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I had the pleasure of speaking with Men’s Health magazine recently about layering scents. With many of our grooming products carrying their own distinct fragrances, what’s the best way to navigate it all? I offer my two cents on the matter and thank Men’s Health for the opportunity. Enjoy!

With the change in weather, comes the much needed change in fragrances. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Not only can I layer my earth tone color palette, I can reach for deeper, richer fragrances.

I recently had the pleasure of chiming in on a fall fragrance feature for Equinox’s website Furthermore. Check it out when you have a moment. There some fragrance application tips as well as one of my favorite of the season thus far.

Thanks folks.

One of the keys to maintaining healthy looking face and avoiding ingrown hairs is incorporate the use of a good facial scrub. In addition to ridding the skin’s surface of dead skin, oil and dirt, it can lift the hairs on your face and stop those pesky ingrown in their tracks. The Grooming Lounge recently launched an energizing facial scrub and I was immediately intrigued.

The D.C. based men’s grooming company known for their array of men’s products and barbershops and men’s spas describe Mug Scrubber as “a deep-cleansing and skin-smoothing facial exfoliator that does away with oil dirt and dead skin, helping to improve skin’s appearance while thwarting ingrown hairs and shaving irritation. Powered by varying sizes of eco-friendly Jojoba Beads, the formula evens skin texture and soothes without irritation or dryness.”

What really piqued my interest was the scrubs use of Jojoba Oil and its use of biodegradable microbeads. If you’re like me and enjoy shaving in the shower, the prolonged exposure to the heat can dry out your skin. That said, I look for ways to bring back that hydration and jojoba oil is great for that as it seals the skin’s natural moisture. Additionally, as we look for ways to do our part in saving the environment, using microbeads that are biodegradable is a plus in my book.

Stripping away all of that (pun intended), however, I found Mug Scrubber to be an incredibly rich exfoliator. In appearance it resembles a shaving cream but the texture is obviously gritty. One unique aspect is its microbeads come in in varying sizes. The scrub also isn’t as harsh as others. Guys tend to be rough and in a hurry but I didn’t experience any irritation during my testing. Its scent is minty and upon rubbing in circular motion on my face, my skin felt renewed and I started to wake up – cue the minty fresh scent/menthol doing its job.

Ultimately what won me over was the way my face felt post washing. Yes, my skin felt soft and alive but it also felt like I didn’t need any preshave oil. My skin didn’t feel greasy but it felt like there was a coating locking in moisture that made it feel extra soft.

Each time I’ve used Mug Scrubber, I’ve enjoyed it more and it has led to an excellent shave.

Some may feel that at $24.oo it’s pricey but a little goes a long way so in the end, it mathematically pays for itself. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

When it comes to shaving, I find that the more patient I am, the better the experience. When I’m rushing and cutting corners, often times I suffer the consequences, e.g. I nick myself.

Preparation is everything and to do it well, you need time. I have found, however, the right preshave solution can make all the difference in the world and even speed up the process a bit.

Crown Shaving Co.’s Supreme Glide Pre Shave Formula is not your typical shaving oil; it’s not heavy and overly greasy. It’s a clear colored solution that’s gel-like in texture. With a combination of essential oils and botanical extracts, what  results in a rather light solution that produces a slick surface for a smooth shave.

I’ve used it with their shaving cream and others and the results are pretty consistent – a smooth, irritation free shave and a face that feels great. What sets it a part from more traditional preshave oils is that moment when the shave is done. With other shave oils I’ve used in the past, I have to wash my face several times to rid it of the let over oil. Crown Shaving Co.’s Supreme Glide Preshave Formula leaves no residue and washes away very quickly. As for the glide of the razor, it holds up well and is comparable to any of the leading preshave oils on the market.

If you’re looking for a preshave solution that will coat your face while giving your razor that extra glide, I think you’ll be happy with this product.