Firstly, a bit of background for you – a small independent British company, Bulldog Skincare began life as the child of frustration; co-creators Simon Duffy and Rhodri Ferrier were sick of having an eighth stake in the bathroom cabinets they shared with their respective girlfriends, and filling their measly allocation with mediocre products jam-packed with man-made chemicals no friend to either their skin or the environment.
So, from the aspiration for healthy, natural products free from parabens, sodium laureth sulphate (the stuff that makes your floor cleaner bubbly), artificial colours or synthetic fragrances, which were completely cruelty-free and vegetarian-friendly, Bulldog was born. And since its inception, Bulldog has become the first male grooming company to be recognised and approved by the BUAV (The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) under their Humane Cosmetics Standard.
So, that’s the serious stuff out of the way, now to the important bit – did Bulldog make my boyfriend beautiful? Eeeh, it would be expecting a little too much I fear (sorry Mr E!), but he had a grand old time in the attempt and his skin is now as soft as a baby’s behind... Apart from his beardy bit, obviously.
The Bulldog Original collection is comprised of Shower Gel (200ml £3.49), Face Scrub (100ml £5.79), Face Wash (175ml £5.19), Shave Gel (175ml £3.99), Aftershave Balm (75ml £5.79) and Moisturiser (100ml £6.99), while anti-aging and fair-trade products are also available. The first thing I have to say is that the products smell great; nice and fresh and light with none of the overbearing, cloying scents that I usually associate with men’s toiletries – the natural origins of the ingredients are apparent. Said natural ingredients include hydrating Shea Butter and Jojoba, anti-oxidant packed Green Tea extract to battle free radical damage (essentially, it has anti-aging properties), soothing Aloe Vera and a plethora of essential oils that do all kinds of goodness to your skin, mind and soul!
Overall, the products work wonderfully; with the only complaint I’ve heard being that the shaving gel is a little drying, so immediate post-shave moisturiser application is necessary (which, from a girly point of view, would seem to be common sense – have you ever shaved your legs without slapping on some body lotion straight after? No! Tch, boys!). Lacking SLS, it also doesn’t foam up brilliantly without the use of a shaving brush, which I can see could be a little annoying, but I’d prefer it to massaging the common ingredients of toilet cleaner on my face, so things balance out. The Aftershave Balm is very gentle and instantly calming, while the Moisturiser feels somewhat thick and greasy to begin with, but is surprisingly quickly absorbed.
All Bulldog products are simply packaged and are designed specifically with men in mind, none of this twaddle of taking a feminine cleanser and dressing it up in macho packaging; men’s oilier skin and more sensitive areas are all taken into account, without feeling the need to dress it up in manly wrappings. No nonsense, no nasties, no extravagant price point; Bulldog is all about providing quality care for neglected skin. What more can I say?
Bulldog Skincare is available from a number of supermarkets, including Sainsburys as well as online.
For more information visit meetthebulldog.com |
