Tried & Tested JOS Grooming Original Beard Serum
Hairstylist Jos Gibson has nearly two decades’ of experience concepting, designing and teaching for fashion brands, runway shows and editorial. His career started at legendary haircare brand Vidal Sassoon in 90s Manchester, and by the 2000s, Jos had become a leader in mens’ grooming working with brands such as YMC, Sunspel, Fred Perry Japan and A.P.C.
Whilst working behind the scenes on editorials for menswear titles such as GQStyle and Fantastic Man, Jos noted the lack of skincare and beard products that worked well for men on set. He began to experiment with new ways of grooming and caring for the skin, hair and beard that became the precursors to his own range of products.
High- quality plant-based solutions are combined with a fragrance that evokes the Japanese concept of Shinrin-yoku or Forest bathing. The JOS Original Beard Serum uses a blend of wood oils, frankincense, cedar and Japanese hinoki cypress, paired with green ora of vetiver and thyme. These specially blended precious oils contain plant phytoncides which together create a unique anti-stress fragrance which is said to not only heals our mind and improves our immunity but connects us to the natural world.
Left - JOS - Original Beard Serum - 30ml - £16
TheChicGeek says, “I always say the easier something is to use, the more you’ll use, and this being in a roll-on format feels ingenious. While a simple idea, it feels faster and more portable than previous beard serums. You simply apply when the beard or facial hair is wet.
The fragrance is a traditional woody scent, but in the green glass you really do buy into his whole Japanese forest concept. It’s well priced, and you even get manly joss sticks using the same wood and plant oils thrown into your purchase at the moment. What’s not to love?”
Disclosure - A sample was provided by JOS
Further ChicGeek Reading - How To Enjoy Wearing A Face Mask
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Get The Look The Dig
If Christopher Bailey made a film it would be The Dig. The story of Basil Brown and his discovery of the ancient Anglo Saxon treasure of Sutton Hoo, it is a master class in washed out 1930s style. That end of summer, sliding into autumn feeling of swaying grasses and bleached out countryside.
The style takeaways are numerous from Robert Pretty’s rocket knit to Basil’s floppy gardening hat to Peggy Preston’s Roman coin necklace. Dig in!
Left - Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown in The Dig on Netflix
Left- Gucci - Ribbon-trimmed Fedora - £380 from Matchesfashion.com
Left - Robert Pretty in his intarsia rocket jumper
Below - Maison Kitsuné - 3D Rockey iPhone Case - £25 from The End
Left - Stella McCartney Kids - Rocket Ship Intarsia Jumper - £56 from Farfetch
Left - Asprey - Rocket Sterling Silver and Enamel Cocktail Shaker - £9250 from MRPORTER.COM
Left - Gucci X Disney - Rocket Charm Single Earring - £250 from Farfetch
Left - Burberry ad. campaign circa 2009
Left - Jamieson’s of Shetland - Fair Isle Tank Top - £127
Left - Monica Vinader - Siren Large Coin Gemstone Pendant Charm - £95
Left - Barbour - Wax Leather Tarras Bag - £129
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Tried & Tested Vitruvian Man Organic Grooming
Inspired by Roman architect Vitruvius’ philosophy, the Vitruvian Man brand and products are said to embody three central themes - functionality, strength and elegance. Their uniquely clean and green formulas are vegan, cruelty-free and dermatologically tested. They are formulated with scientifically proven actives that are ethically and sustainably sourced. Their mission is to be honest, to inspire and to implement solutions to aid mental health and wellness.
Men’s skin is as sensitive to natural stressors as female’s skin, building a healthy foundation for the skin should be at the heart of any skincare regime it says.
TheChicGeek says, “I think they had me at ‘Ginger Juice’! The most famous Vitruvian Man was Leonardo da Vinci’s, who beautifully illustrated that a man’s arm span equalled his height.
Aiming to square a man’s grooming regime is the, new to me, Vitruvian Man. The 2in1 low-foaming gel cleanser and toner contains an anti-bacterial ginger juice formulation which thoroughly removes dirt and oil without drying your skin and maintain your skin’s natural tonal balance and is infused with nutgrass root juice’s anti-inflammatory and anti-irritation properties for an overall detoxed and refined appearance.
The ‘Resurrection Cream’ contains SPF 20 and is therefore less loose and more clay-like than the ‘All Day Hydrator’. One pump is loads from both the ‘All Day Hydrator’ and ‘Supreme Eye Cream’, you could probably do with half the amount and they do leave the skin feeling slightly tacky.
All the products smell great, particularly the face wash, with ingredients including resurrection plant (desert plant), snow mushroom, ginger root and nutgrass juice.
This is a quality range of 4 products. It feels researched, cared for and thought about. I like any day cream with a decent SPF and the rest of the products fit together with Vitruvian logic. It also feels fairly priced. Thumbs up from me." *arms outstretched*!
Above - Vitruvian Man - Anti-Pollution Cleanser and Toner, £32, All Day Hydrator, £40, Supreme Eye Cream, £63, Resurrection Cream SPF 20, £52
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Disclosure - Samples were gifted by Vitruvian Man for review
Tried & Tested - Dr Katerina Steventon’s Calming Cleanser ‘1’
This is Dr Steventon’s third product and the No.’1’, her first cleanser, in her ‘Signature Routine’. The other products are ‘4’ and ‘9’.
A new cleansing hybrid formula designed for deep cleansing without dehydration, it promotes softness and suppleness and soothes the skin. A unique combination of modified plant oils (coconut, evening primrose), gentle surfactants, hydrating glycerin and calming aloe vera leaf extract.
Left - Dr Katerina Steventon - ‘1’ Calming Cleanser 50ml - £35
TheChicGeek says, “The first time you use this, do it in front of a mirror because it is so gentle you’d be hard pushed to believe anything was actually being applied without the geranium fragrance. The formula turns white on contact with water, and it is super soft, almost as soft as water.
Use the spatula, provided, to apply a pea sized of the light green gel which turns to a milky cleanser. This offers a refreshing cleanse without stripping the skin of all of its oils and is a pleasure to use. It feels gentle while giving you the after feeling of being super clean. I’m a big fan of geranium so I couldn’t think of a better fragrance.
Dr Steventon, as a facialist, is a big advocate of massaging the face and taking time, if only seconds, to give you and your face some TLC."
Recommended Directions - AM/PM. Wash your face with lukewarm water. Massage a small amount of Calming Cleanser ‘1' lightly into your skin in a circular motion. Rinse off gently. Avoid direct contact with eyes.
Read TheChicGeek reviews of the other products in her range - Anti-Ageing Serum ‘4' & Radiance Eye & Lip Serum ‘9’.
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Disclosure - Samples were gifted by Dr Katerina Steventon for review
Menswear Product Of The Week The Down Duffle Coat
This was the coat getting the most attention during the AW20 trade shows. From Florence to Paris, I saw many men’s buyers and press trying this on and oooing and aring with the best of them.
Left & Below - Descente x Gloverall Down Duffle - £1300
Descente Ltd. is a Japanese sports clothing and accessories company, formed in 1935, when Takeo Ishimoto started the company in Osaka as Ishimoto Shoten. The company logo depicts 3 basic skiing techniques - traverse, schuss and side-slip. It’s another one of those under-the-radar Japanese brands producing minimal yet beautiful product.
This tie-up with Gloverall will be for the Japanese market foremost, but we can all enjoy its tech fabrics in the signature, classic Duffle coat style. I’ve gone for Gloverall’s signature ‘stone’, but it also comes in navy with this striking high-vis orange lining.
Made from a uniquely developed CEBONNER® Horns Nylon fabric, it has a natural wool-like feel and features high water repellence. The Parahood system, uniquely developed by Descente, stops the water pooling inside the hood as it is compactly stored. A ‘Para-zip’ is easily accessible ensuring the hood can be released rapidly in one movement plus it features the internal hiking straps first showcased in Gloverall’s SS20 collection.
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Menswear Product Of The Week The Rich Red Double Breasted Corduroy Jacket
He has previously done collections/collaborations with John Smedley, Kurt Geiger, Rowing Blazers, Habitat, Anthropologie, Lucy Folk, Richard Ginori, Stubbs & Wootton, and now GANT is added to the list. The man in question is Luke Edward Hall, a modern day Hockney with the eye for colour to match.
When GANT’s current Global Artistic Director, Christopher Bastin, return last year, the brand was due some quirky direction. I’ve always been a fan of what he did at the now defunct GANT Rugger brand.
"This collection takes its inspiration from my home in the English countryside, and how I spend weekends there with friends. From jumpers and tweed coats for stalking through fields to 1970s-inspired velvet suits and silk shirts for candlelit dinners, it’s ruggedly elegant and very English.” says Edward Hall.
He does the same thing for everybody, but that’s okay, because I like it. It’s the same eclectic rift as Gucci.
The standout piece is this cosy corduroy DB in rich reddy brown with brass buttons. It’s a shame they didn’t include one of Luke Edward Hall’s classical heads as pictured. They could have made it detachable. That aside, this is a classic and lifetime wearable piece.
Just add a pink dahlia!
Left & Below - Luke Edward Hall For GANT - Corduroy Blazer - £400
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Menswear Product Of The Week The Slashed Embroidered Jumper
British designer, Stefan Cooke, along with partner Jake Burt, has been stealthily building up his menswear business. The Crawley-born Central Saint Martins alum won the H&M designer prize in 2017 and has been on the calendar of LFWM ever since.
He has been producing lots of desirable pieces - see the male peplum trend - including this crafty looking embroidered flower jumper with bold, stylish slashes. Wear with a bright base layer.
It also comes in navy.
Left - Farfetch - Stefan Cooke - Slash Floral-Embroidered Jumper - £645
Below - Stefan Cooke AW20 at LFWM
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