REVIEW - The Philips SensoTouch 3D Shaver

I was recently offered the chance to review the Philips SensoTouch 3D shaver, and with an RRP of over £250 I had high hopes that this would be the ultimate guy's grooming gadget. I enlisted the help of my boyfriend James to trial the shaver over the course of a week and share his thoughts.

James's usual razor choice is a Gilette ProGlide, which had impressed him since switching from his standard razors some time ago. The biggest problem with these sorts of razors though is the cost of blades. If you're using the razors regularly then the constant blade-buying can leave a dent in your bank balance. This to some extent justifies investing in a premium shaver, if you use it regularly you will eventually make back your money.

When I asked James at the end of the week he told me that the shaver had 'changed his life', by making it quick and easy to stay clean shaven. He used it before bed each evening, instead of in the morning... who wants to spend less time in bed in the morning! But if he did need to use it in the morning it wouldn't have taken long at all. 

James says: "The shaver seems to follow the contours of your face really well, better than any other shaver I've tried. Although I would say the shave isn't as close as a razor, it's definitely the closest shave of any shaver I've used before. I usually just finish off with a razor when I want a really close shave, but I can definitely get away with not doing that when time is short.The claim that there's no irritation is justified too."

James tested out the shaver as a dry shave and hasn't yet foamed up to try the wet shave function, although you can also use it in this way depending on what you prefer.

If you do a job which requires you to be clean shaven all the day, then this electric shaver would be a great buy. Yes the price tag is pretty hefty, but shop around and you can get some good deals. John Lewis are currently selling the shaver for £199.99 and it's got over 4.6 stars out of 5 from the website's reviewers. 

You can also visit themanscapeschanging.com , the brand's online hub for shaving and grooming tips, styling ideas and product recommendations to fit your lifestyle.

FRAGRANCE - Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge

I'm a big fan of Lacoste fragrances for men. I went to the original L.12.12 launch and was able to try all three fragrance the Vert (traditional and earthy) the Bleu (uber-masculine) and the Blanc (clean and fresh). Now there's a new colour and scent to add to this series, Rouge.The new fragrance is sexy and stylish, incredibly masculine and a great scent for dates or evenings out. It has just the right intensity to linger with a touch of the exotic about it. Ginger and black pepper provide a twist on the obvious but it's not too far from a traditional men's fragrance to be a safe choice for all occasions.

I love the bottle design, and the 30ml size make a great gym or work bag addition to freshen up before you go out or after a work-out. If you are looking for a new fragrance, then this one is definitely worth a try. Out of all four in the L.12.12 series this is my boyfriend's favourite.

You can buy it at Boots

INTERVIEW - Andrew of Wanted Wallets

Next up in my interview series is a Q&A with Andrew who runs a men's accessory website selling wallets.


Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Andrew; I am a complete wallet Geek and co-founder of Wanted Wallets.

Why did you start blogging/open your shop?        
I opened Wanted Wallets because over the past few years I have bought numerous high street wallets only for them to fall apart. Being extremely fed up of this, I went on a hunt for a new wallet. It took me a long time to find some nice wallets, searching high and low through magazines, blogs, the internet etc. I realized that there really wasn’t a specialist store in sight that could be found. Ultimately Wanted Wallets was born.  At Wanted Wallets each wallet is carefully hand picked for their design and quality from some of the world's most innovative and exciting designers placing them all in one destination.

What inspires you?
I love clever, innovative designs.  There’s nothing better when you see a beautifully designed product that makes you go, “Wow!”

What are your top 3 high street stores and why?
I love the look that All Saints offer, although they are by far the most expensive store I visit and there is always something that catches my eye. When I am on the look out for t-shirts Zara is the place that doesn’t disappoint, being so affordable I always tend to walk out with a few extra ones and finally during a visit to Hong Kong I stumbled across a store called Tough Jeans. Their styles of jeans are different to the ones you find anywhere else and are reasonably priced.

What has been your biggest ever bargain?
I can’t remember the names of any specific places but backpacking through Asia I found some beautiful little boutiques selling really trendy stuff for just a couple of quid.  It wasn’t just cheap clothing either, some items were hand made and were of great quality. It definitely made backpacking a little bit more difficult.

And what has been your biggest ever splurge?
I got myself a Jacob & Jensen watch.  It cost me about £300, painful at first but I fell in love with how thin and minimalistic it was. It just simply blew me away.

What do you collect?
I do have a thing for watches. Some of my favorite brands are Fossil, 666 Barcelona and Jacon & Jensen. I think I am up to about 8 watches at the moment.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style?
Might be an obvious answer but I am going to say David Beckham. He can really pull off any style from smart to casual.

What is your favorite trend of the moment?
I am huge wallet and bags geek and recently starting to look at bags more and more.

What would you wear on a first date?
It would depend on where we go on our first date but I would always make sure that before I leave the house I look the part.