Rich's Top 10 Men's Grooming Essentials

Rich's Top 10 Men's Grooming Essentials

Looking for a great gift for your father, your lover, a male friend, or a sibling? If you don't have any idea of where to start, grooming essentials is always a great option. But finding the best options can be a bit difficult to do, especially if you don't know much about the products! That's why we asked beauty blogger Rich (@theskincarestooge) for his top picks.

"With Father’s Day fast approaching, now might be the time to think about how we can help the men in our lives transform from Captain Caveman into Mr. Darcy with just a few carefully chosen grooming essentials. 

Gone are the days when men made do with a weekly outdoor shower and rub down with a block of lard. Now some even use eye cream! Whilst men do tend to have thicker, oilier skin and contend with increased sensitivity from shaving they don’t necessarily need their own dedicated skincare. 

However, for non-millennials, the beauty arena can still be a rather daunting place with row upon row of twelve-step routines. These simple, multi-tasking male beauty picks will take the guesswork out of things & more importantly make it more likely that grooming becomes a daily ritual."
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Richard Davies
Beauty Blogger

Bringing the fun back to beauty, I blend insightful skincare reviews with humor in order to entertain. My passions are discovering and supporting smaller ind... See More

  • Espa Dual-Action Shavemud Image 1
    Source：us.espaskincare.com

    Espa
    Dual-Action Shavemud

    Richard Davies

    It might still be a step too far to expect your man to join you and your friends for your weekly wine and face mask night, but you can still achieve those amped-up face masking results for him by stealth. How so? With this nifty dual-action shaving mud!

    Not only does this clever mud provide a super close and comfortable shave without the need for drying foam, but it also deep cleans, cools, and nourishes as he uses it via highly absorbent kaolin, bentonite clay, menthol, and botanical oils. In fact, it feels so good on the skin he’ll soon be wandering around the house with it on, whether it's shaving day or not.
    $43.00
  • Brothers Artisan Oil The Grooming Oil Image 1
    Source：brothersartisanoil.com

    Brothers Artisan Oil
    The Grooming Oil

    Richard Davies

    The trend for hipster or lumberjack beards is still going strong, but, if not cared for correctly, it’s easy to veer into Tom Hanks in Castaway territory. Not only can beards go dry and wayward but the skin below can become easily irritated, leading to beard dandruff and redness. 

    This oil makes light work of all of these issues in one easy treatment. Argan and jojoba stop the itch and reduce dryness, grape oil strengthens the hair, whilst juniper, rosemary, and clary sage provide hydration and shine. Oh, and its smell is highly addictive which might lead to full-face application, which actually isn't a bad thing.
    $18.00
  • Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser Image 1
    Source：anthony.com

    Anthony
    Glycolic Facial Cleanser

    Richard Davies

    Think of this long-standing hero of a product as a daily facial in a bottle. It's more than just a cleanser; this exfoliates, preps hair for shaving, prevents in-grown hair, unclogs pores, softens skin, brightens, and fights dehydration and fine lines. 

    It doesn't contain drying sulfates but has lots of gold standard ingredients such as glycolic, aloe, and vitamins A, C, and E. So you get a lot of bang for your buck with this choice, especially as a little goes a long way. If only everything in life could be so good at multi-tasking.
    $30.00
  • Harry's Face Lotion Image 1
    Source：harrys.com

    Harry's
    Face Lotion

    Richard Davies

    Now that we’ve upgraded from soap on a rope to a high-tech cleanser, it’s time to switch our attention to our post cleansed skin. As the most exposed part of the body has to contend with sun damage, wind, rain, lack of sleep, and stress, our faces are usually in need of some extra TLC. 

    If applying a moisturizer and a separate SPF is one step too many, try a two-in-one, like this offering from Harry’s. Not only does this daily moisturizer protect against sunburn and, thus, cancer, but it also soothes and conditions skin, leaves zero shine, and has a subtle minty freshness. 

    Plus, the brand donates to men's mental health charities with every purchase, so it has the feel-good factor too!
    $9.00
  • Ursa Major Hoppin' Fresh Deodorant Image 1
    Source：ursamajorvt.com

    Ursa Major
    Hoppin' Fresh Deodorant

    Richard Davies

    If you don’t want your man smelling like he’s been out toiling in a potato field all day or festering on a sofa gaming, gift him Ursa Major’s all-natural deodorant and he’ll be fresh as a daisy from noon until night. 

    This absorbs excess moisture with kaolin, soothes irritation with aloe, and makes light work of bad odors with nature’s best, including fragrant rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint. I love this Vermont-based brand for adventurers, which promises a healthy mountain glow with every use of its beautiful products.
    $18.00
  • Dermalogica Total Eye Care with SPF15 Image 1
    Source：dermalogica.com

    Dermalogica
    Total Eye Care with SPF15

    Richard Davies

    We all know that the eyes are the first place to show age. They are also prone to all manner of issues such as dark circles, irritation, dryness, and puffiness. Luckily, this treatment from Dermalogica manages to address all of these problems in one fell swoop, plus it contains SPF which, surprisingly, is quite rare in eye creams. 

    Light diffusers in the product disguise dark circles, the addition of AHAs smooth and renew, while amino acids and botanicals de-puff and soothe irritation. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the user, so take care of your loved one's eyes.
    $54.00
  • Aesop Control Image 1
    Source：aesop.com

    Aesop
    Control

    Richard Davies

    Due to the extra oil production and aggravation of shaving, men can tend toward developing the odd spot or get an ingrown hair. Having this super smart and effective staple in your bathroom cabinet means that, at the first sight of any of these problems, you are armed and ready. 

    It contains the powerhouse ingredients niacinamide, vitamin C, and salicylic (which sinks into your pores to dissolve and disinfect),  plus soothers such as rosemary, tea tree, and witch hazel. This sorts out skin problems quickly, gently, and without overly drying you out, which is key for healthy skin.
    $23.00
  • Bumble and bumble. Sumotech Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Bumble and bumble.
    Sumotech

    Richard Davies

    Our hair is our crowning glory, but it sometimes needs a bit of a helping hand to avoid us looking like we’ve been dragged through a hedge backward. Enter Bumble and bumble., the uber-trendy New York brand that has been servicing the cool and famous since the ’70s. 

    You can use this cream, wax, and paste hybrid to shape and control unruly strands on any person with any hair type. It gives a medium hold with a low shine finish, whilst also subtly conditioning. For those wanting more shine, there’s also a semi-sumo option!
    $29.00
  • 18.21 Man Made Original Sweet Tobacco Man Made Wash Image 1
    Source：1821manmade.com

    18.21 Man Made
    Original Sweet Tobacco Man Made Wash

    Richard Davies

    For those wanting a slice of speak-easy prohibition cool without the threat of being arrested, let me introduce you to 18.21. Their products really do make for the perfect gift, as they are beautifully designed and presented, with smells to die for such as sweet tobacco, tonka bean, saffron, honey, and vanilla. 

    This three-in-one (shampoo, conditioner, and body wash) in the style of a bourbon bottle (whilst not, sadly, offering the bourbon) is filled with a host of gorgeous nourishing ingredients such as macadamia glycerides, hydrolyzed quinoa, and hydrolyzed jojoba esters.

    This amazing formula means that your hair, beard, and body will all be cared for without the need for multiple products. It has all the goodness, but none of the hangovers.
    $26.00
  • Philips Norelco Dual-sided Body Trimmer and Shaver Image 1
    Source：amazon.com

    Philips Norelco
    Dual-sided Body Trimmer and Shaver

    Richard Davies

    And finally, even though facial hair is still in, the Neanderthal look is not! So if your man's shoulders, knees, and toes are sprouting unwanted hairs that would make the Yeti jealous, this two-in-one face and body trimmer will be his new best friend. 

    One end allows you to sculpt and shape that beard and stash or go fully shaven if you want to achieve an ultra-slick look, whilst the other end will give the body a fast and efficient makeover. You get all that and at a great price to boot!
    $68.99

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