Archive for September, 2007

It Makes Sense to Shave in the Shower

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

If you’re smart, you look in the mirror while shaving. So why not shave in the shower. If you’re like me, you’re going to linger uselessly in the shower anyway, just standing there, so it makes sense to knock out your shaving during your daily standing time. Shaving while in or after your shower makes shaving easier too, because the hot water and steam open up your pores. You can buy a fog-free mirror to hang in the shower and enjoy the best of both worlds. And if you use Amenity Gel Face Cleanser, try wiping a little bit on the mirror for a totally fog-free, high definition shave!

Do “hair growth inhibiting” products really work?

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

Amenity’s customer service staff has been collecting consumer questions over the past several months. We have decided to answer them in this public blog forum. The majority of questions pertain to product claims of products that we do not manufacturer ourselves. Many of the products are hard-to-find and in some cases, impossible to find. Yet, all of the claims are curiously strong and beg the question: IS THIS PRODUCT FOR REAL?

Our first such question pertains to whether hair growth inhibiting products actually work to minimize beard volume. This question comes to us from a college student in Wisconsin who complains of having a ‘very heavy beard’ that he must often ’shave twice daily.’

While products such as “Jergen’s Shave Minimizing Lotion” don’t reduce the rate at which hair grows (nor do they have any effect on facial hair that already has grown out), our testing panel found that for some men, this type of product does make hair appear less noticeable. Our panel also noted that it may even make shaving easier and minimize the need to shave twice daily.

The Amenity Authority was then asked to analyze the product. The Jergen’s formula in particular contains a lot of heavy emollients (softeners) and a mild amount of an alkaline solution used to dissolve hair. This explains the results that some of our testers reported.

VERDICT: Do products like the Jergen’s lotion actually claim to help make hair softer, finer, and less noticeable. PARTIALLY TRUE.

How does men’s skin differ from women’s skin?

Thursday, September 6th, 2007

Men’s skin is thicker and tends to be oilier. This extra oil is essential for beard growth and helps to counterbalance signs of aging, protecting the skin and acting as a natural wrinkle-reducer. Despite the benefits of longer youthful looks, having excess skin oil does have a downside: When the oil combines with dirt and dead cells, it can clog the pores and cause skin breakouts. So, men need to use a soap-free cleanser daily to minimize this risk.