Rome

Vitaman

You might be surprised to hear that even men want to look after themselves. Even though I’m only in my late 20’s I’m becoming more and more conscious of the need to start taking care of myself – let’s call it my ‘investment’ for the future. I do get teased by some of my peers but I don’t care – I know I’ll be the one having the last laugh. After all, your appearance is the first thing you’re judged on, so you might as well take some time to look after it.

Therefore I’m sure that it’ll come as no surprise, particularly considering the rise in the male grooming market, to find out that a lot of men are also willing to part with their cash on products that promise benefits and miracles. I recently had the opportunity to try a brand called VitaMan (courtesy of those lovely girls at The Amazing Blog) which offers ‘Spa Treatments’ but in the privacy of your home. These are tailored specifically for men only – sorry, girls - hand off! And as I'm currently commuting between both Rome and London – two  relatively polluted cities, I am on the constant look out for a portable multi-tasking grooming products (travelling Ryan Air dontcha know!) Could the Vitaman Face & Body Cleanser be the answer to my prayers?

Vitaman Face & Body Cleanser is a natural, plant-derived moisturising cleanser with anti-bacterial plant extracts that helps prevent any skin irritations and leaves the skin feeling super clean and moisturised. Free of harsh chemical cleansing agents, it is formulated using unique Plant Extracts such as Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel and Lemon Myrtle and ingredients such as Sea Salts are a natural way of drawing out toxins from the skin and help to exfoliate the build up dead skin cells. It has a fresh fragrance, a sort of zingy, citrus aroma, that reminds me of an exotic paradise… So that’s a good start.

I’ve been using Vitaman Face & Body Cleanser for the past week and I’m impressed. I’ll definitely buy more and I’d happily consider the rest of  VitaMan  body or face range which consists of men’s daily shaving, skin, hair and anti-aging products.

Launched in 1999, VitaMan today provides high end spas globally with over 20 professional treatment products and 6 Male-specific de-stressing and rejuvenating spa treatments, as well as their 35 retail take-home products (that’s what I tried). What makes VitaMan‘s range really unique is the use of ancient Australian indigenous plant, fruit and herbal extracts which are considered to have beneficial properties. I’ve finally found a great new travel companion with Vitaman Face & Body Cleanser £27.50  for 250ml - I hope this will be the beginning of a long lasting relationship.

Rome Sweet Rome…

Rome has always been one of my favourite cities in the world. There is something special about it, you can sense its unique charm when you walk up the narrow alleys, or wander through its characteristic markets crowded with shouting stallholders, bustling locals and entranced tourists.

First and foremost Rome is considered to be an ancient city, steeped in history and boasting some of the finest examples of Roman architecture, tourists flock to marvel over the Colosseum, admire the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican City. However, not many people realise that Rome is so much more and they will be surprised at what else it has to offer...If I say MAXXI it is unlikely you will know what I am talking about and what a shame that is!! MAXXI is the brand new National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, located in the Flaminio neighbourhood of Rome. It was inaugurated in May 2010 and designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid, who thought of it as a composition of bending oblong tubes, overlapping, intersecting and piling over each other. MAXXI’s permanent collections include works by Anish Kapoor, Gerhard Richter, Francesco Clemente along with many others. The interior of the building is as awe-inspiring as the exterior and on walking in you will almost certainly be amazed. It certainly is a masterpiece fit to sit alongside Rome’s ancient wonders.

In my opinion another must-see when visiting Rome is the Palazzo della Civilta`Italiana. This square Colosseum is located in the EUR district and it is fascinating to see its resemblance with the ‘original’ Colosseum located in the city centre. When the sun shines it is as if its marble surfaces are covered with glitter.

Of course Rome is also food: artichokes, trippe, abbacchio, bucatini all`amatriciana…people from Rome really know how to treat themselves! Rome is full of cheap and typical trattorie (eating houses) where you can try the local cuisine. Trastevere is the district recognized for offering the best trattorie in Rome. In the heart of Trastevere I discovered a charming little eaterie, La Scala, as soon as I walked in I was surrounded by the typical ‘Roman charm’. The food there was amazing and affordable and the rustic charm of the place reminded me the infamous scene in Disney's ‘Lady and the Tramp’, such a romantic place especially by candlelight and with the addition of a delightful dinner date!

Rome is a city that will never fail to indulge you!

MC