HEYRHODRI

MEN'S GROOMING WISHLIST

13:47

CORNERSTONE SHAVING - #StartYourDayRight

23:39

When it comes to morning routines, we all have our own way of doing things. With shaving and grooming being such an important part of the day for so many, Cornerstone give you the ability to select a combination of products that fit your needs. With an excellent range to choose from, it's easy to put together a routine that's personal to you. Having used their products for some time now, I'm excited to recommend them to everyone; especially the razor (but more about that later!)

The lovely people at Cornerstone sent me over a box of their products to try, and now I'm spreading the news to you. As well as the products themselves, you'll get a Cornerstone booklet that contains great tips on shaving, changing your blades and even taking care of your razor. I absolutely love this because it gives you an insight to the brand, and the tips were especially good for me as I hadn't really had any experience with refined shaving products before now. Furthermore, the packaging is sleek, and you'll notice that dashing shade of red throughout that immediately becomes part of the brands personality.

So, what's in the box?!

Razor*

As far as shaving goes, I think we'd all agree that the razor itself is the most important tool. For this, I can promise you eternal shaving happiness, because the Cornerstone's razor is THE BEST I've ever experienced. As someone with sensitive skin, I can't emphasise enough how smooth your shave will be with one of these. You get 6 razor heads with every order, each one designed to follow the contours of your face. The razors also have a moisturising Aloe Vera strip that provides smooth movement. The razor is attached to a weighted aluminium handle, giving it a cool, modern and simplistic aesthetic, as well as providing you with a lot of control. To top things off, Cornerstone will actually engrave your initials into the handle for your first order as a thank you. Marvellous!

Shave Gel*

In my experience of shaving, there's nothing much worse than razor burn. As soon as I squeezed the tube and saw Cornerstone's shave gel, I just felt safe. The smell is fantastically refreshing, with hints of eucalyptus and ginger, and the consistency of the gel is smooth enough to make sure that you don't get burnt! One thing that's important to consider is that Cornerstone intended for the gel to be low-lather. Basically, don't panic if there isn't much lather when you rub it into your face, it's still going to protect your skin. The shave gel (and all of Cornerstone's other products) is also vegetarian and vegan friendly, so it's pretty much suitable for anyone!

Post-Shave Balm*

Mint and honey isn't a combination I was familiar with before I used Cornerstone's balm, but it turned out to be delightful! While the mint cools and refreshes your face as expected, the honey comes in to simultaneously soothe and moisturise your freshly-shaved face. Also, since the balm doesn't contain alcohol, you won't experience any stinging that you might have felt with other products. Just make sure you've rinsed and dried your face to close your pores first, and this balm will give you a winning finish to your shave. Trust me, dryness and irritation after shaving will be a thing of the past.

Face Scrub*

I love a good face scrub. What I love even more is a scrub that comes out looking like it was bottled somewhere in the depths of a volcano! Now I pretty much use this on a daily basis to wash my face, but it is particularly good to use before you shave, as it contains cedarwood and volcanic sand exfoliating grains. Don't worry, it looks as cool as it sounds. These ingredients help open up your pores, remove ingrowing hairs and kick out anything else that might leave you with shaving bumps.

From start to finish, Cornerstone can give you a world class shaving experience that's also tendered to your needs. For me, it's so important for a brand to connect with a customer, and I think that Cornerstone have gone above and beyond to do this.

Head over to Cornerstone's website, get your morning routine sorted and remember to #StartYourDayRight

Thanks for reading!

Scaramouche + Fandango - Grooming Made Simple

01:15

At a time when the male grooming industry is larger than ever, sometimes it feels like things are just getting a little bit too complicated. In such a loud and busy world, we need some simplicity back in our day-to-day routine, and that's exactly what Scaramouche + Fandango are offering. They've developed a range of quality products that bypass the use of fancy phrases and nonsense, and instead give us what we want; a good wash with no fuss. When I checked out this brand and what they're about, I fell in love instantly with the simplicity. This is something that so many guys are looking for, and there's no need to keep searching.

These guys have nailed it with the branding and packaging. Whilst the set has a sleek and minimalistic look, each product has its own little pop of colour that gives the range a splash of character. The products are also well sized and perfect for travel which for me is great, because I always like to pack lightly when I'm on the move. To top things off, the 'Full Works' set that I received comes with a waterproof wash bag, also in a perfectly minimalistic design, that you can fit every product into.

Bw (Body Wash)*

Now this honestly has to be the best body wash I've used in a long time, and sadly, my bottle is already empty. The gel contains Brazilian Papaya extract which is rich in sugar, as well as a bunch of vitamins that are great for your skin, and actually leave it feeling fresher. For me, the benefit of the gel was very noticeable, particularly as my skin tends to become quite tired and clammy throughout the day, and it really helped with that. To top it off, the shower gel smells wonderful. I'd say it sits comfortably in a group with the likes of Lynx, and it's definitely worth your investment.

Fs (Face Scrub)*

Prickly pear extract sounds delightful, right? It is. The face scrub is great way to start the day, and it's my go-to product as soon as I step into the shower. It really works at the skin, clearing it from any dirt, and this is something that's really important to me when I get up in the morning. The scrub also contains Chronodyn, an ingredient that's said to help keep skin firm and banish any signs of tiredness. As someone who suffers from quite sensitive skin, I'm amazed at how gentle this scrub is on your face. I'd strongly recommend this product to anyone who's looking for a good kick in the face each morning...in a good way.

Sh (Shampoo)*

As strange as it might sound, I very rarely use shampoo on my hair, and I haven't done for a few years now. Instead, I just use bar soap, and this is because I actually prefer my hair to be dry so that it holds, especially when I'm tying it up. Having said that, I did give this one a go, because who doesn't need a good freshen up every once in a while? The shampoo contains shea butter and black quinoa, which help get those nasty excess oils out of your hair, and the ingredients also strengthen your hair. I might not feel the need to use shampoo often, but one shot at this stuff had my hair feeling fab.

Hy (Hydrator)*

The Hydrator is an amazing product to apply after your morning shower, and it keeps your face fresh and awake throughout the day. The guava extract in the cream locks in that needed moisture and helps your face feel firm, especially when you apply it daily. The Hydrator is also suitable for all types of skin, so it's an essential partner to the face scrub for anyone who suffers with sensitive skin like me. The bottle also suggests that you massage the cream into your neck, because in many ways, I think your neck is part of your face. The Hydrator is a must have in your grooming arsenal.

Cd (Conditioner)*

The conditioner is packed with ingredients that help strengthen, soften and protect your hair. Like I said before, I usually just use bar soap on my hair, so I don't make much use of shampoos or conditioners. Even so, I did try this out with the shampoo when I first received the set, and the effect is heavenly. Just like the rest of the products, the conditioner smells great, and so with the shampoo alongside it, your hair will smell fresh all day.

Sc (Shave Cream)*

If you saw my face, you'd understand that I haven't really shaved in a while, and so I haven't had a chance to properly try out the shave cream yet. I did however try it out a little on my arm, kind of like a moisturiser. I wanted to see how it made my skin feel, and it wasn't disappointing. The shave cream also contains guava extract and Chronodyn, leaving the skin squeaky clean and firm. I do look forward to using this for a shave in the near future.

In an ever-growing male grooming industry, I really feel like Scaramouche + Fandango have something great to offer. You can get their products from a number of highstreet and online stores, including House of Fraser, John Lewis and ASOS. Don't miss out on this!

Thanks for reading!

SNEAKERS ER - LUXURY DOPP BAG KIT

13:26

A little while back in my White Sneaker Problems post, I talked about trying out some new sneaker care products. Since then, there's only one brand that's really stood out to me, and after hearing so many good things, I just had to try out some of the stuff from Sneakers ER. The brand is run by long-term friends from Glasgow, Al & Rob, who have taken their passion for sneakers and have turned it into a great business. The fact that the brand is UK based and close to home makes it even better. I decided to go for one of their complete cleaning kits so for the full experience, and since my girlfriend was treating me for my birthday, I went for the Web Store exclusive. The online exclusive comes with a luxury 100% calf leather dopp bag to hold your kit in. Lovely stuff.

So, what's in the bag? Pretty much everything you'll need to get your shoes looking fresh and smelling delicious (honestly). Take a closer look here.

1 x Professional Sneaker Cleaning Solution (250ml)
1 x Premium Plush Sneaker Cleaning Brush
1 x Premium Plush Microfibre Cloth (40 x 40)
1 x Premium Suede Crepe Nap Brush

Before you even begin the cleaning process, make sure you get a good whiff of the solution because it ACTUALLY smells like marshmallows. From my experience with the product, the scent does actually stick to your shoes a little too, so it really freshens them up. Once you're done fighting the urge to drink the stuff (seriously don't though lol), you'll actually be able to go ahead and use the solution on suede, leather, mesh, nubuck, gore-tex and pretty much any other sneaker material.

Once you've mixed the solution in water, you only need to dip the brush in once and shake off the excess. Whilst the cleaner and brush are suitable for cleaning most materials, it's probably wise to remember that you only need to scrub gently to produce the foam. Be especially careful with primeknit materials like the kind on the adidas Ultra Boost. Basically, just don't scrub furiously and you'll be fine. The mixture itself is really effective, it foams up nicely and you probably only need to soak the brush once or twice per shoe to cover the upper entirely.

Even though the NMDs I cleaned are black anyway, the solution really helped clean out the dust and dirt that collects in the holes of the mesh material. As for the boost, I used a slightly different technique. By dipping the microfibre towel into the solution and wrapping it around my finger, I was able to target dirt marks and scuffs on the boost material. It took some elbow grease, but those hard black scuffs you can sometimes find yourself wincing over came straight out. I was delighted with this result, especially after trying and failing to get them out with quick wipes.

To sum it up, I've pretty much fallen in love with this kit after one use, and I send a king sized thumbs-up to the guys at SneakersER. They've built up an amazing collection of products that can provide you with everything you could possibly need as a sneaker enthusiast, and the quality of the products is second to none. They've also become well known for their sneaker midsole paint pens, which I hope to try out in the near future. You can check them out here.

If you're looking to try out a new sneaker cleaning product, I highly recommend this brand. You won't be disappointed!

Do you have any effective sneaker cleaning tips or tricks? Hit me up here or on Instagram and let me know.

Thanks for reading!

SNEAKER PEEK - FOOTLOCKER x ADIDAS PURE BOOST R

14:25

Over the last year or so, I've become more than familiar with adidas' Boost technology. Who hasn't? Purchasing NMDs, Ultra Boost and a snazzy pair of Y3s has undoubtedly left me mindlessly indulged in the cloud comfort that the German giants have created. However, up until earlier this week, I was yet to have investigated the Pure Boost range. When I walked into Bristol's Footlocker store, I spotted the stone/beige coloured Pure Boost sneaker, tried it on and almost immediately asked a member of staff for the other foot. What's important to note here is that, if I've made it to this stage in a store, the chances of me walking out empty handed are incredibly slim. To put it simply; I fell in love with these sneakers, and I'll tell you why.

Even upon first glance, the Pure Boost R offer something a little different on a visual level. One of the most noticeable features are the laces. They're fed through eyelets that are set lower down on the sneaker, almost reaching the midsole, creating an asymmetrical aesthetic. One of the first things I did after purchasing a pair was tie the laces off centre, somewhat emphasising their design. It's something you can play around with for sure. In addition, the sneakers feature suede tabs at the front and back of the ankle area with adidas and 'Pure Boost' branding. Another eye-catching element is the three stripe detail at the front of each shoe, similar to what we saw on the Uncaged Ultra Boosts that were recently released. Of course, the Boost material is ever present, sitting on an outsole that matches the colour of the sneaker itself.

Comfort has always been a huge part of the Boost range, and there's no exception with the Pure Boost R. Without having experienced every sneaker in adidas' Boost arsenal, I can't give an expert opinion on where to rank the comfort of the Pure Boost R. However, I'd definitely place them on the same level as the NMD. The Boost material itself feels slightly firmer than on the Ultra Boosts, but the comfort of the overall shoe really rounds everything up. The PBRs are made up of mainly mesh and scuba/neoprene material, so you get that cosy sock fit that I've personally grown to love. The sizing of the sneakers is pretty accurate, but the fit does allow you to go half a size up if, like in my case, it's the only pair they have left in stock.

You can grab yourself a pair of Pure Boost Raws online at Footlocker. Despite this colourway currently being mostly sold out, you can also get these kicks in black and khaki. Unlike the Ultra Boost and NMD, the Pure Boosts will only set you back £89.99, which is slightly more affordable in comparison. With whispers of a grey colourway becoming available soon, it's definitely worth keeping a keen eye on this sneaker.

How do you feel about the Pure Boost Raw, and what's your favourite colourway?

As always, thanks for reading!

All-White Sneaker Problems

16:02

Photography by Lewys Mann

A little while back, I managed to get my hands on a pair of White Ultra Boost 2.0s, which I wrote about here. Obviously, I was really excited to own a pair, and as an avid fan of adidas, it was great to know that I'd soon be walking around in such a nice colour-way of this popular silhouette. However, as I'm sure others may have experienced, owning and wearing a pair of all-white sneakers can be somewhat of an anxiety trigger, and at the worst of times, quite a stressful ordeal. I'm not saying for a moment that I regret buying the UBs, because I don't. They are unquestionably one of my favourite pairs, and just like any other pair of boosts, they are an incredible creation from adidas's roaring machine of success. I guess having them and wearing them has inspired me to write about the experience that comes with white sneakers in general, and how I try to maintain mine.

Earlier this week, we had some spectacular weather here in the UK, so I took advantage and wore my white Ultra Boosts to work. I could probably count the number of times I've worn this pair on one hand since I bought them in June, and I guess this could really come down to the weather that we have in this country. In fact, that's probably something that factors into this subject altogether. Regardless, I was enjoying this slightly rare occasion in my white sneakers until I looked down at my feet halfway through the day to find a smudge of dirt on the primeknit material of my right shoe. Of course my attempt to rub it off only made things worse, and so I had accept that this smudge was staying there until I could get home and fix it. Now this might come down to my slightly particular personality, but I could not stop looking down at my shoes for the rest of the day. Every time I looked back, the smudge appeared worse and worse. Obviously this was just me getting myself worked up, and for me this is where these anxieties really come into play. Dirt and scuffs will appear a hell of a lot more prominently on white material than on most other materials, and so it can really play on your mind, especially if you're an anxious person like I am.

I think that the whole matter comes down to what kind of person you are, how well you look after your sneakers, how often you wear them and, perhaps more than anything, how bothered you actually are about it. Not everyone is an anxious wreck like me when it comes to these things, and a lot of people probably don't care. If you're like me though, you probably do care...too much. Watching every step you take outdoors; wincing every time your shoe scuffs against something; dying inside when someone behind you steps on the back of your grails. It's all quite understandable and within reason if you ask me. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that we should have to lock ourselves at home, sit in a corner and rock back and forth in our favourite kicks. There is a whole industry out there to help us look after our favourite white ones & twos.

As obvious as this is going to sound, I've come to learn that the best thing you can do is quite simply look after your sneakers, and this is what I try to remember if I am feeling a little anxious. The way I see it, there's no point spending top dollar on a pair of shoes that are going to sit in a box and never see the light of day. I'm a big believer in wearing your kicks and enjoying them, and this is something we can all do, especially with the booming industry of shoe care products that are available now. Initially protecting your shoes with waterproof sprays is definitely something worth doing, and you can do your own research into what brand you want to go for. When your white sneakers do inevitably get a little dirty, there are also plenty of cleaning products available, from quick wipes for on-the-go use to more thorough cleaning solutions and kits. So far, my knowledge and experience of different sneaker maintenance brands is quite limited as I've only tried a few different products. However, I'm definitely planning to try out some recommended options in the next few months and hopefully bring you my findings in a blog post.