So it should come as no surprise that Nivea Men has returned (after a brief stint as Nivea For Men and some rather non-descript logos) to the fuss-free design of the 1920s blue roundel logo, as seen on the Deep Cleansing Face Wash above.

By way of flagging up the change they’ve had to add the word “originals” (presumably in case some customers thought they’d stumbled  across some dodgy old stock) but other than that I think it looks great. Please Lord, let’s hope this isn’t a faddish nod to The Great Gatsby and current twenties-mania though. Nivea, old sport, do stick with the new look – even if it is your old one.

That fragrance, of course, was Paco Rabanne Pour Homme which, remarkably, is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. Again, whatever you think of it, it’s undisputedly iconic. I came across it as a teenager in the mid eighties. Although over a decade old by then, this big, bombastic scent – aromatic, green and smoky, with a slightly soapy edge – still chimed with the times.

Given that it launched in the 70s when men’s fragrances were all about hyper-masculinity it’s big (and I mean big) on tobacco and oakmoss but the whole thing is tempered by a delightful floral heart of lavender and geranium and there’s a hint of honey in there too which works beautifully with the smokiness of the tobacco. And whilst it might open big, the dry down is lovely.

Smelling it now I’m taken back to a different time and place – not to mention a different me. So is it worth a go? Well, personally, I think it’s a little like rediscovering vinyl after years of clean, crisp, slightly soulless CDs – if you remember it back in the day you can’t help but love it –  nor resist the temptation to give it another whirl.

But anyway, whilst the Telegraph article is very informative about the possible memory-boosting properties of the bubbly beverage it fails to mention the big downside – the infamous champagne breath. Standing next to someone who’s had a few glasses always reminds me of that moment in Alien where the monster first bares its silvery teeth to a terrified Ripley. Trust me, judging by Sigourney’s face that Alien mother was a big champagne drinker.

The solution (apart from chewing on cardamon pods which my dentist Uchenna Okoye always recommends) is to rinse with a mouthwash when you get back home and this one, from Marvis, is my current favourite. Free of mouth-drying alcohol and flavoured with peppermint and aromatic herbs it’s not as harsh as many cheaper mouthwashes you buy in supermarkets and tastes better too.

That’s something I’ll raise a glass to anytime, though not a glass of bubbly obviously.

The world’s first hair clipper for men with touch-screen technology it allows you to adjust the length of blades in at the touch of a button and by the tiniest of increments (from 0.4mm to 42mm) meaning you don’t just get a good cut you get a truly bespoke one.

Its versatility means you can buzz cut, trim, blend, taper or create the perfect cut for you. It’s perfect for people like me who simply whizz over their heads to keep their hair at a manageable length but is also great for guys with longer hair who want to maintain their style between visits to the barber or, for that matter, for ones who want to create their own unique styles.

It also features self-sharpening Titanium coated blades, USB charging and a Pro-Power Motor to speed the whole process up and can be used on wet or dry hair. And unlike some clippers, you can lock the length setting so you don’t have any cutting accidents mid trim (something I must confess I’ve been a victim of in the past).

A couple of tips to get the most out of your clipper:

1. Keep it charged (sounds obvious but helps!).

2. Dispense with the guard altogether to remove annoying neck hair and to tidy up the nape of the neck.

3. For a professional-looking blended finish begin cutting with the comb guard flat against the head, move it upwards against the grain and flick it outwards aways from the hair as you do so.

The Remington HC5950 Touch Control Titanium Hair Clipper is available from Boots with a RRP of £69.99. You can also buy it from the Remington site where you can get a third off the normal price if you enter the voucher code  TCSAVE. Happy clipping!

A Remington/Grooming Guru Promotion

Meaning “stay dirty” (a name which only makes me love it more) I got sent a sample a while back with a note from the company saying they thought I’d like it. And they were right. Created by perfumer Mark Buxton, a man who’s worked with the likes of Le Labo, Givenchy, Cartier and Burberry it’s fantastically warm, smoky, woody and earthy and you can see immediately why he also has Commes des Garcons on his CV. It’s actually very Comme in its feel (well, Comme back in the day, when they were in the zone, fragrance-wise).

It’s certainly interesting and the more I smell it, the more I think there’s something faintly industrial in amongst the natural woodiness (think an oily factory floor). Anyway, it could simply be that today’s teensy hangover is affecting my nasal receptors but if it’s intentional then it’s a juxtaposition I love.

Seemingly, the brief for the fragrance was to come up with something that rejected superficiality and Dreckig bleiben certainly has depth, while little details like the fact that the wood of the lid is made from centuries old reclaimed housing timber and the fragrance itself is limited to just 999 bottles certainly adds to the allure. A dirty pleasure? Absolutely.

The notes

Top: Calabrian bergamot, Tunisian neroli, Sicilain Mandarin, Chinese Ginger

Middle: Cistus, Gurjum Oil, elemi

Base: cedarwood, oil of guaiacum, sandalwood, vanilla.

When I first started writing about male grooming, over 13 years ago, the discovery of dermalogica changed how I viewed skincare (it offers a truly bespoke approach to taking care of your skin) and products like their Skin Soothing Cream, Total Eye Care and Daily Microfoliant have since entered my all-time favourites list.

The latest addition to the range, a Multivitamin Power Serum, is designed to give skin the maximum chances to repair itself after environmental damage and to bolster it against the ageing process. It contains a raft of ingredients, including microencapsulated antioxidants, to repair skin damage, boost skin’s natural elasticity and, well, generally make if look and feel better. Non greasy and super-concentrated you simply apply it to a freshly cleansed face before moisturising.

If you’re a guy who’s never used a serum before, the tiniest amount is all you need (I’ve met some men who have gone through tubes that are meant to last months in a week!) and it’s worthing giving skin a double hit by applying morning and night. Super-concentrated, they’re a great way to turbo-charge your existing grooming routine and the great thing about this one is its texture: it’s super light, easily absorbed and wonderfully matt.

dermalogica’s Multivitamin Power Serum will be available from the beginning of June. For more info go to www.dermalogica.co.uk

Though aimed at women (see the advertising to the right) it’s also a fragrance perfect for men who like big, ballsy statement scents with warmth, depth and tenacious longevity. Not everyone will love it – it’s not a “focus group fragrance” after all – but if you’re into luxury, opulence and, well, the rich, evocative smell of frankincense, I strongly suggest you give it a try.

Tom Ford Sahara Noir is available nationwide from May priced £100 for 50ml EDP.