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Nicole
Sommers, founder of Gents, LLC in New York, knows that men are often
judged by their exterior. As such, she wants to keep men looking great
while maintaining their health, which includes adopting a holistic approach
to shaving and skincare. Introducing Gents, LLC, an online store
offering an advanced lines of the best skincare available for men --
esthetician endorsed.
This month, Spa Index
Media's founder, Kevin McClain, takes over our product reviews and
conducts a little field research on a new online store offering advanced
skincare for men -- Gents, LLC.
Kevin writes:
I never needed much
coaching to incorporate skin care into my daily regime. I live in Sunny
California, I'm outdoors on a tennis court or running up and down canyons a
good deal of the time. I travel extensively. I observed early on that
extended hours in airplanes with recirculated air dehydrated my body and my
skin, that driving under the sun in convertibles gave me skin damage and
dried out my hair, and that even bursts of sports-related activity affected
my skin. Plus, the accumulated skill of hundreds of wonderful estheticians
from our member spas has turned me into a believer.
I love to take care of my
skin, but I hate to shave. I do it. I do it daily. But I don't like it. I
still marvel at my father, who shaves old school style (a brush, shave soap,
and a straight razor). I made one bumbling attempt in my late teens, and
decided I'd leave that practice to those with steadier hands.
After that, I just wanted
for a process which took care of the task at hand with the least amount of
trouble and fuss -- and I became brand loyal in the process. When I find
a product I like, I stick with it, and seldom stray from that regime.
Products, and my skin, did evolve over time, so while I try new products now
and again, I am still pretty much a brand loyal guy, who likes all natural
and botanical ingredients which lend my face a fresh and revitalized feeling
-- like a wake up call in the morning.
I was told my staff that
I'd be testing products for June, in time Father's Day. They assumed I was
very much like most men, they either where brand loyal for no reason other
than its easier to go into a store, spot your product, and get the heck out,
or my skin care products were chosen by a wife, girlfriend, or mother. That
actually told me it was my duty to suggest a few new products for our
readers.
Enter
Gents, LLC, a new online store
founded by Nicole Sommers, which
provides esthetician-endorsed shaving and skincare products for men.
Practical solutions in the way of grooming packages are offered to enhance
what is truly a man’s business card – his face.
Gents
offers top of the products for men from a select few manufacturers that she
stands behind, with her more than twenty (20) years in the industry:
 Intelligents
Men's Bar Face Cleansing Bar.
I tried this product first, and I was off to a pleasant start. I followed
the directions and really enjoyed scent of the bar. The lather gives just
the right amount of foam (not too heavy or slick). The Men's Bar is
a glycerin-based, non-soap, ultra fine cleansing bar which made my face feel
clean without that soap slick sensation. It has an added bonus in that it
can be used as shaving lather as well. Note to self: Slip some to Dad for
his old-school shaving routine. A 2oz bar will last quite a long time, and
retails for $12.00.
 Intelligents
Shea Butter Shave.
This is one of Gents' signature products -- an advanced super-slick
anti-bacterial cream which provides closest non-irritating shave. Shea
butter and glycerin make this an anti-irritation formula. L-lactic
acid helps prevent ingrown hairs. You apply a thin layer to a damp
face, shave and rinse. I get most of my moisturizing from my skincare
products, so this may be a bit of over-moisturizing for me on a regular
basis, but I'd definitely use this if my face felt dry, tight, or right
after it was exposed to the elements. A 4 oz bar retails for $28 and will
last a considerable period of time.
 Earth
Science Moisturizing Shave Cream. Enriched
with, Aloe, Vitamin E and Azulene, this product soothes and
heals while rich moisturizers prevent razor drag. Blades last longer because
it’s soap-free. The non-aerosol tube lasts twice as long as aerosols and
gels. I loved this. It's a new addition to my skin care regimen.
Great packaging, right company ethos, and a great price for a high quality
men's skin care product. It has the requisite balance of lather and an
instant natural tingle when applied to my warm face. This gave me a shave
closest to my current and long-standing skincare line, but was more
refreshing, easy on the skin and blade. A 4 oz tube retails for $6.00.
 Intelligents
Formula L-E-V8 After Shave Gel.
This non-alcohol (oil-free) post shave gel soothes, cools and moisturizes
with a non-greasy healing aloe gel, immediately relieves redness and
clears away razor burn. It includes tea tree and vitamin E. I
applied a small amount to my clean face and neck right after both wet and
electric shaving. Of the three products from Intelligents, this was my
clear cut favorite of this line. It felt wonderfully smooth and
soothing on my face and I would not hesitate using this after every shave,
and as a refresher last in the afternoon. I've done so several times and get
an instant lift -- great for just before or after a 3:00 p.m. meeting. A
1.75 oz bottle lasts an average of 90 days and retails for $39.00.
Will this week-long
experience break me from my long-time shave habits? Absolutely.
I frequently extol the virtues of the skin care products used when I visit
spas, yet when I arrive at home I tend to return to my tried and true
favorites. This several days of product testing, with a daily regime instead
of a one day experience in the spa, reminded me that as my skin matures and
changes, so do products, and Gents, LLC offers terrific lines I wouldn't
hesitate to use again -- and will.
http://www.gentsllc.com
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