5 SHAVING TIPS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

It’s estimated that male facial hair grows between 125mm and 150mm per year, adding up to an average of 3000 hours of a man’s life shaving- that is indeed 125 days of your life spent shaving. 

Since it’s a task that you are going to be doing so often, you might as well learn all the tips and tricks to hopefully ensure you get the job done quickly and easy. The guys at Cornerstone [www.cornerstone.co.uk], a flexible subscription service for men’s shaving supplies, know a thing about shaving so here are five shaving tips you should know about to ensure you start your day right.

EXFOLIATE 

If you want a smooth shave you need to start with the basics: preventing ingrown hairs and removing dead skin cells. Pick a scrub that doesn’t contain any nasty plastic microbeads and use it two to three times a week to get an even closer finish.

SHAVE AFTER SHOWERING 

If you’re in a rush you are more likely to put too much pressure on your skin, miss some spots and cut yourself, so take your time. To save some precious minutes, what you can do is shave immediately after you shower as the steam will open your pores, perfectly priming your face for shaving. Plus, your stubble will be softened from the warm water making it that much easier for the blades to cut through it.

AVOID BLUNT BLADES 

An old blade will only cause you razor burn and skin irritation. It’s false economy if you think you’re saving money by using an old, blunt razor. All you’ll end up doing is causing skin irritation, razor burn and ingrown hairs, which will lead you to go buy products to remedy the damage! Make sure you have a fresh set of blades ready for when your current blades become dull. With Cornerstone’s flexible and convenient subscription service [www.cornerstone.co.uk/subscribe], you won’t have to worry about buying new blades as they will sent some fresh ones straight to your door just when you need them - because who has time to go to the shop for replacement blades?

HYDRATE AND REPAIR YOUR SKIN 

Shaving can dry your skin and cause irritation, so avoiding a moisturizer can save you a couple of seconds every morning, but it will do more harm than good in the long run. To soothe and re-hydrate your skin, choose a post-shave balm or moisturiser, but make sure it doesn’t sting! If it does, it’s probably because it contains alcohol, which ironically only dries and irritates your skin even more.

SHAVE WITH AND NOT AGAINST THE GRAIN

Shaving techniques can make a big difference. To achieve a clean shaven look, we always recommend going with the grain. Going against is a definite no as it’s more likely to cause skin irritation as well as ingrown hairs as you end up cutting hair too short, which is more likely to grow back under your skin and cause shaving spots. When you shave with the grain, the razor won’t drag or pull your skin giving you a closer (and less painful) look.

Do you have any tips of your own? Share them with the Cornerstone team on Twitter [@Cornerstone_HQ] and Facebook [CornerstoneHQ]!

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A HASSLE FREE, ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION FOR GILLETTE’S BEST BLADES

United Kingdom. June 2016: Gillette has partnered with major retailers across the UK to deliver a convenient and easy way for the modern man to get Gillette’s world class blades shipped right to their front door, whenever they need them.

Men will now have the opportunity to get closer to the number one name in male grooming through online services which allow them to choose a personalised shaving plan, delivered at a frequency that suits them. How it really works? Simple:

1. Visit www.gillette.co.uk/club to select your preferred retailer. 
2. Choose from Gillette’s best blades.
 
3. Personalise your plan based on your shaving frequency. 
4. Order and get blades delivered to your home.


No red tape, no annual commitments, and no hidden extras. Just really, really, good razor blades...

With over 100 years of experience leading the male grooming industry, Gillette knows that today’s men are busier than ever before, and Gillette Club, through our retail partners, exists to help make life that little less stressful so men can get on with the things that matter most.

Gillette Northern Europe Brand Manager, Tina Koehler says: “Gillette founder, King C Gillette once said, ‘we’ll stop making razor blades when we can’t keep making them any better’ – this ethos runs throughout everything we do to improve the shaving experience for men. This includes adapting the ways men can buy our products to ensure we are better meeting the needs of the busy modern man, by taking out the hassle of having to remember to shop for blades”.  

On average, men use their last razor cartridge over four times longer than the previous three resulting in an inferior shave as the razor nears the end of its life. To raise awareness for Gillette Club, Gillette has launched a national advertising campaign in the UK. The campaign heroes the concept of Gillette Club –showcasing the idea that its offer is so good, it can’t be for real. The campaign, fronted by a digital film, is aimed at encouraging men to sign up and get blades shipped right to their front door, whenever they need them. Gillette Club will be available through retail partners including Amazon and Superdrug.

For additional information on Gillette Club, as well as information on Gillette’s full lineup, including the latest shaving innovation, Gillette Fusion ProShield, please visit: www.gillette.co.uk/club

About Gillette

For over 110 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivaled product performance – improving the lives of over 800 million men around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave prep (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, visit http://gillette.co.uk/en-gb. To see our full selection of products, visit https://www.gillette.com/shop-now/en-GB/index.shtml

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. About Procter & Gamble UK and Ireland

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II® and Vicks®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com/en_UK for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. 

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THE PERSONAL BARBER: SUBSCRIBE TO THE PREMIUM SHAVING EXPERIENCE

Finally, there is a shaving subscription that gives a premium shaving experience. The Personal Barber is a traditional wet shaving subscription box for those that want the high quality, and enjoyable, shave that a double-edged razor and brush can provide. It’s filled with luxury creams and balms so you can have a barbershop quality shave everyday (but without the waiting time). It’s a subscription for those who are tired of mass produced multi-bladed razors, post-shave irritation and just shaving in general. Their mission is to turn your daily routine into an enjoyable part of the day, rather than a chore.

The promise of an enjoyable shave isn’t as empty as it first seems, you really can’t beat the sensation of working your own scented lather and the feel of a single blade gliding across your skin. It’s a more personal experience that gets better each time you do it as you get more and more efficient at removing your stubble in a way that is most comfortable for you. 

The Personal Barber offers subscribers a curated box with many benefits:

• A free safety razor and shaving brush in your first box
• Convenience - stocking you up with bathroom-worthy products
• A superior shave due to the single blade causing less razor burn, cuts and ingrown hairs
• A curated box with a wide range of interesting products
• Free delivery of your box in the UK
• It’s easy to skip deliveries to work around your schedule. There’s no commitment and you can cancel at any time.
• Shaving becomes an enjoyable part of the day 

One of the best aspects of the service is their attention to detail, everything you could possibly want to know is covered. If you’re perhaps a bit apprehensive because you’ve never shaved with a classic safety razor or used a shaving brush before, they have included a detailed step by step guide for you to follow. The guide makes getting a perfect shave first time easy with plenty of tips and explanations to follow. On top of that there is detailed information on every product supplied in the box and on their blog so you understand exactly what you’re getting, why it’s a great addition worth trying and even how to use it.

So what do you actually get in a subscription box?
 
Every month subscribers get a box with new soaps to try as well as oils, balms, blades and more. Each month’s contents change so you can have the opportunity to discover a range of brands you may never have tried plus products you may not have heard of.

On top of the above items; the first box comes with a complementary free classic safety razor and shaving brush, both of which look and feel high quality and perform exceptionally well.

The stainless steel safety razor feels well built and solid in the hand but not too heavy. It is really well suited for those new to shaving in this way as it has a relatively small blade gap (the distance between the blade and guard) so that, even those without a honed technique will be able to get a smooth shave without cutting themselves. The handle has an ergonomic grip with bumps and ridges to prevent your hands slipping when wet. The head itself has a sleek design which we found made it really easy to adjust the angle we were cutting at and get to the hard-to-reach-areas such as right under the nose. Overall we were really impressed by how well this razor performed.

The brush is made of synthetic hair as opposed to badger, boar or horse. It lathered up all the soaps and creams without trouble, felt soft on the face and required no effort to maintain; just flick it dry and leave it on the side without worry. Animal hair brushes, though they are a bit more luxurious looking, can be a hassle due to them needing to be properly dried to avoid them getting musty or worse, becoming completely unusable. It’s obvious a lot of time and effort went into supplying a brush that is convenient enough for the beginner to pick up and use and the more experienced wet shaver to still appreciate.

The Shave Cream
shave

The shaving cream that was included in the box we received was from Men Rock. The subtle hint of sandalwood scent made for a very pleasant shaving experience, it could easily be used time and time again without ever getting tired of it. The lather it created was thick and took less than 30 seconds using the supplied brush. It was also very stable, maintaining the same consistency throughout the shave. Sometimes a soap/cream can become dry and paste-like after it has been applied, or go the other way and become thin and runny however this performed admirably and seemed to soften the hairs for a really easy shave.

The Post Shave Balm
shave

The balm this month was also from Men Rock. Usually there is a mix of brands in each box but apparently they were so impressed by the whole range that they had to include the balm as well. And understandably so, this is one of the best performing balms available. It has a light texture, applies onto the skin well and is very easily absorbed. The manly scent is subtle and complements the cream, a nice touch. It also leaves the skin feeling nourished, soft and noticeably smoother. If you ever suffer from shaving rash or ingrown hairs, this balm is a must-have as it is perfect for sensitive skin.

The Styptic Pencil
shave

The styptic pencil included was a nice extra touch and really added to the traditional feel of the box as it’s not a product that gets a lot of press these days. Made from alum, it is a natural astringent that soothes the skin post-shave as well as healing any nicks and cuts that can potentially arise. Fortunately we got a great shave without any cuts but still used the pencil for its antiseptic properties.

Each month the box comes with plenty of replacement blades, each lasts several shaves depending on how thick your beard hair is (minimum of 3) so you’re never at risk of suddenly running out and having to experience the pain of a dull blade. Every box comes with a variety of blade brands, each of which provides a distinct shaving experience due to their differing manufacturing methods and materials. It makes for a really interesting shave as you come to appreciate the subtle differences in each blade and learn which ones work best for you. We were particularly fond of the Big Ben’s in this month’s box.

Overall it has been a complete pleasure testing out the box from The Personal Barber, it’s exactly the kind of subscription the market has been missing in the UK. Shaving with a single bladed razor has huge benefits for the skin in the form of less irritation as well as giving a better overall shave, and it's far more impressive looking than your standard plastic five-blade. 

We've seen the boxes they've included in the past as well as some of the items they have lined up in the future and it is clear that quality is first and foremost on their mind, providing a box full of top notch luxury shaving goods that will do wonders for your morning routine. 

They say their aim is to bring excitement into shaving, turning it from a daily chore into an experience to look forward to - with a never ending supply of new products and a high quality razor and brush that can contend with the big names, we believe they can achieve it. 

For more info on how to join and start shaving like a gentleman, head over to their official website www.thepersonalbarber.com

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CORNERSTONE SUBSCRIPTION: THE BETTER WAY TO SHAVE

Cornerstone is our latest grooming brand discovery that offers customers something a little different when it comes to shaving.  Cornerstone offers customers an easy, fuss-free, flexible subscription process in three easy steps...

1. Select a combination of products and a delivery schedule to match your personal shaving routine.
2. Free delivery of your box on your chosen schedule. Now you'll always have everything you need for a great shave.
3. It's easy to pause your deliveries, change your products or alter your delivery schedule. There's no commitment and you can cancel at any point.

Another impressive aspect of Cornerstone is that they even cater for every individual's specific need.   For instance, Cornerstone offer a 'shave frequency scheme' that identifies your shaving routine and frequency with the right subscription for your individual needs.  So, whether you shave daily or weekly, Cornerstone can execute an ideal delivery schedule for you.

So, the most important question now is: What are the Cornerstone products and are they any good?  Cornerstone kindly sent us the box set (below) containing four very impressive products for review.  

Here's our thoughts...

Scrub: Helps prevent nicks, cuts and shaving bumps. Exfoliating grains help release ingrowing hairs, reduce shaving spots, unblock pores and lift dead skin cells.

You just can't get much better than a good face scrub, as an essential part of your grooming routine, and the Cornerstone Face Scrub is certainly impressive to say the least.  The texture of this scrub is fairly light in comparison to many of the leading scrubs on the market, but the grain remains consistent, giving a very thorough cleanse throughout the face and neck.  

The colour of this scrub is dark grey, and the scent is minimal - which is always a great thing, as many face scrubs have a nasty habit of going over-kill on the scent.  Overall, the Cornerstone Face Scrub is a terrific product that would compliment your Cornerstone subscription in preparing you for the perfect shave. 

The Cornerstone Shave Gel is certainly unique - You'll struggle to find any shave gel on the market quite like this.  

This transparent gel has a soft texture to it, forming a pretty decent lather (something you'll struggle to get with most shave gels) and a rather zesty scent to it.  In fact, it's the scent of this shave gel that stands out over any other feature - it's truly refreshing, helping your skin stay hydrated, revitalised and protected from your razor during your shave.  

If you're into your minty scented shave gels then Cornerstone Shave Gel could be the perfect shave gel to try. 

The Blades: German engineered blades – machined to stay sharper for longer. Mounted on a strong yet lightweight aluminium alloy handle, crafted in Britain and optimally balanced for precision and control.

This Aluminium alloy razor is a pretty attractive shaving tool to have in your grooming cabinet.  The sleek design offers comfort and control for an efficient shave.  This razor is definitely one of the lightest (in weight) you'll be likely to find anywhere on the market, which isn't a bad thing at all.  

This five-blade razor also has a flat rear, which enables it to stand upright without the need for a razor-stand - a nice little touch from the designers.  It shaves pretty well too - much less tug and lots of control during the whole shave.  This is a German engineered tool - need we say any more? 

The Cornerstone Post-Shave Balm is softy textured, applying onto the skin well and easy to absorb.  The zesty scent of this balm is similar to that of the shave gel in this collection - highly refreshing and revitalising.  

Of all the shave balms you'll find on the market, you'll struggle to find a better one that this. Cornerstone's Pre-Shave Balm is perfect in texture, easy in application and effective in results.  If you suffer from particularly sensitive skin after shaving then this pre-shave balm is a must try.

It's been an absolute joy trying out the full Cornerstone collection.  The branding and packaging are very similar to Belgium's powerhouse shaving subscription range, Raz*War.  

Cornerstone evidently takes a lot of pride in carefully executed product design, bold and attractive branding, and the true effectiveness of the actual products.  If you're looking for a fuss-free, on your doorstep shaving solution, then get on over to Cornerstone's official website and start your subscription today: www.cornerstone.co.uk

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