4-in-1

Ok guys, I've been studying like a maniac in preparation for the PA state board exam for my RN license that I am taking soon, so I'm going to consolidate all of last week's "would be" posts into one!!

Music Monday

First off, I love Phoenix. Their music is soulful, groovy, and great for a rainy day in or a sunny day on the beach! Whats better than Phoenix is a GREAT cover of their hit song "1901" by Birdy. Check this out and let me know what you think!! 

Product Pick of the Week

This week's product pick is related to my latest video about the efficacy of face brushes compared to washcloths. If you haven't seen it yet here it is:

This video seemed to stir up a tiny bit of controversy!! I NEVER SAID THE CLARISONIC DOESN'T WORK!!! All I'm saying is that a washcloth or microfiber face cloth is an excellent alternative for a fraction of the cost!! ...and yes I have used the Clarisonic before, it was alright.

If you are looking for a great microfiber face cloth here are a couple great options. 

The first option is the exact face cloth that I displayed in my video, I will admit it works but the quality isn't all that great. The second option is much better quality and will get more uses:

Skin Care Tip

After washing your face, NEVER rub your towel on your face. Just pat dry. Rubbing a dry towel over a clean face causes irritation and can spread bacteria and oil from your hair onto your clean skin! 

Photo of Lilo (the most amazing cat in the world)

couldn't help myself.

Soooo everyone have a GREAT weekend!!! 

Ross

Product Pick of the Week

My product pick this week is bound to get you some you know what! ...and no, its not a kitten...but that helps too!

She loves being in front of the camera!

For much less work, you can get the same amount attention with a great smelling fragrance! I mean who doesn't like to smell AMAZING, and believe me, when you smell great, people notice!

Here are three options that I have personally owned full-size bottles of and would recommend to anybody! Not to mention they are SUPER cheap on Amazon.com!

Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

To me, this fragrance has strong, powdery scent. To be honest, I didn't even like it at first. HOWEVER, every time I wear this fragrance, I receive compliments, its crazy! Over time the scent really grew on me and it became one of my signature smells. Primarily, I wear it when I'm going out, not typically during the day. The person who bought it for me said it was "sex in a bottle", and he was right!! LOL

L'Homme by Yves Saint Laurent

Now THIS is a fragrance I LOVE! Unlike the one above, I wear L'Homme because it smells SO FREAKING GOOD, and I do get a compliment here and there. It has a crisp, clean fragrance with sweet notes that you are bound to love! Not overwhelming by any means, I wear this one during the day. It does wear well throughout the day and has great packaging too!

Armani Code by Georgio Armani

In terms of sophistication, this cologne hits the nail on the head! With an very subdued scent you will feel like James Bond while wearing this fragrance. Does have a slight powdery note but really its just freaking sexy! Highly recommend, great for day or night!

There you have it! Three GREAT scents that will work for ANYONE! Out of the three, my favorite it L'Homme, but I get the most compliments while wearing Le Male.

Enjoy!

Product Pick: Sunscreens for every skin type!

Considering my little run-in with the sun over Memorial Day weekend, this week's product picks are all about sun protection! The key to sunscreen is simple...you just have to USE IT! Finding a product that suits you well will help you feel more comfortable using it regularly, therefore improving the likelihood that you will actually use it and preventing this:

Super sexy, right?!

Not all sunscreens are made equally. When choosing a sunscreen, you have to consider how the texture will work with your skin type and weigh out the benefits of irritating ingredients verses adequate UV protection. Generally speaking, higher SPF sunscreen (SPF 30+) will cause more irritation without adding significantly more UV protection. Below you can match your skin type with the appropriate product! Additionally, many of the options below contain skin beneficial ingredients like antioxidants to keep your skin healthy while in the sun.

Combination Skin

• A sunscreen with a lightweight texture will be best for you. These products are AMAZING, you won't even know you are wearing sunscreen (especially the one for your face)!



Oily Skin

• Oily skin can be really tricky because many sunscreens have an oily texture by nature. I recommend this product by Peter Thomas Roth and follow up with a powder (that also includes SPF) that will keep your skin shine-free throughout the day. This great combination works really well for me:



Dry Skin

• The most options exist for people with dry skin not prone to breakouts. An emollient moisturizer with sunscreen will be perfect, I recommend these products that also contain antioxidants!



Sensitive Skin

• If you have rosacea or sensitive skin you should choose a product that uses titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide as the active ingredients. These are excellent recommendations:



Now that you have a better understanding as to why certain types of products are better for each skin type, you will be able to protect your skin from UV rays on a daily basis and feel comfortable doing it!

I hope this helps a lot!

Ross

My Product Pick of the Week!

I have searched the globe HIGH and low to find the PERFECT hair styling product! As someone who willingly accepts change, I am always eager to try new products with hopes of finding one that is better than the last. I am also very price conscious, so I strive to find comparable products at a cheaper price, all this for you guys! ...well, I guess I get plenty of personal satisfaction out of it too!

To no avail have I been able to find a hair styling product that I love as much as Fiber by American Crew! This matte finish styling cream/clay gives your hair a chunky, bed-head look with a strong hold that lasts all day without ANY flaking! The 3 oz tub lasts for about 2 months, is good till the last drop, and is reasonably priced. I typically pay ~$17 for a tub of it at my local hair salon. Sometimes I even get Buy 1 get 50% Off the 2nd, which is ideal! ...what can I say, I'm a college student!

There are other hair styling products that have a similar effect, and I stand behind my previous reviews of products from Hairbond and Jock Soap, but seriously I just keep coming back to American Crew. There is something about the texture of the product, ease of use, and scent that I really love. They really hit the nail on the head with this one!

Check it out on Amazon.com below:

1 pack and 2 pack (save $$)

ONE LAST THING: The secret to this product is to apply it into towel-dried hair! When you get out of the shower, dry your hair and body, get dressed, then immediately style your hair. The moisture allows for easier styling and a better hold. TRUST ME. If my hair is dry I will re-wet it and towel dry it again before I apply the product.

I have tried the other types of American Crew styling products and shampoos, etc. They are all really nice, just on the expensive side. Feel free to check out these other products that I recommend (if you have the budget!) The Defining Paste also has a matte finish, just a lighter hold.

C-ya tomorrow for Friiday, Friiiday, Friiiiidaaayy!

~Ross

Product Pick of the Week!

My product pick this week happens to be among the first recommendations I ever made on MensSkinCareWithRoss!

Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder is an ultra-fine, translucent, finishing powder that will give your skin a shine-free, smooth, even appearance. The powder is talc-free and contains light-reflecting particles that will soften the look of imperfections and even out your complexion. Just dust a little on your T-Zone and you'll be looking great! Just remember to use it sparingly.

There isn't any other powder like this on the market, however other brands have attempted to imitate it without success. Be warned: To the naked eye this powder is invisible, however, with flash photography, the particles can reflect the camera's flash giving your face a white glow. Use the smallest amount possible with each use and you'll be fine!

The HD Microfinish Powder is available in 2 sizes (0.17 oz & 0.35 oz), and I HIGHLY recommend their HD Kabuki Brush (VERY high quality and designed specifically for this powder)!



Here is a video in which I discuss this product (an oldy, but goody!)

Enjoy!

Ross

Product Pick of the Week!

This week's product pick is unrelated to skin care but has EVERYTHING to do with personal appearance. Grooming your facial and body hair is essential to maintaining a well-kept look and this tool will make things a heck of a lot easier!

It's Awesome!

It's cordless, rechargable, has 6 different attachments, a stand that keeps everything organized and it is downright perfect! I use this shaver/buzzer/trimmer almost everyday and if it ever broke, I would buy the exact same model.

Other than using this trimmer to shorten my facial hair before a shave, I routinely use it to trim my sideburns, man-scape (oh yea, I said it!), and even to give myself a pretty decent hair cut. Not to mention it is totally affordable!

Check it out on Amazon.com below:

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Ross

It's that that time of the week!

Oprah's Ross' Product Pick of the Week!

Welp, I hope you are as excited as this guy!

Here is one of my favorite products that I would like to introduce to you this week:

Clinique Non-Streak Gel Bronzer for Men (and Women too!)

Why it's my favorite:  Okay, so pretty much everybody looks better with a little bit of color, BUT nobody looks good with a little bit of wrinkles! Get the bronzed glow you are looking for without the sun damage with this wash-off gel bronzer by Clinique! Yes, that's right, this stuff gives you believable color that washes off at the end of the day! You won't look orange like the guy above...just saying....

Personally, I NEVER apply this product fully strength, I prefer to mix this product in with my daily moisturizer so it is not too strong. This way, I get that all-over color that is even and natural looking, plus it cuts out an extra step, see me in action here:

If you would like to look into this product a little bit further, check it out below on Amazon.com:

Did I mention that you get 2 oz. of this product and that will last you FOREVER? Hello!?!?! This is a product that you cannot pass up!

I hope you like it!

Ross

Product Pick of the Week!

These are a few of my favorite thingsssssssssssssssss! 

This is a fun topic! Once per week I will blog about my "Product Pick of the Week" but I'm not designating a day because you know I'm not THAT good! This way I'll always have a topic to blog about in the event that I draw a blank. The products I choose to share with all you wonderful readers will be amongst my favorites, skin care related or not! Of course I will explain why it earns the lofty "Pick of the Week" title and where you can get it (most likely Amazon.com because its the easiest for everyone!). Lets get started!

This week I picked: Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum, Fragrance Free

Guys and Gals, seriously, this stuff is AMAZING! If you have never used a serum before or have no idea what a serum is, here is the low down:

A serum is generally a concentrated moisturizer that targets the anti-aging aspect of skin care. A good serum will have high levels of active antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, superior moisturizers, and provide skin with a silky-smooth finish.

In my opinion, this serum by Olay hits the nail on the head! I randomly bought it on sale once without even realizing that it had an incredible formulation and an impeccable finish that leaves skin feeling smoother than a baby's bottom!

So what is so good about this product? 
First off, this serum is fragrance free. We know that practically ALL fragrances in skin care products are irritating to the skin. Irritation impairs the healing process and delays collagen production, at all cost, do your best to avoid fragrant skin care products. Keep in mind, this serum is also available WITH fragrance, so if you have a choice be sure to choose the "fragrance free" version.

The serum contains Niacinamide, a vitamin that improves moisture levels in skin and evens out skin tone (reduces acne scars too!). It also contains antioxidants Vitamin E and Green Tea Extract, two amazing ingredients that are excellent for skin!

Finally, this serum is silicone based. Silicone is a silky skin protectant that gives this product its amazing finish. Silicone will fill in pores and fines lines giving your skin an even surface that is perfect for makeup application. Even if you do not apply makeup on top on this product, your skin will appear even, smooth, and wonderful!

I recommend applying this serum onto clean, bare skin, but you can also apply it on top of a moisturizer! Check it out below available in 1.7 oz & 3.4 oz.

I hope you try this one out, I know you will love it!

Ross