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May 9, 2008
Celebrity Facial Hair Friday - Robert Downey Jr
This week's Celebrity Facial Hair Friday pick is Robert Downey Jr, star of the latest Marvel superhero movie Iron Man. And what a star he is, helping to bring in over $100 million during opening weekend. Damn! That's a box office smash. Gotta love it when the studios decide to do a sequel within a day.
I'm a big fan of Downey's acting. In my opinion he's one of those guys you'd love to dismiss (like Rob Lowe), and then they turn in a stellar performance. OK, I'll admit it. Tom Cruise is on that list too. Sadly, most of these guys' off-screen lives leave a little something to be desired. We'll admire the artist, not the man.
To the facial hair! I love Downey's goatee in this film. Usually the goatee is reserved for the bad guy, or the cheesy sidekick, but Downey's Tony Stark bucks the trend and makes a bold statement. We declared the goatee dead on the site a few years ago. Robert Downey Jr may have just resurrected it.
A big congratulations to Eric Michael Hopper, winner of the Schick "Get Experimental" contest on YouTube. Eric's winner entry was "Clean Up Your Act", which follows the life of an aspiring singer and his feline companion. Personally, I think the cat stole the show.
I have to say - advertisers on Madison Avenue won't be fearing for their day jobs. The armchair director in me says they're all about 15 seconds too long. They're fun, and they incorporate the Schick Quattro Titanium, but they all have an amateur feel. Don't get me wrong - there's some great work here. My personal favorite - A Hobbit's Tale to Smoothness - is worthy of Peter Jackson short. Just not feature length. (I know, everyone's a critic.)
Checking Back In On The Search for the Next Phenom
I'll admit it. I have a special place in my heart for juggling. I used to juggle. (Nerd alert!) Balls, pins, even handkerchiefs. Perhaps I should have tried razors.
This kid jeremy923 kicks some major ass on Gillette's Search for the Next Phenom contest. What's he got in the air? Five balls? Seven balls? Gee, that's a hell of a lot more impressive than that kid who made two free throws in a row from the end of his driveway. Sorry, not that exciting, free-throwing-kid. Learn to juggle.
A quick runner-up mention to the guy who shoots a bow and arrow using his legs and hits a moving target while spinning a basketball. Definitely the most unique thing I've seen in the contest. I don't think he's going to win, but he's definitely cornered the market.
Now, back to that juggling kid. If only he were old enough to shave... He'd be a shoo-in.
Perceptive ShavingStuff reader Janus wrote in a while ago after noticing something odd on the Braun website. Seems he was casually browsing user manuals for his Pulsonic when he came across this electric razor, mysteriously called the SupreX3. To see it, click on this link, which brings you to the user manual page for various Pulsonic models, and then click on the image of the black Pulsonic in the upper right. Unlike all the other Pulsonic razors, this one is labeled SupreX3.
What is the Braun SupreX3? No idea. Google doesn't know either. Janus speculated that is might be the name of the Pulsonic in another country, like the Pulsonic is called the Prosonic in countries like Japan. A good guess, but so far unconfirmed.
If anyone has any more info, please send it in. In the meantime - good eyes Janus! Have you considered a career in forensics?
This Just In - The Recycline Preserve Triple Razor
What do you get when you cross old Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups with renewable wood sources? You get the Recycline Preserve Triple Razor, and handy travel case.
An innovation in shaving, the Preserve® Triple Razor provides an eco-friendly shaving option that doesn't sacrifice performance. With our titanium-coated blades and lubrication strip for comfort, Preserve's Triple Razor delivers a clean, close shave for both men and women.
And, to reinforce their commitment to recycling, if your community doesn't have a recycling program you can simply print out one of these free postage-paid labels and send it back to them when you're done. Also you can move. Or you could call your local city hall and say "Hey, why aren't we recycling?"
Everything about the Preserve is recyclable, with the exception of the blades. To good news is that the handle fits "Personna® Acti-Flexx® and Gillette® Sensor® blades", so you can buy your blades just about anywhere.
We'll be trying out the Recycline Preserve Triple Razor ($7.49) over the next week or two. Tune back in soon for our review.
You gotta hand it to a guy like David Blaine. It's not easy making a living doing magic. Especially after David Copperfield has already made a 747 and the Statue of Liberty disappear.
Instead, Blaine has focussed on the more personal. Street magic, as he called it. Ever see one of his TV specials where he appears to levitate right in front of random people on the street? How does he do that?
Submerged in a water-filled sphere on the stage of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" during a live broadcast, Blaine held his breath for 17 minutes and 4 seconds. That bested the previous record of 16 minutes and 32 seconds, set Feb. 10 by Switzerland's Peter Colat, according to Guinness World Records.
17 minutes?!? That's insane!
Turns out he spent 23 minutes breathing pure oxygen before performing the feat. And while it's still an amazing accomplishment, it kind of feels like doping. The current record of holding your breath without breathing pure oxygen beforehand is 8 minutes and 58 seconds. (Blaine has attempted unsuccessfully to beat it.) Again, insane.
Anyway, as much as I like and respect David Blaine, I don't like his facial hair. It's kind of sloppy, kind of sleazy. It's like bad Prince. I either want to see more or less. Shave it or grow it. It's time for a change. I'm holding my breath.
Came across this blog post from my favorite online source for nerd news - Slashdot. Microsoft "Senior software consulter and developer" Tamir Khason wrote this amusing piece on Computer Languages and Facial Hair. As someone who spends his day job coding up a storm, this piece was right up my alley.
His thesis - the more facial hair you've got, the more popular the programming language you invented will be.
And he's got a point. The creators of C - Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis M. Ritchie and Kenneth L. Thompson - facial hair freaks, and their language is still thriving. The creators of Fortran, Ada and Simula - clean shaven, and fathers of dying languages.
Pictured on the right is my man James Gosling, creator of java, and facial hair fanatic. I owe quite a bit of my career to him. So James - please don't shave! I've still got a lot of apps to write.
April has come to an end and the weather is finally getting warmer. Looking forward to getting outside with the spring weather. And more shaving. In the meantime, here's what we learned.
YouTube
Both Gillette and Schick are getting into the YouTube these days, looking for videos of you doing something clever with a razor. Or just being clever. Schick's got its Get Experimental contest, Gillette's got its Trickstars 08 for the Europeans, and The Search for the Next Phenom for those of you who live in North America. If you've got a video camera and some talent, you could win big.
New Stuff
Got some great new products in from eShave and from John Allan's. Can't wait to try those out. Also ZIRH launched their new Platinum line, for the high-end man. Still waiting for them to add a Platinum shaving cream.
Electric Boogie Woogie
Two razors enter. One razor leave. Who run Bartertown? Braun Pulsonic runs Bartertown. (Yes, I did just reference Mad Max, Beyond Thunderdome.) And for the Tina Turners out there, check out the Silk'n Laser Hair-Remover which uses lasers. 'Nuf said.
Celebrities David Schwimmer joined the growing list of actors-turned-directors who felt the need to show maturity in the form of facial hair. Wesley Snipes joined the list of actors who feel that they are above the IRS. And Charlton Heston left the list of actors. Period. (Sorry, that's probably too harsh. But I liked the symmetry.)
Jokes
And we'll end with the first post of the month, my April Fools story about Gillette attempting a hostile takeover of Schick. Was it funny? I don't know. My story about the eight-bladed Schick Octo from a few years ago got some good reactions. This one fell on deaf ears. OK, I get it. I'll do better next year. Promise.
Believe it or not Father's Day is only about 6 weeks away, and John Allan's is not wasting any time. They've sent over five grooming products they think would make a great gift for dad:
About a year ago we had a chance to review a couple John Allan's products and we found them to be "top shelf". (Is it weird to be quoting myself?) If these new products are anything like the previous ones, we'll be singing their praises in no time. Check back soon for our review, plus other Fathers' Day gift ideas. Six weeks may seem like an eternity, but it'll pass before you know it.
As we mentioned earlier in the month, ZIRH is launching a new premium brand of men's grooming products called ZIRH Platinum. And now it's here! Yup, ZIRH Platinum is online and available for your face and your skin. With eight new products to choose from, you're certain to find the right formulation for your necessitation.
Except for shaving. Hey Platinum ZIRH! What gives? You've got ZIRH R2 R-EVOLUTION Resurface and Remedy Post Shave Healing Balm, for post shaving. But no shaving cream? That's like having a toothpaste but no toothbrush. Or a buggy and no horse. Or a thing and not the other thing that the first thing needed. You know what I mean.
Remember that old adage - "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes"? I'll bet Wesley Snipes wishes he didn't. Seems Mr. Snipes tried to cheat certainty and not pay the government $41 million dollars in taxes.
$41 million dollars.
OK, if he owed the government $41 million, that means he made like $100 million. Which leaves $59 million that he would get to keep. Legally. Dude. Pay up and enjoy your $59 million.
Instead he's sporting the evil Spock goatee and claiming that his sinister twin from a transporter accident is actually to blame. Not buying it. Shave, and pay up.
And enjoy your Benjamins. Now who is credited with that old adage again...?
Foam up and break down the grime with this oil-free face wash. Concentrated means one shot goes a long way. A mild foaming complex delivers a healthy lather while hydrating botanicals ensure moisture replenishment for all skin types. Use it before signing on or signing off for the day.
I will totally agree with the concentrated. You really don't need that much to get your face nice and squeaky clean. I will take issue with the foaming. This stuff didn't foam. I tried using a little. I tried using a lot. I tried in different waters. Couldn't get this stuff to foam. Sharps exfoliant - that foams. Sharps face wash - not so foamy.
Not that this really matters. Sharps Daily Prep is a great face wash and I'm happy using it every day. My only complaint (besides the silly lack of foaming) was that it took a little extra effort to wash off. Not as bad as some other products I've tried, but not the easiest. No biggie. If you're looking for a new daily face wash and an exfoliant, Sharps is a good choice.
Ah exfoliation. A time to EX-tract the FOLIA-ge from the naTION (that is your face). I'm reaching here. Bear with me.
If you're into exfoliation, and really, who isn't, you should check out Sharps Daily Prep Foaming Scrub. I think this was my favorite product from Sharps. Why? Probably the foaming. But the scrub wasn't too far behind.
Get it all with this oil-free wash and scrub combo. Dissolve dirt. Unplug pores. Brighten dull skin. Spherical marble powder grains deliver results without irritating even the most sensitive skin. A 7-day outlook for clear skin.
I will vouch for the spherical marble powder grains. This was one of the most gentle yet effective exfoliants I've tried. Not too gritty, not too fine. Lathered up to a nice foam as well, and washed off easily. What more could you ask for?
Go ahead and make fun of my lack of manliness. I read the directions:
Massage a thin layer onto damp skin.
Wait 30 seconds. Contemplate the goat... feel the kick!
Using short strokes, shave with the grain of hair growth.
Repeat (for you Grizzlies, repeat against the grain).
Have you ever really stared at the picture of a goat? I have. Many times now. In 30 second increments. Here's my free association:
My wife and I had our first baby nine months ago. The boy is awesome. He's staring at me. He likes it when I shave. I remember when he was born. That was an awesome day. We learned a lot about childbirth. Huh... Look at that picture of a goat. You know, that kind of looks like a uterus. And two fallopian tubes. And a... Ok, must be time to shave now.
Where was I? Oh yeah. Shaving with Sharps.
The pluses - easy to apply; clear, so you can see what you're doing; very few nicks and cuts.
The minuses - not the closest shave. Not the worst shave by far, but solidly in the middle. I recommend following step 4 (from above) and doing the repeat shave. Maybe not necessarily against the grain, but perpendicular.
I'd rate Sharps' shave along the lines of Anthony Logistics for Men. A good first step out of the world of drug-store shaving creams. But like anyone trying to expand their horizons, you won't truly appreciate the finer things in life if you jump straight to the end. So consider Sharps for the man who needs to learn there's a better shave out there.
Review of Sharps Kid Glove Oil-Free Pre-Shave Stick
Been shaving with products from Sharps these last few weeks. Sharps - whose website is sharpsusa.com. USA! USA! I love freedom. And so do they.
Anyway, first up is a unique product - Sharps Kid Glove Oil-Free Pre-Shave Stick. While several brands have a pre-shave oil meant to accompany their shaving cream, Sharps is the first line of products I've tried which has a pre-shave stick.
The perfect sidekick to layer under Kid Glove Shave Gel for the closest shave possible. Oil-Free Pre-Shave Stick is a clear protective barrier and a botanical-rich blend of soothers providing up close, comfortable, skin-to-blade contact. Prep skin. Soften whiskers. Never a greasy moment. A lifesaver for guys with sensitive skin, brawny beards and ingrown hairs.
Same basic concept as a pre-shave oil - an undercoating for extra protection - although in non-oily form. And while I'm totally sold on products of a pre-shave nature, I miss the oil. Frankly I didn't see much of a difference with or without the stick.
That said, Sharps Pre-Shave Stick definitely wins on ease of application and neatness. Pre-shave oils can be a bit of a challenge to apply to your face, especially if the bottle containing them isn't designed well. Sharps' stick is like a giant container of chapstick for your face. And it kind of smells like an ice cream cone. There are worse things to get on your face.
Celebrity Facial Hair Friday - Robert Downey Jr
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