Tag: The Art of Shaving

Sexy Power Duos: Torrey Peak and Greg Woerdeman

A real-life couple shares how they became internet sensations…and their secret for being “Vegas-ready” every day.

Over the past few months I’ve shared some self-improvement experiences I’ve found in Las Vegas. Spa treatments, a weight loss center, a custom straight-razor shave and more. Then I was lucky enough to make the acquaintance of a charming couple who share their awesome knowledge and advice on skin care. And no matter what your age or gender, you can always learn from people in the know.

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Greg Woerdeman may not be a household name, but you’ve probably heard about this overnight sensation. The handsome blue-collar hunk rose to fame in the most inauspicious of ways. Stepping in front of news cameras this January to alert drivers about impending weather and road conditions, the District Operations Supervisor for Tennessee Department of Transportation set the airwaves on fire. In no time at all, #TDOTHottie was born!

What happened next is the kind of story you read about in magazines….the new viral sensation was doing talk shows, personal appearances, photo shoots and romance novel covers. A bit of a private person up to this point, Woerdeman had no previous social media accounts or activity. Luckily for him, lady love Torrey Peak stepped up to guide and promote her beau’s new-found fame.

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                           Torrey (far left) at the 2013 NPC Flex Lewis Classic…

Torrey is no stranger to the spotlight. A Certified Surgical Assistant and gifted photographer with her own successful business, the Emporia, Kansas native was once a competitor in the NPC Flex Lewis Classic. If you’ve watched that sport, you know how important it is to be meticulously groomed and looking your best every hour of the day.

Recently the professional photographer found herself on the other side of the lens when Torrey joined Greg for a series of Furious Fotog photo shoots together. They’re featured in a stunning collection of romance novel covers that bring their healthy lifestyle and passion for each other into focus. So now more than ever, the handsome couple is working their hardest to look their best in the safest possible way…today and for the future.

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Greg joked during an on-camera interview that his secret to looking hot is a cup of coffee, eating “somewhat okay” and going to the gym a lot. Of course we’re only as good as the things that we put into and on our bodies, which is why Torrey got involved with a line of carefully-created body and skin-care products named BEAUTYCOUNTER.

Influenced by her work in the medical field and frustrated that the FDA considers thousands of chemicals to be safe when they’re actually harmful, Torrey did research to find a smarter choice in skin care. “I believe that a lot of diseases like MS are misdiagnosed. It has to do with toxicity in the body. It’s so frustrating to me. We have one body, and everything we pile onto it is unbalancing our system and derailing it. What you wear on your body is literally affecting the next generation”.

Torrey used the ingredients in conventional chemical sunscreens as an example of this gene-altering situation. “Parabens (compounds used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) mimic hormones in your body. They disrupt your endocrine system and cause things like erectile dysfunction. The increase in sunscreen usage has actually led to a rise in melanoma. It’s just crazy”.

That’s why Torrey and Greg have entrusted their health and appearance to BEAUTYCOUNTER, a line of skin care, make-up, bath/body and sunscreens created by a company with a social mission:

One by one, we are leading a movement to a future where all beauty is clean beauty. We are powered by people, and our collective mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Formulate, advocate, & educate—that’s our motto for creating products that truly perform while holding ourselves to unparalleled standards of safety. Why? It’s really this simple: beauty should be good for you.

Since our first product launched in 2013, we’ve created our own high standards in pursuit of clean beauty. Over 1,500 questionable ingredients are never used in our formulations. We advocate for stricter guidelines and regulations to shift the personal-care industry away from using harmful and questionable ingredients.

We’re proud to be a part of a global movement of brands using business as a force for positive change. We support nonprofits we feel aligned with, and invest in new forms of giving by partnering with leading scientists to find safer ingredients that will create the better products of tomorrow. We work to minimize the environmental impacts of our products, packaging and footprint through our sustainable ingredient sourcing and our recyclable product packaging.

Having been on my own journey of self-improvement, I was intrigued by this approach to personal care. So I got with Torrey and she provided a series of questions to determine my skin type, unique problems and long-term concerns. Then she sent samples of the products designed to safely address those needs.

Being the macho guy that I am (lol) , I leaned heavily towards COUNTERMAN, the guy’s line of BEAUTYCOUNTER products. Having just recently gained a new appreciation for the art of shaving (read about that here) I wanted to try COUNTERMAN’s take on concentrated shave creams. A fragrance-free blend of shea butter, aloe and a unique Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, Smoothing Shave Cream leaves my face feeling soft, smooth and wonderfully hydrated.

Another new favorite in my daily routine is COUNTERMAN Energizing Charcoal Body Wash. I’ve been attracted to the detoxifying properties of activated charcoal and keep a bottle of capsules on hand for if/when I overindulge in Vegas nightlife. My personal care regime has also grown to include charcoal toothpaste, body lotion and wash.

Of course, products that boast one beneficial ingredient like activated charcoal can also contain a myriad of harmful ones. Torrey looked into my choices, pointed out the harmful chemicals they contain and made it clear that spending more than for typical Bath and Bodyworks-type brands is worth it when crucial benefits matter.

Living in a desert climate with mature skin has its own challenges, so Torrey recommended that I try the Rejuvenating Regime, a collection of cleanser, toner, radiance serum and day cream. Used together, this line firms and nourishes my face while fighting the effects of time and environment. To amplify the benefits, I added Resurfacing Overnight Peel, a twice-weekly treatment that reduces pores, lines and dark spots to make my rugged mug glow like a young guy’s once again. It may never make me look like #TDOTHottie, but perhaps a little less like Charlie Brown’s grandfather.

Now that Torrey and Greg are enjoying their newfound popularity, they’ve decided to share the benefits of COUNTERMAN and BEAUTYCOUNTER products by officially endorsing and being consultants for them. I’m pleased to be one of their customers and you can, too.

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Don’t wait until an anniversary, family gathering or trip to Vegas motivates you to jump start your personal-care regime. Make COUNTERMAN and BEAUTYCOUNTER a part of your daily life and enjoy looking and feeling your healthy best right now. Follow this link to take the survey. Then contact Torrey Peak by clicking here to get started.

Note: this is an non-endorsed article. I really do use these products, appreciate their effectiveness and support what they stand for. 

Dave Mancuso and the Art of the Perfect Shave

A Master Barber guides us through a classy and classic experience for men…

You may have noticed that this writer has been on a journey of self-improvement…and I’ve taken you along on the adventure. Together we’ve experienced a men’s spa day at Westgate Serenity Spa. Then we shot over to Cosmopolitan for a visit to STITCHED Haberdashery, followed by a series of sessions at Therma Slim Med-Spa. It was only a matter of time before our next must-do experience would be an expert straight-razor shave.

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There’s no question that when you look your best, you feel great too. And it doesn’t matter what brought you to Las Vegas. Even if you’re here just to sight-see or to attend a special event, those photos and memories are going to last a lifetime. Why not indulge in something that will relax, pamper and improve your looks all at the same time? You’ll get all that and more when you schedule a Premium Shave Experience at The Art of Shaving,

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The Art of Shaving at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place is much more than the usual retail outlets you’ve seen. It’s one of about fifty locations that also features a full-service Barber Spa. The AOS Barber Spas offer precision haircuts, beard trims, scalp treatments, express facials and Premium Packages. But as the name would suggest, The Art of Shaving Barber Spa is home to the world’s best straight-razor shave.

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Dave Mancuso has been with The Art of Shaving since coming to Las Vegas eleven years ago. His first nine years were spent at The Palazzo before transferring to Mandalay Place. It’s at their Barber Spas that Mr. Mancuso can fully utilize the skills he’s developed through thirty-nine years as a Master Barber.

The expertise and elevated level of service from a licensed Master Barber gives this Youngstown, Ohio native a distinct edge over traditional barbers. Dave keeps his license and craft up to date by attending regular Continuing Education courses. The fact that Dave’s also a licensed Cosmetologist ensures that your face and skin will be in the best possible care.

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A visit to The Art of Shaving is often a rite of passage. Men bring their sons here for their first professional shave. It’s also a popular must-do for Vegas visitors when arriving in the city. Just like ladies look forward to the many Vegas spas, men often make it their tradition to receive a straight razor shave when they come to town. And of course, many locals make this part of their regular grooming regimen. “We love our locals” says Dave.

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Walk-in visits are usually available, but it’s easy to schedule an appointment. The meticulously-presented retail area leads to a welcoming counter where you’ll be escorted to the Barber Spa. That short walk from the entrance will take you back decades in time, when the Barber Shop was a masculine cultural experience. The spinning barber poles and classic leather chairs set a wonderful mood for what’s to follow.

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Dave guided me through the entire process beforehand, describing every step in their famous Premium Shave. First comes the cleansing process, followed by hot moist towels to soften the beard and open pores. They’re infused with fragrant essential oils…and incredibly relaxing.

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It was at this part of the process that I started to go into a zone of deep relation. “Many of our guests fall asleep ” Dave told me. “Don’t fight it. I’ll wake you up in forty-five minutes or so” he joked. Fair enough….so I’ll let Dave take it from here in his own words.

I start with a warm steam towel, apply Peppermint Face Wash and cleanse the face using the Art of Shaving Power Brush. Next Peppermint Face Exfoliant is applied, massaged into the skin and removed. Pre-shave oil is applied and then a warm lather on top of the oil.

The Royal Shave is performed using a straight razor with a disposable blade (which is required by law so there is never any cross-contamination). I shave with the grain in which the hair grows, re-lather and shave against the grain. Another warm towel is applied to open the pores.

Rosewater Eye Pads are placed on the eyes and a Rose Clay Mask is applied to soothe and moisturize the skin. The mask is removed and then I give a face and neck massage using AOS After-shave Balm. I mist the face with rosewater and finish with a cold towel to close the pores…and more often than not to wake the guest up.

 

After that refreshing towel brought me back to my senses, it was time absorb the experience…and enjoy the feel and appearance of my smooth, immaculate face. Dave then took me into the retail and demonstrated some of the products that have made The Art of Shaving such a gold standard for men’s grooming.

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The New York City-based company was formed in 1996 by husband and wife Eric Malka and Myriam Zaoui. The two combined their skills to create the ultimate shaving products from natural and aromatic ingredients like those found in the kitchen. They published a book about their research, discoveries and a valuable guide to the ultimate shave in 2002. The company was acquired by Proctor and Gamble in 2009, so now the stores also feature Gillette razors and blades.

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While their high-end product line has been expanded to include all manners of body wash, beard care, grooming and fragrances, the core of their business is what they call 4 Elements of a Perfect Shave. These basics start with their pre-shave oil, a highly concentrated shave cream, a natural-bristle shaving brush and an after-shave balm. I picked up the 4 Elements set and was eager to try them in my own shower.

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“You only need to use a very small amount of our items to get the best results” Dave cautioned me. “One jar of our shave cream, for instance, will last for over eight months. In the rare event that someone is unhappy, it’s more than likely because they’re using too much. Once they use less, they’ll fall in love”.

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I left The Art of Shaving feeling like a million dollars and ready to enjoy a Saturday night on the town. Dave’s departing words were echoed a few days later after I’d given my Art of Shaving products a whirl at home. I wrote to express my appreciation…and my pleasure with the 4 Elements Gift Set. “I love my face again!”, I told him.

Mancuso’s response was priceless: “That is almost always the reaction we hear once someone plays with our products themselves. It will even get better with continued use. ENJOY!!!”

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The Art of Shaving/Barber Spa of Mandalay Bay is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. It is located at Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 3930 Las Vegas Boulevard South. Call 702-632-9356 to make an appointment with Dave Mancuso.