Mercer + James // Gents Grooming Essentials For Fall

Labor Day is over, and it’s time to face the music – fall will be here any moment. The changing seasons can wreak havoc on your skin- with sweltering heat one day and chilly breezes the next, your face ends up losing its clear summer glow very quickly. For guys this can be especially true, with razor burn and other irritations adding insult to injury. Before you head to the skincare aisle of CVS, try taking a few tips from the grooming regimens of yesteryear, and let your face look dapper regardless of the weather. 

TRY A SAFETY RAZOR: A CLASSIC TOOL FOR A CLOSE, CLEAN SHAVE 

The skin of the face is subject to the biggest swings in atmosphere- UV exposure, hot and cold air, and pollution are just the first that pop to mind. Then when shaving, men often use the same cartridge blades for weeks at a time. Even though it looks like the hair is being cut, a dull or microscopically damaged blade is just pulling and ripping the hair, leading to skin irritation. Enter the safety razor. Invented a little over a century ago, the safety razor holds a double sided razor blade inside, exposing just the edges. The shaver then rinses and turns the razor to switch sides between swipes, resulting in a very close shave and a blade that lasts twice as long. This means no more pulling/ripping – just a close shave without all the facial torture. The replacement blades are also incredibly inexpensive – often a small fraction of the cost of plastic disposable cartridges. Finally, they are really gorgeous tools that will look great in your bathroom – so much better than a bulky electric razor that steals your counter space!

SHAVING OIL: A NATURAL PROTECTOR FOR YOUR FACE 

Adding in a proper shaving oil is the truly old-school way to shave; it was used long before modern soaps and gels were in introduced, and lubricates your skin to let the blade do its work effectively. It also helps moisturize and protect your skin long after shaving, creating a natural barrier to the harsh elements the world throws at your face. After taking a hot shower, massage all-natural shaving oil onto your skin and continue to the shave without yet rinsing. Shaving oil will not only prep the hair and skin and prevent nicks, but since it’s made of natural oils and nothing more it’s so safe that you can feel confident putting it on your skin.

THE SHAVING BRUSH: A FUN EXTRA FOR CLEAR SKIN 

The shaving brush is a great accessory that we sell as part of all our sets. It has a three-part purpose: to apply shaving soap, to exfoliate skin for a clear complexion, and to lift individual hairs up for a very close and accurate shave. Shaving brushes are useful year-round, but are especially great during changing seasons because the swings in temperature very quickly dry out the skin on your face. This leads to dead skin cells that make the complexion look dull, and even worse clogged pores and irrigation. A good-quality shaving brush cuts down on all of that, and will last for ages if properly cared for. We only sell pure badger hair brushes that are hand-knotted, all of which means they’ll last much longer than more cheaply made acrylic or horse bristles that are glued in place. Plus, they look awesome! 

THE ALUM BLOCK: A SAFE AND ANCIENT REMEDY 
No matter how careful you are, or what products you use, you’re bound to get nicks and skin irritation at some point. The best thing to do, however, is to find a simple and natural solution to deal with the issue. Using alum on nicks and cuts or irritated skin is as old as history. Alum is a natural mineral with anti-microbial properties that gently keeps your skin from becoming infected, and helps the blood clot to stop bleeding. It’s a safe and effective tool to keep on hand so you’re ready for whatever little accident may come your way! 

If you’re wondering who this bizarre sage from the internet might be, my name is Elizabeth and I head up the product design for Mercer + James, a men’s grooming and accessories brand that I started with my hubby a couple years back. We started our online shop, Mercer + James, from our home in New York and continue to run it together, sharing a collection of things we design ourselves along with high-quality tools and products that we curate from our travels. Take a gander at our site, and find a whole collection meant to help you enjoy your daily routine, and look good while doing it. I could certainly go on for pages and pages with all the old-school tools on the market (both at our little store and elsewhere), but these are truly the basics for starting with classic shaving. Now go forth, and upgrade your morning routine with some classic flair!