Male Grooming Essentials

Before Rob (my other half) met me, he had a very minimal grooming routine where he literally just used aftershave and shaving gel. However my beauty obsessive tendencies have definitely rubbed off onto him as he now has a proper grooming routine in place. I'm not saying he has a particularly complex grooming routine, but compared to what he used to do, he's come a long way and has recognised the benefits of being a little more skin savvy. For women there are literally thousands of products for us to choose from, but for men there are considerably less options so I wanted to share my (and Rob's) favourite Male Grooming Essentials for the skin, body and hair...

Kicking off from the top, we have the hair. Rob always used to use his body wash to wash his hair as he didn't feel the need for another product but due to him using quite a lot of hair wax to style his hair on a daily basis, the product builds up within his hair very quickly. The TIGI Bed Head Man On Kit is the ultimate hair care duo in that it contains a shampoo, conditioner and a styling product and TIGI is one of my favourite haircare brands.

The TIGI Clean Up Shampoo has a gentle yet purifying formula which helps to remove any product build up, it also contains hydrators to impart moisture, whilst the menthol helps to stimulate the scalp. The matching TIGI Clean Up Conditioner conditions the hair whilst also soothing any irritations, and works to protect the hair from from free radical damage thanks to Vitamins E, C & B7. Not only does the Conditioner help to soothe and protect the scalp and hair, it also contains wheat and soy proteins which bind to every single hair for greater volume with the same invigorating menthol fragrance.

The TIGI Matte Separation Workable Wax contains beeswax to provide the hair with natural structure and hold while cera carnauba keeps the hair workable and soft unlike many hair waxes which can have the tendency to leave the hair feeling sticky or loaded with product. The wax can be used on both damp or dry hair, with the wax giving greater hold when used on damp hair but even on dry hair, it holds your style in place throughout the day. Even though the wax has a matte finish, it doesn't leave the hair looking dull nor does it flake off during the day. Also, although the TIGI Matte Separation Workable Wax is marketed as being a men's product, it can be used for anyone with short hair and a little goes a very long way!

One product which Rob never wanted to use was lip balm as he shrugged it off as being too girly, that was until he got a cold and had very dry, sore lips so he had to eat his words when he realised how effective a single swipe of lip balm was. I think the problem he had with lip balm was that he assumed that they'd all be 'too shiny' and it'd be too obvious that he was wearing a lip balm which is obviously not always the case. The Naked Lips Organic Lipbalm is the perfect male lip balm in that it's almost completely matte on the lips but it's intensively nourishing on the lips with a subtle minty tingle, and because it's 99% organic you know it doesn't contain any nasty ingredients. Rob has the Peppermint version, but if Peppermint isn't your thing, there are over ten other versions to choose from.

One of my holy grail skincare products is the Clinique Clarifying Lotion as it's an amazing exfoliating toner that helps to slough away dead skin cells, and really reduce any imperfections or acne scarring. Rob and I have completely different skin types in that I have very dry and dehydrated skin, but Rob has oily skin so the Clinique Men Oil Control Exfoliating Tonic is the perfect alternative. The Clinique Men Oil Control Exfoliating Tonic works almost the same way as their Clarifying Lotion as it helps to remove dead skin cells, whilst also fighting the risk for infection caused by razor nicks and cuts. The Tonic also helps to control oily skin concerns such as blackheads and blemishes whilst helping to keep your shirt collar clean. To use the tonic you simply soak a cotton pad after cleansing prior to shaving, and it takes just a matter of seconds twice a day but it's made such a difference to the texture of his skin and it certainly leads to a more comfortable shave.

One product Rob swears by is fragranced deodorant sticks which I never really understood until he ran out one day and reverted back to a normal budget roll on deodorant. The fragranced deodorant sticks are much more scented than the average roll on, so you can use one in the place of fragrance as it smells so strong which is ideal if you don't want to wear fragrance at the gym. The Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Deodorant Stick is Rob's favourite as he loves to layer it with the matching fragrance for ultimate freshness and Acqua de Gio is definitely one of my favourite male fragrances as it smells incredible.

Rob is an avid runner and although it's great for his health, it's not so kind for the skin as overtime it can reduce the elasticity in the skin due to a breakdown of collagen. In addition to the elasticity concerns, another is the toll of running in all of the elements and for this he swears by the Lancaster Sun Sport Express Invisible Mist SPF50. The Lancaster Sun Sport Express Mist can be applied to wet skin, and has a sweat resistant, water resistant and anti-sand formula which doesn't leave any traces after application. The mist offers UVA, UBA and Infrared protection and is available in SPF15, SPF30 and SPF50 versions depending on your SPF preference. Rob's tried a lot of different sport sun protection products but this is the best he's tried as he particularly likes that it feels lightweight on the skin but it doesn't smell like suncream; it has more of a skincare scent.

No male grooming roundup would be complete without a fragrance, and our current favourite is the Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Toilette which is described as being a concentrate of elegance and sensuality. Dolce & Gabbana The One was composed in accordance with the Gabbana creator's taste, with top notes of  bergamot, coriander and basil and heart of cardamom, ginger and neroli, whilst the base notes feature cedar, ambergris and tobacco. The One is a professional yet sophisticated, woody and spicy scent which impresses in terms of longevity and silage, and is versatile for both day and/or evening wear and in my opinion it's impossible not to love it.