Celebrate National Men's Grooming Day!

Gentlemen, Today we are celebrating Men’s Grooming Day! Started by American Crew, the day is celebrated on the third Friday of August each year, so that men can give attention to their personal grooming and hopefully incorporate better grooming practices into their routine.

Check out what products we suggest celebrating with:

1. L'OCCITANE Complete Care Moisturiser

2. Africology Shave Kit

3. Truefitt & Hill Pre-Shave Oil

4. Bluebeards Revenge 'Classic Blend' Beard Oil

5. American Crew Precision Shave Gel

Happy National Men's Grooming Day!

Must Have: Letibalm Nose and Lip Repair Balm

We have been using Letibalm the past few weeks, and recommend it to everyone especially this winter season to combat dry and chapped lips.

Letibalm has been specially designed to care for lips, nose and the skin in between. Constant nose blowing and cold weather can result in the delicate skin between the nose and lips becoming dry, chapped and painful.

Letibalm is a gentle, restorative balm that moisturises dry skin, helps to repair chaps and cracks and calms irritation. It also creates a protective layer to prevent further damage. It is made with natural decongestants menthol and camphor, and will help with ease breathing as well.

Letibalm Paediatric (suitable for children 0 to 8 years old) and regular Letibalm (10ml liquid tube or a 10ml jar) are available at a recommended retail price of R70 at Dis-Chem, selected Pick n Pay stores and leading pharmacies.

Urban Bliss – Bespoke Wellness Treatments for the Modern Gent

A few weeks ago, the Swag Craze team visited Urban BLISS in Johannesburg. Urban BLISS goes beyond the traditional spa approach and offers a truly bespoke and integrated wellness service to their clients. The philosophy at Urban BLISS is to fuse the latest modern technologies with the ancient art of relaxation through treatments that aim to create wellness by dedicated trained professionals. 

Ayesha Rajah (MD of A&I Importers) shared great insights on the latest wellness trends shaping the wellness landscape in 2015. The trends she mentioned included Hyper-personalised beauty, Cardio is the new cocktail (morning power raves) and Meditation is the new rock star to name a few.

(P.S. We are going to add a wellness section to Swag Craze and will provide you with more details on the trends which Ayesha shared with us).

Ayesha has over 20 years of experience in the skin care and beauty industry. She has gone to great lengths to create a unique environment at Urban BLISS featuring treatment rooms that echo some of the world’s finest cities, like London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.

Urban BLISS is indeed a rare sanctuary in the city. We received a complimentary 30 min treatment, which we loved, as well as Phytomer products which we will be reviewing soon!

Urban BLISS offers a variety of treatments and products for the modern gentleman. We recommend you try the following treatments and products (as we will) this spring/summer season: 

·        Oslo Men’s Facial with Spinal Detox- tailored specifically for a males skin needs and concerns using Phytomer Men’s range. The treatment targets excess oil, open pores, rough skin, ingrown hairs, problematic skin, anti-aging and hydration. Also includes a back exfoliation and detox using the self-heating mud.

·        Acne and Scar management treatments- from Deep Cleanses to chemical peels that have No Down time!

·        Massages- depending demands of sport activities, it can be customised to suit your individual needs.

·        Retail Products

·        Phytomer’s Soothing Leg Gel - Soothes sore and tight muscles and eases muscles spasm, assists with bruising as well

·        Phytomer’s Oligomer Pure Bath Sachets - assists with the recovery of Jet lag, stress, fatigue

·        Skin Doctors Capillary Clear – assist with the treatment of broken capillaries on the face

·        Skin Doctors Eye Tuck - treats bags and puffiness under the eye area

·        Skin Doctors In Grow Go - treats ingrown hairs

·        PRIORI Invigorating Face and Body Scrub - double exfoliator both mechanical and chemical can be used on both face and body

7de Laan actor Heino Schmitt with the Urban BLISS ladies

A visit to Urban BLISS will bring your body back to balance and leave you feeling tranquil, revitalised and restored. You can visit them at 85 Barry Hertzog Avenue, Emmarentia (011 486 0512/3).

MUST HAVE: Africology Limited Edition Shave Kit – Your Face Will Thank You!

Given the cold temperature we have been experiencing across the country since the start of winter, many guys have started to grow their beards so that they can have a warmer neck and face. However, there are a few (including myself) whose habits are hard to break, and who shave throughout the year regardless of the season. 

Last year, I got introduced to the Africology brand and their amazing products and spa’s. Africology is one of the leaders in providing natural, eco-friendly and holistic spa’s and skin care products. They are a proudly South African company who has achieved success in the USA, Europe and Britain. They only use natural ingredients that are bio-identical to one’s biology, in order to enhance the integrity of our skin whilst simultaneously preventing premature again. 

I was very pleased last week when I used their shave kit. The products in the shave kit left my face soft, hydrated, protected and it smelled really nice after shaving. Africology’s shave kit is a definite MUST HAVE this season. The products (each 25ml) in the Africology shave kit include cleansing gel, shave cream and beard balm.

Africology Shave Cream

Africology has produced a great shave cream. It provides a smoother shave as it is soft and easy to lather. It contains natural ingredients such as Shea butter and coconut oil which provides great moisturizing benefits. One’s skin is left feeling soft and hydrated after using it. The shave cream also leaves one’s skin protected as the Shea butter contains natural SPF7.

Verdict: I was duly impressed with the quality of the shave cream.

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Africology Cleansing Gel

They say good cleansing is essential to having great and healthy skin, therefore I was ‘chuffed’ to see that the shave kit contains cleansing gel. It was also great to see that the gel was made of natural ingredients and contains quillaja and soapwort (mild cleansing and foaming agents). 

Verdict: I love how the gel feels on my skin, fresh and soft!

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Africology Beard Balm

The shave kit also contains beard balm to help condition one’s beard while taming split ends. In producing the product, they have used a proprietary blend of natural essential oils, infused with Shea butter. The ingredients are natural and are less likely to irritate your skin. The beard balm can also be left in until you wash your beard as it contains Shea butter.

Verdict: Africology’s beard balm is a great all-in-one beard moisturizer and conditioner. I have used the beard balm on my moustache (because I have shaved my beard, using their great shaving cream).

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You can shop Africology’s Shave Kit for only R270 from Africology’s online store or from the Africology spa's/stores throughout the country.

PS: Fathers Day is this weekend and if you are still looking for gift ideas, I recommend you buy the Africology Shave Kit. Your Dad will THANK YOU as this Shave Kit is the perfect gift to get him on his way to having great skin!

While you at the Africology spa/store, I also recommend you get him an Africology magnesium sports massage. The magnesium sports massage was created in conjunction with the doctors at Exec|Care. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin, and is vital to our physical and mental well-being. It  combats physical and mental fatigue, boosts focus, improves sleep, evens out blood pressure, keeps the bones strong, improves your mood and manages inflammation. When combined with a full-body massage, magnesium restores the fatigued body to a naturally energetic and restored state.

This is the perfect treatment and will be a great gift for you and your dad this Fathers day. The benefits from the spa treatment will continue long after your spa visit.

MUST HAVE: L’Occitane Cedrat - A New Fresh, Masculine and Lightweight Fragrance Every Gent Needs To Own

New fragrances are always worth sniffing out, as it is always refreshing to add new and exciting products to one’s collection. L’Occitane recently launched a new skincare range for men titled: L’Occitane Cedrat. They have used the cedrat fruit to develop an energizing and masculine fragrance and skincare rage.  The range consist out of eau de cedrat, shower gel, deodorant stick, soap, face gel, shaving gel, after shave and cleanser which was tailored to meet the unique demands of men’s skin. I have been using the L’Occitane Cedrat eau de toilette and the L’Occitane Cedrat Shower Gel, and recommend it to all the dapper gents as these products will leave you smelling great for hours!

The L’Occitane Cedrat eau de toilette is a very masculine fragrance. The scent strikes a perfect ‘woody citrus’ balance. It opens with a refreshing citrusy scent, blending cedrat bark and sparkling bergamot. Spicy notes of nutmeg and blue ginger develop in the heart, to provide warmth and also to enhance the overall impression of the fragrance. The base closes with elegant flavors of cedar and cashmere wood. The fragrance smells amazing and has a very good silage.

The Cedrat eau de toilette comes in a signature flask-style bottle made of glass and crowned with a silver stopper. The bottle recalls the skin of the cedrat fruit and the color of the fragrant liquid is a citrusy, greenish-yellow shade (appropriate for the name of the fragrance).

The 100ml EDT Cedrat eau de toilette by L´Occitane retails for R740 and the 50ml EDT retails for R560.

The L’Occitane Cedrat Shower Gel is a multi-purpose, 2-in-1, product that can be used as body wash and as shampoo. The Cedrat Shower Gel by L’Occitane lathers well and gently cleanses one’s body while leaving a fresh and masculine scent. The shower gel is enriched with organic Corsican cedrat extract for its energizing properties.

The Cedrat Shower Gel by L’Occitane comes in an extra-large masculine bottle and retails for R235.

PS: These products in the Cedrat range will make great Fathers Day gifts! Click here for a list of L’Occitane Boutiques where you can shop the Cedrat range.

Africology Celebrating Spring at the Launch of the Africology Spa in Parkhurst

On 18 September 2014, Africology celebrated the month of renewal at the newest Africology Spa branch in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. Quinley from the Swag Craze team attended the event.

Africology is one of the most sought after spa brands in the country. Renchia Droganis (founder and CEO of Africology) explained: “Africology believes in indulging absolutely all the senses, which is what we wanted to achieve through this experience for our guests”.

At the event, Renchia also educated the guests on the newly launched Grape Stem Cell technology. In essence, Grape Stem Cell protects longevity of skin stem cells, it delays senescence of essentials cells and it combats chronological aging.  This new technology stimulates keratinocytes to secrete growth factors that can enhance the synthesis of collagen and elastin in the dermis. It therefore rejuvenates the skin matrix thanks to its growth factor like activity, and boosts collagen and elastin production, reviving skin texture.

“We are very excited about introducing this new technology into our treatment offerings as it offers great benefits for our clients. Grapes are characterized by extremely high anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants and free radical scavengers, enhanced by the interaction of special epigenetic factors and metabolites to help protect the skin and epidermal stem cells from UV radiation and premature photo-aging,” explained Renchia.

Music, drinks, 5 star snacks and the unveiling of the newly launched Africology Diffuser range (available in Coffee & Rose and Neroli) all contributed to a fantastic evening. Jacqueline (from Africology) and Greg (from Lions Wing Brand Communications) also gave Quinley a tour of the Parkhurst store. They shared their product knowledge and the various Africology ranges that are available for consumers to assist us in getting flawless skin. Upon departure guests received an Africology gift bag containing the newly launched Africology Diffuser.

“At Africology we focus on uplifting the mind and body in a positive way, and wanted all our guest to experience the vibrancy of Spring and the renewal that comes with it.”

Currently, Africology spas can be found at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, the Boardwalk Hotel in PE, the Zone in Rosebank and EXEC|Care in Dunkeld, as well as in Parkhurst.

Enjoy some of the pictures from the event below:

Must Have: Truefitt and Hill 1805 Cologne – Fresh, Oceanic and Masculine!

“A man’s fragrance speaks volumes about who he is. Whether he is at work or at play”

Gentleman, Truefitt and Hill’s 1805 Cologne is a definite MUST HAVE for this spring/summer season! I have been using this fragrance for the past month and I really like the way it smells! The smell is not too strong; it stays long and has a customary sillage! This cologne is perfect for both day and night use.

The 1805 Cologne is fresh and sophisticated and it has an oceanic scent with top notes of bergamot, mandarin and cardamom combined with a lavender, geranium and clary sage heart resting on a sandalwood, cedarwood and musk base. It contains a lot of ingredients that results in an amazing smell that makes the ladies go crazy (they also like the way it smells)!

I love all the products in the 1805 range especially the cologne (sophistication in a bottle). 

Truefitt and Hill’s 1805 Cologne is currently priced at R640 (for 100ml) and is available at Victorian Bathrooms stores countrywide.

Must Have - Truefitt and Hill 1805 Shaving Cream Bowl

Truefitt and Hill’s 1805 shaving cream is made in England and is definitely a MUST HAVE for every dapper gentleman! I have been using this amazing product for the past month. This cream treats my skin very well, and ensures that I have a comfortable shaving experience every morning.

The Truefitt and Hill 1805 Shaving cream contains many ingredients including glycerin, which locks in the water and moisturizes one’s skin. After used my skin always felt smooth and cool!

One of the wonderful things about the 1805 Truefitt and Hill shaving cream is that it lathers well when mixed with water. You therefore don’t need to use a lot of cream to make a lot of lather, which is ideal because the cream will last longer.

The scent of the 1805 Shaving Cream is infused with their famous 1805 Cologne (which I will review next) which has a lovely oceanic scent, which stays on one’s skin for a while after use.

For a comfortable shave every morning, I recommend this high quality product. The Truefitt and Hill 1805 Shaving Cream Bowl is only R275 and is available from Victorian Bathrooms stores countrywide!

Must Have - Truefitt and Hill 1805 Bath/Shower Gel

As communicated in the previous post, Truefitt and Hill is finally available in South Africa at Victorian Bathrooms stores. Gentleman, since grooming and taking care of ourselves is becoming a norm, it is vital that we use high quality products to ensure our skin stays in tip-top condition!

I had the pleasure of using Truefitt and Hill’s bath/shower gel from the 1805 range. The bath/shower gel is amazing and has an oceanic scent (fresh, clean and masculine). It contains top notes of bergamot, mandarin and cardamom combined with lavender, geranium and clary sage heart resting on a sandalwood, cedarwood and musk base. I really liked using this luxurious product and how the smell stuck on my skin.

In addition to the amazing scent, the bath/shower gel also contains pure essential oils such as lavender oil which has soothing properties and encourages a great night’s sleep!

The bath/shower gel is high foaming and deep cleansing and promotes a feeling of complete well-being. I highly recommend Truefitt and Hill’s 1805 bath/shower gel for each and every dapper gentleman reading this post. It will leave your skin, clean, soft, hydrated and smelling great!

The 1805 bath/shower gel from Truefitt and Hill is available at Victorian Bathrooms stores for only R195.

Truefitt and Hill Brings Royalty To South African Gentleman

Victorian Bathrooms Hyde Park Store   

Established in 1805, and holding the title of being the oldest barbershop in the world along with being the Royal Warrant holder to H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, Truefitt and Hill products reflect 200 years of research and intimate customer relationships and now offers the South African gentlemen products that are both sophisticated and practical.

Truefitt and Hill brings a sense of royalty to all gentlemen. Over the years, Truefitt and Hills clientele included the male line of the Royal Family, members of visiting Royal households, Frank Sinatra and Winston Churchill-to name but a few.

The Product ranges consist of the 1805, Trafalgar, West Indian Limes and Grafton ranges. Ingredients in these ranges vary from Lavender, Sandalwood, Bergamote and Cardamon. Products include a full line of shaving, fragrance, hair and bath products to provide daily grooming solutions for the modern gentlemen.

I have used the following products from the 1805 range:

• 1805 Cologne;
• 1805 Shaving Cream; and
• 1805 Bath/Shower Gel.

I will be posting my reviews in the next couple of days, so visit the site daily to see what I have to say about the products!

Gentleman, Truefitt and Hill grooming products are now exclusively available at Victorian Bathroom outlets!

Victorian Bathrooms Hyde Park Store 

Victorian Bathrooms is a specialist supplier of luxury bathroom products in the classic Victorian style. Truefitt & Hill's Gentlemen's Toiletries, including the world's finest Shaving Cream, After Shaves, Colognes, Hair Preparations, Shampoo, Soaps and Bath/Shower Gels, and all are carefully blended with natural fragrance and are available at the following Victorian Bathrooms stores:

Cape Town

Cape Quarter

Shop 123, The Square, Cape Quarter, Greenpoint

021 418 0855

Somerset West

3 Lourensford Road, Somerset West

021 852 3439

Opening Soon (October 2014) - Wynberg Showroom

53 Constantia Main Road, Wynberg

021 704 2340

Johannesburg

Hyde Park Corner

Shop 56, Middle Mall, Hyde Park Corner, Craighall

011 325 5503

Gentlemen deserve the best in everything they do. If you are looking for the finest in men’s grooming, visit Victorian Bathrooms and try it for yourself!

Image Credit: Victorian Bathrooms