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.

GROOMING – Beard Sacrifice This Movember

Image Source: Movember

Each year the Movember Foundation challenges men to grow moustaches during Movember, to spark conversation and raise vital funds for its men’s health programs. To date, 4 million moustaches have been grown worldwide. In South Africa, Movember has partnered with CANSA where funds raised from each campaign are allocated towards men’s health survivorship and research programmes.

Facial hair is strongly associated with masculinity and often carries powerful and complex cultural meanings. This year the Movember Foundation challenged Mo Bro’s (the gents who groom, trim and wax to get the perfect moustache) to shave their beards in the name of Men’s Health! It is not always easy to shave one’s beard, especially if you have been growing it for a while.

Throughout the years, facial hair has seen many different styles and shapes, dependent on the personality of the gentleman as well as the style of the time. Jessica Pleass shares a few styles and also the products we should use whilst shaving our beards this month!

1. The Natural Look

The natural look on James Franco. Source: Instagram

If you are experimenting with facial hair for the first time this Movember, you may not be willing to get to creative. One of the subtlest moustaches is the ‘natural’ look; this moustache is popular among many due to the low maintenance required. This moustache is normally grown to a medium length, and is the best moustache for beginners or men who have the ability to grow a full moustache, however choose to keep it sporty and tame.

Truefitt and Hill Pre-shave oil. Available at Victorian Bathrooms for R295

If you are able to grow a full thick beard, however would like to try the natural look this Movember, Truefitt and Hill recommends using the Pre-shave oil before styling as this softens the hair to ensure the perfect shave.

2. The Imperial

The imperial look on Ambrose Burnside. Source: Mustaches & Beards

The imperial moustache is for the more daring; this moustache is reserved for civil war reenactments or other types of theatrical involvement. This moustache extends out to either side and expands into a full beard; the chin however is left clean-shaven.

Truefitt and Hill luxury shaving soap. Available at Victorian Bathrooms for  R280

The use of Truefitt and Hills luxury shaving soap will allow for the perfect smooth shave every time.

3. The Handlebar

The handlebar moustache. Source: Mustaches & Beards

The handlebar moustache, which name comes from the style resembling the shape of bicycle handlebars, is a classic mustache that was historically worn by Italian men with a high level of sophistication. This moustache is not for the faint hearted, as this type of moustache requires a great deal of effort. The handlebar moustache is bushy and is often characterized by thinning out the sides that are then curled upward. The handlebar mustache rose to fame in Europe where 18^th century soldiers sported this look. In the United States the Handlebar mustache was popular among cowboys and the Wild West.

4. The ‘Fu Manchu’

The 'Fa Manchu' moustache. Source: Wikipedia

The fu manchu is often accompanied by a lengthy goatee and is included in many British novels. This moustache is best suited for men with thin facial hair and requires you to grow the sides thin and long.

Truefitt and Hill Ultimate Comfort Shaving Cream Bowl. Available at Victorian Bathrooms for  R275

If you are looking at getting creative and trying the Fu Manchu this Movember and prefer to leave the chin clean shaven, Truefitt and Hill recommends the Shaving cream bowl. The product contains a rich, moisturizing lather that will facilitate a comfortable yet close shave, allowing the focus to remain on the mustache.

Let us know (Twitter, Facebook or email) if you have shaved your beard for Movember.  Also, check out Swag Craze tomorrow for details on another exciting competition where you can win an amazing product!

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!