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

Philips and Nivea for Men have once again got together to create a new Philishave Cool Skin model: the HS 8020. If you don’t know how it works yet, it’s an electric razor which dispenses shaving gel directly from the middle of its heads. Compared to the older 1^st generation models (I’ve got one of the first ones) they are more ergonomic: the razor is lighter and more managable. Like the others, this one still has 3 heads, which each have blades that lift the hair and others that cut it, but they are more flexible. And the filling system (for the Nivea cream) has changed: it doesn’t use cartridges anymore, but a bottle. As you can see above, it connects to the razor, and a pump allows the internal reservoir to be filled. It is waterproof, so you can use it in the shower, and lasts for 30 minutes between charges.

Summary:

• The flexibility is good. The 3 heads adapt well to the shape of the face and allow a close shave. The neck is always a delicate area but overall it doesn’t leave much for a manual razor to cover.
• The cream dispenser is a real bonus. It allows a smooth glide and reduces irritation. Of course, you still have to buy refills, but 1. I think that the 28ml bottle provided will probably last for a few months 2. the bottle only costs €8.99.
• The Philishave seems to offer good value for money. I know models that are more expensive that I used for less time (I’m basing my opinion on the previous model as I’ve only been using this one for 2 months)

The price : 99€ from La Redoute

I’ve been testing the Philips Bodygroom, the 2-in-1 body hair trimmer, for 2 weeks now. If you’ve not heard of it yet, it’s a special gadget for shaving the body and private parts. It looks a bit insectoid, with a long, rounded body and a round head. The shaver has a hypoallergenic foil and a trimmer on each side. This means you can use it in either direction. You also get 3 comb attachments for shaving different lengths. Other features: It’s completely waterproof and can be used for up to 50 minutes between charges. Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty: what’s the Bodygroom for?

It’s a trimmer and shaver specially designed for the body. You can use it to trim hair on your chest, belly, armpits, shoulders, back and legs, but also more delicate areas such as the groin, pubic hair and goolies. And as the Bodygroom is waterproof you can use it dry or in the shower. I tried to test it as often as possible over the last 2 weeks to give you a thorough report. So here are the advantages and disadvantages I found for this gadget.

Advantages:

• Simplicity and practicality. It’s designed for the growing number of men who like to look after themselves and keep trimmed. The Bodygroom is really simple and practical. Its ease of use and the ability to trim in both directions mean that you really can use it everywhere.
• The different cutting lengths. The 3 combs allow different lengths of cutting according to your mood and the body part concerned.
• Cordless operation. 50 minutes use between charges is ideal, all the more so given that when you first use the Bodygroom you find that you can easy spend half an hour trying it out.
• Its multiple uses. Even if you already have clippers for your hair, the Bodygroom won’t replace them (it’s not powerful enough), but it does work rather well on beard hair. The combination of trimmer and razor is particularly practical if you have a few days’ beard growth! It also hurts a lot less if you use the trimmer before you use the razor!
• The price. At under £30 the Bodygroom is affordable.

Disadvantages:

• The packaging. When I opened the box and found the Bodygroom in a plastic mould, I thought it looked rather cheap, and was worried that my first impressions would be right!
• No carry case is supplied as you would normally expect with a razor or clippers. Especially given that the Bodygroom is supplied with 3 combs and a charger and cable.

£29.99 on eBay