If you’re a Wes Anderson fan, you’re sure to recognize Waris Ahluwalia. What you may not know about the Darjeeling Limited and Life Aquatic star is that he’s also the driving force behind one of the most acclaimed jewelry makers in the world, House of Waris. Here, the multi-talented artist talks style, friendship, and what it means to be a grown-up.

BB Man: Is there a moment or a time in your life when you first felt like a grown-up?
Ahluwalia: Still waiting for it. It's bound to happen any day now.

BB Man: What's your motivation when you get dressed every morning? How would you describe your style?
Ahluwalia: I approach my personal style the same way I do my work: I find the best craftsmen and learn about them and their work. I choose the materials of my suits and shirts. I also choose the material of my shoes: pink suede every time, so that one is easy. There is uniform-like simplicity to my style.

BB Man: What article of clothing should every man own?
Ahluwalia: A good black suit and jeans that fit well can take you a long way.

BB Man: What article of clothing should a man never wear?
Ahluwalia: That's up to each man to decide. If you wear it with confidence, that's all that matters.

BB Man: What do you hope to convey through your line? And what are your inspirations?
Ahluwalia: First and foremost, I'm a storyteller. That's all I'm doing. Telling stories. Sometimes in gold, sometimes in film, and now in cashmere. Storyteller and explorer—that's what I am. My inspiration has always been love and history. But we must be clear, I never claim to understand either of those two. This is my search for a better understanding.

BB Man: What’s the most important thing to consider when buying a piece of jewelry for yourself? How about for someone else?
Ahluwalia: Educate yourself. Knowing who you buy from is as relevant as who you buy for. It's all tied together. It's consumerism that's just a little more considered. It's a little more thoughtful. I know I can't fight mass consumption and creation—but I can support an alternative way that can sit alongside those goods.

BB Man: What's one specific style practice or staple that you'd like to see make a come back?
Ahluwalia: Kindness.

BB Man: Who was your hero (or style icon) when you were a kid?
David Niven in Around the World in 80 Days. It's a fantastic film on its own. As a bonus, David Niven's character, Phileas Fogg, is impeccably dressed in every scene. Always crisp regardless of any scuffles and bumps in the road. If one looks like a gentleman perhaps one will behave like one. Kris Kristofferson in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore represents another version of a gentleman. More rugged, but no less iconic.

BB Man: What's one skill every grown man should have?
Ahluwalia: Communication.

1950s: James Dean as Jim Stark, Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Warner Bros.

1960s: Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, The Graduate (1967)

Embassy Pictures Corp.

1970s: Dennis Quaid as Mike, Breaking Away (1979)

Twentieth Century Fox

1980s: Spike Lee as Mookie, Do the Right Thing (1989)

Universal

1990s: Jason Schwartzman as Max Fischer in Rushmore (1998)

Touchstone Pictures

2000s: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, (500) Days of Summer (2009)

Fox Searchlight

Traveling has its perks, but mini-bars aren’t traditionally one of them. These tiny fridges are best known for overpriced snacks of questionable freshness and “bottles” of liquor that barely fill up a shot glass. But some forward-thinking luxury hotels have finally realized the potential of the mini-bar, stocking them with unexpected treats that are equal parts fun and functional. Here are some of our favorite finds.

For the Budding Anglophile

Shopwize

Modeled after an original design from the 1930s, this gorgeous silver cocktail shaker from The Savoy London ranks as one of the classiest take-home treats in hotel history.

For the High-Altitude Adventurer

Aspen Oxygen

After a day of hiking or skiing in picturesque Aspen, guests of The Little Nell can recharge with assistance from an in-room oxygen canister.

For Your Canine Companion

The Fairmont San Francisco

Pets get the red-carpet treatment at the Fairmont San Francisco, where the mini-bar comes stocked with a rope toy, a blanket, and premium ceramic bowl.

For Your Inner Water Snob

BlingH20

Leave it to the Donald: at the Trump International Hotel Chicago, guests are provided with a “luxury water library” that contains a quartet of high-end H2O, including a bottle hand-coated in Swarovski crystals. What recession?

For the Jet-Lagged Journeyman

Sprayology

Looking to catch some quality shut-eye after your overseas flight? If you’re staying at Boston’s XV Beacon hotel, you can simply reach into your mini-bar and pick up an all-natural sleep enhancement spray that also eliminates toxins from your body.

For Those Who Packed Too Light

Bread & Boxers

Stuck in Stockholm with no skivvies? At the Hotel Skeppsholmen, rooms come stocked with Bread & Boxers’ premium line of underwear and socks.

For The Impromptu Party Host

ShopMerWines

Spur-of-the-moment fete with friends? Guests of the Ace Hotel chain can tap the Heineken mini-keg found in every fridge.

For The Curious Couple

Booktopia

At the Omni Royal Crescent in New Orleans, rooms are equipped with a miniature Love Voodoo Kit complete with stuffed doll, pins, and a voodoo love manual.

—Kyle Michas

Birchbox Man: What basic shoelace-tying techniques should every guy know?

Fieggen: The most basic shoe-lacing method of all is called “criss-cross” lacing, in which the laces simply criss-cross from one side to the other. Simplicity, efficiency, and comfort:

A variation of this, called “over-under,” has the crossovers alternating between running across the outside and inside of the shoe. This reduces friction, making it easier to tighten and loosen and reducing wear and tear. This is one of my personal favorites:

And for dress shoes, where the sides come completely together in the middle of the shoe, “straight European” lacing is the method of choice. The straight lines on top look neat, while the underlying zigzag makes it tighten evenly and securely:

And a good method for hiking boots is “Army” lacing. It has crossovers on the inside and vertical sections of the outside. By eliminating external crossovers, the usually tough sides of heavy boots can flex more easily.

Birchbox Man: How about a fun and slightly unusual (but not too wacky) style that guys might use when subbing in some colorful waxed laces into their normal dress shoes this spring?

Fieggen: A great method for the thin, colorful waxed shoelaces is “zipper” lacing. At each pair of eyelets, the laces loop under the previous crossover, which "locks" the laces at that point. The end result vaguely resembles a giant zipper, which adds an unusual style.

Birchbox Man: What's your favorite lacing style?

Fieggen: For practicality, my favorite style is over-under, but for appearance, my favorite is “lattice” lacing. It's surprising how many people comment on my lattice-laced sneakers, and it is nice to receive compliments.

Birchbox Man: Is there a mathematical limit to the number of ways you can lace up your shoes?

Fieggen: The maths of shoe lacing is phenomenal. Australian mathematician Burkard Polster calculated that there were 43,200 possible "practical" lacings of a typical shoe with six pairs of eyelets, based on each lace segment contributing to the closing of the shoe. Laying practicality aside, there's almost two trillion ways of passing a shoelace through those six eyelets, and countless more if you allow the laces to be interwoven or to pass through any eyelet more than once. I guess you'd eventually hit a limit when the shoe lacing becomes a solid mass and all the eyelets are chock full, but I have no idea of the number. If you used infinitely thin shoelaces, you'd have an infinite number of possible lacings.

Birchbox Man: Can you tell me about how this misunderstanding regarding the proper name for aglets? Why do people think they’re called "flugelbinders?"

Fieggen: Many people seem to have learned the wrong word for the tip of a shoelace—properly known as an aglet—from the 1988 movie Cocktail. Interestingly, most of them seem to recall that Tom Cruise's character Flanagan coined the term, but it was actually Elisabeth Shue's character Jordan who said: "It's probably got one of those weird names too, like, aahh, 'flugelbinder.’" Of course, the proper term is aglet. The only other crucial terminology I can think of is “granny knot,” which causes countless people's shoelaces to come undone. But that's a whole other story...

Be sure to watch Fieggen’s "Ian Knot" which spawned his Professor Shoelace alter ego.

Follow Pat on Twitter.

For the rest of the Birchbox Man video lineup, check out our YouTube page.

Few things are more intensely refreshing than a Scandinavian sauna. With wooden hot houses located right on the shores of brackish Baltic waters, the Swedish sauna experience is a bracing cycle of schvitzing and shivering. Henrik Lindahl, founder of Swedish apparel basics line Bread & Boxers, says, “There is nothing more relaxing than returning into the hot sauna after the cold.” Note: There’s no need to pack a swimsuit—they’re strictly forbidden in Swedish saunas. But there are plenty of other things you’ll want to bring with you. Here are Henrik’s ten sauna essentials.

Pripps Blå Beer

Pripps Blå

Gant Cotton Towels

GANT

Pine Oil

Thinkstock

Truefitt & Hill Wellington Razor

Truefitt & Hill

REN Body Wash

REN

Recipe for Men Facial Moisturizer

Recipe for Men

Bread & Boxers Underwear

Bread & Boxers

Boomerang Cardigan

Boomerang®

Band Aid Salvequick Aqua Resist

Salvequick

A Good Book

Pantheon

As an accomplished international traveler and the founder/designer behind the male accessory line Men in Cities, Yuvi Alpert knows how to balance on-the-road style with streamlined mobility. Before he took off for a weekend in Boston to attend his younger brother’s college graduation, we were lucky enough to get him to unpack his bag for us.

Name: Yuvi Alpert
Occupation: Founder of Men in Cities
What’s in my bag:

1. Mervyn’s Men's Jacket
   “This is my grandfather’s suede and knit jacket from Mervyn’s. He bought it in the early 70's.”

2. James Perse White Tee
   “I love the quality of this brand. This tee is versatile and an essential piece for any trip I take.”

3. Hand-Knit iPhone Case
   This is from the YUVI collection. It keeps your phone nice and cool when not in use. We used 100% puma cotton for this hand knit iPhone Case.

4. Vintage Sunglasses
   “These give any outfit a new fresh look.”

5. Vita Coco
   “The electrolytes are necessary for a long day.”

6 & 7. Men in Cities Passport Case and Men in Cities Tie
“I brought two essential items for my brother for his life after graduation. First: a passport case. Hopefully it encourages him to travel before he settles in to a serious job. This may be the only chance he has to explore the world without any obligations. I spent close to 14 months after college backpacking and visited many beautiful parts of the world for under $30 per day. And the tie—for when he’s ready to get back to work.”

8. Acne Jeans
Acne makes my favorite Jeans. They wear in nicely and age really well.

9. Men In Cites Woven Belt
A grey belt is an ideal neutral accessory that can work with almost all outfits. This one is comfortable, durable, and always fits.

10. Men In Cities socks
“These can be worn with a suit or with casual clothing but most importantly they can inspire you, because you're carrying an important date on your feet (they come printed with the dates of three legendary moments in the history of Rock & Roll).”

11. New Balance 420 Shoes
“Practical lightweight everyday shoes that look good are hard to come across. New Balance 420s always work for me. I have a few pairs in different color combos.”

For the full archive of The Things He Carries, go here.

1. Enormous tanks are used to mix the shower gels (they take six hours to mix) and lotions (12 to 14 hours), before they’re decanted into 1-ton containers and taken to one of six production lines on the factory floor.

2. Squeezable tubes are perfectly cylindrical when they arrive at the production line, before they’re filled from the (eventually pointy) end and then clamped shut.

3. At every stage of the production process, samples are checked against strict quality control standards. They’re all tested in part of the factory before being archived. The brand is environmentally conscious, too; 94% of all waste from Green Street is sent off to be recycled.

4. The company’s colognes and fragrances are designed and developed in the UK, but not mixed at Green Street. Once manufactured, though, they come back to where they were designed, to ensure they meet strict quality control standards before being shipped out to stores all around the world.

Any day you can quench your thirst with mint juleps and dress yourself like a Fitzgerald character is a good day—so why not make Derby Day last all year? Your everyday outfits can and should call upon the easy elegance that the Derby inspires. Presenting: Five staples of Churchill Downs attire around which you can build a winning spring wardrobe.

Lighten Up

At the Races: Festive pastels pop up on shirts and suits to complement the merriment of the Derby’s infield.

Daily Derby Style: Work bright but muted pieces into your getup, like a mint-hued button-down from J. Crew or a pair of pants in “gilded ash” from Club Monaco.

Fresh but Subtle Prints

At the Races: Thanks to pocket squares and ties with eye-popping prints, men have accessories to rival the ostentatious headgear of their female counterparts.

Daily Derby Style: Opt for a printed necktie like this floral one from Steven Alan, which punches up your everyday attire, or a reversible striped and polka dotted pocket square from Jack Robie.

Wise Ways to Pull Off Seersucker

At the Races: Thanks to the Ohio River Valley, Louisville has a mild climate ideal for day drinking and suits made from this crinkly, lightweight fabric.

Daily Derby Style: Seersucker lends unmistakable Southern swagger to any outfit, but there are plenty subdued ways to sport the style. We like the shorts approach.

Race with the Right Shoes

At the Races: Saddle shoes or two-toned brogues punctuate a cream-colored or seersucker suit and are suitable lawn-treading footwear.

Daily Derby Style: A two-toned shoe can strike too much of a driving range note for the office. But if you stick to a single shade—especially cream and lighter browns—derbys and brogues can look just as sharp (and appropriate) in the corporate environment.

Complete a Hat Trick

At the Races: Wearing a hat to the Derby is said to bring good luck. For us, it’s the gentlemanly way to finish off your look. One rule: no baseball caps.

Daily Derby Style: For practical and not-too-foppish Derby headgear that you can wear through summer, pick up a classic Panama. Miansai has given the Ecquadorian straw hat a modern spin by replacing the ribbons around the sideband with its signature ropes.

—Paolo Lorenzana

The Overserved Society is Chicago-based blog dedicated to the art of the cocktail. When Midwestern tipplers Blake Royer and Seth Putnam can’t find a recipe for a given drink that quite satisfies, they start experimenting. They tinker for a month before holding an event to celebrate good friends and share the final product of their experiments (see previous recipes for their Manhattan, Hemingway Daquiri, Whiskey Smash, and Martinez). This month, they tackled the daunting project of perfecting the ideal Cinco de Mayo cocktail: The Matador.

Cinco de Mayo the unofficial start of heaven in Chicago. As guys who like to drink seasonally, it’s the time when we trade in stirred brown spirits for lighter shaken cocktails.

In researching the appropriate beverage to sip in celebration of Mexico's military defeat of the French on May 5, 1862, one drink was, of course, unavoidable: the Margarita. Our first inclination was to skip the predictable cocktail entirely—if your experience is anything like ours, "Margarita" usually means slush, some artificial sour mix, and an imprecise tequila pour. We can do better.

As with the Hemingway Daiquiri, there's a finer art to this drink than tossing everything in a blender and whipping it to oblivion. And as with all craft cocktails, fresh fruit juice is the key. No fake sour mix—ever.

Instead of offering up the predictable option and improving it, however, we decided to experiment with something a little bit lesser-known and unexpected. Enter “The Matador,” a slightly more ambitious (and longer-lasting) variation on the margarita.

Though there's not much known history behind the Matador, the key ingredients (tequila, lime, pineapple) are major Mexican exports—enough to make the concoction satisfactorily on-topic. You won't have to refill as often, and after a few of these you might just feel ready to square off with an angry bull. Salúd.

The Overserved Society's Matador

Ingredients

2 oz Tequila
1 oz Triple sec
2 oz Pineapple juice (more power to you if it's fresh-pressed)
1 oz Fresh lime juice

Technique

Shake all ingredients until you can't hold on to the cold tin any longer. Strain over and ice-filled highball glass.

And, just for good measure (get it?)—and just in case pineapple isn’t your thing—here’s our margarita recipe too:

1.5 oz Tequila
1.0 oz Triple sec
.75 oz Fresh lime juice
Slice of lime

Before mixing, take the lime garnish and rub it around the outer edge of an old-fashioned glass. Then roll the glass in a plate of course salt to coat the rim. Shake the ingredients with ice until your tin is frosty. Strain or double strain, according to your preference. (We opt for a single-strain, since we don't mind the flecks of ice.)

—Seth Putnam

Check out the full collection of recipes from The Overserved Society.

Check out out the whole lineup of videos on Birchbox Man's YouTube channel.

Follow Max Silvestri on Twitter at @MaxSilvestri.

How: Thread excess length through belt loops a second time.
When: Running late to a shareholder's meeting.

How: Tuck belt excess under the waist band, then up, over, and through the created loop.
When: Visiting cousins in the Hamptons.

How: Fold the extra length over and under the belt, tucking the end into your front pocket.
When: Impersonating Jon Hamm.

How: Twist the belt band 180 degrees and slide it underneath the waistband.
When: Giving the keynote at Milan fashion week 'sprezzatura' summit.

Check out out the whole lineup of videos on Birchbox Man's YouTube channel.

With our birthday-month shipments off to subscribers, it’s time to review our grown-up cultural to-do list for May. Here’s a taste of what’s new and good on the horizon.

Watch

Don’t miss the greatest two minutes in sports on May 4th. The 139th Kentucky Derby is packed with exciting storylines, including Kevin Krigger’s bid to become the first African American jockey to win in over 100 years. Even if the favorite, “Verrazano,” wins at Churchill Downs, you’re guaranteed an underdog comeback story on May 26th, when new episodes of Arrested Development debut on Netflix.

Listen

Random Access Memories, the highly anticipated studio album from Daft Punk, is set to release on May 21. The first single from the record, "Get Lucky," is a smooth, feel-good groove assisted by disco legend Nile Rodgers on guitar and Pharrell Williams on vocals. If the rest of the album is even remotely as catchy, expect this to be the soundtrack of your summer.

Read

Ever since we picked up Benjamin Lytal’s first novel, A Map of Tulsa, we haven’t put it down. A nostalgic ode to the convergence of youth, love, and place, it pumps us up for summer even in its most mundane moments: “It was a quiet thing to do, our stomachs full, watching evening traffic for a minute from the cool smooth concrete. I took in the fumes like sea air. Or we would go running errands on Saturdays, different places: back and forth, out onto the blacktop, downcast in the perpendicular sunlight, then back in: fueled by Coca-Cola and succored by the AC vent.”

Download

Helping us get through our grown-man to-do list this month is the ultimate productivity app, Any.Do. More than an ever-growing list of looming tasks, it transforms your tasks into time-sensitive action items, and pushes you to complete them. This might be the month that kitchen table actually gets refinished.

Got a question we didn't cover? Hit us up on Facebook or Twitter: Facebook.com/BirchboxMan
@BirchboxMan

Find more style and grooming advice on The Guide, and the goods you need in the Birchbox Shop.

We think it’s high time guys everywhere embraced the sheared-and-shorn Tom Haverford-approved spa weekend. If the ladies have all-day makeover and mani-pedis, why can't we rally a few pals and splurge on a relaxation odyssey? To continue our New York Times-inspired series, here's how to spend a day and a half shopping, eating, and grooming like a landed gentry in foggy Londontown.

Saturday Morning

Drop your bags at the Great Northern Hotel (GNH)—London’s first railway property (it dates back to 1854), newly re-imagined with 91 rooms. There isn’t much to argue with here: high ceilings, clean lines, Malin + Goetz products, complimentary “pantries” with daily papers and fresh-baked pastries all day long. Whether you need the Tube or the Eurostar (perhaps Paris is next?), the location couldn’t be better: It’s right between King’s Cross Station and St Pancras International, one of Europe’s busiest transport hubs. It’s also a quick stroll from Caravan King’s Cross. The in-house roastery does seasonal espressos while the restaurant serves salt-beef bubble with eggs for brunch.

Saturday Afternoon

Take the Northern line on the Tube a couple of stops east to Old Street in Shoreditch (basically the Williamsburg of London). Drop into Anthem—conceived by former menswear buyer for Liberty London—where you’ll find 45rpm denim and artisanal bar soaps from around the world. For Old World interiors and avant-garde style, try Hostem, which has a new store-within-store selling Italian Santa Maria Novella products. And don’t miss the more accessible British clothier Albam, which carries Frank's Beard Elixir and other toiletries from our favorite UK barber, Mr Natty. Speaking of which, how about a shave and a haircut—and/or a beard/moustache trim—from Mr. Natty himself? Make an appointment and he’ll make you a brew (that’s British for tea) while snipping away on his 30-foot, bunting-laden barbershop barge, which usually floats around the canals of East London

Once properly fixed up, catch the Central line west to Oxford Street and stock up on Re-charge Black Pepper body wash at the source: the Molton Brown flagship on Regent Street. Don’t miss the hand and arm massages.

Saturday Evening

After stashing your goods back at the hotel, walk five minutes up to King’s Cross Filling Station, the gas-station-turned-hipster-slash-foodie-destination and the pop-up-gone-permanent diner that is Shrimpy’s. On the menu: soft shell crab burgers, ricotta hot cakes, and “frickles,” deep-fried, pickled chilies. After dinner, take in a movie (Easy Rider, anyone?) on the big screen outside. End the night with drinks and/or cigars—and, if you’re still hungry, haggis bon bons—at the Booking Office, an epic space if we ever saw one, within the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The more intimate GNH bar, just around the corner, is good for a nightcap.

Sunday Morning and Afternoon

Head (or carefully stumble) across the street from your hotel to the spa at the St Pancras London Renaissance, where you'll find a host of special services for men, including a "soul-warming beauty treatment for the feet." Then venture east for the Sunday roast at Hawksmoor Spitalfields, known for serving quality British steaks (and mean cocktails, too, if it’s time for hair of the dog). We recommend the roast beef, with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings. Once stuffed, make an effort to get some culture in. Take a healthy walk across the Thames to visit the Tate Modern or try to see a show at the V&A, and the Light Show at Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery.

—Christine Ajudua

For our complete list of 36-Hour Spa Weekend guides, go here

Part of my job is to be up on all the latest and best grooming products for men, so needless to say, I’m familiar with Molton Brown. The stately British brand has a legendary reputation, and their absurdly popular Re-charge Black Pepper Bodywash has had a spot in my shower caddy for months. So when I heard they were launching a full sport collection, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

The first product that caught my was the Body-Warming Sportbalm. I was intrigued by the fact that it was made to be used both before and after working out. I decided to take it for a spin on the West Side Highway running path following work one day.

Before slipping on my sweat-wicking shirt, I started by spot-applying some balm to my elbows, knees, and shoulders. First positive sign: The stuff goes on smooth and totally non-greasy. For the first few minutes it’s like any other high-quality body lotion. Then, just as I started to have that moment of “does this even do anything?,” it kicked into action. Unlike waxier and heavier pain relieving rubs, the sensation of this one is gradual and definitely more warm than hot. It made me more aware of my muscle movements, but really loosened me up at the same time, like I’d just walked out of a 30-minute sauna session (minus the fatigue). Off I went into the brisk night. The best description of that run I can give is that it felt like I had a force field surrounding my body. Remember that scene in The Matrix when Neo just starts stopping bullets dead in their tracks? It was like that, except replace the bullets with cold air. It was glorious.

My run complete, I returned to my apartment and decided to try a post-workout re-application. Almost paradoxically, the warming sensation helped ease my tired legs back into a static and relaxed “cooled-down” state. The entire experience was unlike anything I’d felt before, which says a lot coming from a guy who tries out about 15 lotions a week.

—Kyle Michas

The Brown Workhorse

Filson

The Colorful Flair Piece

Brooks Brothers

The Woven Summer Staple

Men In Cities

The Formal Black Belt

J. Crew

The Equatorial Wildcard

Thinkstock

Want more five-piece essentials lists? Find out which 5 Ties Every Guy Should Own.

They say you should apply a shot glass worth of sunscreen to ensure proper protection. So does that mean you’ve got to tote a handle if you’re going on vacation? We’d much rather opt for a couple streamlined alternatives without sacrificing potency of protection. If you’re tired of big-bottle sunscreens that take up valuable counter space and explode in your suitcase, you’ll want to try these travel-friendly alternatives for clean, efficient, and portable protection.

Stick it to the Sun

A sun stick, which functions similarly to your trusty stick deodorant, allows effortless distribution of SPF without gunking up your tote or attracting lots of sand granule hangers-on. A stick like Supergoop!’s is equipped with aloe vera and essential oils that prevent skin from drying out. When you need another quick coat of anti-sun protection, it’ll be easy to get a grip and let glide.

Spray Some SPF

An easy alternative to arduous squeezing and spreading is a simple spray job. With a twisting lock closure, this "Sunscreen Mist" from Supergoop! is totally spill-proof and comes with a healthy dose of Vitamin C to boot.

Made in the Shade Shirt

Sure, you have to be “that guy” swimming and sun bathing in a long sleeve shirt, but it’s better than nursing lobster-red limbs at dinner. Nothing will protect you better than a special sun protection shirt.

Treat Your Face

If you moisturize with hefty SPF on your face, you can avoid toting a big bottle of goop altogether. Give your mug the royal treatment with at least SPF 30 and you’re good to go (the leap from SPF 15 to 30 is perhaps the most crucial one as SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UVB rays). Try COOLA’s natural and cucumber-scented moisturizer.

Solar Constant / SPF in a Pill

Considering scientists have come up with inhalable coffee and sprayable vitamins, it’s safe to say a sunscreen you can swallow isn’t too far off. Researchers at King’s College in London recently discovered that the algae living in tropical coral creates a compound responsible for providing broad-spectrum protection. It might take five years, but safe to say the future of sun protection is looking a lot less messy.

—Paolo Lorenzana

Let me first start by saying that I’m not actually a diagnosed obsessive-compulsive, nor do I mean to belittle anyone who suffers from OCD in a real way. That being said, I am very, very, very particular about things. It’s in my blood, you see: My father spent his teens stocking shelves at a grocery store, then joined the army for almost 20 years. Clearly, all the order and discipline rubbed off on me: I naturally arrange my books by name, and if you look in my closet the hangers are equally spaced apart. It’s bad, I know, but sometimes being so anal-retentive has its benefits. Take my daily oral hygiene routine, for example:

Brushing my teeth is just the beginning, though it deserves a lot of attention. A sonic toothbrush is an obvious no-brainer, and no one does it better than Sonicare; the latest models even come with built-in timers to ensure you complete the recommended two minutes. With toothpaste, I was a big-name brand guy for years. That is, until I landed this gig at Birchbox and tried Marvis. Despite the vintage packaging, this stuff makes my teeth cleaner (and whiter) than the most futuristic-branded drugstore teeth cleaners. And—crazy as it may sound—the combination of such substantial, non-goopy paste and a screw top closure make for a tidier, residual gunk-free operation that suits my obsession with tidiness. From there, it’s time to floss. Oral-B’s Glide series uses the same technology found in Gore-Tex manufacturing. And while I’m not exactly sure how that works, it’s just plain cool. Think flossing’s where it ends? Not a chance. Now it’s time to use my trusty Waterpik. Anyone who ever had braces probably remembers their orthodontist recommending one of these bad boys, but you’d be amazed at how much cleaner your mouth feels (even after flossing). Then, I break out a tongue scraper, which in my opinion is the unsung hero of the oral care kingdom. Most of the time, the cause of bad breath can be traced back to bacteria on the tongue, so a couple of passes with one of these does wonders. Last but certainly not least, it’s time for a final rinse with Listerine. Now, when I say Listerine, I mean the original, insanely minty, oh-my-god-my-mouth-is-on-fire variety. None of this “less intense formula” nonsense. If it doesn’t burn, then it’s not working as well.

—Kyle Michas

In the age of the space race and the IBM Selectric, firewater ruled the grooming kingdom. Alcohol was everywhere in the clean-cut company man’s medicine cabinet, from positively flammable hair tonics that softened and shined sideparts to bracing aftershaves that stung freshly shorn jawlines.

But over the past few decades, the use of hooch in grooming products has gone the way of the rotary phone. Sure, alcohol still helps with excessive sweating under your arms (even if it does contribute to pit stains), but when it comes to hair and skin care, it’s roundly recognized that an excess of the stuff will just dry you out. So we’ve moved on from splashing our faces and coifs with alcohol, but I, for one, miss it. Alcohol rates awfully high on the “feel it working” scale, even if it does come with a little sting and discomfort.

Luckily, being guys in 2013, we get to fake it. There are plenty of products on the market that channel the throwback satisfaction you get from boozy grooming aids (while delivering modern day quality, mind you—we’re not talking O’Doul’s-grade stuff here). Exhibit A: Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Tonic for Men, is an alcohol-free toner that's a perfect aftershave replacement for guys who long for the splashing, slapping, and patting that came with using a viscous product like Aqua Velva. My personal favorite, amidst a sea of cut-rate whiskey-scented shave creams, is Billy Jealousy’s Sake Bomb Body Moisturizer. It takes the old-school concept and makes it totally new by giving this lotion just the scent of that irresistible fermented rice drink. It’s a delightful mash-up because it recalls a past that never really existed at all—by the time men got around to internalizing the importance of moisturizing, we’d also wised up about the skin-drying effects of alcohol. It reminds me a little of the Tampa Bay Rays’ powder blue jerseys (which I love), and the way they reference an era in the sport that never existed for them in the first place.

—Martin Mulkeen

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Gentlemen, Marking the beginning of music festival season and warm weather, April was all about turning up the volume on living. We popped our collars (well, at least that sort of half pop that looks like an accident—you know the one), loaded up our sandwiches with sriracha, and turned up our speakers to full blast. Here’s a recap from The Guide and beyond.

We kicked it at Coachella.
After carefully planning our packing list and reflecting on the style of modern concertgoers for the first part of the week, we were off to Indio for some serious fun in the sun. The three days flew by, but some favorite moments included bumping some old-school jams with Jurassic 5, dancing in the Sahara Tent with Dog Blood, and relishing the reunion of The Postal Service. Let's just say a return trip in 2014 is all but guaranteed.

We learned the art and science of playlist making.
DJ, producer, and remixer Alan Wilkis stopped by to show us how to put together the perfect party playlist. After that, we went to work, tapping musicians and editors including R&B sensation Jesse Boykins III (who also hooked us up with some crucial cooking tips, Billboard Editor Joe Levy, and barroom rockers Low Cut Connie. Our headphones runneth over.

We kicked spring style into high gear.
Emerging from hibernation, we sloughed off our wooly fabrics and autumnal colors in favor of some warm weather color and panache. We even experimented with some new and extreme hairstyles.

Cheers,
Birchbox Man

We’ve spent the past month tearing through our advance copy of fitness expert John Romaniello’s forthcoming book, Engineering the Alpha: A Real World Guide to an Unreal Life. He sums up the book’s call-to-arms quite well on page one: “You were built to be strong, fearless, confident, powerful…all men have what it takes to accomplish great things, and be great themselves.” Here’s Romaniello’s and co-author Adam Bornstein’s 14 easy tips for turning up your testosterone (one of the keys to looking, feeling, and being your best).

“We’re not going to beat around the bush with this one: Testosterone is what makes you a man. It’s what allows you to build muscle and melt fat. It’s what makes you attractive to women, what powers your sex drive, and what helps you recover from workouts. It’s part of your genetics, and it’s a driving force in your health, your wealth, your energy, and your lifespan.

In the past 20 years, the average level of testosterone has dropped anywhere from 20 to 30 percent. And for that very reason, men have become fatter, less sexual, and less satisfied.

The good news is you don’t need to spend money to boost your T levels. Most doctors are quick to prescribe hormone replacement therapy and fill your body with exogenous hormones. But it’s been shown that small changes can be all it takes to increase testosterone levels as much as 50 percent.

Australian researchers have found that testosterone levels don’t have to drop as you get older. In fact, they can stay high into your sixties if you exercise the right way, eat the right foods, avoid smoking, and limit how much fat is on your body.”

Here’s your cheat sheet to higher T:

• Lift heavy weights.
• Do intervals.
• Practice sprints and work your lower body.
• Supplement with vitamin D (at least 300 IU/day).
• Don’t smoke.
• Supplement with zinc.
• Sleep more than six hours per night.
• Eat more protein.
• Do squats and deadlifts.
• Use shorter rest periods in the gym.
• Take fish oil.
• Don’t overtrain.
• Include fat from animals and dairy in your diet.
• Eat eggs.

Note: Excerpt has been condensed and edited. Read Romaniello’s tips on foods that are good for your skin, and pick up Engineering the Alpha here (also available on Kindle).

The first thing we noticed when we met Joe Levy: The guy’s summer-weight scarf game is without rival. The second and third things, respectively, were that the he presses a mean cup of Stumptown (with which he’s quite generous), and possesses a depth and breadth of music knowledge that would make even the geekiest of rock historians quiver in their Chelsea boots. On the eve of Coachella, we asked the Billboard editor to share some of his favorite songs and a bit of sartorial advice for surviving music festival season while still looking like rock royalty.

Festival Survival

“There are only three things you need: water, earplugs, and sunscreen. One is available for purchase on site. If you think you can skip the other two, talk to me in 40 years when you’re having moles removed and wearing a hearing aid.”

Hair

“There are only two ways to go. Cue ball or long hair. You either look like you’re in Minor Threat, or you look like you’re in the Bad Seeds. Anything else, you look like you have a job.”

Boots

“I like pointy boots. Pointy enough to kill a cockroach in a corner. And I like Cuban heels. Maybe you like something less delicate, more combat ready. Your call. Just buy good boots and wear them until they fall apart (at which point: duct tape).”

Belts

“I used to think belts were unimportant. Then I bought one with ridiculous silver embroidery. The first night I wore it, a beautiful British girl with blond hair leaned over to trace the embroidery with her index finger. Belts, it turns out, are important. Get an upgrade.”

The Ramones

“When in doubt, adhere to any aesthetic choice mapped out by the Ramones on their first four records. Warning: This does not include actually beating on a brat with a baseball bat. Otherwise, go for it.”

And here’s Joe Levy’s full “Turn It Up” song list (track listing is below and the YouTube playlist here):

The Rolling Stones, “She Said Yeah”
“In the late-‘50s original by Larry Williams, she’s saying yeah to a wedding ring. In the frantic Stones cover, Jagger’s in a race to get past the wedding ring right to the bedroom. Totally unhinged.''

The Beatles, “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”
“Another Larry Williams song. Marriage comes up again, along with fever and the dizziness Miss Lizzy causes whenever she does the stroll. The raw power vocals from John Lennon may be his finest ever.''

Larry Williams, “Bad Boy”
“This song, also covered by the Beatles, is about a kid who doesn’t want to go school, he just wants to rock & roll all night. Williams—a friend (and drug connection) to Little Richard—was indeed too bad for this world: He died in LA of a gunshot wound to the head in 1980.''

King Tuff, “Bad Thing”
“A whole different kind of bad. Bright, bashing, and glammy. The sound of one Vermont dude reinventing the whole universe in his garage.”

The Breeders, “I Just Wanna Get Along”
“Cool girls making fuzzy ‘90s guitar noise that sets up this put down: ‘If you’re so special, why aren’t you dead?’ Shattering.”

Iggy and the Stooges, “I Got a Right”
“After many years of trying, I still can’t figure out if this is the closest these knuckle-dragging libertines got to the Stones, or the closest they got to Motown.”

The Libertines, “I Get Along”
“Answering the question: ‘Can some guys from London play the Strokes first album faster, messier, more desperate, and as if their whole lives depended on getting the attention of every girl within earshot?’”

The Heartbreakers, “Can’t Keep My Eyes on You”
“Seventies New Yawkers who can’t tell the difference between seduction and destruction get lost in their own vicious guitar boogie. The live version is filthier. And therefore better.”

April March and the Makers, “Try to Cry”
“Turns out it’s not possible to make a modern garage rock song as mean as Van Morrison and Them’s ‘I Can Only Give You Everything.’ But sure is fun to try.”

Devo, “Be Stiff”
“Twitchy robo punk from Ohio, still astounding 36 years later.”

Deap Valley, “Gonna Make My Own Money”
“Two girls from LA who love denim cut-offs and loud, distorted blues riffs. Really, what more needs to be said?”

The Rolling Stones, “So Young”
“A 35-year-old Mick Jagger meets a French girl with spots on her face who barely speaks English and drives her dad’s car (“it was just jammed with teenage crap”), offers to share some popcorn with her (“it’s not a federal offense”), takes her to Barneys and buys her some boots, then tries to put his **** back on a leash before big trouble starts. Left off of ‘Some Girls’ presumably because it’s essentially reprehensible. Also one of the best blues they ever cut.”

Low Cut Connie, “Boozophilia”
“One guy bangs a piano in a style between the Pentecostal church and a gay cabaret while his partner mistreats a guitar until it bends to his will. Together, they search for love, truth, sex, or another drink. Their battle cry: ‘I don’t care what we do. We can go to the beach. We can go get stoned. I’m hungry.”

Jemina Pearl, “Looking for Trouble”
“How awesomely badass is this girl? ‘My hands smell like cheeseburgers and cigarettes. On the tips of my fingers I count my regrets.’ Case closed.”

Follow Joe Levy on Twitter here.