Grooming 101 with Bulldog

BULLDOG & SHARP

Our grooming obsessions are sort of funny, when you think about it. We torment ourselves about our hair — everything from the cut to the style  — even though it takes up such a small portion of our overall surface area (if we’re lucky). We preoccupy ourselves about our scent, even though it’s entirely ephemeral. But what about our skin? When are we going to stop denying that men need to start taking care of their skin, too?

Skincare shouldn’t be a chore — or worse, an afterthought. Building a proper grooming regimen is incredibly easy to accomplish. All it takes is a little consideration and a few of the right products. That’s why we like Bulldog. The British men’s skincare brand has simplified the grooming experience with its Original line of skincare products, all of which are designed to be environmentally conscious, easy to use, and exactly right for the job at hand — that is, making your skin look its very best. 

So don’t over — or under — think it. Here’s a tried-and-true grooming regimen that we promise will work wonders for your overlooked skin. 

Step 1: Wash Carefully

$18.33 (for 150 mL), Amazon.ca

You should be doing this every day — a good wash morning and night will form the backbone of your routine. Regular soap will dry out your skin, but a specially formulated product like Bulldog Original Face Wash will leave your face feeling refreshed and looking clear.

Step 2: Exfoliate

$10.98, Amazon.ca

What is exfoliating, really? Just a fancy word for removing dead skin, which allows your pores to breathe — and the rest of your skin to feel very much alive. Bulldog Original Face Scrub contains oat kernels, almond shells, and olive seed powder to get the job done. Do this a few times a week, after Step 1.

Step 3: Shave

$9.88, Amazon.ca

Shaving is an important part of your routine. Whether you do it every day or once a week, a good razor — like the Bulldog Original Bamboo Razor — makes all the difference. The five tempered steel blades and pivoting design work to deliver a close and precise shave.

Step 4: Moisturize

$10.98, Amazon.ca

This one’s for morning, noon, and night. Dry skin is the enemy — especially in our cold, Canadian climate — so make sure to apply a dab after your morning shower, after the gym, and again after you wash your face at night. Bulldog Original Moisturizer is non-greasy and built for quick absorption, so you can look and feel your best.


Cut the Bollocks

We sat down with Bulldog Skincare founder Simon Duffy to get his take on the state of men’s grooming.

Why did you decide to start Bulldog?

I was picking up a skincare product for my wife and decided to grab something for myself as well. I was in a huge natural and organic store and noticed there were no decent grooming products for men. I thought, if I can’t find them here, they probably don’t exist. That was my “aha” moment. 

What are some of the most common skincare mistakes men make?

Not using the right products for their skin. Everyone has a different skin type and requires specific products to meet their needs. For example, if you have sensitive skin, using a harsh exfoliator is only going to irritate your skin more. Or if you have oily skin, you should be using products that work to help reduce shine and oiliness. This is why we created products for normal, sensitive, oily and mature skin.

What should men know about skincare that they might not?

Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’re someone who doesn’t know where to start, try a moisturizer. It only takes a couple seconds to apply, and you’ll start noticing a difference in your skin very quickly. From there, you can work your way up to scrubs, washes, serums and eye creams. 

How does skincare factor into a man’s overall health and fitness?

Skin is the body’s largest organ, so we really should look after it by using the right products with the right ingredients. I also truly believe that skincare is good for our mental health — when your skin looks good, you feel good about yourself. 

Sustainability is a big issue in the grooming space. What does being an “eco-conscious” brand mean for you?

We try to make sustainability inherent to everything we do. From the moment we started the brand, we knew that we wanted to challenge ourselves to do the right thing. That’s why we are certified by Cruelty Free International, have never tested our products on animals, and have never used plastic microbeads, synthetic fragrances, or artificial colours. We’re also proud to be the first men’s skincare brand in the world to use sustainably grown sugarcane as a renewable raw material to produce our plastic tubes. 

What does “wellness” mean to you?

Wellness for me is about looking after yourself and taking the time to do things that are important to you. Whether that’s taking 10 minutes in the morning to have a shave and moisturize or making sure you leave time at the end of the day to exercise. It’s all about doing the things, no matter how small, that make you feel your best.