The Bluebeard’s Revenge – The Ultimate Hair Tonics for Real Men

At the risk of being labelled 'a touch predictable’, we at The Amazing Blog couldn’t resist the obvious parallel with our favourite theatrical pastime - that of Panto … ‘Oh NO We Didn’t/ Oh Yes We Did’ etc, when Bluebeard’s Revenge presented us with two of their different Ultimate Hair Tonics for us to try. As regular readers will know we’re fans of this brand, and recently featured their Soap Stack Kit here.

You only have to read the information on the bottles to get a very clear idea that Bluebeard’s Revenge are a company with a cracking sense of humour, is clearly welcomed in the market place with razor burn weary men flocking to try the various products on order to sort the daily assault on our fac es. But be reminded, Bluebeard himself makes it very clear that this range is absolutely only for the REAL man- the kind of man who can wear lace down his chest, but still works the machismo vibe without apology or explanation - who has time for that when there are ships to be plundered and adventures to be had? 

However, we are here to tell you about both their Ultimate Hair Tonics for Real Men The Classic Blend and The Cuban Blend which are stand alone products in themselves and sit right up there with the best of them. The Classic Blend pays homage to traditional barbershop finishes, while the Cuban Blend offers an altogether more exotic, Caribbean-inspired fragrance. Both are oil-free making them ideal for all hair types, and head massages and can even be used as a cutting lotion or to break down product. Both have delicious fresh fragrance The Classic is more citrus/fresh whereas The Cuban is a tad more exotic. As a brand that has Men’s Grooming awards coming thick and fast, it is small wonder then that this range is going from strength to strength. Bluebeard’s Revenge have priced themselves very competitively, and offer much in the way of a total grooming regime to keep us boys in tiptop shape whilst we navigate our daily lives in search of that treasure chest - elusive though as it continues to be. Both these products have vegan friendly ingredients and are available online at an accessible price point of £9.99 for 200ml all from Bluebeards Revenge themselves!

Christmas Gift Guide for Men

With just eight days to go until Father Christmas arrives, we can’t quite believe how quickly the season of giving has come around. We’re not yet at the stage of panic buying; however, it has to be said that most of us at The Amazing Blog, are beginning to cut it fine with our present ideas. If you too are struggling, then this week we will be providing some last minute gift guides, helping you to spend less time worrying about the tricky receivers to buy for (we all know someone), and more time enjoying the festivities. Today we start with ‘Gifts for Men’, ranging from grooming products to technology and accessories. Grab a mince pie (and a glass of something nice), and let us do the research for you.

Firstly, we introduce The Bluebeards Revenge - a shaving and grooming company who provide products that promote a sustainable grooming routine, as opposed to the quick rush (and inevitable cuts) from using mass-market products. We previously reviewed their Ultimate Sea Salt Spray (see here), and so we were thrilled to try their Soap Stack Kit. True to their promise of creating products that are neither cheap cans of mass-produced products nor designer creams that are more akin to moisturisers, this set consists of three expertly produced soaps.

Ideal for any wash or gym bag, these soaps are unique in many ways. Primarily, the three scents are the perfect balance between providing a less feminine smell, while also promoting hydration and comfort. The first, ‘Classic Ice Soap’ is a modern twist on the British barbershop fragrance, a welcome scent that provides manliness and moisturisation simultaneously. Secondly, ‘Big Blue Bar of Soap for Blokes’ has a simple and fresh scent, and thanks to the bright blue colour, stands out amongst the sea of other generic products. Equally, ‘Cuban Gold Soap’ is ideal for days when an exotic aroma is needed (calling all Monday mornings!) With inspiration from the Caribbean, this soap packs a punch, and as a result of the unique shape, it is easy to handle, and unique to the eye. To make life even easier, these soaps come packaged in an aesthetically pleasing box, which coupled with the attractive colours, makes for a ready-made present. These soaps lather well and help to invigorate the body. To gain optimum benefits - use from head to toe, either in the bath or shower. The Bluebeards Revenge are also strictly against animal testing, and these soaps are both vegetarian and vegan-friendly - the perfect grooming gift that doesn’t involve a generic body spray or cheap aftershave. The best part? The Soap Stack Kit is affordable, at £13.99. Click here to see for yourself.

For a man with a newfound grooming routine, a durable wash bag is undoubtedly next on the list. We turned to a brand that we know and love and discovered Morris & Co.’s ‘Refined Gentleman Washbag’, which we think fits the bill perfectly. Part of the brand Heathcote & Ivory, Morris and Co. similarly specialise in creating unique and detailed lifestyle products. We have previously featured both Heathcote and Ivory’s Inflight Essentials and Christmas Gifts Set, so were excited to try a lifestyle product aimed at the male market. Thankfully we were not disappointed!

The Refined Gentleman Wash Bag is the ideal gift for a man that is looking for some luxury. The wash bag itself is generous in size, fitting full sized products in, with ease. Thanks to the use of a zip, it also opens and closes easily, and uses vegan leather, which ensures it is wipeable, and therefore easy to keep clean. The real standout of this product is the Acanthus print, inspired by Morris & Co.’s first wallpaper design. As the primary showcase of the brand’s plan to create large-scale wallpaper designs, we like this historical link, as well as the elegant and unique finish. The inner fabric is also wipeable, made from 100% polyester, meaning any spillages can be quickly rectified. To purchase a wash bag for the gentleman in your life, then click here, where you will find The Refined Gentleman Wash Bag available for £24.

For a gentleman that enjoys a tipple, we also came across Morris and Co.’s ‘The Refined Gentleman Hip Flask’. Designed with the same embossed pattern as the above wash bag, this hip flask is a classy addition to any inner pocket. Although it is slim enough to fit most pockets, it contains enough room to hold approximately 200ml of liquid. Once again, the fabric is vegan and wipeable, meaning any sticky alcohol spillages can be removed with ease. It comes packaged in a simple, and elegant box (yes - we look for presents that are easy to wrap too), and we think it would make a great present alongside the Wash Bag or would be equally welcomed with a small bottle of your receivers favourite spirit. Either way (or neither way, as it is equally lovely on its own), you will find it on the Heathcote and Ivory website for £22 - a reasonable price for a present that is durable, and sure to be well loved.

For something a little more outlandishly festive, we came across Lime Lace. Stockists of stylish home accessories, gifts and furniture, their website offers an abundance of gifting options, from artwork to lighting and cushions. It was, however, the candles that caught our eye, in particular, The Christmas Jumper Candle the perfect balance between Christmas kitsch, and clever design.

This candle adds a little festive spirit to any room and will be sure to make your receiver smile. We must confess that we were concerned by the prospect of this candle looking too novelty, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the enormous amount of detail. The wax has been carved to look like intricate wool, and the addition of the glitter is an excellent way to jazz up any table or mantlepiece. The detail even goes as far as to emulate red stitching around the cuffs and hem, and we were pleased to discover that the glitter is non-transferable. Gone is the worry of packaging a present, only to find a product that has become distinctively less glittery in the process. Additionally, you’ll find the outer box easy to wrap, although we think it would look lovely when wrapped in cellophane, with a red ribbon bow. The size of this candle also surprised us, at 11x12cm, a decent dimension to create an optimum festive atmosphere, without being overbearing. To send a little Christmas cheer of your own, purchase a Christmas Jumper Candle here for £16.95.

Finally, for the gadget lover in your life, we discovered Orbitkey. Founders, Rex and Charles, started the company after they decided enough was enough when it came to key organisation. Initially, it took just 30 days to gain 5,000 supporters, and with bases in Melbourne and New York, the success is now notable. Based on the concept of making key storage less bulky, we were keen to try the brand for ourselves.

Although Orbitkey have a plethora of different options, we particularly like the Orbitkey 2.0 Leather. This design comes in a vast array of colours, from simple black and stone to more eye-catching sage and tan. In a nutshell, this product provides a way to hold up to 7 keys, organising them, preventing them from scratching and providing a durable and lightweight finish. Now, of course, this product is not merely limited to men, but we particularly think the concept is perfect for men who often carry keys in their pockets. We were astounded by how convenient this product is, not just for protecting the keys, but also other ensuring other items in pockets and bags are equally protected. Orbitkey have also considered the inevitability of needing to add car keys separately, which can be done utilising the slim D-ring at the top of the leather strap. We tried the Orbitkey in Charcoal with Grey Stitching, which has proven to be popular in the office - especially among the male members of our cohort. There is also the option to monogram the genuine cowhide leather, which screams present giving to us (although you may be pushing it this week). We get the impression that design and ergonomics are paramount to this brand, which only extends further into the stylish and sleek box that the product arrived in. To encourage organisation for a man in your life, see the Orbitkey website here, where you will find this design for £35.59 or £46.23 with monogramming.

So there we go, five products that have hopefully given you a little inspiration for any gift giving nightmares. Perhaps you’ve even found a little something that you’d quite like yourself (when is it too late to add to your Christmas list exactly?) Be sure to check out the rest of our guides this week for even more inspiration, or for those of you who are indefinitely organised, perhaps these could be potential gifts for the New Year. Happy shopping!

Pamper Festive Finds

Day three of our Festive Finds and its time for the all important beauty choices. When it comes to Christmas presents, beauty products  are always welcomed with the The Amazing Blog girls. However, sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect present for a loved one, so we have been doing the hard work for you and want to share with you some of our favourite beauty and grooming gift sets to help you out with your Christmas shopping.

After trying out Pevonia’s Lumafirm Eye Contour Lift and Glow back in September we couldn’t wait to see what their Christmas Gift Sets had to offer us. We settled on the Essential Salvation Gift Set, designed to provide your loved one (or you!) with the Pevonia’s essential care range. The Essential Salvation set includes Face Cream, Cleanser, Lotion and Aromatherapy Face Oil. The kits can be specialised for dry, sensitive or combination skin types. These natural products are designed to revitalise, desensitise and normalise the skin by nourishing and energising it to help it look healthier and fresher. All the products smell lovely and really work to replenish your skin, which I have needed recently in this cold weather. You can get your hands on the Essential Salvation Gift Set from the Pevonia website for £66.

We all know that the winter weather is harmful to our skin, and the Christmas party season does not do our skin any favours either. This means, that at this time of year we should make an extra effort with our skin and use products to rectify any damage done. Thankfully, Aurelia Probiotic Skincare have a wonderful skincare Christmas gift set: The Relax and Repair Night Time Kit. The gift set includes Aurelia’s Cell Repair Night Oil to intensively repair the skin cells overnight which works in conjunction with the body’s nightly repair function. The oil works by hydrating and soothing dehydrated skin and by morning your skin will be left radiant and healthier looking. This gift set also includes a gorgeous vintage looking pink and gold teacup and saucer along with a signature blend of night time tea to drink with your nightly oil ritual. You can get the Relax and Repair Night Time Kit from The Aurelia Probiotic Skincare website for £65.

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love Lush products as they all seem to smell good enough to eat. This Christmassy Lush gift set, Fab Christmas, has become one of our favourite beauty sets this year, and for good reason too! We love everything about this gift set, from the beautiful pink and purple hat box style packaging, to the wide array of products waiting inside. Some of our favourite products inside have to be the Snow Fairy Shower Gel and Sparkle Bar. The fragrance is a rich candy floss scent infused with pear drops, it is very girly and sweet but there is just something about it that reminds us so much of Christmas, so it is no wonder that it is always a Christmas bestseller. The set also includes a mixture of bath bombs, soaps, shower gel and lotions that is sure to thrill this gift’s recipient. You can get hold of the Fab Christmas set from Lush stores or online from their website for £49.95.

The Bluebeard’s Revenge Aftershave was a big hit with Jose, our resident male here at The Amazing Blog, so when we discovered the huge range of gift sets on offer from The Bluebeard’s Revenge, we just knew that they would be a fantastic gift for a man. We love the Deluxe Kit as it contains all the essential shaving products that the modern man could possibly need, including Pre-shave Oil, Beard Reducing Shaving Cream, Post Shave Balm, the “Doubloon” Shaving Brush and Silver Technology Anti-perspirant Deodorant. These premium products are the ultimate products in luxury shaving and are formulated to help men get the best out of their shaving experience. We think that this set would be an ideal gift for men who are very interested in grooming or teenagers who are just starting to shave and would benefit from an all-inclusive kit. The Deluxe Kit is available on The Bluebeard’s Revenge website and costs £35.

The Bulldog Expert Skincare Set is the perfect Christmas gift for the man in your life who takes an interest in personal grooming and skincare. The wonderful set is packaged in a metal tin featuring a bulldog on the front which is great to store these Bulldog goodies inside. The set includes a range of Bulldog products, including the Original Face Wash, Original Moisturiser, Original Aftershave Balm and the Original Face Scrub, so is full of all the essentials to build up a good skincare routine. We love that Bulldog’s products do not contain artificial colours, synthetic ingredients or animal products. They do however contain a range of eight essential oils that work to cleanse and moisturise the skin. The Bulldog Expert Skincare Set is available exclusively in Boots stores and online where it is retailing at £20.

Our final hamper is by A Beautiful World. It’s a limited edition hamper priced at £100, and filled with every fabulous natural beauty product you could want. A Beautiful World stocks a variety of beauty products that many people don’t know about but need to. This hamper would be ideal to give to your mum or someone else very special this Christmas to spoil them a little. Nothing wrong with dropping a few hints to your partner if you want it yourself… Inside you will find the Dahliana Overnight Fruit Lift, Lumiere d'Opale, 5 x Collagen Face Mask, MuLondon White Chocolate Elbow, Knee & Heel Cream, Yarok Feed Your Youth, S.W Basics Shea Butter Cream, Know-it-oil, Marble & Milkweed Body Oil and Konjac Sponge. All these organic products are incredibly beneficial for the skin and perfect for all seasons and the different effects the weather will have on your face and body. The MuLondon White Chocolate Elbow smells incredible, obviously it would, it’s chocolate! This hand whipped moisturiser replenishes the skin well without leaving a heavy layer to clog your pores. There are also great oils in the set, which we all love to use during the winter because they are quite calming as well as giving you balanced skin.  The Marble & Milkweed body oil is packaged beautifully and would sit perfectly amongst some girly skincare products in the bathroom. Everything in the hamper is unique and has individuality which sets it aside from other products on the market. This may be the ingredients or the way the products are produced but you can be sure to get a selection of lovely, organic products to treat your skin to.  £100 is a great deal for the amount you receive in the hamper and the quality they all are. You can buy the hamper here.

Tomorrow we have some Festive Finds for your home this Christmas and New Year.

The Bluebeard's Revenge Aftershave Cologne

For us men, shaving is possibly one of our least favourite tasks, so we are always on the lookout for new male grooming products to spice up this dull ritual. When we heard about The Bluebeard’s Revenge Aftershave Cologne here at The Amazing Blog, needless to say we jumped at the chance to try it. The Bluebeard’s Revenge is a gentleman’s grooming company inspired by the manliest of all men: pirates! Their slogan boldly declares that their products are for ‘Real Men Only’, and they take great care in making sure that their products have the best ingredients for your skin.

The aftershave cologne has really cool packaging that definitely bought out the inner child in us. It is a glass bottle emblazoned with The Bluebeard’s Revenge logo which is of course, a skull and crossbones, so you really are applying a special pirate formula, OOOH ARRGHH!

The cologne itself is a brilliant blue, which reminds us of refreshing Caribbean waters. The scent starts off very crisp, which is perfect for post shaving. Bergamot and Basil are the highlights, then it moves into a very classic fragrance; Black Tea and Watermint. Last, but not least, you get a hint of Vanilla and Sandalwood, perfect for keeping things spicy throughout the day. All in all, it is a very classic and masculine scent, perfect for the modern man. It feels wonderful as an aftershave as well, and is very soothing, which is a plus since you will be splashing it on those tender areas. We loved that the bottle has an authentic splash on applicator because it is very different from the sprays you see nowadays.

Beyond the aftershave, The Bluebeard’s Revenge has created a wonderful range of shaving and grooming products perfect for any modern man. Some of their products are paraben free as well, which is something we lookout for.

If you are interested in purchasing The Bluebeard’s Revenge Aftershave Cologne, it retails for £19.99 on their website. What’s more, The Bluebeard’s Revenge are offering you our readers a very special  20% exclusive discount until 31st October  2013 please quote AMAZING20 at the check out on The Bluebeard’s Revenge Online Store.

The Bluebeards Reverge

I know a lot of men out there will empathise when I say I find the daily rigmarole of  wet shaving a real chore and often opt for an extra 10 mins in bed followed by a hasty run-over with the electric razor instead. Sure, in the short term this is going to get the job done, but the thing about stubble is that it keeps coming back...day in, day out in fact. Guys we have to resign ourselves that, unless we are actively looking to resemble a modern day cave man, shaving is an unavoidable part of life...

So I was intrigued to hear about a range of shaving products called The Bluebeards Revenge that claims to contain a ‘unique and exciting active ingredient – Decelerine’. This has been proven to reduce hair growth as well as nourishing and moisturising the skin, meaning that over time your shaving experience can become less of a hassle. Not only this, but the amount of lather you get from the smallest amount of this product is phenomenal, oh and no parabens which is always a bonus.

I like the old school pot and brush combo, it reminds me of watching my dad shaving as a young boy, and I found the whole experience satisfyingly easy and less of a headache than it usually is...and apparently it is only going to get less so with further use – massive bonus!

With 50p of every sale going to The Fire Fighters Charity it is a feel good experience for all involved. Get it here.

For all your shaving needs go to www.shaving-shack.com