Keeping Christmas Green

Ahh, the holidays. Nothing quite like that joyous spirit to get you in the giving mood, or more precisely, the buying mood. From everything to wrapping paper to the regulatory Christmas cards to be sent to every family member from Mom to your second cousin twice removed, Christmas is an unduly, overly-expensive holiday to not only enjoy, but to endure. We'd be lucky to enter 2013 with a balanced bank account.

Enter the concept of recycling. You do it everyday, and the holidays should be no exception. With the bundles of gift wrap excessively stuffed into gift bags, the extra energy amassed as a result of travelling (don't forget about the heat used in the house!), not to mention the massive tree sitting in your living room, decked out from head to toe with beautiful ornaments, Christmas does quite the little number on Mother Earth.

Imagine the day after Christmas for this Rockefeller tree!
Photo courtesy of cntraveler.com

So what are some of the best ways to give back to the environment during this joyous season of, well, giving? Once New Years rolls around and your living room is stuck with the skeleton of your Douglas-Fir, you can do your part by hauling it onto the front yard for pick-up, sans ornaments and artificial snow. Recycled Christmas trees are often used as mulch, sprinkled along hiking paths, and even converted into fuel as biomass plants.

Some other quick tips for keeping Christmas green: reuse gift bags, or regifting (someone else may love it!), adjusting your thermostat (your skin will feel the difference!), and research before you buy! Next time you're online, search for everything on their gift-list and keep it local. You'll save time and gas that way.

For more green tips, check out: http://www.nrdc.org/living/stuff/recycle-your-christmas-tree.asp and http://earth911.com/news/2009/11/25/green-holiday-basics/

Ingredient Spotlight: Panthenol

There’s nothing like taking a nice hot shower after an especially exhausting work day. As the hot water rolls off your back, and the worries and concerns of the day melt with them, stepping out of the shower becomes an almost therapeutic experience. An instant weightlessness is felt in the muscles, and a sense of well being permeates the mind. A hot shower is pretty amazing, huh?

That’s all well said until the drying process kicks in. While you continue to reel from the otherworldly sense of relaxation, your skin is livid. As the water evaporates from your skin, so does the natural moisture within your skin. Stripped of it’s soothing oils and moisture, it doesn't become long before your skin or scalp become an itchy mess, ruining what was almost a worry-free night. Instead, you’re writhing in itching agony, rolling around in bed, grappling with the pricks of itch on your legs. What’s worse is that this could have all been avoided.

Next time you’re experiencing a particularly painful bout of dry and itchy skin, be sure to utilize a moisturizer rich in Panthenol (the alcohol version of Vitamin B5). Panthenol is an ingredient frequently used in skincare as an emollient and moisturizer. The chemical can be found in shampoos and conditioners, and is a popular ingredient used to seal in the moisture along your strands. Likewise, it is also used in skin lotions, including EVOLUTIONMAN's Moisture Protect SPF 20. Liberally apply a moisturizer with the water-binding ingredient on your skin and you'll feel the relief. 

Not only is it perfect for an almost instant relief, but it protects the skin from irritating weather elements, including the wind. The product works when it's thoroughly massaged into the skin, so don't be afraid to apply it liberally! The product's penetration into your skin is key to ensuring relief from dry and itchy skin. Once the skin absorbs the ingredient, it's converted into Vitamin B5, where it'll work it's soothing and moisturizing magic from within. 

So don't be shy! Our Moisture Protect contains the ingredient, so no more reaching for your girlfriend's cream when she's not looking. And not only will your skin be as soft as hers, but now you'll probably be spending a little more time in the skincare aisle with her. 

Get Your Tan On

Now that winter is upon us, it brings to us limit(ed) opportunities. Stylistically speaking, we're limited in terms of fashion, now forced to discard shorts for khakis, tank tops for long johns, and sunglasses for earmuffs. In terms of leisurely activities, our fun in the sun is effectively over for 3+ months (depending on what part of the world you live in). No more surfing, swimming, outdoor runs, and sun tanning; forget about it!

Let winter be a great time to rejuvenate your skin. It's not exactly the ideal time to do it; winter's unforgiving weather can certainly do a number on our fragile skin, but it's a great excuse to stay out of the sun and forgo the tanning bed. Try using a bronzer instead. Not only is using a tinted lotion practically 100% safer in almost every possible way (at least when taking into consideration UV ray exposure, and the it's often perilous results), but it's a heck of a lot cheaper. EVOLUTIONMAN's Moisture Protect Bronze is a great example of an easy-to-use self-tanner that won't go awry with your budget. Plus, a single application is all it takes to mimic a healthy dose of the sun at the beach. It's winter - stand out and stay sun smart!

Too Good to Be True?

For those of y'all familiar with country trio Eden's Edge, who knew that the sole man in the group, guitarist and vocalist Dean Berner, has used EVOLUTIONMAN? And who better to use it than a real country star - imagine what damage can be done following a (really) late night rocking out in a dark, smoky room!

A little about Eden's Edge for those of you unfamiliar: having originated from Arkansas, the group is signed to Big Machine Records, and have experienced a surge in success since. Discovered by a CMT-sponsored contest in 2006, they have recently released their latest single, "Too Good to Be True."

In a recent photo shoot by People Country Magazine, Dean's make-up artist used EVOLUTIONMAN products for a flawless finish. And look how good he looks in the photo! (Not that he didn't look good before, right?) 

But that's all it really takes to get a smooth, glowing finish - the saying "a little goes a long way" really stands true to EVMAN products, and, as evident in the photograph, Dean's make-up artist knows just the right amount to keep his face looking great in the throes of a music tour!

Ask any music star that's toured and traversed the globe; travelling and putting your best show out there night after night is tiring business! Which is why for country musicians like Dean, we recommend our whole skin care kit to keep his skin refreshed. To keep his skin glowing won't be a task "too good to be true!"

Time for Your Furniture to Grow Up?

Feng shui? No way! At least in the apartment of a full-grown man. Not much has evolved from the college dorm room into the bedroom of a single (or coupled) thirty-something man: trapped in a purgatory between college and adulthood, the fully grown male tends to shop in trends of cheap. Regardless of the necessity, it is almost always the cheapest alternative that wins over the heart of the male consumer. It’s not uncommon to find a cheap set of mismatched pots hanging in the kitchen, a rather bland and undecorative living space, and Ikea-inspired furniture found on the sidewalk during freshman year. The unlively living space of a man on the move makes for a not particularly inviting space. How many girls actually like hanging out in your version of a grown up college dorm?

It's time to put down the Stars Wars posters and put up the wall flat.

Easy, and a relatively good investment in the name home design, Inhabit has launched a new line of wall flats. For all you gentlemen who are scratching your head at the phrase “wall flats,” they are beautifully-etched squares that can be placed on your wall for a completely new look. The squares come in a multitude of designs, each one with its own unique personality. Feeling as busy as a bee? There’s a hive-themed wall flat for that. Feel like drifting around? There’s a wall flat for that. And on top of their visual versatility, the flats are all eco-friendly; created by a byproduct of sugar cane processing, the normally discarded left-overs have been transformed for your living room.

Whatever your personality, Inhabit’s bound to have something you like. Whether it's a new headboard (because you know you actually need one), or something to hide those beer stains, Inhabit's got you covered. It's something that your girlfriend and mom can actually agree to like for once.

EvolutionMan Meets Ricky's!

In true East meets West fashion, we at Los Angeles based EVOLUTIONMAN are proud to announce our latest East Coast-based retailer, Ricky’s NYC. Ricky’s, a free-spirited beauty retail chain, will begin carrying EVMAN products this coming December. The collaboration between us two beauty giants signifies EVOLUTIONMAN’s launch into one of the most revered one-stop beauty shops in the East.

Completely unlike any other men’s cosmetic product on Ricky’s shelves, our introduction into the Ricky’s family signifies a new-found focus on making high-quality men’s grooming products available to an equally discerning demographic. Ricky’s cult-like following will have access to our matchless line of skincare products, including the award-winning Wash & Buff, Conceal & Treat (a highly praised acne fighting concealer) and nail polishes designed with the man in mind!

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The Incredible, Mendable Nail Polish

So aside from the immediate perks of painting a flashy coat of polish onto your nails, clear nail polish provides a lot of benefits that aren't detailed on the bottle's instructions. Not only a great topcoat, clear polish is a lot like Windex® in My Big Fat Greek Wedding - it is the go-to product for quick fix-ups!

• Protect Your Nails – When you apply a coat of clear polish, not only are your nails going to look a whole lot more healthy, but you’ll be protecting them dryness and flakiness with a subtle sheen of this nail paint. And for all you guitar players out there, clear nail polish has been widely speculated to protect and strengthen your nails from the ravages of strumming.

• Nourish Your Nails – Certain brands of polish contain Vitamins A, E, and C, all to further promote strength in your nails. The nutrients infused into these polishes will encourage healthy nail growth and repair any damage. We recommend applying Pure Bling on a regular basis to keep your nails strong looking... just like you.

• Fix Your Sunglasses – Unless your sunglasses have completely broken apart, you can use clear polish to fix minor details on your lenses. The tiny screws that hold your sunglasses together can be strengthened when you paint a bit of polish on them just before tightening. Once the screw has been properly twisted in place, a drop of polish on the top and bottom of the screw will ensure its security. 

• When You're a Handyman - Show off your handyman skills by whipping out a bottle of polish when you're fixing up a house (prepare for the stares!). Use the polish to tighten loose screws - apply a coat to a screw before winding it in. Let the polish dry and just as the saying goes, set it and forget it! Your screws will be tighter, and you won't have to worry about your work falling apart. In addition to tightening up screws, nail polish is also great for quick-sealing chips in tiles or enamel in the bathroom or kitchen. 

• Prevent Rust Rings -  You know those unsightly little rust rings on the shower floor or lip of the tub that your metal shaving cream cans make? It means its time to switch over to a more durable plastic tube like EVMAN's Cleanse & Shave. But if you love and swear by your metal-based bottle, you can apply a thin layer of nail polish on the bottom for a rust-free shower.

• Impress the Ladies - While it's not an absolute requirement that your feet be as clean and beautiful as the day you were born (I mean, come on - we do walk on the floor everyday!), no self-respecting man wants to have a girl recoil in horror at the sight of unkempt, smelly, and dirty feet. According to the Daily News, more men are trading in their less-than-kempt toe nails for a cleaner, more polished look. You can achieve the look at home by applying a light coat of clear polish to all your nails - not only will it protect them from the weather and elements, but they're likely to look a lot more spruced up!

Have any other interesting uses for clear nail polish? Share them here!

Buy One, Give One to the Jeff Griffith Youth Center

Driving down the streets of LA, it's hard not to notice the utter decadence the city showers upon itself. A stroll down Rodeo Drive screams extravagance, while a drive down Sunset Boulevard exhibits the most supreme examples of success in Hollywood. Santa Monica Boulevard, a stylish and luxurious street that curves through the heart of West Hollywood, just so happens to teeter between two socioeconomic extremes. Just beyond a cluster of high-end fashion stores, theatrical hot spots, and more Starbucks than you can shake a stick at, a clear division of the boulevard becomes apparent.

For some of us, this unsettling shift in condition simply becomes a change in scenery as we drive by. Yet for the residents who have endured the brunt of life's dice roll, the boulevard has become their home. Building corners and sidewalks are transformed into their residence for a night, and as the tough times linger, so do the often addictive difficulties that surround their lifestyle. For those in the LGBT community that have endured the unkindness of the LA streets, all while juggling the emotional turmoil of coming out in a less than receptive environment, the Jeff Griffith Youth Center remains an oasis in the recovery process.

Whether all you need is a hot breakfast in the morning, or a place to take a hot shower and get a fresh change of clothes, the Jeff Griffith Youth Center opens its doors to the gay, bisexual, and transgender teens of our community. Nestled just one block east of West Hollywood, the center provides a world of resources to those battling homelessness, addiction, domestic abuse, or hunger. In addition to providing aid for those in need, the center  remains a safe transitional spot for harder times by providing a safe haven filled with such things as support groups, GED preparation, and even linking these youth with employers that are willing to take a chance on them to get them off the streets.

EVOLUTIONMAN has worked with the Youth Center in the past to provide facial cleaners and shaving cream for those displaced youth in need of hygiene products. And, in this coming November, EVOLUTIONMAN will be rolling out a new sale: when you buy any product on our site, we'll be donating one to Jeff Griffith Youth Center. It's called our Buy One, Give One sale - when you purchase your next Cleanse & Shave on evolution-man.com, you can rest with the fact that someone at the center will be getting one too.

You can find more about the Jeff Griffith Youth Center and their fantastic programs to help LA's homeless youth transition into independent living by visiting their website.

Seen These Movies? You're Lucky to Be Alive!

Not too long ago, KROQ, a Los Angeles-based radio station, released a list of their favorite Halloween movie picks in the aptly titled, “Top 10 Underrated Horror Films for Halloween.” Of the films that made the cut, less than half have received its due recognition, yet 100% of them made us double check that creaking noise in the darkened corner...and maybe lost some sleep as we waited for the imaginary zombies to invade our bedroom.

And so, inspired by this spooky Halloween spirit, we have compiled our own list of the cheesiest flicks to kick back and nosh on some candy corn to. Please note this is not another list of the scariest or goriest films to freak out to, because the last thing we need this Wednesday is another sleepless night fretting over an invisible demon crouching over our bedside. Like we’d ever publicly admit to that though, right?

Behold – a list for those of us who couldn't handle the original Paranormal Activity. Rather than setting up camp at parent’s bedside, get your camp on with these horror(ible) films. 

Killer Klowns from Outer Space – The epitome of ultimate 80’s cheese, Killer Klowns from Outer Space personifies the extravagance and ridiculousness of any Circus-Circus featurette. Watch the movie for its ridiculous use of extraterrestrial silly straw, stay to conquer your childhood fears of the Circus’s arrival and of the men painted in white.

Bride of Chucky – In true forbidden love fashion, what else can possess a couple to embark on a murderous rampage and elope at good ol’ Las Vegas? Probably the spirit of a heartless murderer bent on revenge, embodying the caricature of a seeming harmless doll. But hey, even murderers fall in love, and when the mood strikes, you’ve got to go with your gut. Or in Chucky’s case, gut the con men.

The Leprechaun Franchise – The beauty of creating a Hollywood film is reappropriating basically any imagined concept for your big budget flick. Case in point, the Leprechaun franchise, a bewildering manifesto of a (you guessed it) leprechaun, bent on retrieving his stolen pot of gold by any means possible. Too bad this Leprechaun (portrayed by a recurring Warwick Davis) just can’t learn how to hold onto his beloved precious metal; the story stretches out over six films, and spans the globe from Ireland to Compton.

Beetlejuice – “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!” How many of you have tried repeating this exact phrase, only to be disappointed by his absence? Although, once you watch the film, you’ll be glad he never made an appearance; the havoc he wrecked on the dead would drive the living insane. The otherworldly creativity and thought put into this flick  made this one of the top films in 1988, even though the cartoon is likely the first thing that you think of when the name is recalled.

Ghostbusters – Please excuse this American classic’s cheesiness. Starring some of today’s hottest stars, including Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and Sigourney Weaver, Ghostbusters transcends the atypical prototype of being just another 80’s flick; it kind of speaks to our generation. In the entrepreneurial mindset, three unemployed parapsychology professors start their own ghost hunting business, taking down the supernatural, one apartment complex at a time. Only in New York would you ever have to call the Ghostbusters.

ACNE SOLUTIONS

When perusing the skin care aisle of your local drug store, finding a solution for your sudden break out is a dizzying and frustrating experience. With a wide array of brightly colored products available at your fingertips and a limited budget and time span, it’s important to be discerning and decisive when selecting the right acne fighter for you. So why make the search any more exhausting? Conquer not only your acne woes, but your shaving, exfoliating, and concealing needs with three of EVMAN's highly effective (yet subtly obvious) products: Cleanse & Shave, Conceal & Treat, and the heavy duty Wash & Buff! Don’t be shy about toting these cleansers around - the packaging is subtle enough to fit into your gym bag, but powerful enough to make an impression!

So what’s on your winter wish-list? A new shaving cream that leaves that perfect smooth finish? Or something to cover up your momentary acne, all while treating it at the same time? EVOLUTIONMAN's got you covered with these three dual-purpose products!

Cleanse & Shave: We’re all really picky when it comes to our shaving cream, and the discerning man knows when what he’s got is good. So why try something new? Cleanse & Shave is a refreshing spin on the traditional shaving cream, providing a thin, light lather for an effortless shave. The cream is also instilled with Tea Tree Oil to prevent a bacteria-based breakout. 

Wash & Buff: Is your face in need of some tough love? Condition it with Wash & Buff, a heavy duty, daily exfoliator that’ll scrub away your acne with a gentle infusion of Tea Tree Oil, an ingredient used to treat and clear your skin. With microbeads embedded into the cream, your skin will feel soft, clean, and refreshed after a good scrubbing. 

Conceal & Treat: A must have for any face in need, Conceal & Treat, provides a gentle exfoliation to cleanse and heal the pimple, all while covering the troublemaker at spot. The product’s secret ingredient and star warrior is undoubtedly the 2% of salicylic acid imbued into the formula – the chemical removes oil from the pore, all while exfoliating the blemish as it heals.