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An at-home guide to self-care

9 Minute Read
An at-home guide to self-care

When it comes to looking after your skin, it’s no secret that there’s a lot of (mis)information out there that can confusing at the best of times. How often do I exfoliate? Is it ok to use soap to wash my face? If I buy this “anti-aging” moisturiser will I really look like a young Leo DiCaprio?

In an effort to take the guesswork out of skincare, we consulted one of the experts – Patrick Kidd, Founder of Patricks, a no-nonsense men’s grooming brand operating locally out of Sydney. The tradie-turned-hairdresser first entered the industry back in 2005 when he opened his high-end salon, Patricks for Men, in Bondi.

At the time, men’s grooming was a relatively foreign concept to most, with the average cost of a haircut floating around the $20-30 mark, with even the most discerning gentleman considering anything more than $20 to be “over indulgent.”

Today, Patricks has expanded their offering beyond haircare, officially launching a range of medical grade skincare in 2019.

We caught up with Kidd to discuss all things fallacies, chance encounters and how you can incorporate an easy skincare regime into your daily routine.

1. What first inspired Patricks skincare?

Believe it or not it was a chance meeting in a sauna in Chicago USA.
We make all our packaging in Chicago and the company we use offer a corporate rate at the Four Seasons Hotel. I was in the sauna before the long flight back to Sydney when who walks in but probably the most famous neurosurgeon in the world. We began talking and soon agreed that there was a massive gap in the market for medical grade men’s skincare. We began working on prototypes with our lab in New York and Professor During has since invested in the brand and continues to help me with research and development of the skincare products.

I was in the sauna before the long flight back to Sydney when who walks in but probably the most famous neurosurgeon in the world.

2. What’s the golden rule of skincare?
You get what you pay for…

Like anything in life you usually have to pay a premium for quality and performance. In our case we use the best labs (people) in the world and combine this with an open budget for ingredients, that means we don’t put a budget on each product fill, instead we ask the chemists to source the best possible ingredients to achieve the claims each product makes. A lot of the ingredients we use are more often used in a medical environment and we wanted to use them in our formulas because they actually work, not like a lot of other skincare products on the market that have false or misleading claims.

3. What are some common fallacies you hear men say about skincare?
Usually that it’s ugly, time consuming and most products or brands are not specially designed for men’s skin. We have changed all of that by offering a product that is not crazy expensive, is easy and efficient to use and is specifically designed for men’s skin.

Plus, it looks fucking cool too which makes a massive difference to a man’s bathroom or travel bag.

4. What’s the ideal daily skincare routine?
For me it’s wash, scrub, moisturise. It’s all about efficiency so I wash my face with FW1 Face Wash daily and rinse.
I scrub my face 2-3 times a week in the shower with FS1 Face Scrub. After the shower I dry and moisturise my face with AM1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer and then apply cologne and out the door.

Also, cold showers are the key to feeling energised all day. I have a nice warm shower to begin with then after I’m washed, scrubbed etc. I turn the hot off and have two minutes of cold before I get out. Try it, it will change your life.

Sleek and crisp, Patricks packaging is a sight to behold.

5. What are some tips and tricks you can share around looking after your skin?
Protecting your skin from the sun in Australia is probably the key. The damage UV rays cause is visible and therefore is usually the first sign of ageing.

Cleans and exfoliate, use a quality moisturiser or serum, invest in an eye balm or eye cream – again the eyes are always a give away if you’re tired or run down. Staying properly hydrated and getting quality sleep is also great for the skin!

6. How often should men wash and exfoliate their face?
We suggest washing at least once a day and if possible twice a day is optimal. Morning and night will give you much cleaner, healthier skin. FW1 is a foaming cleanser so is a luxurious wash that provides deep cleansing whilst maintaining the skin’s natural moisture balance. A game-changing mattifying complex instantly decreases shine. Powerful active ingredients promote epidermal regeneration. Flavonoids and polyphenols soothe irritations and reduce itchiness and redness. Rich in antioxidants to protect cells from free radical damage and reduces oxidative stress caused by environmental factors.

Scrub two-to-three times a week for the best results. FS1 is a powerful dual action scrub combining both physical and chemical exfoliation whilst deeply hydrating and promotes cell regeneration. Volcanic sand and crushed diamond combined with AHA helps eliminate dead skin cells and thoroughly cleans pores, improve skin tones, pore size and small scarring. An innovative blend of micro particles in three sizes help de-flake, reduce ingrown hairs and prepare skin for a closer shave. Packed with anti-aging peptides, multivitamins and anti-irritants for an advanced epidermal treatment that leaves skin smoother, clearer and nourished.

7. Does oily skin need moisturising as much as dry skin?

We are still working on our moisturiser AM2 for oily skin, it’s been in development for over three years now and that will give you an indication of how hard it is to create a moisturiser that actually works for oily skin and leaves a matte finish.

That said it’s important to understand just how beneficial the right moisturiser can be for oily skin. In normal and oily skin, external factors such as pollution, UV rays and excessive cleansing can damage the skin’s moisture barrier, causing loss of moisture and an increase in oil production. As a result, your complexion can start to look overly shiny.

A good guideline to follow is to opt for oil-free, lightweight formulas. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), those with oily skin should use a moisturiser that is lightweight and non-comedogenic—meaning it won’t block pores.

8. Ok, level with us, can anti-aging skincare really take years off you?

I think quality anti-aging products can definitely make your skin look and feel better which may be associated with looking or feeling younger but if a company is saying that something will “take years off” it’s bullshit in my opinion and we would never say that!

9. How important is sustainability within the production of Patricks skincare?

We strive to improve in all facets of our business daily and sustainability is no exception. At current, all of our packaging is recyclable and we’re working towards a carbon
neutral office. We’re in the development phases of incorporating ocean waste plastic and recycled cardboard into our packaging to further reduce our footprint. We know the cosmetics industry is a large contributor to the wider waste problem we face and we’re trying our best to a part of the solution.

10. What are your go-to products for travel?
I travel a lot so I can give a solid answer to this, in order of importance:

Eye balm – Long flights, late nights and hang overs will take their toll but EB1 is my secret weapon to reduce the visible signs.
Hair product – I never leave the house or country without M2.
Face wash – Travel usually equals bad air con and lots of pollutants so I’ll always take FW1 and wash my face morning and night.
Moisturiser – I’m always running around all day from meeting to meeting so I get hot and sweaty and I have naturally oily skin so I usually use AM1 at night just before I go to bed.
Cologne – I’ve been wearing Creed Aventus and Tom Ford Rive d’Ambre
The essentials – Toothpaste and deodorant, of course.

Lather, rinse, repeat


FW1 Face Wash
Patricks

FW1 Face Wash

$80
FS1 Anti Aging Scrub
Patricks

FS1 Anti Aging Scrub

$47
AW1 Anti Aging Moisturizer
Patricks

AW1 Anti Aging Moisturizer

$135
BW1 Body Wash
Patricks

BW1 Body Wash

$45

Lather, rinse, repeat


FW1 Face Wash
Patricks

FW1 Face Wash

$80
FS1 Anti Aging Scrub
Patricks

FS1 Anti Aging Scrub

$47
AW1 Anti Aging Moisturizer
Patricks

AW1 Anti Aging Moisturizer

$135
BW1 Body Wash
Patricks

BW1 Body Wash

$45

11. What ingredients do you use in Patricks skincare products?

OMEGA 3 + 6 + 9 – A vegan, plant derived source of Omega 3, 6 & 9 fatty acids proven to regenerate skin when used topically, helps to improve skin structure and reduce wrinkles and skin roughness. It also boosts skin protection by providing anti-inflammatory action against UVB induced inflammatory damage.
Products: AM1 | ANTI-AGING MOISTURIZER

TEGO COSMO C100 – The highest quality and purity creatine available on the market, identical to the natural creatine that occurs in the skin. Creatine is vital for the energy supply and function of cells. The body’s production of creatine declines with age so it’s important to apply creatine to the skin to maintain its ability to provide anti-ageing benefits.
Products: AM1 | ANTI-AGING MOISTURIZER

REVIVYL – Studies show an improvement in skin surface differentiation and better skin moisturisation in only two weeks, with up to 30 percent wrinkle reduction versus the placebo. Additionally, it supports skin cell renewal by stimulating cellular metabolism, cellular differentiation and natural exfoliation.
Products: AM1 | ANTI AGING MOISTURIZER, EB1 | TRIPLE CORRECTION EYE BALM

AC DIAMOND DUST – Comprised of diamonds that are grounded into a fine powder with particle size ranging from three to eight microns. Great exfoliator for sensitive skin to remove dead skin cells, clean pores and restore skin vibrancy.
Products: FS1 | ANTI-AGING FACE SCRUB

HYALURONIC ACID – A naturally occurring substance in skin known for its capacity to attract and hold onto 1000x its weight in moisture. It revitalises skin’s outer surface layers, so they look and feel softer, smoother and more hydrated. Instantly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Products: AM1 | ANTI-AGING MOISTURIZER

LIPID22 + SQUALANE – An innovative super-ingredient naturally derived from Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Olive Oil and plant-derived squalene. Mimics the perfectly balanced lipid profile of healthy young skin, boosts elasticity and firmness and strengthens the skins protective barrier function.
Products: AM1 | ANTI-AGING MOISTURIZER

SODIUM HYALURONATE – Secures moisture and creates fullness. Reinforces the skin barrier by limiting water loss. Results in softer and smoother looking skin with repeated use. Proper hydration can make a massive difference in the look and feel of your complexion.
Products: EB1 | TRIPLE CORRECTION EYE BALM

DRAGOCALM – Contains natural anti-oxidant compounds derived from oats, like flavonoids and polyphenols, to soothe and calm skin. An anti-irritant with anti-histaminic properties to relieve redness, itch and weal.
Products: FW1 | ANTI AGING FACE WASH, BW1 | MULTI-ACTION BODY WASH

SYN-EYE – A four-in-one blend that visibly reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles within seven days. Nourishes, energises and improves skin texture around the delicate skin eye area. Protects collagen from degradation to boost smoother, firmer skin. Reduces the appearance of dark circles.
Products: EB1 | TRIPLE CORRECTION EYE BALM 

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