Don Kowalewski
Writer. Ad Sales and Marketing. Social Media Content Creator. Aeropress Coffee. Makes the best salsa in the world.
Beauty Products and Me, 2022, Part 1
I’m vain. Always have been. And it’s not even something I wish I wasn’t. I like when my hair stylist looks shocked when I tell her my age and that I have three teenagers. I know, I know, she’s working for a tip, but I’m a sucker for flattery. Some of my youthful looks are luck and genetics, but the rest is pure, obsessive vanity.
Vanity isn’t for me. It’s for other people. We should all be at least a little considerate of other people and what they have to see when they look at us. We mow our lawns and pull weeds and rake leaves and keep up our house so the neighbors don’t complain and the neighborhood looks nice …isn’t personal appearance the least we can do for our fellow man so, as much as we can help it, they don’t have to look at a wrinkled, tired-looking, old Don?
Do you only wash your face with cold water? Do you use pre-shave oil and warm washcloths to soften your stubble before shaving? Do you dab eye cream under your eyes in the morning and at night (and sometimes at night use pure Vitamin E oil mixed with coffee grounds)? When you apply expensive daily moisturizer do you make sure to apply while pushing your skin up and not in circles and never pulling down? Do you sleep on your side (left side one night, right side the next night) and not on your back so gravity doesn’t pull your skin and cause wrinkles? Do you use a high end face wash?
Ask me those questions and I’ll answer “yes” to all of them.
Men’s skin care is a booming business. From Kiehl’s to Arbonne to Everyman Jack and many, many more …I’m learning I’m not alone. Why can’t my fellow vane brothers just use what our wives, girlfriends, and daughters use? Because, we’ve bought into the hype and we believe the marketing that men’s skin is different. It probably is, right? Something about testosterone probably makes sense.
I’ve been doing the research. And by “research” I mean “clicking on ads”. My choices came down to Harry’s (the same company that does mail-order shaving razors), Duke Cannon, Oars + Alps, Disco, and Lumin Skin Care.
Drum roll . . .
I went with Harry’s and Duke Cannon. Here’s what I got for Christmas from Santa (aka my amazing wife).
- Harry’s Exfoliating Face wash
- Harry’s Daily Face Lotion
- Harry’s Brightening Eye Cream
- Duke Cannon Bourbon Soap (this stuff is AMAZING …mostly the scent)
As of writing this Blog, it’s January 6th …so six days of this new skin regiment and I’m impressed. The face wash makes my skin feel fresh and soft. Then a very modest bit of eye cream and face lotion awaken my face and when I look in the mirror …I think I can tell I’ve upgraded my product.
I’ve also started shampooing and conditioning again. For the past two years, because of an article I read, I stopped using shampoo because it “is full of chemicals” and “strips your hair of natural oils”. But, my stylist was really mad at me the last time in her chair and said my scalp was dry and said I should use coconut oil to try and fix it. Oops. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I should probably start with the basics …shampoo and conditioner. That’s a topic for my next Beauty Products update and Blog entry.
I know. You won’t find many Blogs more exciting than this. Leave a comment if you have a brand you think beats what I’m using.
Here’s to beauty and vanity.
Don Kowalewski 
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