I also spend a lot of time outdoors and in the pool.  The sun, chlorine and the brutal Santa Ana winds (that blow regularly where I live) leave my skin dry and irritated.

Few men’s products hydrate my skin and provide me with post-shave relief; and, even fewer meet my personal requirement of being cruelty-free tested, all natural and smell great.  I can’t stand artificial fragrances from the likes of Gillette, i.e. “Sea Breeze” and “Winter Storm”. They smell like window cleaner, make me feel toxic and do not work beyond a couple of hours.

There is such a product that meets my initial requirements.  It’s called Combat Ready bar soap, balm, and lip balm by Skincando.  But, does it work?

With the Santa Anas working magic on my skin and local temperatures hovering near 100 degrees, the timing was perfect to begin trying the three products.  I am happy to report that they began working immediately, synergistically providing immediate relief after my first use.

Made with organic rosemary and brewed black tea, the bar soap smells great and is refreshing and light.  I can feel it working each time I wash, penetrating the particular dryness in my legs, back and face.

The peppermint-flavored lip balm penetrated and provided quick relief to my sore and cracked the lips, and skin around my nostrils. Its scent and subtle taste on my lips is pleasant and invigorating.

I applied the balm to my face to combat post-shaving dryness.  It began soothing my irritated skin and razor burn right away and continued working throughout the day.  This stuff also works on diaper rash (yup, tried it on my two-year-old Conner; cleared his little butt right up!).  After forgetting my volumizing mousse at the gym, I also put a little of the balm in my limp “do”.  It worked really well in giving it some moisture and body.

I felt even better about this product and its founder when I read that Skincando and its customers donate thousands of jars of the balm to our troops overseas.  Those using it for relief from the sunburns and sandpaper-dry skin caused by140 degree temperatures and sandstorms rave about how well it works.

Combat Ready is great stuff.  It is superior to the temporary relief I receive from other products containing preservatives and alcohol.  Founder, Sara Damello, is a licensed Esthetician, who has put considerable research into the locally produced and natural ingredients contained in her products. Her balms and soap deliver on their promise and I feel good about using them.

Guest blog post by Maxwell Sucee.

Maxwell is currently developing successful public relations campaigns for corporations and non profit organizations.  He has also guided the PR function for an international commercial real estate firm, Fortune 500 homebuilder, and one of the nation’s largest financial institutions. In his spare time he chases around his five and two-year-old children, fights a never-ending battle with a “fixer upper” home, and chills by practicing yoga.

Truthfully, I have little experience with oil controlling products and had been generally resigned to forever having shiny, high-beam reflecting skin.  Useful perhaps, when deflecting Dr. No style laser beam death traps; not useful when attempting to appear human-like.

Since using this product, I’ve notice a significant reduction in glare (drivers heading in the opposite direction appreciate the change).  Moreover, my skin continues to feel soft and well taken care of.

One need only apply a small amount; there is a potential for some residue if one over applies (which had happened to me initially but hasn’t happened since).

Beyond that, I am absolutely thrilled with this product.  After all, high gloss may be appropriate on your bath room wall to control the spread of spores and mildew  but not on your mug when you’re trying to give a presentation to a conference room full of your colleagues (nor is quoting lines from Nacho Libre, I might add).

What’s in it?

Minty shaving cream.  It seems so obvious that I’m surprised no one has thought of it earlier. After washing your face (with some form of lava soap for extra man points), the first application of ZIRH Shave Cream is quite bracing.

I like to compare it to the bite of the cold, north-eastern wind over the Atlantic cutting across your face as you pilot a commercial fishing vessel over the treacherous waters.  In my mind, if you’re going to use a shaving cream, it should, ideally, evoke Hemingway-esque reveries and delusions of masculine grandeur.

So when you apply the ZIRH Shave Cream to your face, and glide that straight razor across your cheek (quadruple man points), feel free to imagine that you are gliding across a the forbidding Alaskan landscape on a sled drawn by a team of huskies.  Or you can simply enjoy the soothing, minty lubrication the cream provides.

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The Soy Spacasso Manstyle Soothing Aftershave Moisturizer turns that notion on its head with its ultra-luxe, ultra-creamy emollient. It’s especially soothing if you are  disposable razor man as I am.  Manstyle does help to shift that risk/reward, pleasure/pain ratio into more favorable territory (self-affirmed bad asses can ignore that last bit).

A note of caution: it is VERY rich so a little goes a long way.  I don’t care who you are, but not even Brad Pitt can exit a shower with a face shellacked with gloop and still maintain his dignity.  Also, this product does smell very “dessert-y” which may be off-putting to some.

I will observe that after using this product, my girlfriend is significantly more affectionate.  She would attack my face like it was a freshly baked Cinnamon Roll, which I kind of dig, I don’t mind telling you.  Cheap ploy, perhaps—but I have no problem with easy wins.

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Liquid Sand

Self mockery aside, I wholeheartedly endorse the brand.  I was quite skeptical at first when my girlfriend first introduced me to a collection of bottles proudly featuring a stylized dragon and named Billy Jealousy.  I thought to myself, “these various oils and ointments will go great with my collection of Affliction T-shirts and subscription to Maxim magazine.”  But when I actually tried these products, I was pleasantly surprised.

I first applied the LiquidSand exfoliating facial cleanser.  The suspended particles were perfectly sized so that they weren’t too abrasive to be painful but nevertheless felt productive.

The formula itself, as a whole, felt well balanced — my skin felt moisturized while still rinsing cleanly and the alpha hydroxy acids did not irritate my face.  I appreciated this characteristic, especially as part of my pre-shave regimen when I must already subject my skin to my inept flailings with a razor.

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After rinsing, I then proceeded to spread the Hydroplane Super-Slick Shave Cream.  I have been a foaming cream man since puberty and looked dubiously at this non-sudsy pretender.  Once again, Billy Jealousy exceeded my expectation.

About Face Anti Aging Serum

The combination of post face wash moisture and the shave cream combined to form the perfect shaving accompaniment.  There was no snagging, even against the grain.  And the cream was much cleaner than dealing with foamy mess everywhere.  Billy Jealousy has definitely made a convert of me.

I ended my routine with the About Face Anti-Aging Serum.  It seemed to combine well with the residual Hydroplane and leave my skin feeling nicely coated, as opposed to greasy or gloppy.

I understand that it is not intended for use after shaving; I will assume that my skin in that highly sensitive, post-shave state is ill-equipped  to stand up to the serum’s exfoliating effect.  Nevertheless I experienced no significant irritation.  Indeed, my skin felt marvelously pampered.

The entire line was not heavily scented, which means it won’t fight too much with your choice of cologne (not that anything is a match for my High Karate, Rowr!)

It’s  exactly the same qualities I seek in a good wing man – someone who’s there to make you look good in front of the ladies and knows when to take a hint and fade into the woodwork.  And I’m pretty sure that Billy Jealousy would have no problem jumping on a grenade, and chatting up her still-sober roommate.

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