I just bought a new fragrance today: the KenzoPower by Kenzo. Actually, I was planning to buy another cologne, but I was amazingly surprised by the new Kenzo. That is why I decided write a quick note on it. Let’s start by the design. Created by Kenya Hara, the bottle’s shape is pretty basic with simple curves and pure lines. It is meant to represent a sake bottle.

Unlike the 1million by Paco Rabanne, KenzoPower is more refined and sophisticated but without ostentation (everything I like!). The cologne can be defined by three words: freshness, clarity, and sensuality. It is composed of citrus, bergamot, verbena, vetiver, cedar wood, and tolu balm. The eau de toilette version is a bit stronger and spicier than the cologne.

KenzoPower is also available in deodorant, body & hair shampoo and after shave.

Price: from $50 (available worldwide) from Kenzousa.com

My first Lush test

Although Lush offers a special Men’s range (particularly for shaving products), the first product I’ve decided to test is unisex: Brazened Honey. As it’s a fresh mask, you need to keep it in the fridge, for up to a maximum of 3 weeks. It really intrigued me! It really is like no other, whether in its use, its ingredients (honey, kaolin clay, lime juice, fresh spices etc) or appearance.

How to use

This detoxifying mask is particularly recommended for the ‘morning after the night before’ and for tired skin. One pot is enough for at least 4 masks. No question of a delicate dab of the finger, dip your whole hand in and get a big dollop of the good stuff! Put a bit on all parts of your face before spreading it from your neck to your forehead. Let it work its magic for 10 minutes, and then simply rinse it off with water.

My experience

After rinsing off the mask, I immediately felt the benefits: your skin clearly breathes better and your whole face looks brighter…it’s really unbelievable! I’ve rarely tested such an effective product. I’ve since finished the pot (I managed 5 masks in the end) and I really love it! It’s not only made me want to go back to Lush to get more, but to try out new products, too. I highly recommend it! If you’re already a fan of the brand, your recommendations are welcome!

Task Essential is a mens’ cosmetics brand launched in Switzerland in 2004 (I recently took a visit to their salon – article in French). Their packaging is easily identified by its unusual colour scheme: red and white. The range combines oxygen molecules with plant extracts, fruits and vitamins.

Their moisturizer is contains oxygen molecules, algae extracts, apricot oil and papaya extract. It has a light texture and is easily absorbed by the skin. It effectively moisturises and I like the energising effect. It gives your skin a wake up call! It also makes you smile. A perfect way to start the day!

£22.00 from Mankind

Find below main cosmetics brands for men. We already spoken about some of them in our cosmetics testing

This is the latest installment in my adventure “on the trail of Men’s beauty parlours”, with a trip to “Il fait beau” at 51 rue des Archives, in the Marais (they have another salon at 57 rue des Peupliers à Boulogne). It opened two years ago, and offers a modern, stylish setting for beauty treatments using [comfort zone] products. [comfort zone] is an Italian brand that specialises in spa treatments.

On the menu: facial and body treatments, relaxation, hand and foot care and hair removal! For the latter, “il fait beau” also offer light pulse hair removal. My first test (undertaken in a beauty parlour 2 years ago) left me unconvinced, but according to the beautician, who was also sceptical at first, it works! I might try it out again sometime…

In the mean time, I tried another facial (the last one was a month ago, and once a month is a good frequency). This facial was carried out using [comfort zone] products. There is a wide range with around a hundred products to suit all skin types (dry, sensitive, mixed, oily etc). If you’re not sure about your skin type: a facial will always start with a test to determine which type it is! This allows the beautician to choose the right products, which will also help you choose your own.

At “il fait beau” there are several treatment rooms, which are all quite small (yes, like in most salons, they make the most of the space!). But that doesn’t really make a difference: you spend most of the hour with your eyes shut. And we’re off: cleanse, tone, and moisturise… And you leave feeling fresh as a daisy, with a new face! Once again: I feel good! :)

Bonus: the salon boasts a beauty parlour and a Power Plate® area on the same premises (for those you want to try it out at the same time). It costs €40 for an eye treatment (30 min) and €65 for a facial treatment (60min) including cleansing, oxygenating luminosity treatment, calming treatment or deep moisturising treatment.

Vichy was one of the pioneers for mens’ cosmetics with the launch of its basic range in 1988. It was rebranded Vichy Homme in 2001 with the white, grey and red packaging that you may be familiar with. We have talked about it before with a test of the Silicium-R treatment (article in French).

As we mentioned in the previous test, the main problem with Vichy Homme was the image we had of the brand! Which they must have realised, as they completely changed the range’s packaging last year (I’m a little late writing this article but I can assure you that I’ve had more than enough time to try out the range!)

The rebranding works well, as you can see below. Nice packaging is important to keep you bathroom looking good! :) The range is made up of 9 products split into 3 families (anti-ageing moisturisers, moisturisers for different skin types, and cleansing and shaving products).

• For sensitive skin, Vichy Homme offers an anti-irritation comfort balm(Sensi Baume Ca), a shaving foam and a shaving gel.
• For tired and dull skin, a 24h invigorating moisuriser (Hydra Mag C) and an eye firming stick (Hydra Mag stick yeux)
• For greasy and imperfection-prone skin: a moisturising liquid (Normactiv CG), a cleansing gel and a shaving foam.

The textures are really great, the range offers reknowned active ingredients such as vitamin A (Retinol), vitamine C, calcium and magnesium, and of course the famous Vichy thermal water (for its calming and boosting properties). A great range at a fair price: think €17 for the moisturiser (available in chemists and health and beauty stores since October 2007).

More info on Vichyhomme.fr

Alchimie Forever is a range of cosmetics created in 2000 by a couple of Swiss doctors, specialists in cellular aging mechanisms and aesthetic medicine.

These treatments, designed and produced in Switzerland, target free radicals. To do so, each Alchimie Forever product uses natural antioxydants such as green tea, grape seed, tomato, rosemary, blueberry or even turmeric.

The men’s range currently contains 3 products: two anti-aging serums, a moisturiser and a antioxydant defense gel (still to come: an eye contour gel).

The twin anti-age serums

One is made with green tea, the other with rosemary, and they are packaged separately to maximise the benefits of each ingredient. They are formulated to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and brown spots and can be worn under a moisturiser (ed: from the age of 30 to prevent the first few wrinkles). My first fine lines seem to have benefitted from it. It’s quick to use, so much so that it’s easy to find the time to use it regularly. Note that the green tea gel is lightly tinted so I advise that you mainly use it in the evening.

Royal Cream Moisturiser
This cream is moisturising and rejuvenating, and is made of jojoba, basil, grape seed and vitamin E. It’s pleasant and very rich, and I would highly recommend it to men with dry skin! Let me know how you get on…

Antioxydant defense gel
A gel that refreshes and rejuvenates the skin, made from green tea, rosemary, turmeric and tomato. This is my favourite of the whole range! Use it every morning, it’s a really great way to start the day on the right foot…

€48 to €69 from SkinStore

Once upon a time, our fathers had no choice but to visit “mixed” beauty parlours: -Have you come for the bikini wax? Erm, no, it’s for my back. I’m off to the beach next week, and at the moment, to tell you the truth…I’ve got a mohawk down my back! I like to travel light, you see… And a bit of massage wouldn’t go amiss!

Times change. Since then, some beauty parlours have opened their doors specially for us men with our rebellious hair and pale faces… They can treat your feet, back, hands, face and more… Everything to help you relax and put the colour back in your cheeks.

The first time I went to a beauty parlour, like many others, it was a gift. -“Ok, I’ll go then!” Having carefully examined the range, I decided to try a facial treatment.

Being the active sort, I was a bit dubious of my ability to stay still for an hour. So during the first 15 minutes, I asked loads of questions:
What are you doing?
Have you finished it yet?
Are you qualified?
Can I see your certificate?

Then I agreed to close my eyes and leave myself in expert hands: I was cleansed, toned and moisturised… I let myself be swept away by the zen music and feel only the dancing of nimble little fingers.

-Ok, calm… So much so, that at the end of the hour I was nearly asleep. And so, slowly, I came back to life, I put my shirt back on, walked up the steps, said goodbye to the staff, and was carried away by the ebb and flow of Paris.

It was strange to find myself back amongst the crowds after escaping for an hour. I felt like I was walking on moss in the middle of the forest, and my face was breathing the open air.
-My face is breathing!
And I felt really relaxed. If I followed my instincts, I would have gone home, and sat down on the sofa in front of a nature documentary with a big bowl of soup. But I had things to do, like meeting friends for a drink. I had to! -“Hey, you know what, guys? My face is breathing.”

Still to come: our special dossier on men’s beauty parlours in Paris

This is the first time that I’ve used a Braun razor. And I started with what seems to be the best at the moment: the Braun Pulsonic 9595. A top-of-the-range razor that has a top-of-the-range price tag to boot. When I saw it at this price, I thought it must be an mp3 player and a mobile phone too. But not at all. It’s just a razor. Or is it? Time for the test drive…

Design / Handling

The razor has a metallic fascia. The back has a rubbery cover. It’s simple, with no flourishes. Nothing flashy, just a large handle and sleek lines. The first impression is of quality, which is confirmed when you hold it. It’s really solid. It’s a bit like holding a tennis raquet. Advantage!

Technology

Surprise, surprise, you turn it on by pressing ‘on’, and a blue LED lights up. The main feature of this razor is that it vibrates (the Pulsonic system). Apparently, it produces 10,000 vibrations per minute! That is, of course, difficult to check, but you can feel it vibrate, and hear it make a noise. A buzz that quietens down to a purr when you touch it to the skin.

The head is made up of 3 flexible parts: the shaving foils and the cutting blades. The Pulsonic uses cross-cutting technology. Of course, you can’t really tell, but the shaving foils and the cutting blades move in opposite directions.

At the base of the handle, there’s an LCD display that allows you to see when it needs charging and when it needs cleaning. You can rinse the razor under the tap, or use its dock that offers automatic cleaning.

Results

I have now been using this razor for a month. I have been really surprised by its effectiveness. On the face it gets rid of all hair in a few seconds. On the neck, which is always the most sensitive area, it is also really effective: there are really only a few areas you have to go over by hand. Efficient and pleasurable! The vibrations may be not good for the hairs, but they feel good on the skin!

Normally, I only shave very rarely. Just a trim every 3 or 4 days so my beard doesn’t get too long. This razor must be good because it makes me want to shave again!

One final point, not a negligable one either, is the price: €329 (How much???). Which is twice as expensive as most electric razors (and have you seen the price of disposables nowadays? :). It is in no way just a razor, but it is rather a lot of money to spend!

So of course, you need to make the most of it. If you have to shave every day, and if you’ve tried everything else and are still not convinced, the Pulsonic is perfect for you. If not: -I’m sure you’ll find something else to decorate your bathroom with ;)

Pulsonic range, $219.99 on sale from Amazon