Tag: SKIN

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PRODUCT REVIEW: DERMALOGICA PHYTO REPLENISH OIL

Dermalogica 1I have been a big fan of Dermalogica products ever since I first tried their Daily Microfoliant, a highly effective exfoliator that’s gentle to the skin. More recently, their revitalising Charcoal Rescue Masque has been added to my list of grooming essentials.

If I do not prioritise it, my skin often looks lacklustre and, ahem, older than it should. So I was very keen to put Dermalogica’s new Phyto Replenish Oil to the test.

This product promises dewy skin (yes, please) by reinforcing the protective barrier through a combination of phytoactives (including camellia and tamanu oils), an essential lipid blend (including orchid flower and chia seed oils) and an antioxidant shield against free radical damage (including sunflower, rice bran and rosemary extracts).

That sounds like an impressive list of ingredients, but nothing like putting a product to the test. So for almost four weeks, I have been using Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil as part of my nightly grooming routine, applying several drops to my skin after cleansing and moisturising.

The first thing I noticed about this product is how easily it is absorbed. I have used several face oils and many of them, despite claims to the contrary, have not absorbed this well.

For the first week I couldn’t detect any noticeable difference to my skin, but by the end of the second week of use, it started looking healthier and more hydrated. Almost four weeks in, there’s no doubt this is another top-performing product from Dermalogica.

At R1 290 for 30ml, yes, Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil is a little on the pricey side and there are cheaper face oils out there. That said, this product is worth every cent.

Dermalogica Phyto Replenish Oil, R1 290 for 30ml, is available from Dermalogica concept stores and Dermalogica stockists. For more information, www.dermalogica.co.za.

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MEN AGE BETTER THAN WOMEN AND 4 OTHER GROOMING MYTHS

Like nutrition and health, the world of grooming is riddled with myths, fictions and half-truths. These are some of the most common myths:

MEN AGE BETTER THAN WOMEN
Wishful thinking, guys. This may be the case in our 20s when shaving helps remove dead skin cells and stimulate cell renewal. Unfortunately, this all changes in our 30s when the realities of ageing are all too visible.

Dermalogica’s national training manager Diana van Sittert says: “After hitting 30 is where all the male ageing concerns start! Using incorrect shaving mediums, such as shaving foam that dehydrates the skin, eventually starts catching up with you, as the skin is not as able to protect itself. The skin needs more hydration after 30 and if the incorrect shaving mediums are not addressed, the skin starts showing the signs of premature ageing.”

So what’s the solution? “Stop using shaving mediums that leave you with a tight feeling immediately. Use an oil- or gel-based medium with skin hydration and protection benefits,” Diana says.

MEN CAN USE THEIR PARTNER’S HAIRCARE PRODUCTS
To quote most men: “I use whatever the wife buys.” Besides delegating the adventure of the male grooming world to the woman in your life, there are some things you need to know, according to award-winning hairstylist Arion Bezuidenhout.

“Professional male haircare products are jam-packed with active ingredients, fragrances and amino acids to suit your hair and scalp environment. Hair technology for men is different to women. As we have bigger pores, sweat glands and more testosterone, we secrete more sebum. Male haircare is therefore slightly stronger to help us manage the effects of these elements,” he says.

ALWAYS SHAVE AGAINST THE GRAIN
A lot of us still get this one wrong, with painful and unsightly results. You should always shave with the grain. “Shaving against the grain can cause in-grown hairs, razor burn, risk of cutting raised follicles, etc. If you want a closer shave, first shave with the grain, rinse, lather up again and then shave across the grain,” says Glen Summers, Sorbet Man’s educator and training manager.

APPLY YOUR FRAGRANCE BY WALKING THROUGH A SPRAYED MIST
This is a great way to watch your hard-earned cash literally fall to the ground. The best way to apply a fragrance is on your pulse points, that is, your lower jaw, neck, shoulders, chest, inner elbows, wrists, forearms and inner elbows. These pulse points are the warmest parts of your body and the heat will activate the fragrance. Choose two of these pulse points when applying your fragrance. Less is more. Trust me.

A FANCY TOOTHBRUSH WORKS BEST
It’s not what you brush your teeth with, it’s how you brush your teeth, so any toothbrush works, says my trusted oral hygienist. “It’s the action of the toothbrush that removes the sticky plaque. Your teeth have four surfaces – outside, inside, left and right – so make sure you clean all of these.” Plus you only need a pea-size amount of toothpaste, not a whole tube, to help do the job.