We get it – the heat during this time of year is close to surface of the sun level. It seems too hot to move, and taking a nap inside your freezer is becoming increasingly appealing as the sweltering afternoons go on and on. The last thing on your mind is grooming, especially when you’ll probably end up covered in a thin layer of sweat after spending ten minutes trying to get to work. But as much as we don’t want to nag, you shouldn’t entirely forego all efforts for cleanliness, which is why Baxter of California exists. (Ok, they’ve been around since 1965, but we’ll pretend that they exist just for us to look good without working hard.) And when we found out that Baxter products were on sale at our favorite online grooming shop, The Motley, we just had to get our hands on some of their fine products. What we tested was a collection that, stay with us here, might be even more refreshing than that ice bath you had all lined up.
Daily Protein Shampoo
Shampoos shouldn’t be anywhere near fruity on the scent spectrum, but sometimes a little bit of nasal pleasure while massaging your scalp has its perks. This hair wash features a subtle wild mint smell, perfect for rubbing the sleep out of your scalp on those mornings when it’s already hot by the time you roll out of bed. Now of course you know how to use shampoo (or at least we sincerely hope you do), but explaining what it actually does to your hair? (Cue the embarrassing flashbacks of trying to present your half-assed grade school science fair project.) Baxter doesn’t leave you in the dark, taking a few words to explain why the proteins in this shampoo removes gross building and isn’t full of chemicals that kill your hair’s growth cycle. Sound simple enough? It does for us.
Daily Face Wash
A simple face wash can go a long way towards removing the daily grit and grime that you accumulate doing daily manly deeds, even if you happen to work behind a desk. Fragrance free and without the junk that can make grooming materials too high maintenance, this product gets the job done without even breaking a sweat. And while a delicate touch might not be the most enviable of traits when it comes to masculine products, this wash removes the what you don’t want on your face without stripping off a layer of skin, making sure you don’t look like you’ve been repeatedly slapped in the face to be left red and swollen. It’s best to keep that kind of pain out of the shower.
Super Close Shave Formula
Removing excess facial hair is a must if you want your moneymaker to stay cool, which is why that trimmer that leaves you with the perfect amount of five ‘o’ clock shadow just won’t cut it. Baxter’s Super Close Shave Formula gets you as close to the barbershop-straight razor shave as your bathroom mirror can get you, without the fear that you might end up with a Sweeney Todd character and a handful of neck cuts. The easy to apply (and really fun to touch) cream feels twenty times better than the stuff out of a can, including antiseptic and botanical extracts that soothe your face like the calm of a late night summer breeze or that stiff drink after work, depending on personal preference.
After Shave Balm
You’ve washed your hair, your face and even shaved, so it shouldn’t be hard to take one more grooming step with the help of Baxter, especially when it’s the refreshing after shave balm. An alcohol free formula means your cheeks won’t be attacked with a mouthwash-esque burn after a close cut, leaving you with a satisfied clean feeling instead of the desire to never shave again. It re-hydrates with just the tiniest of dabs, as just a quick splash keeps your face from turning into the Mojave for the rest of a heat plagued summer day. It’s the perfect compliment to a cleanly cut jawline and a unique feeling that simply can’t be replicated.
If you’ve made it this far in our review, you certainly have enough time to indulge in a daily routine of grooming with your new friends at Baxter of California. They all have the SwipeLife stamp of approval (which means at least a little something to us), and if you can buy them from The Motley online shop (which you can right here), you know that they aren’t anything less than top of the line. Here’s to staying fresh and cool, in all of their multiple meanings.
All of these products can be found at The Motley online store here.
