May 6th, 2016
The art of grooming isn’t one which should be overlooked. The men’s skincare and grooming market is still booming, and it is a skill which is well worth sharpening. Whether you’re helping to prep a nervous groom for his big day or helping to style an editorial look, some well-chosen products in your kit can open a new avenue of business for you. We’ll be focusing on products for shaving and facial hair – for more suggestions on men’s skincare you can read our feature here.
Starting with shaving, a quick enquiry about their shaving preferences can go a long way. Ask if they prefer a wet shave or a machine trimmer before deciding on tools of choice. If the look is very smooth and clean, a wet shave is your best choice. Try a badger hair brush to open up pores and ‘foam’ up shaving soaps if you’re feeling traditional, or plump for a gel or cream formula. We’ve heard good things about the Acqua di Parma Shaving Gel (£24) which quickly lathers into a rich foam. Natural extracts including grapevine, lemon balm and water mint help to protect the skin and leave it soft and smooth. Proraso Shaving Cream (£6.09) has stood the test of time as an undeniable favourite. This Italian brand has stuck with a century-old formula, considered to be the oldest industrial cosmetic product in Italy, containing glycerine, eucalyptus and refreshing menthol. It’s also very cost effective – you can squeeze every last bit out of the tube, and only an almond-sized amount is enough for a couple of passes with the razor. For the best electric shavers and trimmers, The Independent recently did a great round-up of the best options on the market.
A product which made the rounds on beauty Youtube videos last year was the Nivea Men’s Sensitive Post Shave Balm (£5.35). Apparently, thanks to its high glycerine content, it also doubles as a good make-shift primer if you’re in a pinch – who knew! Primer aside, this is cooling and soothing, a good safe option which won’t break the bank.
Another affordable and surprisingly impressive formula comes from Dove Men + Care Post Shave Balm Hydrate+ (£5.79). It’s less intensely cooling, saving men from veering between razor burn and overly chilly skin, and doesn’t leave a residue on the skin. With a pleasant, light scent and hydrating after-care which last for hours, it holds its own against pricier products.
Ingrown hairs can be a painful nuisance – the best way to discourage them is to keep skin exfoliated and soft. While scrubs are always a safe bet, they can leave skin dehydrated, overly stripped and sensitive. We spotted these Anthony Glycolic Exfoliating and Resurfacing Wipes (£18) and think they’re a brilliant idea. Containing Glycolic Acid, an alpha hydroxy acid which gently sloughs away dead skin cells, these also wipe away any dirt or grime with Chamomile, Aloe and Cucumber extracts. Perfect for keeping on set, in gym bags or when travelling!
For more targeted relief, the Tendskin In-Growing Hair Solution (£10.95) is a great choice for razor bumps, ingrown hairs and redness relief. While not ideal for sensitive or particularly dry skin, this targeted relief has rave reviews for its ability to calm redness and manage any unsightly bumps.
While beard maintenance may not be something we have any real experience with here at Warpaint, we did our research and asked around for the best products. Good reviews came back for the Billy Jealousy Beard Control (£13.92) – a conditioner/styling cream for beards which leaves them moisturised and with a bit of grim for styling. For a deeper conditioning product you could try Men Rock The Soothing Beard Balm (£14) which works like a leave-in conditioner to soften thick hair and eliminate that scratchy, itchy feeling.
Finally, for anyone working with moustaches (real or otherwise) it always helps to keep a bit of moustache wax on hand, whether you prefer the stick format and more flexible hold of something like the Beardbrand Moustache Wax (£7) or the more resilient hold of a firm wax – The Brighton Beard Company have a Beard & Moustache Wax is available in both ‘Firm’ and ‘Extra Firm’, as well as containing some top-notch natural ingredients and aromas.
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