So, I pull up to the mansion to hob-nob with the Hollywood elite. I’m supposed to be dressed in “Hollywood Chic” but no real clue what that means, so I snub the powers-that-be and wear flip-flips with a suit. And I still look better than most people. Plus it was supposed to be a “look like you give a damn” event … and I don’t need to, because I’m just that hot and cute.

Nivea For Men launches in Los Angeles with this Golden Globes pre-party. It’s an interesting concept, but from all my reading I figured out the product launch (we can thank Old Spice and all their press and messaging): men don’t buy products, but their wives and girlfriends DO buy products at the drugstore and grocery store.

That’s Nivea For Men: products for women to buy their men. Nivea is a well-known name in the female grocery experience, so this is their brand extension to capture males (through females.)

Now, I don’t think I’m their market. I’m metro, my shower is filled with Lush body gels (about 7 bottles), Lush shampoos plus other shampoos (10 – it’s about shampoo rotations), and I’m using my Clarisonic with Skinceuticals. Yep, I smell like cinnamon or grass or honey on a daily basis.

I took my baggie of goodies from the event, though, and tried a couple out: Post-Shave Balm for Sensitive Skin, as well as the biggie … Active3, an all-in-one shower, shampoo and shaving gel. 

Active3 is a pretty interesting concept, and seems like a good fit for the guy to take to the gym and have everything he needs to shower and shave at the gym. It has that manly “sports” smell that is de riguer in manly products (and one that always seems to bug my allergies.) But it does what it’s supposed to do: I used my shower sponge, lathered up my body and got that clean yet moisturizing feel. I tried it on my hair and it felt clean and conditioned. And I did try it out to shave – I used my Clarisonic to lather it up, and it did give me a nice, close shave. And then I used the post-shave balm and it covered me up and seemed to do what it’s supposed to do (to tell the truth, I have no idea what it is supposed to do – cool shave burn? I guess.)

The products do what they’re supposed to do – get you clean. And it is a good product for the wife/girlfriend to pick up at the store.

But, well, it’s not for me. That’s not the products fault – it’s a mainstream product, and I’m not a mainstream product type of guy. I can see the huge market for them – they just need to suck up to social media influencers with a video series with a nude guy in the bathroom, to get all that buzz.

Full disclosure: I was invited to the Nivea For Men Golden Globes Pre-Party, where I received the products as well as a computer bag. I currently use the bag while my backpack is being repaired. It has not changed my review in any way, however.

~Zeke

Zeke Samuels

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Here’s another review from Neal’s Yard Remedies line of skincare products for men! You can find it at www.nealsyardremedies.com. And check out my prior review on Neal’s Yard Remedies Invigorating Body Wash.

~ Nando

Nando

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Guy’s, do you love natural and organic skin care products? Well check out my review of Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Invigorating Body Wash.

You can find it at www.nealsyardremedies.com.

Nando

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Father’s Day is fast approaching and Truman’s Gentlemen’s Groomers in NYC is conducting their first annual Father’s Day MAN UP! Competition where NYer’s are invited to nominate a dad – most deserving of a grooming overhaul – for a chance to win a Truman’s membership (value: $600).  So if you know a dad in need of a makeover, you might want to nominate him on his behalf!

Here’s what you have to do no later than June 15th: 

Submit a photo and explain in 50 words or less why their dad, husband, brother, uncle or best friend needs to MAN UP! to: manup @ trumans-nyc (dot) com

On June 8, Truman’s will select four runners-up to receive a Total Package – which includes a haircut, shave, 60-minute massage, Handshake Maintenance and a professional shoe shine. After-photos of the 4 will then be posted on Facebook, and fans will be asked to vote. The dad with the most votes will win the grand prize – a membership to Truman’s!

Head over to www.Trumans-NYC.com for complete details and be sure you become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/TrumansNYC. Good luck!

Shannon Nelson

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This reader question comes from the A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Facebook fan page. And better yet, from a guy and one who is local here in Northeast PA! I love that he wasn’t shy to publicly ask his questions.

“Kind of embarrassing, but I’m a man and my hands look like they’re aging about 10-15 years faster than I am. How do I correct this or at least slow it down? And what is the secret to getting rid of blackheads on the nose? Embarrassing, yes. In real life, yes. Please help! Long time reader, first time poster.. you’re the bestestest! –Chris, Scranton, PA”

I know just the experts to answer these questions Chris! Board certified dermatologist and founding member of LiveStrong.com, Dr. Jeffrey Benabio, and celebrity esthetician and skin care expert, Renee Rouleau. 

Dr. Benabio tackles the first part of your question:

“Aging hands are due to excess sun exposure. Scaly spots can be treated by liquid nitrogen, brown spots can be lightened with laser treatments. Make sure to wear sunscreen on your hands everyday. Neutrogena has a hand cream with sunscreen, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream.”

And from Renee Rouleau:

“Blackheads. We all have them and we all hate them. Remember the pore-cleansing strips that were sold years ago for blackhead removal? All they did was remove hairs on the nose, but they sold millions of them because everyone was hoping to find the miracle cure.

What is a blackhead? These are large pores that contain oil that has oxidized with the air causing it to turn black.

What you can do? Although there is no way to permanently get rid of blackheads, your best bet is regular monthly deep pore cleansing facials followed by home use of Glycolic Serum and products with Salicylic Acid to keep the pores cleaned. Long term use of Retin-A can help but it has to be used regularly and for years before you can really see a difference.  Avoid the ingredients Isopropyl Myristate and Isopropyl Palmitate in your skin care products as these can contribute to the formation of blackheads…

Bottom line: Don’t get fooled by anyone selling you products that claim to remove blackheads. Trust me, if there was a cure, we would all know about it and I’d be the first to bring it to you. I’ve been squeezing out blackheads out of my client’s skin for over 20 years and my hands are getting tired!

Do you have whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, milia and cysts? Read why all blemishes are not equal.”

I hope this answers your question Chris!

Do you have a beauty question? Feel free to email me, post it to the fan page or send to me on Twitter and I will tap some of the best skin care experts, makeup artists, hair care specialists and grooming gurus in the beauty industry to answer them.

Shannon Nelson

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In this segment of A Girl’s Gotta Spa! the men’s grooming edition, I review products from Grant for Men from Elizabeth Grant. Not only did I give them a try, but my new little hottie did as well. Hear what we both thought of these men’s skin care products:

*Disclosure

Nando

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Here is my men’s grooming review of Osea Ocean Cleanser which can be found at Gents LLC.

*Disclosure

Nando

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I absolutely love this foamless shaving cream from Earth Science! So much so, that I am going to give away 1 tube of it because you need to see how great this product works for yourself!

So today (1/20/10) and tomorrow (1/21/10) post a comment either here on the blog or over at You Tube about why you want to win. I’d love for you to also tweet: “Follow and RT @GentsSkinCare to win Earth Science Shave Cream http://bit.ly/8LPi3O”

Earth Science Shave Cream is available at www.GentsLLC.com. Be sure to check out Gents’ facebook fan page for grooming and men’s skin care tips as Gents LLC’s owner, Nicole Sommers, is an esthetician.

*Giveaway rules: Only 1 person will win. Must be a legal US resident age 18+. No cash substitute, no product substitute. Retail value is $6. Giveaway is held 1/20/10-1/21/10.

*Disclosure; social media client

Nando

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I recently had THE most pampering experience at John Allan’s in Midtown Manhattan. From a shoe shine to a hair treatment to a manicure, I felt completely relaxed and well taken care of. Check out the video to hear all about it!

Nando

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Wow, what a year in beauty. This is honestly my most favorite post each year, yet I procrastinate like crazy to write it. This year A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Beauty Blog saw the addition of the very handsome and funny Nando, who handles the men’s grooming reviews and vlogs. So this Best of 2009 recap includes both men’s and women’s beauty products and a mix of text and video. Did you have a favorite product you saw reviewed here this year? Be sure to let us know at the end of this post.

Shannon’s Favorites of 2009: 

1. Zoya Nail Polish Color Lock
2. Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel *
3. MAC Cosmetics Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask
4. David Yurman Luxurious Body Cream
5. Huge Lips Skinny Hips *
6. Molton Brown Purify Ambrusca Body Tonic
7. Bath & Body Works Optimism Sudsing Body Scrub
8. Sundari Gotu Kola & Indian Asparagus Mask
9. Makeover with Nick Arrojo
10. Meeting Beyonce

(How is it that I only reviewed one hair care product this year??? I’m going to have to fix that in 2010.)

Nando’s Favorite’s for 2009:

1. Joe Grooming ONE
2. Joe Grooming Scrub, Shave and Moisturizer
3. Eyelash Extensions at WINK Eyelash
4. Interview with Maria Menounos
5. Zeno Hot Spot Party & interview with SuChin Pak
6. Hair & Interview at Davide Torchio Salon
7. Cremo Cream Shave Cream
8. Skincando Combat Ready Lip Balm

And we both agree our absolute favorite of 2009 is the A Girl’s Gotta Spa! 4-year Blogiversary Party.

To keep up with us in 2010 be sure to follow Nando and I on Twitter (@Nandoism; @agirlsgottaspa), subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! You Tube channel, become a fan of A Girl’s Gotta Spa! on Facebook, subscribe to our beauty blog and lastly if you have a Kindle, you can also subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! on Kindle.

*Disclosure; social media clients

Shannon Nelson

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