Many men may need to stock up on this stuff.

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The post Personal Care for the Terrible Men in Your Life appeared first on EcoSalon.

What if we told you that men and some of their toxic masculinity habits are reallllly bad for the environment?

Well. Technically it’s not mens’ fault… it’s society’s.

It’s all about branding

We all know how marketing works. A company’s marketing team gets an idea in its collective head about who their target market is.

So, when marketers caught wind that women tend to respond to healthy messages, and, on average, respond to messages about preserving the environment more, “caring about the environment” became a feminine… “thing.”

The research

The researchers also discovered that when given the choice between green batteries and regular batteries, men bought the regular ones, and men also tended to respond better to environmental companies that use a more masculine logo.

“Stereotypical feminine behavior and attitudes are more in parallel with taking care of the environment,” Wilkie says of the findings.

“Male traits tend to conflict with this idea of maintaining a nice environment for other people.”

He also cites that historically, data has shown that men tend to feel like they will be perceived as weak, etc. if they drink, eat, etc. “girly” things.

Come on, guys. You’re better than this! Man up for the Earth already.

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Image of man via Shutterstock

The post Take a Chill Pill, Dude: Your Toxic Masculinity is Hurting the Earth appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sierra Nevada Mountains in a cologne, a self-sharpening razor and all-in-one organic hops-based shampoo and soap. These outrageously perfect natural grooming products for men will have you swooning big time and falling in love with the art of shaving.

Yes, men pride themselves in getting out the door faster than an Olympian time clock, but that in no way implies careless grooming. Men still need to look and smell good too! So here is a round up of 3 outrageously perfect natural male grooming products that can make the art of shaving, well, more like an art and less like dragging a dull razor across your neck. And while we’re at it, let’s not forget to encourage them to clean in and around theirs ears, shall we?

Self-Sharpening Razor by Born Sharp

An automatic self-sharpening, self-cleaning razor with a single blade lasting up to five years and promising over 2,000 shaves? Yes, it is true. Arguably the greatest tech invention of the decade within the grooming sector, you can forget about disposable razors and excessive plastic–the Born Sharp razor is quality that lasts and redefines the art of shaving for good. ”I knew there had to be another way and we have to think longer term,” Steve Worthington, founder of Born Sharp told us. “The Born Sharp is a single blade giving you the closest shave possible, and it’s less damaging to your skin.” They’ve just ended an Indiegogo campaign, so keep your eye out when this product hits the market because there is nothing like it!

Born Sharp

Hop Shampoo & Body Bar and Shave Cream by Damn Handsome

“If you’re like the average guy, you’ve probably been getting your shaving cream from a can,” Damn Handsome says about their shave cream. “Well, that chemical filled tin does nothing for your face and smells like a dentist office. Our Old-School Shave Cream, on the other hand, is full of natural ingredients that nourish your face, organics hops that will help calm irritated skin and our fresh blend of lavender & juniper will leave you smelling earthy clean – not chemically.” Right. As if guys needed another reason to support the hops industry! The Damn Handsome convenient all-in-one shampoo/soap is also crafted with organic homegrown hops. Plus, it’s packed with other great stuff for your skin like argan oil, sunflower, aloe leaf and juniper to have any damn handsome mate looking and smelling great without unwanted additives–just the good stuff.

Scout Mob, $30

Yuba River Backpacker’s Cologne by Juniper Ridge

Finish that perfect shave up with a natural cologne. It’s California’s Sierra Nevada mountains in a bottle, literally. The guys behind Juniper Ridge are really just avid hikers thriving on the fresh freedom of the outdoors. For almost fifteen years they’ve hiked their favorite trails along the entire Pacific Coast crafting small-batch fragrances distilled from plants, bark, moss and whatever other botanicals they find along the way. Using old perfuming techniques, these scents never see any petroleum-based or chemical additives, only pure aromatherapeutic nostalgia.

Juniper Ridge, $55

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featured image from Juniper Ridge, images from the brands

Keep in touch with Juliette, @spadesandsiLK

The post The Art of Shaving: Outrageously Perfect Natural Grooming Products for Men appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnChivalrous mens fashion highlights top eco designers for our male counterparts.

Ninety-eight percent of fashion is geared towards women and our love for clothing, our desire to express without words. So, what about men? Without leaving our handsome counterpoints out of the conversation, On Trend this week celebrates courageous menswear designers. Below are great brands that tailor a keen ethical stance by living out sustainable and eco-conscious values in their work.

Foundry Ikat Shirt by Kuyichi

A company as cool and confident as Kuyichi has nothing to hide up their sleeves. Baring a completely transparent production process, Kuyichi is dedicated to minimizing negative environmental and social impacts at all steps. For example, all fabric waste is recycled and used in new garments. “Being conscious is all about development, collaborate and thinking forwards so sustainability is not the next generations job,” the brand claims on its website. This foundry Ikat shirt is made with organic cotton, so it’s softer both on your skin and the land where it was grown.

We Three Leaves, on sale for $86

The Ginsberg Jacket by Uniforms for the Dedicated

As all chivalrous gentlemen are wont to do, Uniforms for the Dedicated submits to always striving for better. By promising the highest-quality, ethical production methods and the use of environmentally responsible materials, the Swedish label continues to reach upward while holding a strong foothold in classic men’s style. This casual suiting jacket embodies a little stretch for comfort and ease to pair with slacks or your favorite jeans.

Uniforms for the Dedicated, 272 euros

Standard Issue Utility Chino by Apolis

Brothers, Raan and Shea Parton founded Apolis, meaning global citizen, a decade ago to create “advocacy through industry.” Today the Certified B Corp is continually progressing towards a more sustainable business one relationship at a time. “Becoming a Certified B Corporation helps us clearly communicate our standing as a social enterprise and learn about ways we can make our company more socially and environmentally conscious,” says the brand. The slim tailor fit of these classic chinos are made under fair labor conditions in Los Angeles.

Apolis, $158

Lover Shoe by Brave Gentleman

“Principled attire and smart supplies,” Brave Gentleman is a fiercely ethical brand upholding the highest morals for people and the planet. Every Brave Gentleman piece is one hundred percent vegan, and outshines ecological standards, fair labor conditions for the hands that create each piece and definitely style. These beautiful Lover shoes match their name: Made entirely of vegan material through fair labor conditions in Portugal, the sleek shoe ties into any occasion.

Brave Gentleman, $285

Falsterbo in Mint by Gässling Falsterbo

Searching for an organic underwear brand is not a terribly grueling challenge (well, with all the lovely examples of wear) but it certainly is not an easy one. Yet, Gässling Falsterbo no doubt comes out on top as a favorite men’s organic underwear brand. Using ninety-five percent certified organic cotton from India (adding five percent elastane for better fit and longer lifespan), the fabric is never bleached and each dying process is also eco friendly. Made in Estonia, the label prides itself in overseeing all steps of production “down to the smallest button.” The result is a final product they are proud of. These supportive but breathe-easy, underwear in mint green is an absolute favorite for comfort and style.

Gässling Falsterbo, 35 euros

Keep in touch, follow Juliette @spadesandsiLK

Want more On Trend? See The Latest

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images: featured image photo by Christian Gustavsson for Uniforms for the Dedicated, collage by Juliette Donatelli and images from the brands

The post The Absolute Best Mens Fashion Eco Designers: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnRecent Twittersphere flare-ups featuring Rashida Jones and Sinéad O’Conner “slut-shaming” pop-culture irritant Miley Cyrus and others for their fleshy outbursts drew swift backlash from some members of the feminist community and bitter online battles among women. What’s a man to make of all this?

Growing up in a liberal family in the ‘70s got me thinking. I cheered as Billie Jean King thrashed Bobby Riggs on the tennis court, watched in awe as millions jammed Washington to protest anti-women legislation and celebrated the Roe v. Wade triumph. I loved my mother that much more for proudly wearing her ERA bracelet (serendipitous though it was, as those also happened to be her initials) and followed her example when it came to developing my worldview regarding women and politics. All told, my support for feminism was indelibly engrained as far back as I can remember.

As an undergraduate, I read Andrea Dworkin and Betty Friedan, marched in “take back the night” campaigns and volunteered as a campus escort. It wasn’t front and center in my life, but I did my best to keep my testosterone in check in my relationships and outlook, and play by the rules as I saw them regarding the movement and its tenets, and their implications for my thinking and lifestyle.

To be clear, while I called myself a feminist (and still do), I look back with no illusions that my insensitivities didn’t lead to plenty of bad behaviors. I was guilty of my share of objectification (still am), and my ignorance and lack of empathy reared their heads on too many occasions. Yet, by and large, I embraced (accepted, I should say) the vilification of such shortcomings. I even tried to understand how someone could see my penis as a weapon.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy staying oriented in this sociopolitical context. One example of weird crossfire was in my studies. I was a lit guy, more or less, and clearly remember the icy stare of the prof who refused to read my thesis on Kerouac because the writer was a “pig.” Another one threw (as in slammed) a copy of Homer’s Odyssey to the floor during class, saying the work was “full of male crap” and that the canon was “rigged.” As the editor of a campus literary magazine, I witnessed and was dragged into numerous battles between the sexes—and I didn’t dare publish any of my own erotica as I was sure my take was poisoned by my pen (or sword, as it were).

Most of this kind of thing was anecdotal to my experience, not pervasive, and all told I manned up and surfed the Second Wave as best I could, learning life lessons along the way. But as the end of the century drew nearer, things began to change. The Feminist Sex Wars heated up, Madonna showed up as the anti-virgin and Chrissie Hynde began shooting her mouth off. The feminist tent grew bigger and the women I knew were no longer playing by the hard and fast rules I grew up with, as liberation took on a new, more inclusive and individualized sensibility. Relations between the sexes were suddenly less clear and, just as my fathers before me must have struggled to keep pace with change, I found myself tripping and bumbling and trying to understand, rethink and act accordingly.

The questions came fast: What, exactly, did all these changes mean and what, exactly, was becoming “okay” in this shifting paradigm? Could I flip on the porn? Did I dare admit that I secretly thought objectification was at times underrated? And why is that chick hitting on me? Does her T-shirt really say that? Did she just say that?! Part of me, of course, was delighted by this turn of events. Another part, seasoned in old-school sexual politics, had no idea what to do. Understandable, I guess, when seeing the world through the eyes of what is or isn’t politically correct.

To the “it’s a not about you” voices out there, fair enough, but I should say that it’s not just the fact that I’m a guy that made me attempt to see this evolution through my own lens. It’s human nature to ask what does this mean to me, particularly when it’s not about you and in many ways empathy cannot be part of the equation. Besides, I had women friends and lovers, and processing how those relationships were affected by such changes was at the very least polite, and at best simply the right thing to do.

This is now…

Today, Third-Wave Feminism has come of age (with a fourth purportedly taking shape), and it’s largely credited with invigorating and in many ways saving the movement. In terms of sexual expression, the footprint is everywhere—from the Suicide Girls to Yes Means Yes, there are countless articulations of the sex-positive moment. Just the other week, in fact, a woman friend and I were discussing how the word cunt is being happily retrieved for delightful usage by many of its owners. On the (more) popular front, we have Miley Cyrus merrily swinging along on her wrecking ball (spoiler: bad art alert), and Rihanna crooning, “come here rude boy/boy can you get it up?”

Not everyone is of the same mind though, as evidenced by recent online flames when Rashida Jones and Sinéad O’Conner weighed in negatively on Miley et al. Watching the slut-shaming and “what is feminism?” debate erupt, I thought about how much the world has changed since I was young—and about all those old struggles on the okay vs. not okay front. To her credit, Jones, addressing the issue in a Glamour article, asked men to weigh in: “Men: WHERE ARE YOU??? Please talk to us about how all this makes you feel. You are 49 percent of the population; don’t sit around and let women beat one another up while you intermittently and guiltily enjoy the show. Speak up! We care what you think!”

So okay, Rashida, here it goes:

Looking back, many of the questions I used to ask myself about how to react to women (and female expression) were off the mark. The fact of the matter is that too often we see the world and our fellow inhabitants through a social or political lens, leaving out one critical fact—people are people first, and men, women and the trans community are each a subset of that. Forget the relationship with the movement—we’re at our best when we treat humans with humanity, not when we try to define, limit and sometimes even understand others.

What does this mean? Well, call it trial and error, but I’ve come to realize that my most successful relationships—and best behaviors—happen when I drop the perceived definitions and flailing, biased judgments. Not to diminish my own, personal politics (to which I remain deeply committed), but what was most important about how I was raised was not how to be a feminist, but rather why to be feminist. Compassion and respect come first, said and modeled my mother. It’s not about gender—and being politically correct isn’t the core issue. The real question we must ask ourselves is, are we humane? To my boys (now interesting and respectable men), my mantra was always “be nice to everyone you meet and watch out for cars.” Be kind and be safe. That’s really all you need to know—at least that’s where it’s best to begin.

So, Rashida, what do I think? Well, my penchant for naked aside, I think Miley pretty much sucks. (Let’s just say her work is not to my taste.) Rihanna’s talent is, in a word, overwhelming (and Chris Brown is a criminal), and you, Rashida, are a brilliant actress. Sinead? Two things: that voice changed me back in the day and, sorry, but she turned me on something fierce. As for how each of you influence our culture—and younger women in particular—I’ll just say keep doing what you think is best. Your audiences (and perhaps their parents) can take it from there.

In the end it’s on us men to check ourselves, not on women to censor how they express themselves. I recently saw a powerful photograph of an attractive topless woman at a protest event with this scrawled across her naked breasts: “It’s still not okay to rape me.” I admit that I lingered over the image for a few extra seconds for prurient reasons, but what truly resonated for me is the truth of those words. And how, person-to-person feminism aside, and no matter what we believe about anything else in this world, she’s right. And that’s all we really need to know—or at least that’s where it’s best to begin.

Scott Adelson is EcoSalon’s Senior Editor of HyperKulture, a monthly column that explores opening cultural doors to initiate personal change. He is also the author of InPRINT, which reviews and discusses books, new and old. You can reach him at scott at adelson dot org and follow him @scottadelson on Twitter.

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Images: PNG etc (top) and PeterTea

The post Yes Means Yes Means What? – Miley, Rihanna and Me: HyperKulture appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s Movember, the month when men grow out their facial hair to raise awareness for testicular and prostate cancer, or as my friend calls it “Natural Birth Control Month.” 

Whether you’re suffering from facial-hair-overload, or basking in the scruffiness, we’ve rounded up 13 things women love and hate about Movember.

We Love

The rugged manliness of facial hair (scientifically proven, especially after ten days of growth).

We Don’t Love

Your cheek cactus raking our skin as we cuddle up against you.

We Love

The raw biological signals your beard subconsciously sends us: Full facial hair is an indication of maturity, health and fertility.

We Don’t Love

When you wonder out loud about styling your facial hair like Ron Jeremy, Dali, or the hipster banjo player that is often mistaken for a bench-sleeper.

We Love

Your unwavering dedication to Movember and your fellow man.

We Don’t Love

When you run your fingers through the scruff upwards, and momentarily morph into Zach Galifianakis.

We Love

When you stroke your beard in deep thought like ye olde college professor.

We Don’t Love

The Instagram selfies of your beard’s progression.

We Love

A month of not having to clean up your fallen warriors out of the bathroom sink.

We Don’t Love

When you ask if you might as well keep going until December, and get a part time job as Santa Claus.

We Love

That yes, your facial hair is sexy.

We Don’t Love

When you think we are just jealous because we can’t grow facial hair. Trust me, we have plenty of stuff to shave already.

We Love

When the month is over, and your clean shave reminds us of a dashing James Bond or one of the 98% of men working in a fortune 500 company.

Keep in touch with Juliette on twitter @spadesandsiLK

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Image: rowenawaack

The post 13 Things Women Love (And Hate) About Movember appeared first on EcoSalon.

What women want and what’s good for us are often two different things. Too often, men with these destructive habits make the cut when they should be out on the curb.

My friends and I used to chat endlessly about what women want and how infuriating it is that guys don’t have a clue. Looking back, I realized it was us without the clue. I was in this on-again off-again relationship with a guy I knew was also seeing someone else, my BFF was with this total slacker who was still living with his mom, and my other friend was clearly with her boyfriend because of his fancy car, ginormous house and his talent for picking up her (expensive) bar tab.

Does any of the above also describes yourself and your friends? There are times when what women want in a guy ends up vastly contradicted by who we’re ultimately attracted to, and I can’t figure it out. If guys came complete with a list of destructive habits on their lapel, we’d probably steer clear. But often what initially attracts us to a man will be the undoing of a relationship.

“I like a man to be a man, and I guess a lot of those qualities could (and do) fall under ‘destructive,'”says Forbes writer Larissa Faw. “There definitely has to be some edge.” It’s hard to know when to draw the line – you know, especially since we keep moving it. What women want and what we sometimes settle for are two totally different things. Not to pull a Bradshaw, but I can’t help but wonder: How much edge should one woman take?

Below are 9 of the most common destructive habits known to man (literally). How many have you fallen for?

The Playboy
He’s good-looking, flirty, charming – and he’s dated all of your friends. “He seems attractive to you because he’s ‘unavailable’ and always keeps you guessing,” says psychotherapist and relationship expert Kimberly Moffit, who warns his destructive habits will catch up with him eventually. “He won’t enjoy the satisfaction that a long-term relationship can give.”

The Workaholic
Employment is hot and so is he. He’s successful, popular, and those suits – sigh. “Yet, he won’t really have time for relationships or families in the way you’re probably hoping,” says relationship expert April Masini. In other words, work is his wife, and you’re kind of… well, the mistress.

The Big Spender
When it comes to what women want, financial security can be a red herring. Big spenders seem great on the outside, but are usually a lot less wealthy than they appear. I mean seriously, what are they trying to prove (or hide) with all that stuff? If your big spender’s not a big earner, just think: When you get married, you’ll inherit half his debt. Isn’t that adorable?

The Egomaniac
He’s gorgeous, but the problem is he knows it. Between fluffing his hair and checking his angles in every mirror he passes, it’s amazing he even knows what you look like. He’s even less likely to compliment you on it.

The Energizer Bunny
He’s the fast-driving, cliff-diving, plane-jumping risk-taker who has an annoying amount of energy. While this is attractive at first, as he gets older, his need for speed won’t ease up. “At the age of 50, this guy will still be trying to find his fun ‘fix,’” says Moffit. Not only will you never find a sense of stability with him, you’ll end up napping more than your cat.

The Control Freak
“He might seem manly and in charge, but if he’s checking your e-mails, voicemails and making you change your clothes because you didn’t wear what he picked out for you, buckle up,” says Masini, “This isn’t going to get better for you.”

The Jerk
You justify his douchey behavior because he’s been through a lot and doesn’t know any better. Plus, when he turns back into Dr. Jekyll he’s so sweet and you have the most amazing time together. Barf. “Rather than him being gushy with or rude to you all the time, the random positive attention keeps you interested in the relationship,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of A Happy You: Your Ultimate Prescription for Happiness.

The Commitment-Phobe
Paging Chandler Bing: “This guy’s perfectly fine with being in a ‘sorta’ relationship with you, but when it comes to doing anything suggesting a long-term commitment, he flies the coop,” says Moffit. The is one of the destructive habits women always like to think they’ll be able to change–though it’s rarely true. This guy always finds a way to bail on occasions like Valentine’s Day and family get-togethers – even Christmas. (So why is it you’re not the one running again?)

The Slacker
Once known as the high school pot head, he’ll one day be living in a van down by the river – until then, he’s living at home with his parents and working temp jobs to pay for the latest video games. “You like him because he’s laisse-faire and easy-going,” says Moffit, “But as a result has nothing to bring to a relationship, and chances are he never will.” Oy.

What women want: Are we looking for too much yet not asking for enough? Tell us in the comments.

Related on EcoSalon:
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Image: Pedro Ribeiro Simões

The post What Women Want: 9 Destructive Habits We Hate To Love In Men appeared first on EcoSalon.

There are countless articles telling women how to turn up the heat in the bedroom, but rarely will you find a resource that gives men the same helpful advice. Sure, men are manly and should know how to make their studly way around the bedroom, but believe it or not, there are some who lack this valuable knowledge. Don’t believe me? Here are five mistakes men make in the bedroom.

1.  Coming to Bed Smelling Like Ass

Or sweat, or feet, or anything else that no one wants to smell. Of all the mistakes men make, this may be the most offensive to the senses. In fact, feel free to take a shower before jumping in between the sheets. We won’t mind. We’ll wait. And, even if sex doesn’t happen, you’ll be able to experience the awesomeness of being all clean and pretty while you sleep. We work, go to the gym, and we hustle just the same as you, but we aren’t trying to transfer all of the residue of the day onto you when we go to bed. Unless you want us to. Maybe.

2.  Wearing “Period” Underwear

Some mistakes men make can be chalked up to ignorance. And then there’s just willful ignorance. Although most men don’t menstruate, many of you do keep the ratty SpongeBob boxers and briefs your now post-college body wore in college. Women call those period panties and we don’t wear them unless we are on our periods. We also don’t dare wear them when we go out on dates if we are expecting anything to happen. We know, beat down underclothes aren’t sexy. This goes for the high water Grinch pajama pants you’ve been wearing for 15 years as well.

3.  Jumping on Us Like A Hyena

Foreplay goes a long way. Unless there’s some kind of legitimate reason you have to jump on us and pin yourselves to our chests like a Purple Heart, this is not the way to broach the subject of sex. We know it’s late and we’re probably tired too. But just as you wouldn’t appreciate us yelling, “can you hurry up – I want to watch Breaking Bad” we don’t want to feel like a pit stop on the way to sleepy time.

4.  Acting Butt-Hurt When We Make a Request

While men love to throw out sexual requests and appreciate women who are open to them, they react a bit differently when we make our own requests. If you can’t handle constructive criticism in the bedroom, then by all means, feel free to keep your own ideas (and hands) to yourself. And then we can both live boringly ever after because no one is comfortable saying anything.

5.  Not Noticing the Fancy $200 Bra

Hey, we took your advice, okay? We wore the fancy bra to bed. What is the point though, if you don’t notice the difference between this one and the nursing bras we’ve been wearing the whole week? We noticed you took a shower and put on clean underwear – the least you could do is acknowledge that we have indeed, been reading those How to Keep Your Man Happy articles and take them seriously.

There you go…please feel free to add these helpful tips about mistakes men make to the pile of articles on the four billion mistakes women make in the bedroom, how to keep your sex life alive, and how to make your man happy. And, by all means – share with the man you love. Because it’s all about balance, you know.

Related on EcoSalon:

Couples Therapy: Doing What You Love Builds Healthy Relationships

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Image:  Mr. Thomas

The post 5 Mistakes Men Make in the Bedroom (Someone Had To Say It) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Mustaches have oft been seen to be the mark of a man. From the refined whiskers of Hollywood gentlemen to the more masculine mo’s of 80s teen heart-throbs, the humble mustache defines generations. And they are well and truly back in vogue! Everywhere you turn, men are rocking facial hair like it’s 1985. Even initiatives like Movember are encouraging men to embrace their facial locks while raising money and awareness for a good cause. As versatile as they are diverse, do you know the difference between the Handlebar, the Jigsaw, and the Artiste? If not, we’ve got you covered.  

The Artiste

French painters popularized this Parisian look which is reserved for only the most stylish sophisticates. Whiskers can be worn in the traditional neat and tidy way, or you can add wax to the tips for a truly artistic flair (think Salvador Dali!)

The Rockin’ Stache

Made famous by rock legends (like Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison (above) and The Beatles), the Rockin’ Stache had its time in the sun in the 60s and 70s. Many see this style as one that signals stardom and in fact, it is often referred to as “the musical moustache.”

The Horseshoe 

Hulk Hogan really nailed this iconic trend with his over-the-top style, but the horseshoe mustache has been coveted by many and sometimes jokingly associated with virility and masculinity. Reserved for only the manliest of men (whatever that means), cowboys have also rocked this look.

The Commitment-Phobe

For those not quite sure whether they are ready to embrace the full mo, the barely there mustache is the perfect compromise. Often worn in conjunction with a barely there beard, the ‘almost mo’ rose to prominence in the 90s (and on the catwalk!) as a glamorous ‘on trend’ look.

The Jigsaw 

Johnny Depp helped to make this look famous. The jigsaw mustache consists of two carefully groomed pieces on the upper lip, a small patch under the lower lip and sometimes even a larger patch around the bottom of the chin.

Images: Guido Strotheide , Dion Hinchcliffe, Ford Library Museum, Mike Kalasnik, Chameleon, AKA Binsk

Related on Ecosalon: 

What Women Want Matters, a Lot: Welcome to the Sexual Revolution 2.0

Men’s Grooming: 7 Naturally Sexy Products Sans Fake Scents

The post Mustaches Through the Ages: Naming Dali, Hogan and Depp’s Whiskers appeared first on EcoSalon.

Men’s grooming needn’t be complicated; these 7 natural and organic products for shaving, cleansing, and more are designed for guys and won’t leave them smelling like cheesy aftershave. 

My husband generally isn’t interested in the art of skin care, other than once building me a shelf in the bathroom to prevent us from being crushed under a random avalanche of my products. Still, I keep an eye out for the best grooming products for men. Here are seven fantastic creations so good they might change your guy’s perspective on skin care—if you don’t decide to keep them for yourself.

1. Clarisonic Face Brush, Mia Collection ($119)
Gadgetry is a god to many men (and women!) and the reigning Zeus of skin cleaning is this handy face brush from Clarisonic. Ubiquitous to most malls, you can find these brushes displayed as you run through the makeup and perfume sections, pursued by fragrance sprayer-demons. Next time, take a breath-holding moment check out the Clarisonic, which offers up one of the most comprehensive face washings outside of a spa. Using sonic technology to clean out oils, bacteria, and more, it can sanitize even the roughest skins.
You may want to substitute Clairsonic’s recommended cleansers with a more natural alternative. Consider the Original Face Wash from Bull Dog Skincare for Men, which offers up a fragrance and paraben-free cleaning for $9.99.

2. MyChelle Dermaceuticals Fruit Enzyme Scrub ($17.19)

Not eager to use a plastic and battery-powered device to clear out pores? Consider this Fruit Enzyme Scrub from MyChelle Dermaceuticals. Vegan-friendly and gluten-free, this product contains both fruit and bamboo extracts to buff away skin debris and clear out clogged pores. It also offers up an excellent fruity scent.

3. Aubrey Men’s Stock City Rhythms Shave Cream ($7.30)
Men’s skin is thicker than women’s and notoriously less sensitive. Still, many men take a daily razor to their skins, which can wreak havoc on their pores. This shave cream from Aubrey Organics provides a cool shave while protecting skin from razor burn. It leads with organic avocado and wheat germ oil, offering up a witch hazel antiseptic and organic eucalyptus extracts.

4. Lavera After Shave Balm ($20.75)
Organic horsetail and natural marine minerals provide the basis for this soothing after shave. Meanwhile, extracts of organic calendula, echinacea and witch hazel calm and disinfect irritation. Containing natural essential oils and some organic ingredients, this BDIH-certified vegan product is cruelty-free and gluten-free.

5. Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20 ($27.00)
A lightweight moisturizer offering up a built-in broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, this product from Jack Black moisturizes without leaving a face feeling oily or greasy. It also contains Blue Algae Extract, a rich source of Vitamin E, as well as Sea Parsley, which is claimed to be an effective anti-irritant to help improve the overall look of skin.

6. Sow Good Men Natural Shampoo, Shower and Shave Gel ($14.99)
Some women may balk at the idea of using a combination shampoo plus conditioning product. (If there’s one out there that doesn’t leave your hair greasy, sign me up.) However, put a 3-in-1 product in the shower of many men, and they’ll be lathering up faster than a feminist waving her first-world-problems card. (Mine is hot pink.) Made in the USA, this shampoo, shower, and shave gel is certified by the Natural Products Association. It promises a close shave, as well as moisturized skin and hair. Best of all, it leaves your recycling bin a little emptier with just one bottle instead of three.

7. Straight Razor (Price as determined)
The indisputably most bad-ass way to shave is also the most eco-friendly. The carbon footprint for shaving is high—check out this great article on it from our friends at Slate—and the champion shaving device for saving water and energy while keeping plastic disposables out of landfills is the straight razor. There’s a wide variety of straight razors on the market, from vintage beginner blades to artisanal ones developed by Alex Jacques.

Photo Credit: pol ubeda

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