Voya Men's Grooming Range

We head over to the glorious the isle that is emerald, for this post, indulging in, without apology, Voya’s dreamy range of men’s skincare- with such a deliciously smelling combination of clove and lime, it certainly wasn’t a hardship - indeed more an exceptionally unrestrained bout of serious pampering. Such a start to the day really sets you up perfectly for what may lie ahead - good or bad (the day we mean!) the skin is certainly going to be in tiptop shape. The girls at The Amazing Blog have already experience the gorgeousness of this organic Irish brand with a few of their goodies including their Hydrating Body Lotion  So now it’s my turn!

The provenance of this range stems from a formidable heritage, rooted in the luxury spa marketwhich originated in the indigenous bathhouse tradition of Co. Sligo. The bathhouses which opened in 1912 may have since closed, but the essential ingredient which continues to provide it’s magic of course remains in bucketfuls … well vat-fulls really. And this essential ingredient which provides such incredibly healing results is of course seaweed. Naturally, the benefits of seaweed have long been known to soothe and heal, but more thorough investigation continues to throw up advantages not simply in deep detoxification, but also in aiding weightloss amongst other things. As nature’s most powerful anti-oxidant from the vegetal world, it’s hydrating and nourishing properties come from it’s plethora of minerals and vitamins, which have proven to effectively treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis and acne, and is particularly good for sensitive skin. It also naturally moisturises, whilst reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by improving skin’s elasticity and stimulating the renewal of damaged cells.

The Voya Men’s grooming range is totally focused on organic seaweed and the following two scientifically proven and 100% natural active ingredients. Speci’MenTM derived from the Baobab tree, and DEFENSIL®-PLUS: A complex of Blackcurrant Seed Oil and Balloon Vine extract. Here we have a three step routine to savour: An Invigorating Face Wash, (recently awarded Winner in the 2019 Beauty Shortlist Awards) Cooling Shave Gel  and Rejuvenating Moisturiser. These Seaweed-based products use the highest-quality botanical elements and aromatherapy oils in sustainable and historical processes to attain their high level of quality. The organic seaweed itself is harvested by hand to help protect the delicate coastline of West Ireland and no artificial colours or fragrances are used, with all products adhering to the strict COSMOS standard. All this science could easily overshadow the fundamental treat that comes with using this Voya For Men range -  but  we enjoyed, and enjoyment is certainly the route we took! It must also be added that they are perfect for fighting signs of aging, reduce enlarged pores, calm inflammation from shaving and soothe dehydrated skin.

Available here priced at £27.00 for the 125ml Invigorating Face Wash, £23.00 for the same sized Cooling Shaving Gel and £45.00 for the  50ml Rejuvenating Moisturiser … For the level of luxury on offer here, and the chance to bathe in some Irish magic, trust me the cost is well worth it.

Andmetics Brow Wax Strips For Men

The Amazing Blog  can happily confirm (and do so with much relief) that those toe-curlingly awkward moments of the modern commute could be finally behind us all. What do we mean? Well, you know when you find yourself sitting/standing way too close to your fellow passengers; and get a dreadful pang of etiquette confusion, when you notice that said male passenger has had the misfortune to be sporting lopsided brows. Come on now, we all know we have done it - first you notice ‘something’ isn’t quite right, and then the dissection of the facial symmetry takes place and you start literally scanning the visage for the check points! 

What to do? Do you bravely confront the issue head on and risk a vicious rebuff, or do you sink lower into your copy of Simone de Beauvoir, and try (against the odds, it has to be said) to ignore the glaring issue literally staring you in the face … to face? Well, those clever boffins at Andmetics have come up with a most effective solution to this problem. We present to you The Andmetics Brow Wax Strips For Men whose actual wax is shaped for the perfectly matched result - indeed they have a whole range of areas that can be striped of the unwanted follicles, with helpful ‘How To’ guides here.

The focus here is the option for male brows - happily, the process couldn’t be simpler with Andmetics : cleanse the skin to ensure it is clear of any oils or cream; it must be dry for the procedure to work effectively, and then apply each shaped wax strip symmetrically. If that symmetry looks slightly off, gently peel the offending side in the direction of hair growth and reposition. Allow the wax to bond well with what needs to be removed - obviously taking care to avoid anything you want to remain (i.e. eyelashes please note), and then with you primed for the moment of disengagement, tighten the skin, and with a flat angle motion, take a breath, and strip the wax away quickly and cleanly. Should there be any residue left, Andmetics have also provided handy finishing wipes to sort that out and gently soothe the newly spruced area. It really is that simple!

Price wise we are looking at around 9.90€ for a box of 4 full brow treatments, from their online shop here or they can be found on Amazon. So…next time we are faced with misshapen brows, if you feel brave enough you can confidently offer a solution rather than an awkward observation to our fellow commuter!

Tenax Hair Pomade

Anyone who knows the team at The Amazing Blog knows that the chance of a sojourn to the haven that is Florence is always greeted with a less than dignified scramble to the front door … sadly this time it was all in vain. However, we were placated with the next best thing, as a little bit of Firenze came to visit us in the form of a rather attractive tin from the Tenax team with something special to keep our tresses in tiptop shape.

Shape being the operative word here; this is serious styling ground as the rhinoceros on the packaging suggests - however, no rhino was harmed in the process of bringing this gem to market, we are assured. Tenax have clearly gone to a lot of trouble in developing a brand which can be recognised as Italian, and as trusted as the Vespa scooter. However, the power of such brand recognition is being used to the fullest here as lifting the lid of this delicious pomade immediately transports us to the romance of that incredible place, conjuring up powerful images of suavely turned out ‘Italian gentiluomo’ going about their lives with no hair out of place … and if there is, it’s probably meant to be there, such is their relaxed confidence.

The beauty of this Tenax range is the strength of hold it provides without the cloying clagginess which can be the disappointing by-product of lesser brands. There’s nothing worse than a gentle run-through of the hair turning into a tussle to free the digits whilst trying to retain some semblance of composure! Fortunately the Tenax Matte Pomade saves us from such misery, as when it says it will give you long-lasting hold for whichever style you are going for … well to coin a phrase … it does exactly what it says on that tin! A light masculine fragrance, the water-based wax is simplicity itself to apply by rubbing a small amount between the palms and styling at your own pace - with quality like this, you too can enjoy the suave confidence that our italian friends who make look so completely effortless. For your Tenax Pomade - Matte in 125ml for £14.50 see here Bellissimo!

Hollywood Browzer

We love nothing more than to have immaculately groomed eyebrows at The Amazing Blog, but upkeep of a well-defined looking brow is often both expensive and time-consuming. Finding the time to visit a salon, growing out brows in-between appointments or doing a costly waxing and threading is not ideal; so we were keen to explore alternative options. This is where Hollywood Browzer comes into play, a painless, quick and easy hair removal method that can be used to shape eyebrows, and so much more.

The concept of Hollywood Browzer is a simple one: to provide effective hair removal on dry skin, ensuring easy hair removal even for those with sensitive skin. To use this product, it's crucial to hold the Hollywood Browzer at a 45-degree angle, using short and gentle strokes against taut skin. This takes a little practice, but we're now dab hands in the office! We found the Hollywood Browzer is best used for shaping eyebrows. However, it is equally effective at removing peach fuzz, upper lip hair and chin hair. It is also gentle enough to be used on the bikini line and gives the same grow back rate as tweezing, threading and waxing. Gone are the days of worrying about thicker hair regrowth. We like how transportable this product is. It’s easy to take away with you and safe to store thanks to the foldable element (keeping the blade secure).

Our favourite part, however, is its longevity. We found our blade lasted over three months - we imagine helped massively by wiping it after each use, and storing it correctly. At just £7.95 for one, the price it is a fraction of the cost of professional hair removal - replacing after 2-3 months is much less of a tug at the purse strings. If you too would like to try this painless hair removal method, then you can purchase the Hollywood Browzer Single in Classic Black here. Alternatively, there are a range of colours available here, as well as duo packs to make your money stretch a little further.

Barber Mind's Ocean Hair Grooming

We are all aware of how far the world of male grooming has jumped in recent years - thriving businesses popping up in our high streets catering to the particular need for us boys to take great pride in our presentation of self to the world. Therefore it’s inevitable that huge competition and artistry would be kindled, as the desire to push forward the boundaries gathered pace with our Italian cousins, grabbing the opportunity with both hands and not for the first time, giving us all food for thought at The Amazing Blog…

Therefore we invite you to enter the world of Barber Mind, an incredible space where the passion for doing what they do is best exemplified in their inspirational tag line: ‘Barber Mind is a point of view, a way of being. It’s born as a belief fixed in a tattoo, a prospect that contains the principles of the brand: Scruple, Care and Respect’. And we think that it’s a rather cool place to be, with precision styling, design and care of oneself.

Where better to start delving into their treasure trove, than with Barber Mind Ocean Hair Grooming, the perfect styling tool for that effortless aplomb which the Italians do so well - and your crowning glory is left smelling quite delicious too! Granted, that may be slightly missing the point, as this worthy bottle does so much more besides perfuming the locks; it’s styling properties are impressively firm without being sticky or claggy - perhaps the need to run hands through hair was a major factor in their research and development! Anyway, they certainly achieved a very tactile result, alongside the fresh and clean fragrance. Paraben and colourant free; petroleum and paraffin free and free from animal by-products, so the provenance here is quite impressive too.

Of course the fun doesn’t end with styling the hair, there is much more product and ethos on offer from the Barber Mind Team - not just for the hairdo either; there are beard oils, and shaving options to keep us in complete grooming heaven, all with the unmistakeable trademark of the core belief of Barber Mind. How cool is it that you can also source your own barber shop’s emblem pole, or if that is a tad on the excessive side for your bathroom, you might be tempted by a rather funky ring to signify an appreciation of the brotherhood, and it’s beliefs?

Clearly there is much to explore and enjoy through Barber Mind, but the Ocean Hair Grooming is a great place to start - £16.20 will bag you a 250ml bottle here, although there are intermittent offers discounting certain products and haircare kits - so keep an eye open!