Grooming Editor

Grooming The Guy Way

With men’s grooming a minefield of creams, foams, lotions and potions, how do you know where to even begin? The selection of skincare options out there on the market nowadays is as endless as those available to your wives and girlfriends, so understanding what’s right for your skin type can be confusing. If you’re new to Mankind or simply want some much needed grooming guidance then look no further, we have rounded up the best products out there from brands that deliver you results, time after time.

Hair

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We have a little secret for you that may change your life; great hair really can be bought, and here at Mankind we have all your hair care needs sorted, no matter what your hair type. In order to care for your hair the right way, you have to understand the basics; cleaning and styling. So we run you through the essentials to keep stocked in your wash bag all year round.

Clean

The Shampoo

The one that no guy forgets but can often be replaced with ‘anything you can find in the shower’. The term shampoo can be used loosely and using just any old soap on your hair is not the trick to maintain a healthy head of locks. Our favourite is DS Laboratories Revita Shampoo, not only a hair growth stimulating bundle of incredible-ness, it has an active blend of ingredients specifically designed to improve scalp vitality. Whether you are experiencing hair loss or simply want to prevent it happening, DS Laboratories shampoo is suitable for sensitive scalps with a blend of natural ingredients. No matter what shampoo you use, go steady, only a dime-sized amount is needed every time.

The Conditioner

Don’t forget the importance of a moisture quenching conditioner. For all you men out there that have dry or curly hair, make sure you include a moisturising conditioner in your daily shower ritual. Like the Revita Shampoo, thickening hair products should be used on thin or flat hair that needs a helping hand of volume, as it covers the shaft with protein to increase strength and thickness. Don’t rush this, leave on for 2 minutes and let the moisture soak in.

Style

It’s all good washing after your hair but if you can’t style it then most of you wouldn’t even leave the house. Finding the right goo for your hair is mostly a case of trial and error, with our virtual aisles crammed full of pomades, waxes, gels and powders, how do you know where to head first? A trusty, cult classic is the American Crew Fiber, its matte texture means shine free hair that builds textured styles in an instant. Fibers give you maximum control and are ideal for those with shorter hair. If you want hold, go for the Hairbond Moulder, the benefit of this is that it gives more of a shine as well as a fruit flavoured twist that won’t overpower your cologne. For those who want high shine gloss then give the American Crew Pomade a try, this wax tames the wildest of hair and gives a sophisticated, Andrew Garfield, slick back tuxedo appropriate style.

Top Tip: rub a dime sized piece through your fingers first to make styling more manageable.

Skin

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One of the most forgotten features by men is their skin and it’s the first place to show signs of ageing, so why not invest in good quality products? Trust us, all you need to do is put ten minutes aside a day to cleanse, moisturise and refresh the skin. As men tend to produce more oil than women, removing the daily dirt and grime is essential if you wish to reduce the effects of ageing and acne break outs such as blackheads and spots. A simple skin care routine will help to keep your skin, healthy and clean whilst reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin may be wrinkle free now, but prevent premature ageing by looking after your skin as early as possible.

The Cleanse

If you remember one thing for your skin then make it to cleanse! The Men-U Healthy Facial Wash, is a multi-tasker that is suitable for all skin types, pre or post shave and is ultra-concentrated so a little goes a long way. Simply squeeze one pump in to the palm of your hand, add a splash of water and massage in to your skin until it lathers.

The Skin Refresh

The second step of three (don’t worry, this process is not labour intensive!), is the skin refresher. This step is ideal for those with oily skin that’s prone to breakouts as it helps to tighten the pores after cleansing.

The Moisturiser

The final stage is often one that features the most in wash bags and bathrooms all around the world as it’s probably perceived as the easiest product to incorporate in to your routine when time is limited. So when choosing a moisturiser make sure it’s the right one for you. Your skin is exposed to the environment daily, things such as electric heating, UV rays, pollutants and blustery walks to work all put pressure on your skin that can lead to premature wrinkles. In order to minimise the effects of these aggressors choose a moisturiser that’s rich in fatty acids and oils, vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants such as shea butter and green tea. We recommend Menscience Advanced Facial Lotion and Lab Series All In One Face Treatment, which will give you results fast by soothing, moisturising, repairing and matifying all in one go. The ideal moisturiser for when you’re on the go.

Body

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An early morning shower sets you right for the day, so why not perk up your skin and senses with an awakening body wash. The Molton Brown Black Peppercorn Body Wash is an invigorating, richly lathering body wash that cleanses your entire skin whilst enriching your senses with black peppercorn, coriander and basil oil. Incorporating a good body wash in to your skincare regime helps to clear away dirt, sweat and body odour so make this a grooming must if you don’t already.

Body wash is the ideal multi-tasker so if you have certain skin concerns such as acne or dry skin, choose a body wash that tackles those areas all in one go. The Murad Acne Body Wash is a skin saviour, this triple action body wash contains salicylic acid and triclosan to exfoliate and deep clean pores, preventing future breakouts and reducing the appearance of those you may already have.

Top Tip:Use a body buffing glove to increase the lather of this product, it will help the product last longer and give a deeper exfoliation.

For all you sports lovers out there, we have an after workout essential. Jack Black Cool Moisture Body Lotion is here to soothe and firm skin with the inclusion of Soy Protein to help nourish and smooth. If you work out and play sports regularly then make this a daily must, as frequent showering and exposure to the elements will quickly dehydrate and leave your skin feeling tight, dry, sore and itchy.

Wet Shave

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Getting the perfect shave can be time consuming, but don’t let that put you off. Rushing with a dry shave will leave your skin irritated and often leaves behind a red rash that will be impossible to hide at that 4 o clock board meeting, so wash your face with our suggested facial cleansers above.

Brush

It’s easy to just throw on your shaving foam with your fingertips however using a brush helps to bring the hair away from the face and stimulate the follicles, making for a much cleaner shave. The Proraso Shaving Brush uses natural boar hair, very manly and also very good at generating a rich lather with your shaving soap.

Razor

We may be stating the obvious here, but keep it sharp. The sharper the razor the better, as it means a closer, cleaner shave. Always replace your blades regularly; a guide is to buy new ones after five to seven uses. The blade should feel smooth on your face so as soon as it starts to pull whilst shaving with the grain, replace it as soon as possible. Our favourite is the Merkur Futur Brushed Steel Razor, this stylish brushed steel razor fits perfectly in to your wash bag and gives a first class shave every single time.

Cool Down

Always pat your skin with ice cold water to close pores and cool down the skin, pat dry with downward strokes towards the chin and if you fancy, finish with Aesop Neroli Post Shave Lotion to hydrate, calm and prevent inflammation, post shave.

We’ve provided all of the top tips and tricks for grooming the guy way… Why not check out our style guide lessons for all of the information you could possibly need about male grooming.



Vanessa

Vanessa

Writer and expert

Creative storyteller. Believer in the power of natural ingredients and cruelty-free formulas. Always puts skincare first for a no-makeup look.