How much do you think the global male grooming industry is worth? $1 billion? Nope. It’s actually a whopping $50 bn. Proving that it’s high time those of us who still swear by caveman-esque self-care woke up and smelled the glycolic facial cleanser.
At the core of any grooming routine is a simple two-step process: wash and moisturise. Once in the morning and once at night, cleanse your face with warm water and face wash, then follow with moisturiser to keep your skin looking bright and free from dry, flaky skin. Every second day, swap your face wash for a gentle exfoliating scrub. This will help unclog pores, shift dead skin cells and prevent ingrown hairs. Nice one.
For an extra boost to your boat race, use a face mask once a week. In as little as 10 minutes, one of these bad boys will not only help cleanse your skin, but hydrate and smooth it too. Use a cream mask if you have dry skin, a clay or mud mask if you’re prone to spots or a natural mask containing soothing ingredients if you have sensitive skin.
Try these: (left to right) Clarins Men Active Face Wash Foaming Gel, £19.50, House of Fraser, Debenhams and Boots; Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion, 125ml, £26, Kiehl's in Debenhams; Clinique Face Scrub,100ml, £21, Debenhams; Lab Series Urban Blue Detox Clay Mask, £26, Boots
Sporting facial fuzz? Then keep yours lubed up, because even in summer men can suffer from dry, itchy beards that lead to dandruff. For silky smooth whiskers, apply a few drops of quality beard oil once a day after washing your face, to help moisturise facial hair and the skin beneath.
Oh, and don’t forget to arm yourself with a decent all-in-one trimmer too. Not just good for shaving your face, you can also use these all-rounder gadgets to tackle hair down below. (Because you should, you know.)
Try these: (left to right) Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil, 30ml, £22, Kiehl's in Debenhams; Remington MB320 Barba Beard Trimmer, £24.99, Boots
Got ink? Then don’t forget that the summer sun and excessive showering can be bad for your body art. If you’ve just had work done, follow the aftercare regimen set out by your artist, including washing thoroughly with a fragrance-free, anti-bacterial soap and applying liberal amounts of an after-care cream such as Bepanthen.
And – whether your tattoo’s freshly inked or you’ve had it for years – always apply a high SPF sunscreen to the area to prevent your masterpiece from prematurely fading in the sun.
Try this: L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Tattoo, £7.99, Boots
You might think your pheromones are all you need to attract bedmates, but you’d be wrong. Instead, spritz a fresh fragrance to have the girl (or guy) in your crosshair scrambling to get closer.
And make sure you cop yourself a grooming set complete with tweezers, facial hair scissors and manicure tools. Remember: you can’t spell manicure without man.
Try these: (left to right) Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette Spray, £52, The Perfume Shop; Tweezerman Gear Men’s Essential Grooming Kit, £32, Boots
Last but not least, sunscreen! If you’re a total sun-worshipper then that’s cool - just don’t let your love for the big ball in the sky burn (literally, that is). Slather on SPF 30 to save yourself coming up a nice shade of lobster red. If you’re pale and/or freckly, or if the sun is particularly strong, then it’s got to be SPF 50.
Or save your skin and fake it instead. From face bronzers to gradual tan moisturisers, there’s a whole range of self-tan products formulated specifically for men to get their glow on.
Try these: (left to right) Clinique Skin Supplies for Men Non-Streak Bronzer, 60ml, £21, Boots; Garnier Ambre Solaire Ultra-hydrating Sun Cream Spray SPF30, 200ml, £6, Boots
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