Skincare

My New Grooming Channel

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I absolutely adore the physical specimen of manhood.  I call it just shy of worshipping man.  And all this adoration makes me feel compelled to want to bring out the best in men’s physical beauty and their appearance. I absolutely love and adore the physical body of a man!  It gets me very excited.  It gets me very turned on.  You could say I’m boy-crazy but I’m really just man-crazy.  I’m just crazy for boys and men in general!

I’m also a huge lover of grooming.  When I moved to New York City 10 years ago I had the honor of working with Out Magazine to do a grooming series for a big corporate conglomerate!  There was a video of me training for the Gay Games and it included a jog down to Brooklyn Bridge Park.  A park that is very special and near and dear to me, of course!

So ten years after my Out Magazine partnership, it seemed like a natural fit for me to start my own Grooming Channel, paying forward all the lessons I’ve accumulated over the years. 

As men, we don’t really discuss grooming. I think because it is embarrassing but mostly because it is deemed “feminine.”  Oftentimes, men want to know how to do something, but perhaps they aren’t comfortable seeking out this advice. Well, if this sounds like you then you’re in luck because this space is for you!

I plan on covering everything.  Starting with the feet.  Foot fetishists, rejoice!  I haven’t told anybody this but you get it here on the BLOG EXXXCLUSIVE.  We will start with grooming the feet. 

Why?  Because feet, well,  they carry us through life.  They are sort of very important to take care of.  I am a very physical guy and my feet sweat a lot, so I’ll show you on the grooming channel all the small things I do to maintain good footcare.  The goal is to minimize sweat, thus keeping bacteria, fungus, and all sorts of gross pathogens at bay.

My wish is to keep things simple and economical.  It costs $65+ to get your legs waxed at a salon (probably more since I last went) and this is non-inclusive of tip.  This is expensive.  Especially when you can spend $9.99 on my grooming channel, $20-$25 on your own waxing kit via Amazon, and learn how to do it yourself… All in the privacy of your own home. Better yet, for the rest of your life!

Footcare first, and then we move up the body to leg waxing next.  And then after the legs are done, well.  You get my drift.  Sometimes it is nice to keep people guessing!

We embrace all forms of beauty here, of course.  If you want to keep your nipples hairy and the patch above your ass-crack hairy, that’s your decision.  But wouldn’t you want to know how to get rid of that ass-crack patch if you wanted to?  Wouldn’t it feel empowering to get naked and feel confident, knowing that everything is exactly as you like it for yourself?  Feeling beautiful: it’s such a gift! And it is a gift I would like to share with you.

Don’t be afraid of the self-indulgence.  I hope if anything, you feel slightly more at east with the idea of grooming and removing the shame and stigma surrounding men’s bodies.  Throughout it all my slogan remains the same: “a little goes a long way.”

So, if you’re interested in turning your body into a luxury, sign-up for my Grooming Channel today!

*kisses*

How To Collagen Effectively

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Proof I’m still sexy.

I’m obsessed with collagen.  It is a very important protein and it is very abundant in our bodies up until our 30s.  Once we hit 30, collagen production begins to wane it is recommended that we begin to get it from nutritional sources.

Leaving skins on meats when cooking them helps because that’s basically where all the collagen is.  In the skin of the fat of meat products.  So I try to keep the skins on the chicken drumsticks when cooking. I eat the fatty part of pork chops.  The fatty parts of meat are where the collagen is at.

If you’re wanting the collagen without the calories, collagen supplements are also very helpful.  I’ve been reading that we need 30g of collagen per day.  I get 20gs in my morning coffee, and then in the afternoon I have a hot chocolate where I put my final 10g scoop in.

Collagen needs help to synthesize. Requiring a few different things.  I’ve read copper is crucial for collagen synthesis to begin the building blocks, so I take my collagen with a copper supplement.  I’ve also read that l-lysine helps with collagen synthesis, alongside vitamin C, so I try and eat at least 1 citrus fruit per day.  Grapefruit is supreme, but an orange will do fine. If not that then some lemon water but through a straw to keep my tooth enamel strong.

What to expect from collagen? 

Taste-wise, collagen adds a delicious and creamy texture to all teas, coffees and beverages without adding any dairy.  I kind of miss the way milk changes the texture of coffee, sort of rounding it out and making it less aggressive to the palette. Collagen adds that texture without any lactose.

Collagen is a hormone booster so, you might feel a little more hormonal than usual.  Expect to feel sexy. Expect to get a little more hungry than usual also. You might be a bit temperamental. All the things expected from a hormonal boost. 

Maybe if you see your hormones getting too big of a hormone boost on 30gs, start at 10gs and eventually work your way up.  Expect an energy boost for sure.  Oh and less aching in your joints after 6 weeks of consistent daily use. Reducing fine lines is a vain bonus, but the biggest blessing is the ability for collagen to heal the gut lining.

What collagen to get?

When shopping for a collagen supplement I look for 2 things: as many different collagen types as possible. I also look for whether the collagen supplement has Vitamin C or not. 

You want as many different collagen types as possible, yes.  Here’s a chart for reference:

You want to make sure you get something that has as many different types of collagen as possible.  I like Dr. Axe’s multi-collagen supplement because it has all 10 collagen strains.  This to me is the best product on the market in terms of collagen supplements. Dr. Axe is almost a hero of mine. I mean have you seen his YouTube channel? He looks like the picture of perfect health. I trust what he says and I find him very inspiring.

Also be sure to look out for Vitamin C in your collagen supplement. They sneak that in there because Vitamin C is used to help synthesize the collagen, but if you’re putting it into something that’s already acidic like coffee, it might be a double whammy and burn away the collagen altogether.  So just be weary of Vitamin C in collagen supplements and if it’s in there use it accordingly for things like tea, or a yogurt + granola snack, or throw a couple scoops into a smoothie, something like that.

If you’re balling on a budget, this Horbaach brand is also really great:

It’s not quite as good as Dr. Axe’s but it is a little cheaper and you get double the amount for a lower price point, and fundamentally it gets the job done.

So there you have it! The collagen supplement supreme, and then their respective dupe. Feel the boost and know that we are on our way to getting our bodies super fit and strong for anything that life has to throw at us!!!

Skin Secrets

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No filter, bitches.

You could argue that I’m not a natural beauty because I took accutane when I was fourteen to deal with some bad acne.  That’s okay.  I’m fine being an unnatural beauty.  Looking back, I’m unsure if taking this harsh drug – especially whilst embarking on puberty -- was the right decision.  Maybe I’d do it differently in retrospect.  Either way, because my parents spent so much money on dermatology bills to get the acne off my face, I’ve always felt obligated to continue looking after it. My face that is!

I personally don’t mind acne.  My biggest crush right now has acne and honestly it doesn’t make him any less sexy.  My lifelong crush (different crush) had a bit of acne in his youth.  I think it’s very humbling.  It’s as if the Universe is saying: “Not everybody can have everything!”  Both are at the top of their field. Both are very attractive regardless.  Hey, if you’re hot, you’re hot!  Sexuality is so passe.

Anyway, there’s always been a general curiosity with my skin-care routine because I do have good skin.  Sorry!  It’s true.  And here is the basic version.  The deluxe version will be available on my Patreon.  Because life can get busy, everything here (except for one product) can be found at your local drug store, Target, or online at Amazon. I try and keep it simple and accessible to all. Every product is >$20 as of the writing of this post.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you are choosing to try these products and are ordering them from Amazon, please use the links I have provided in this post. I have worked really hard over the years figuring out what products work best and finding that ever elusive winning combination.  It’s a small way of giving back to a small content creator who would so really appreciate it!

Facewash

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser

When I had acne, I used a lot of “Acne” facewashes loaded up with salicylic acid, which we thought at the time would help with pimples.  When I switched from “Acne” cleansing products to “Sensitive Skin” cleansing products, I saw a huge shift in my complexion.  Maybe the harshness of the “Acne” cleansing products was hurting my skin more than it was helping it!

I love cleansers that foam.  I feel very weird when they don’t.  Like my face isn’t clean or something.  This cleanser foams on the skin really well and lathers perfectly.

Basically, it gets the job done without overly drying your skin and you can also buy in travel size.  SWAG!

Buy the facial cleanser I use on Amazon: https://a.co/d/d2hlonN

Toner

Thayers Alcohol-Free, Hydrating Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Toner with Aloe Vera Formula

I love toner!  It’s literally one of my favorite steps, don’t skimp out on it gentlemen.  The point of the toner is to close up pores and even out your skin’s complexion.

I love this product because I can literally feel it closing up my pores as I’m using it.  It comes in a spray bottle if you’re too lazy to use a cotton-pad.  I use a cotton-pad at the gym, spray bottle at home!

I’m half-English (genetic code) so my body responds well to roses, which this Witch Hazel is infused with.  They don’t call it an “English Rose” for nothing mama…  My hair care routine features rose infusions also, but that’s for another time!

Make sure this is dry on your face before you move onto the next step.  It’ll take a minute or two.  It is very helpful if you have a small hand-fan to help dry your face.  I use mine from the Tokyo Olympics!

Buy the Toner I use on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/fbKdo2F

Buy Cotton Pads to apply toner on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/gNPH97W

Serum

The Ordinary EUK 134 0.1 Percent Unisex Serum

This is the only thing you can’t find at the drug store or at Target or at even Sephora (yes, I tried!).  I stumbled upon this serum when I was doing research on ways to minimize the gray hairs that have been popping up all over my scalp.  Nature calling me into my “Daddy-era” I suppose.  It’s okay.  Much like my “unnatural beauty” label, I’m fine with.

I went deep down some Reddit thread (somewhat trustworthy, who knows!?) about all-natural ways to stave off the greying process. I know I cannot STOP my hair from going gray, but will surely slowing down the process might be helpful?

We go gray due to oxidative stress, so this serum is jam-packed full of anti-oxidants.  I thought to myself: “if I’m using for my hair and it’s a powerful anti-oxidant, maybe it’ll work for my face too!”  And voila, it does!  Innovation is one of my words du jour.

This serums gives my face a bit of a glow without being overtly shiny, and what’s best is that it packs a powerful punch.  The small downside is that it does take time to dry.  Like 90 seconds to 2 minutes.  So be patient as it dries on your skin before adding your moisturizer.

Buy this amazing serum I use here: https://a.co/d/hWAeAVs

Moisturizer(s)

I have 3 different kinds of moisturizers:

1) CETAPHIL Daily Hydrating Lotion for Face, With Hyaluronic Acid, 3 fl oz

I use this hyaluronic acid moisturizer as my “base” moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid basically locks in and seals moisture, but you can’t just apply it onto your face alone as it is an “acid” and it will dry out your skin if there’s no accompanying moisturizer.  I pair this with either my daytime moisturizer or my night-time moisturizer.

Buy the “base” moisturizer I use here: https://a.co/d/2fEPFFq

2) Aveeno, Facial Moisturizers Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer, SPF 15, Pump, 4 fl oz

This daytime sunscreen is great and gets the work done effectively.  It smells fresh and two pumps is all I need for my face and neck.  It dries well and stays on rather lightweight.  I hate feeling layered in moisturizers.

Buy the daytime moisturizer I use here: https://a.co/d/2OgSOjQ

3) Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24, Fragrance Free, 1.7 oz.

At night after I’m done applying the hyaluronic acid moisturizer, I add this collagen enhancing moisturizer.  Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, and we stop producing it in our 30s.  It is responsible for the elasticity in our skin and joints.  So, if you want to stay juicy and plump, add this bad boy into your routine and watch as those fine lines fade away.

Buy the nighttime moisturizer I use here: https://a.co/d/cvHxjmT

SECRET BEAUTY TIP: STAY CONSISTENT

There’s no point buying these products if you don’t commit to using them. Like anything worth having in life, great skin requires patience, consistency, and perseverance. Wash your face twice per day using these products for at least a week or two and I guarantee you’ll begin to see results.

Don’t crucify yourself if you ever miss your routine, just do your best to stay consistent.

Falling in love with the process of looking after your skin helps too. If you enjoy your routine and the feeling of pampering your face twice per day, you’re more than likely to continue it. So maybe find a step in your routine that you enjoy and think about it on the days you’re feeling less motivated to clean your face.

I notice that when I wash my face before bed, I wake up with far less swelling in my face and my allergies are virtually non-existent. Begin to develop the habit of feeling “gross” when you sleep without washing your face. When you wake up without washing your face, notice what it looks like in the mirror.

Chances are just missing the routine once will show on your face and skin. So, seeing those pruney wrinkles should be good motivation to keep going.

Happy skincare y’all!