Brand Spotlight: BARBER PRO

Barber PRO was originally created to fill a glaring gap in the market to address post-shave discomfort for men. And since its inception in 2015, the highly effective and natural formulas of Barber PRO's skincare range for men has garnered industry awards and loyal recognition by customers.

Read on to find out more about the Barber PRO story, and some personal top tips from co-founder of the brand, Ibs Ansari.

1. What was the motivation for creating your brand in 2015?

BARBER PRO was created back in 2015 when we noticed a gap in the market for sheet masks specifically created for men. We conducted market research that showed that men wanted skincare made simple, with easy one step solutions to their skin concerns.

We set ourselves the mission of creating an innovative grooming range that made skincare simple with highly effective ingredients and natural formulas. We wanted our customers to be able to see BARBER PRO on the shelf and instantly understand the benefits they would receive from the product.

Simple, easy to understand, no faff skincare.

2. What was the first product you launched and how did you go about marketing it?

Our first launch was the BARBER PRO Post Shave Cooling Mask. We specifically wanted to target a skin concern that we know our audience experiences - post shave discomfort and irritation.

This calming formula was created to reduce redness, deeply hydrate and replenish the skin. BARBER PRO fans could say goodbye to shaving rash and hello to smooth, rejuvenated skin.

It was specifically targeted to the trade market as an alternative product to a hot towel after a shave treatment. Barber shops responded well to the innovation and thus BARBER PRO was born.

3. If someone is new to BARBER PRO, which products would you recommend for them to try first?

When recommending products, we always like to get to the bottom of the customer’s skin concerns and goals as this is the best way for us to pair them with the correct formulas.

Our core line of products are named after their benefits, which makes it really easy for our customers to pick which will work for them.

Here are some examples of skin concerns / goals that we encounter and which products from the range we’d suggest to build into a routine to tackle that.

"My skin is breakout / acne prone":

If you have oily skin and are prone to experience spots, it’s important to build a cleansing and balancing routine to help you to manage your oil levels and flush out the toxins that can instigate breakouts.

Start with FACE PUTTY Peel-Off Mask to deeply cleanse the skin and unclog the pores. This will help to exfoliate dead cells and lift out impurities - both of which could be clogging up your skin to cause spots and increase oil levels. You should do this 2-3 times a week.

Follow this with the BLEMISH CONTROL Niacinamide Face Serum. Now that your pores are clear, the serum can better penetrate the skin to deliver active ingredients right to the source. This soothing formula will help to reduce redness, regulate oil and rebuild the skin’s moisture barrier. This will help to boost the hydration of your skin - hydrated skin is much more effective at flushing out toxins and balancing oil levels. You should use this serum twice daily for the best results.

For an extra boost of benefits, use the BLEMISH CONTROL Facial Sheet Mask once a week to really nourish the skin and get the most out of the formula.

"I want to reduce fine lines and wrinkles":

If you are concerned about the signs of ageing on the skin (aren’t we all!) then it is important to keep up with your skincare routine to keep it in check.

Start with FACE PUTTY Peel-Off Mask to deeply cleanse the skin and exfoliate dead cells. Exfoliation is one of the best ways to speed up the cell renewal process, as it removes old or damaged cells and stimulates the production of healthy, new ones. You should do this 2-3 times a week.

Follow this with the ANTI-AGEING Vitamin C Serum. Now that your pores are clear, the serum can better penetrate the skin to deliver active ingredients right to the source.

This formula will increase the skin’s hydration, brighten the complexion and reduce the appearance of dark circles, redness, fine lines and wrinkles. The serum uses Yuzu Fruit which stimulates collagen production which renews the cells, improving elasticity and creating a smoother and more even surface.

For an extra boost of benefits, use the ANTI-AGEING Facial Sheet Mask once a week to really nourish the skin and get the most out of the formula.

"My skin is dry and dehydrated":

Dry skin can cause sensitivity and discomfort, as well as not looking particularly nice!

Keeping the skin hydrated can help to improve your skin health no end.

Start with FACE PUTTY Peel-Off Mask to deeply cleanse the skin and unclog the pores. This helps to clear the pores to dispel toxins, oils, dead cells and impurities. You should do this 2-3 times a week.

Follow this with the HYDRATING Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Now that your pores are clear, the serum can better penetrate the skin to deliver active ingredients right to the source.

Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance that deeply hydrates the skin. Each particle can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in moisture making it great for helping your skin to retain hydration. The formula also includes Chamomile which helps to reduce redness or irritation.

For an extra boost of benefits, use the HYDRATING Facial Sheet Mask once a week to really nourish the skin and get the most out of the formula.

4. Which of your products do you use in your own grooming routine?

My skin is currently super dry so I have implemented a cold weather routine to help me to prevent flaking and sensitivity.

Being in the office with central heating, moisture can be easily lifted from the skin. This paired with venturing out into the cold can play havoc with the skin’s hydration levels.

I’m currently using the Foaming Cleansing Mask to clean my skin as it is really gentle on my sensitivity, followed by the HYDRATING Serum and Sheet Mask. These give me a daily boost of hydration to soften and soothe my skin.

A special shout out for the Under Eye Mask too - this is a Sunday morning favourite for when I need to give my skin a boost.

BARBER PRO Under Eye Mask with Activated Charcoal & Volcanic Ash (3 Pack)

£5.00

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5. What makes BARBER PRO sheet masks unique?

BARBER PRO Sheet Masks are specially created for men’s skin and we were the first brand in the UK to offer this.

Our formulas are tailored to the concerns that we know men face and have been naturally formulated to provide a vegan solution.

As I’ve mentioned, we’re also the only men’s sheet mask brand with 100% Biodegradable Sheet Mask packaging. This is a game changer in the industry and offers our customers that sustainable point of difference from other skincare brands.

6. Why do you think sustainability is so important in men’s grooming?

The UK men’s grooming and skincare market increased by £100 million between 2015 and 2017, so this is a market that is growing exponentially.

An increasing market means a growing amount of packaging and waste in the industry.

This is a worldwide concern and something that we as an industry need to address.

We’re not afraid to say that we’ve contributed to this issue but now we want to lead the way with sustainability initiatives that allow our customers to enjoy their skincare guilt-free.

This is why we have just released our new 100% Biodegradable Sheet Mask packaging. Our new sachets behave like a conventional plastic during their useful lifetime - don’t worry your sachet won’t start to biodegrade while your mask is still inside!

Once you’ve used your mask, the sachet is exposed to oxygen and so it will begin its breakdown process. It doesn’t need any specific conditions for this to happen so whether you pop it onto your compost heap, recycling or into general waste, it will still biodegrade.

It breaks down until it is nothing more than carbon dioxide, water and organic matter - so it will no longer be a plastic. This means rather than accumulating and posing a threat to our planet as so many plastics currently do, our sachets will instead be recycled back into nature through the process of biodegradation where it will be absorbed by bacteria, fungi and other living organisms.

The sheet masks themselves are also biodegradable. Constructed using bamboo fibers, they are not only gentler on the skin, they will also biodegrade in 75 days.

We are so proud of this innovation and that we can say that we are lessening our impact on the planet. But this is just the next step of our journey, there is still plenty more to come to make BARBER PRO even more eco conscious.

7. Finally, other than a sheet mask, is there anything else in your grooming routine that helps you to relax?

I love the BARBER PRO Warming Eye Mask when I need to switch off. It’s a self heating, chamomile scented eye mask that gently heats the eye area, encouraging me to close my eyes and take 20 minutes to reset. I find it sends me into such a great sleep if I use it just before bed.

BARBER PRO Warming Eye Mask (5 Pack)

£12.00

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Barber PRO strive to create men's skincare products which are made with effective natural ingredients, are kind to the planet with their focus on eco sustainability, and no-nonsense targeted solutions to help you with concerns such as acne, dry skin, fine lines and blemishes. Give this incredible range a try and see the skin health benefits for yourself!