THE BIG TEST
Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Solutions for Men Post-Shave Relief
$32 at Crabtree & Evelyn stores and crabtree-evelyn.com
What happens when a skincare company that’s fond of florals makes products for men? In the case of Crabtree & Evelyn’s post-shave balm, all kinds of good things. The balm comes in a silver package with a silver key. It slides into the tube’s end, allowing it to be rolled up neatly and evenly. Genius.
As for what’s inside, the ingredients list reads like something off a spa menu: green tea, Vitamin E, grape seed oil and aloe. But the cooling, creamy balm is decidedly practical too. I found it soothing after a scratchy winter shave, and it helped eliminate redness and bumps on the tricky-to-shave areas around my neck. [ CORY OHLENDORF, THE WASHINGTON POST ]
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque
$45 at drugstore.com
SkinCeuticals’ mask is supposed to be absorbed into your pores; the instructions bid you to “gently massage any excess product into the skin.” I figured that this must be the mark of a more sophisticated mask than my usual drugstore brand, since it also boasts impressive-sounding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid.
After applying a layer of the clear gel and dutifully waiting for it to be absorbed, I was left with a sticky, shiny face. When I tried rubbing it in, it simply balled up and flaked away. I gave up and washed off the slime. My skin did seem more moisturized afterward, but the unpleasantness was hardly worth it. [ EMILY HEIL, THE WASHINGTON POST ]
