Welcome to “Beauty Products We’re Dying to Try,” a new subset of the Covet Fridays series that highlights our obsession with beauty & grooming products.
I wasn’t always as obsessed with grooming products as I am now.
It took a lot of cajoling by my now wife through the years and a few persuasive hair dressers to get me to try a few new products, and I’ll be honest the process was slow. However, I finally became a bit more adventurous and as I found items I liked, I never went back. Grooming products are now a staple in my daily routine.
I think all men should embrace grooming products. Both Adria and I find a lot of males don’t use even the basic necessities, like moisturizer and hand lotion. And we found the men who particularly need these items (ie. their faces or hands are flaking off) are the most resistant to grooming products.
Whether it’s laziness, a fear of appearing too feminine, or just a lack of knowledge (and therefore embarrassment of trying to learn), men need to fit grooming products into their routine.
Thus, we’re here to ease the transition and hopefully help the men out there find ways to implement grooming products into their lifestyle. Whether you are just starting out or are a grooming product connoisseur looking to find new items to try, we’ll pick out the items you need to know about.
This week, we’re starting with the basics. I’ll highlight what you should fit into your daily routine and which items I’ve found are the best. I have a slant toward the eco variety, but I’ll also recommend some others. While these are items that are tried-and-true, and might not make sense for our “Covet Fridays” series, I seriously “covet” for all men to embrace male grooming products, and I hope this introductory lesson will affect change and inspire you to start implementing the basics into your daily ritual.
Moisturizer – If you use only one grooming product, make it moisturizer. This is meant for your face and is vital for ensuring your skin stays healthy and free of dryness/flaking. Always choose one with SPF, which protects your face from sun damage. Apply daily after shaving (when applicable, helps eliminate razor burn). Yes to Carrots Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15, $14.99.
Facial Cleanser – Most guys we know don’t use facial cleanser, which is folly, especially if you are acne prone. You’re supposed to wash your face every night before bed, but including it into your shower routine should suffice. They have different types depending on your skin type (oily vs. dry, sensitive vs. normal), and most brands account for these differences, so determine your skin type before purchasing. I have sensitive and combination skin (both oily and dry, joy), so I use Anthony Algae Facial Cleanser, $36, which is a great all-around facial cleanser.
Hand Lotion – As men, we’re rough on our hands, so hand lotion is especially important. Note, body and hand lotion are NOT meant for your face (leave that for the moisturizer), as they are heavier and can clog your facial pores. Especially if you are prone to dry skin and don’t want to hold a ladies hand with chapped hands, hand lotion is a must. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $20.
Sunscreen – Ask any man on the street, most will probably say they don’t use sunscreen. I’ll admit, I don’t apply everyday (minus what is included in my facial moisturizer). However, if I know I’ll be out in the sun for the day, I always make sure to throw some on. Skin cancer isn’t something to mess with, so it’s always best to be safe than sorry. Plus, you can find easy spray one varieties, which makes the “it takes too long” excuse void. Banana Boat UltraMist Continuous Spray Sunscreen, Sports Performance SPF 50, $9.50.
Chapstick – Dry lips = not kissable. Enough said. Burt’s Bee’s Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm, $4.
Tweezers – Get over it: If you are prone to uni-brow, just man up and start tweezing when needed. This is one of the first thing women notice about men, and it could make or break your success rate with the ladies. If you have a lady, ask her to do it if you don’t know where to start. Trust us, she’ll love you for it. Tweezers, $25.
Hair Styling Product – Not all men style their hair, but if you do these are the items we’ve found work the best and add structure without the stiff, sticky mess. MOP defining cream, $14.50. TIGI Bed Head Hair Stick, $17.50.
Facial Exfoliant – They say you should exfoliate your face once or twice a week to eliminate dead skin cells and ensure healthy skin. However, most men probably won’t do this, so we put this under basics for the men who have super dry skin. Sometimes moisturizer isn’t enough, so to eliminate those flakes, use a facial exfoliant (which is gentler than body exfoliants) weekly. They are characterized by having beads in the cream, which scrub away dead skin. They also prep your skin for shaving and eliminate likelihood of razor burn. The Body Shop Maca Root Face Scrub, $14.
Shampoo and Conditioner – Most of us wash our hair, so hopefully you have some of this in your shower already. However, you might not use conditioner, which is great for making sure your hair is silky smooth and ready for touching (a plus for the lady in your life). Loma Awareness Daily Shampoo and Loma Intensity Deep Conditioner, $54 for both.
Shaving Cream – I prefer cream vs foam shaving cream because I think it is more moisturizing and eliminates the chance of cuts. Kiss my Face Moisture Shaving Cream, $7.95.
Deoderant – I hope you have deoderant covered, but just in case (or if you want to try something new), my favorite is Old Spice Red Zone Antiperspirant and Deoderant in Pure Sport, $4.
