weeks - check out my review of Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate here
Crème de la Mer want you to have fun with this product, meaning you can add it to your moisturiser, use as a beard oil or even put in the bath. They want you to ‘play’ with it and use it as an addition to skincare routine.
My big problem with it is it just isn’t oily enough. Once you’ve shaken the bottle and mixed the Miracle Broth with the oil, it still feels too watery and rigid and doesn’t glide over the skin. I think in a oil you want that glistened, nourished look which this doesn’t give you.
You could apply more liberally, but at this price it’s hard to ‘play’ without being conscious of the price and how much you are using. Saying that, a bottle would last you a while.
This feels more like a novelty product rather than a serious addition for your skin.”
Left - Crème de la Mer - The Renewal Oil - £155
Nationwide October 2015
Tried & Tested - Acqua di Parma Colonia Club
Choosing the equestrian discipline of dressage as its focal sport, Acqua di Parma’s new Colonia Club has the signature Acqua di Parma top notes of citrus - bergamot, lemon, petitgrain and mandarin, immediately followed by an unexpected olfactory note.
The freshness of mint – combined with neroli oil – is blended with aromatic geranium and lavender notes with equally elegant freshness of galbanum.
The dry and woody accents of Haiti vetiver, combined with precious musk notes and a rich grey amber accord, make up the perfect base, stressing the masculine, dynamic, sophisticated tones of the fragrance.
There is an Eau de Cologne spray, Hair and Shower Gel, Deodorant Stick and Spray, Shampoo and Shower Gel within the Colonia Club range.
Left - Acqua di Parma Colonia Club - 100ml - £81
TheChicGeek says, “Billed as Acqua di Parma’s ‘Sports’ fragrance, Colonia Club is a classic men’s fougeré (lavender) unpinned with fresh mint. This a classic type of men’s fragrance, thus being very wearable, in a very popular men’s family of fragrances. The mint remains warm thanks to the amber.
The only negatives are - it has that initial stickiness that you get with a lot of men’s fragrances, you could put that down to the amount of green notes in the fragrance and it also doesn’t last very long. BUT, it is an Eau De Cologne which in their nature are light and should be sprayed liberally and often.
The rich racing green colour suits the classic deco flacon and visualises this green and fresh fragrance. This is the sort of fragrance that works well across a range of products, especially the types of gym products, like shower gel, in this range."
Tried & Tested - Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate
It appears your skin is as ‘fatigued’ as you are by the end of the day. To rectify one of these, Kiehl’s has launched the new Daily Reviving Concentrate. A lightweight facial oil that promises to awaken, revitalise and energise the look of fatigued skin. While skin is dedicated to healing at night, during the day it is hard at work defending itself from attack by environmental aggressors and oxidative stress. After a full day of battling to protect itself from damage, our skin shows signs of fatigue, which causes it to look older including the more prominent appearance of lines as well as dull, dehydrated, rough and tired-looking skin.
Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate features a specifically selected, highly concentrated blend of naturally derived ingredients including ginger root essential oils, tamanu and sunflower seed botanical oils.
“Free radicals that come from pollution, UVA/UVB radiation and poor air quality assault our skin the most during the day and have the potential to damage our lipids, proteins, and DNA,” states Dr. Adam Geyer, Kiehl’s Consulting Dermatologist. “In addition, as we age, barrier function diminishes and the antioxidant content in the skin is reduced, making the skin more susceptible to free radical damage and accelerated ageing.”
Testers reported a 12.4% improvement in skin fatigue (dull, dehydrated, rough and tired-looking skin) in as little as 8 hours.
Left - Kiehl’s - Daily Revival Concentrate - 30ml - £36
Nationwide September 2015
TheChicGeek says, “The oil trend seemed to pass me by and this is the first facial oil I’ve actually tried. I’ve always been a bit wary of oils, as I imagined they could make an oily skin - men’s - even oilier.
Well, this I was pleasantly surprised by. A few drops from the pipette dispenser, it will take a few applications to get used this, and it blends leaving your skin feeling nourished and oiled - in a good way.
Your skin has a subtle oiled glow that doesn’t feel greasy and you’re not conscious of. It gets absorbed easily and I would say you could also use this as a beard oil, if you so wished. It has a nice orange aroma and you apply your daily moisturiser over the top. If only this worked on body and brain fatigue!”
More...
Tried & Tested - FIT Moisturising Ultra Serum
Eighteen months in development, FIT Moisturising Ultra Serum, joins the FIT skincare line up and is formulated to treat and care for all skin types.
FIT serums and ultra serums combine multi-benefit active ingredients with natural biological and marine extracts, vitamins and minerals. FIT products contain no harsh preservatives, parabens or SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate).
The power behind the range is OXY-FIT-10, a unique oxygen delivery system that boosts skin cell respiration to increase cell regeneration and ensures targeted delivery of nutrients for maximum benefit.
Formulated and manufactured in the UK, the FIT Skincare range now sports a sophisticated new look with improved packaging designs.
TheChicGeek says, “I have reviewed a FIT product before and I did criticise the branding and packaging. It seems they have listened to the feedback and come back with something that looks and feels more premium. An elegant silver tube, emblazoned with the new logo, contains the new Moisturising Ultra Serum.
It doesn’t have any fragrance, which I think men prefer. It’s light, absorbs easily and leaves the face with a soft, mattified appearance.
The majority of serums go under your daily moisturiser and are usually there for their anti-aging benefits. You could use this instead of your moisturiser, but I would still recommend putting some form of SPF protection on top. While I wasn't blown away by this product, it is a premium price for this amount, I do like its lightness and easily absorbability."
Above & Below - FIT – Moisturising Ultra Serum – 30ml - £50
Tried & Tested – Slendertone Abs
The Slendertone Abs belt is said to tone and firm your abs in 4 weeks. Slendertone’s EMS (Electronic Muscle Stimulation) technology makes the muscles simultaneously contract and then relax, similar to the regular muscle contraction experienced during normal exercise. This sensation is powerful enough to recruit all muscles in the chosen region, yet comfortable enough to have a conversation whilst using it.
It is important to remember that Slendertone is not fat loss technology, that part is up to you; it is recommended incorporating cardiovascular activity and a clean and lean food plan to decrease body fat.
Use for 20 minutes a day, five times a week for a minimum of four weeks for results.
Left - Premium Slendertone Abs Belt - £149.99
TheChicGeek says, “Once I’d gotten it out of the box, (you have to be mentally ready and want to commit!) everything was pretty straightforward. I always imagine these things to be a bird’s nest of wires and chargers, but in fact it was really simple and straightforward to put together.
Right - The Before/After picture. I was surprised there wasn't more visible difference because it felt like it was working more
The sticky pads need to go on and then you add the clear covers. You get one set of sticky pads and you can buy them separately when you need to.
I decided to follow the 30 day plan that was in the Instruction Manual which gradually increases the intensity with rest days in between.
I took a picture before and after, in the same place and the same time of day. I didn’t exercise anymore or less and my diet stayed the same. It’s not that scientific, but you should get the idea.
The belt sticks on with the pads once you've removed the covers and fastens with Velcro at the back. You set the time and increase the intensity on each side of the belt. I didn’t see it was only suppose to be 20 mins, so everything I did was 30 minutes at a time. You can easily do other things while you’re wearing it.
It does take a bit of getting of used to it, but be brave and just remember, no pain, no gain! On the 30 day plan it does shoot up from 90 to 150 which is quite a big jump and if the 90 is hurting, you wonder how you’re going to get all the way up to 150. On the first attempt I managed 135, but on the final day I got to 150. As your muscles get firmer they can obviously take more.
So, what did I think? I actually got slightly addicted to it and missed it on the rest days. I was surprised there wasn't as much visible difference in my before and after picture as it really felt like it was working. They definitely feel firmer but then I did take the picture on the minimum 4 week marker, so maybe I should see after 6 or 8 weeks. I estimate the pads to last about 6 weeks and they cost around £10 a set.
I would buy another set of pads and carry on using it. It made me want to exercise other parts of my body.