Man Fashion Tips: Hip Nightly Rituals that Improve Your Appearance

Our daily lives are filled with work, stress and activities that are bound to cause a strain on our complexion. To present a better version of yourself, start picking up nightly habits so you can be sure to look your absolute best.

Spend some time at night before you hit the sack to tweeze unwanted hair on your face. Getting rid of unwanted hair between your eyebrows, taming bushy brows and plucking unruly nose or ear hairs are all jobs better tackled at night, especially if you have sensitive skin. This is because tweezing can lead to redness and performing this grooming operation at night means that any irritation that develops has eight hours to subside, so your face would not have any awkward red spots.

 

Lips get hard and chapped during harsh weathers. Lip balm may help soften the lips but you can begin to nurture natural soft lips while you sleep. Begin by exfoliating your lips when you brush your teeth. Simply run your toothbrush lightly back and forth across your upper and lower lips a few times. This is to get rid of any dry, flaky skin and only takes mere seconds. Apply a softening lip balm after brushing your teeth and you will wake up in the morning with kissable nice lips.

It is important to take note of what we consume because what we eat or drink reflects on our skin. Drinking caffeine in the form of coffee, energy drinks or soda, or consuming more than a couple of alcoholic beverages in the evening will keep you awake. However, drinking all these will cause you to lose out on restorative sleep time. They are also dehydrating which increases the appearance of wrinkles because they dry out your skin. Switch to decaf tea if you crave a hot drink or plain old ice water for a cold one instead before sleeping for younger-looking skin.

Make it a habit to do some gentle stretching before bed as it will lengthen your muscles and within a few weeks, you will have a leaner, more toned appearance and being more agile. Moreover, light stretching will help you relax and make sleeping better. You will appear more relaxed in the morning without having to attend any yoga classes to reap these benefits.

There are plenty of other excellent nightly rituals that will help improve your appearance. Make them an essential habit every night to gain the best version of you.

Read more

Man Fahsion Tips: 5 Simple Tips to Protect Your Leather Goods

Everyone loves to own an occasional leather item. However, leather garments are bound to cost a whole lot. Hence it is advantaging to know how to care for them.

When cleaning your leather items, always choose a product that helps preserve the leather's natural lubricating oils rather than strip them away. Avoid cleaners that leave any sort of grease or residue as it can make leather vulnerable to bacteria which will tarnish the leather and eventually break down the stitching. It is best to test out the cleaner on a less visible area before you start to clean the full surface of your leather good. Pay attention not to use heat to dry leather and always stuff the garment while it is being dried to maintain its original shape.

Leather needs conditioning and the oils found in conditioners help lubricate leather and replenish its elasticity. However, beware of products that contain petroleum or mineral oils as they will damage your leather goods over time. Do more conditioning if your leather item is exposed to hot sunny conditions or moisture. Similar to cleaning products, avoid conditioners that leave greasy residues.

Polish your leather item with a fine polishing agent for a clean and glossy finish. However be careful when polishing as some products contain coloring agents that might stain your item's natural color. Bear in mind that using animal fats might darken leather.

It is best to protect every new leather item before using it. Unprotected leather will stiffen and crack rather quickly. Protect your leather item against moisture such as rain, snow, sweat and other liquid hazards. Always remember to apply your protector on clean dry leather periodically and beware of the protector that might fill the leather's pores with grease. Tana Style 16 Protective Spray is a good recommendation for product protection.

Bear in mind that leather goods are best stored in cool, dry places and should never be stored in plastic bags or other nonporous containers. Always stuff empty leather handbags with newspaper to maintain the shape and avoid using metal hangers when hanging leather jackets or pants.

The best way to efficiently learn about your new leather item's care techniques is to ask the store manager or salesperson for specific instructions. Several grades of leather require more specialized maintenance and hence should be cleaned and maintained professionally.

Read more

5 Simple Tips to Look Thinner this Summer

Of course, the best way to look great is to lose the excess weight with the help of a proper diet and exercise program. But there is no reason to put off looking good until you reach your goal weight. All you have to do is make good use of perceptual tricks and make the most of out your shape to create a thinner-looking physique.

Patterns can influence people's perception of your height and weight. A patterned shirt or tie takes the focus off the rest of your body. This helps to downplay a hefty frame or a shorter stature. Dark, solid colors are instant figure fixer and will make you look slimmer. However, avoid bold patterns as they will draw attention to the upper half of your body. 

An important point is to make sure that your clothes fit perfectly. Garments that are too tight will reveal all the spots you would rather not draw attention to. Very loose clothing may hide your problem but it will also make you look larger than you actually are. 

This summer pick up V-neck shirts for the effect of a slimmer neckline. If you have a double chin, V-neck shirt is a great choice as they place emphasis on your chest area instead of on your neck. The best part about summer is that the weather is constantly hot hence the better the reason to dress more in V-neck shirts.

Instead of trousers and jeans that hit your waist, invest in low-rise bottoms that sit on your hips. This is because low-rise trousers have a shorter distance between the top of the waistband and the crotch of your pants than regular trousers. Make note to ensure that the waistband of your pants is large enough to accommodate your midsection so that your belly does not stick out over your pants.

One of the key points to looking thinner is to not carry around excess baggage. Empty your pockets of unnecessary items such as cell phones, overstuffed wallets and electronic devices as they will take the focus off a large midsection. Removing bulky side pockets will also help make your hips appear smaller.

To look like the best version of yourself by playing other perceptual tricks, begin by figuring out what you want to highlight about your body and what you would like to de-emphasize.

Patterned shirt

Low-rise jeans

Remove unnecessary baggage from pockets

Read more

Color Trends that You Should Follow in this Spring/Summer

2011 was definitely the year that menswear began to really accept color. Both the spring/summer and autumn/winter collections in 2011 featured a more vibrant palette for men's dressing. This season, the key color is definitely one of familiarity. Bedrooms and clothing are often splashed in this shade almost as soon as the baby's sex is known. The color in question is the stereotypical boys' color—blue.

The color blue appeals to everyone. Its ever-present nature means it slots into all the major fashion types from preppy to military. A blue piece can be utilized as the statement piece in many ways, from a suit or duffle. It works well with most neutral tones as well as complimenting many other colors such as red and yellow. It is such a versatile color that it is easy to wear.

Brands such as Burberry and Canali gave the color blue a starring spot in their spring/summer 2012 collection.

Nevertheless, a limited palette doesn't have to stop you from looking your best. In fact, mixing varying hues of one color creates a really sharp and put together look. The different shades also demonstrate to the world your ability to create a great outfit out of one color.

When it comes to creating a mono blue ensemble, the best way to begin is with a navy suit. This is because the darker suit allows you to go lighter with your shirt and tie. Opt for a tie that is a shade darker than your shirt but is lighter than your suit for the best effect of a mono color ensemble.

Occasional white in patterns such as checks in your mono color outfit are remarkably well too. However, be noted that if wearing a blue check shirt with a tie, steer clear of ties in any shade of blue. Blue ties would clash with the patterns and make the outfit turn from good to bad. Too much of pattern and color going on in an outfit will just ruin the look. So with that in mind, opt for a pale grey tie instead. The color grey is subtle and neutral enough that it will not throw off your all blue.

It is a relief for those who were cautious towards daring bright colors in menswear. The color blue appeases those who were wary of color while also satisfying those who crave a good statement piece.

Read more

5 Popular hairstyles for spring/summer 2012

It is time to get rid of anything that is not helping you to put your best face forward, and your hairstyle is no exception. For men, 2012 is a year of haircut versatility.

In 2012 men's hairstyle, we can see the incarnation of the rockabilly hairstyle. Originally pioneered by musicians like Jonny Cash and Elvis, the inspired retro hair can be seen in the menswear fashion shows over the past few years. This hairstyle constituted slick back hair where the top was kept longer in length while the back and the sides are short. The hair could be parted, slicked back or pompadour. This hairstyle works even in a conservative environment.

It was only a few short years ago that the undercut hairstyle would have been considered a haircut solely for the young and the daring. But now, the undercut sits as one of the most fashionable and versatile options in 2012. It is a great option because this haircut is capable of working with plenty of other hairstyles and is suitable for anyone with straight or wavy hair capable of growing the top long. It is also a great hairstyle to conceal a receding hairline.

 

Short and curly, it is a hairstyle that connotes a relaxed lifestyle. This entangled, interlocked and messy hairstyle is one of the trendy styles for this season. However, this hairstyle is only suitable for people with natural, curly hair. Avoid faking the curls as the end result will not look as good as the ones with natural head of wavy hair.

The Brit rock hairstyle is a hair swept forwards style for young guys that give them a fringe. This hairstyle is suitable for guys with everything from straight to curly hair. This haircut is all about length through the top. However, this hairstyle is not as simple as sweeping your hair forwards. It takes the right hair cut and the right products to exhibit the perfect Brit rock hairstyle.

If you are looking for a hairstyle that is easy on the maintenance and portrays masculinity, an ultra-defined buzz cut is the best choice. This square-shaped cut makes any man's face appear more masculine, it is easy to maintain and it looks sharp and sexy at the same time. It is perfect for the season where the weather is hot and you tend to sweat more.

Read more

5 Designer Watches of the Month

Wrist watches are the best fashion accessories. Not only are they functional, they serve as a statement piece too and are on a par with the most valuable jewelry. Each year wrist watches companies come up with various stylish and beautiful watches. With so many choices in the market, it is best to invest in a good watch that will take you further ahead.

Swiss watch-making company Tissot presents their latest creation that promises precision, performance and style, the Tissot Heritage PR 516. The watch is protected with scratch-proof sapphire crystals and beneath it, is a choice of silver, black or blue dial.

Celebrating the 80^th birthday of Jack Heuer, TAG Heuer prepared a Limited Edition of Carrera Jack Heuer 80^th birthday watch. It is distinctive by the traditional chronograph layout which was used on the original model from 1964. Red details on the dial and hands are a nice touch too. The watch is available either with a stylish black calf strap with red lining or the standard stainless steel bracelet.

For those who travel the world, you will be delighted to know that Rolex has produced the first Rolex with two time zones and an annual calendar that discreetly marks the passage of the months. The Sky-Dweller displays the local time via centre hands and a chosen reference time via a rotating disc visible on the dial. The watch allows global travelers to select the individual functions to be set easily.

Omega presents a new collection of watches, the Specialities Olympic Collection London 2012 that is bound to impress. The steel-red gold on leather strap watch has features such as self-winding chronograph movement with column wheel mechanism and Co-Axial Escapement for greater precision stability and durability of the movement.

Famous watch and jewelry manufacture, Cartier, presents a new series of timepieces that set standards in terms of technology, design and material. The Rotonde de Cartier Perpetual Calender is crafted in a polished pink gold case with black alligator straps and gold clasps. The gorgeous feature about this watch would be the sapphire crystal case-back for self-winding movement and blue sword-shaped central hour and minute hands on a silver dial.

One thing is certain—a wrist watch for men has never been 'just a watch' from way back. They became fashion accessories and designs started to be equally important as functionality. However, it all depends on a man's personal taste and style.

Read more

Skincare DOs and DONTS for Spring/Summer 2012

Caring for your skin is a year long process, but even more so during the summer and winter months where the weather is harsher on the skin. Summer is when the skin tends to produce a whole lot more of oil. Hence, daily cleansing, weekly exfoliation and a few other skin cares are important rituals during this season.



Practice the habit of cleansing every day in summer to avoid oil from accumulating and solidifying on your skin. Clogged pores can cause some nasty consequences. However, avoid using any deodorant soap on your face. These soaps may contain harsh ingredients that your skin may be sensitive to. L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Sensitive Cleansing Foaming Cream is the perfect choice for sensitive skin. It gently cleanses and helps reinforce the skin's natural resilience that will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and perfectly cleansed. $14.90 from Amazon.

Exfoliating sloughs off dead skin hence do it at places where your razor doesn't reach. However, exfoliation should not happen on a daily basis. Your skin needs recovery time in-between exfoliations. Pay attention to the cleansers you use because some cleansers also act as mild exfoliates.

Another important point in skin care during this hot season is to not over-shave. Shaving produces micro-cuts and shaving everyday will cause your skin to work overtime as it combats repairing itself and protecting itself against harmful UV rays. Summer is all about being outside and overstressing your skin can wreak havoc. Fusion ProGlide Clear Shave Gel by Gillette is the perfect product for a more precise shaving experience. The transparent and non-foaming shave gel gives you a clear view of the hair you are shaving and the gel contains lubricants for incredible shaving comfort. $8.98 from Amazon.

Excessive sun exposure is unhealthy to the skin. Overexposure can develop serious skin diseases. Remember to constantly use sunscreen for your skin and reapply them whenever you are sweating or in water. Ultra Defense Sunscreen from Banana Boat contains Vitamin E while offering advanced protection without drying out the skin.

Don't forget to care for your lips too! Winter is not the only season that can be tough on your lips. NIVEA for Men Replenishing Lip Balm is specially engineered to provide long lasting protection without leaving a visible residue. This SPF 4 lip balm is enriched with Vitamin E, fragrance-free and helps protect against the sun and wind. You can get this must have item from Amazon at $17.49.

Caring for your skin is just as important for men as they are for women. Be smart about your skin and you'll have the promise of good and healthy skin all year long.

Read more