All right, the Guy Stuff Part 2 announcement of an all new release of men’s Alloy products I featured in June 2022 finally had its full rollout last month. That normally happens much faster but things are different now, presumably because supply chain issues slow down the normal process.
I was well stocked, as mentioned in Part 2, and prepared to wait much longer but being the first genuine men’s facial care line, I celebrated the 2023 new year with ordering a bundle deal of the new Alloy line even though I could have gone a year+ with what I have except for the shave gel, which, I was dangerously close to running out of due to neither the discontinued nor new formulation being available. I’ll be able to gift the extra products I have on hand and will gladly do so because I am so thrilled with the the new ones.
I am so very glad I took this plunge because it’s everything it’s touted to be. The promotional claims sound almost too good to be true but the new products meet every standard being promoted! Due to a rare occurrence of having to call Melaleuca because of a defective sprayer in a recent purchase of hair spray, a type of call that has happened maybe about 5 times in our 17 years of being customers, I mentioned my enthusiasm with the new Alloy line, and, in addition to appreciating my feedback, it was consistent with what others were saying. That was not surprising given my own experience but I’m glad other guys were offering accolades.
Drum roll…
The Luxury Bath Bar (shown both packaged and the bar itself unwrapped second from left) and the Antiperspirant & Deodorant (second to end on right) I have had or been using for some time, but the rest were delayed in their release, and all are shown in general order of use from left to right.
I will highlight these products primarily from an experiential perspective but I highly recommend the Melaleuca web site as it has some valuable information and usage tips that won’t be covered here. This product line is unlike any other and significantly deviates from established norms but Melaleuca knocked it out of the park on this lineup. For one, there is no traditional “after shave” and if you’re willing to part with established protocol you’ll be glad you did. I’ve found great value in not getting too stuck in my ways and this is one more case where I am seriously glad for not being stale and crusty.
- Alloy Calming Face Wash – One thing I found particularly interesting is Melaleuca’s mention that this is not just a facial cleanser, it prepares your face for a closer shave. That seemed like a bold claim but it works! I’m sure it enhances powered shavers too but I’ve been a blade shaver for more than 40 years after my first shaver (a Norelco) gave out and I found blade shaving so superior I could never go back. But in over 40 years of shaving, I have NEVER had such a close shave which is even more comfortable than the already stellar quality previous Melaleuca shave gels (I had about 2 weeks with the old shave gel to experience the difference and the new shave gel amplifies this difference even more).
- Alloy Luxury Glycerin Bar – There’s actually an Affinia shampoo and conditioner step on showering days before this one but this is a revised and improved bath bar over the former version. I ran out of the Alloy Classic bath bars just in time to begin using this new one with the rest of the new Alloy line. Like the new Alloy Antiperspirant & Deodorant, the new bath bars were released several months ago and I had them in stock ahead of time. The new Alloy line does still include (upgraded) liquid body wash but I’m a bath bar guy so I don’t have that.
- Alloy Shave Gel – The previous upgrade on this product a year and a half ago was also mentioned in Part 2 because it was such a surprisingly dramatic improvement. It’s less dramatic this time but plenty dramatic enough. It lathers luxuriously richer and thicker and only requires a very small amount—about a teaspoon to be worked up into that creamy facial covering serving as your first introduction to a wonderful new relationship. It works super well with the Face Wash in step 1 that really amps up the experience and shaving comfort. I know from how good it already was, any improvement would be great but when paired with the new facial care, you may think it sounds like hype until you try it.
- Alloy Cooling Facial Tonic – In Part 2 I also mentioned the Sei Bella facial care because until now there wasn’t a facial care just for men. That system utilizes a spray on toner whereas this one is called tonic and performs the same function except it more specifically aids in rebalancing facial skin from the inherent offset caused by shaving—one that is significantly minimalized by the nutrient rich formulation of the revised shave gel.
- Alloy Tightening Facial Serum – I find it interesting they call the above tonic cooling because this step seriously cools the face much more, in addition to its primary task of preparing the skin to derive more benefits from the next step, applying moisturizer.
- Alloy Mattifying Moisturizer – This both moisturizes (yes guy’s skin does need that) and levels out the natural sheen men’s skin has because we are prone to more oily skin than women. I will attest to that being very true but at least the Sei Bella I was using before also mattified.
- Alloy Antiperspirant & Deodorant – Melaleuca specifies letting the facial serum penetrate before applying the moisturizer. For this reason, on shower days, I apply the antiperspirant & deodorant before the moisturizer. Unlike the previous version though, this new Alloy Antiperspirant & Deodorant offers 48 hour protection so on the in between shower days I just simply wait an extra minute (ish) for the serum to penetrate. Since it was released over the summer I’ve been using this new antiperspirant & deodorant version for a while after exhausting my supply of the Alloy Classic version.
- Alloy Eau de Toilette – Currently in three scent choices, each specified as limited time on availability, I chose the Sandalwood & Amber fragrance. I’ve also queued up the Bergamot & White Musk for my February order even though I expect probably about three years to use them up but there are no expiration dates on these. Melaleuca opting to call it eau de toilet over cologne, I believe was in error as I’ll note below, but the product description is accurate and the high notes in this fragrance are indeed resilient and take at least an hour to significantly begin transition to middle notes. One thing missing in the product description or images is whether or not the bottle has a metered sprayer. The classic Alloy cologne does, so I expected this would too. I’m glad to report it does, so you can safely use it in a controlled amount without making everyone think you are marinated in it.
I think someone in the Melaleuca ranks got the naming of Alloy Eau de Toilette wrong on two levels. The first level is eau de toilette isn’t very appealing outside of its French origin. The second level is that the generally accepted distinction between cologne and eau de toilette is that cologne has a stronger concentration of fragrant oils over alcohol content whereas eau de toilette is the opposite. Cologne is more enduring in fragrance while eau de toilette fragrances evaporate more quickly due to alcohol diluting the fragrant oils. Melaleuca’s product description states the opposite difference as rationale for calling this new product an eau de toilette. Rest assured, this product is loaded with fragrant oils, and staying power, so you don’t want to apply too much!
Fortunately, I knew to expect Melaleuca’s product description to be accurate (the price is also a giveaway) so I didn’t go out in public smelling like I fell in the vat.
As a final note, in addition to the natural ingredients used to achieve the effectiveness of each product, the entire facial care line has a light but consistent and pleasant masculine fragrance. Top that all off with the choice of eau de toilette fragrances and we’re talking a serious upgrade to any guy’s personal care routine!
February update: I’m pleased with the Bergamot & White Musk I ordered this month and am glad to alternate. As a matter of strictly opinion, my instinct to start with the Sandalwood & Amber was the better choice but I still recommend both. I find the Bergamot & White Musk to be pleasingly softer while the Sandalwood & Amber is elegantly more pronounced without going too far. My wife Sheryl responds highly favorable to both. I have no immediate plans to order the Blood Orange & Vetiver as even the product description mentions it as bold and the fragrances I have are tastefully suited to my personal preferences for subtlety with shorter travel differences (even though pleasant) during the high note stage.