So this month, I’m reviewing the Nelly De Vuyst line of men’s skincare products. But first, a quick confession. I just turned 43. And I don’t have what you would call a “skincare regimen.” I have a beard-care lineup and ritual, and I have the cheek and neck shaving thing down. But when it comes to skincare? Soap. Mainly for my hands. No lotion. No exfoliates. Seldom any sun block. I know, I know. Every men’s magazine has at least one article per issue on skincare and how important it is as you age. I get it. I’ve just never done it.
I have a beard-care lineup and ritual, and I have the cheek and neck shaving thing down. But when it comes to skincare? Soap.
So imagine my surprise when my editor sent me the Nelly De Vuyst lineup to test. It includes the daily Foaming Wash, the weekly 3 Minute Gommage Exfoliating Cream, and the Lifting Cream lotion. Finally! My chance to join the ranks of my smooth-skinned, blemish-free brethren! Little did I know how much I’d been missing out on . . .
My New Skincare Routine
Let’s start with the Foaming Wash. It comes in a 5-ounce bottle, and I can tell you now, I’ve been using it for a month and have barely put a dent in it. It has a light medicinal scent and rinses clean leaving no residual odor—and my face has never felt cleaner. My shaves are smoother, I have less blemishes, and I think I’m actually seeing fewer wrinkles around my eyes. Now, one thing I did notice is that, even though it says for sensitive skin, it did leave my face feeling a little dry and tight. It could have just been my skin adjusting to the new program, but it’s something to watch out for, especially if you aren’t using a daily moisturizer.
Next up is the 3 Minute Gommage Exfoliating Cream. Having used exfoliators in the past, I was ready for the usual pumice or walnut-shell facial sanding experience. I couldn’t have been more wrong! There is no discernible grit in the product, and you won’t even know its an exfoliant until you feel it on your skin. Nelly De Vuyst uses a “microcrystalline cellulose” which, in layman’s terms, means that they included the finest sand you can imagine. And it’s made from wood pulp, so fully natural and biodegradable, no micro-plastics or synthetic ingredients. It includes a blend of stearic and benzoic acids and is by far the best exfoliant I’ve ever used.
Finally, we have the Lifting Cream. This is a twice-daily toning and moisturizing cream that, in my opinion, should be in everyone’s daily routine. Historically, I’m not a lotion guy. My skin doesn’t absorb very well, and I always end up feeling like there’s a layer of product left on the surface of my skin that just, to be honest, bugs me to no end. So when I first tried this product, I thought I had done something wrong. It absorbed almost immediately and left my skin smooth and film-free. I thought maybe I hadn’t used enough, so I applied another layer with the same results. It is amazing! It sinks into the skin almost immediately with no residue and no odor. Your skin just . . . glows afterward. In just a week I noticed a 180-degree difference in my skin tone and tightness. My skin was clearer, my pores tighter, and my oil production was lighter and more even. It’s by far my favorite of the three products that I tested.
In conclusion? I have a skincare routine now. These products are fantastic, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. A word of warning, the purchase price for this line isn’t cheap, but with the thought put into the product and its delivery system? You aren’t wasting any product. It makes it well worth the investment.
Lucas Dennington
A native of Southern Oregon, Lucas Dennington is our forty-something fearless tester of men's products. A consultant who designs steam systems for the healthcare industry, Lucas spends his downtime renovating his home, a 1910 schoolhouse nestled in the woods next to the Oregon Vortex and enjoying the Rogue Valley's 60-plus wineries.