The Best Men's Grooming Products

The Grooming Products Every Man Should Own

As someone who writes about male grooming for a living, one of the most common questions I get asked is which products I think men should own. With so many great products on the market now, it’s a particularly difficult question to answer – especially since every man’s skincare needs, not to mention personal tastes, are different.

Having had the privilege of trying out literally thousands of products in the fourteen years I’ve been a grooming writer, though, I’d like to think I have a pretty good perspective on what cuts the mustard in terms of quality, efficacy and value for money.

So here are ten products I think every man should own (or at the very least investigate). It’s by no means a comprehensive list, and it’s more a selection of products I think live up to the hype rather than a roll call of personal favourites, but every product here is one I rate – and I think you will too…

1.Lab Series Multi-Action Face Wash

Long before multi-function products became a bona fide male grooming trend this excellent face wash was helping cleanse and exfoliate skin at the same time.

Since it aids the removal of razor-clogging dead cells and lifts ingrown hairs it’s also the perfect pre-shave prep and, unlike many dedicated face scrubs, gentle enough for everyday use.

What’s more, it won’t strip skin of its natural oils and lathers up a treat, meaning a little goes a very long way:

2. Molton Brown Black Peppercorn Body Wash

The shower essential formerly known as ‘Re-Charge Black Pepper Body Wash’ (I’m not quite sure why they dropped the Re-Charge bit since it certainly does re-charge you), this is the body wash I always point men towards when they ask for a recommendation.

Warm, aromatic and spicy, this now legendary product from Molton Brown is everything you want from a shower gel: it foams up a treat, doesn’t leave skin feeling dry and tight, and smells fantastic.

I’ve yet to meet a man who doesn’t like it and a clutch of ‘Best Product’ awards attest to the fact that, short of a willing partner, it’s probably the best thing a man can take into the shower with him:

3. Baxter Of California Night Cream AHA

Night creams aren’t even on the radar when it comes to most men’s grooming routines, but that’s a huge mistake because night-time is when the skin regenerates and repairs itself. It also happens to be the time of day when lotions and potions are best absorbed and when your skin needs moisturising the most.

Which is where this night cream from Baxter of California comes in. Not only does it hydrate and nourish skin overnight (just what you need after a hard day facing stress, pollution and the sun’s rays), the alpha hydroxy acids it contains also help improve its texture by dislodging dead skin cells.

All in all, it’s the perfect way to ensure that you wake up with better looking skin than when you went to bed:

4. Geo. F. Trumper Extract Of Limes Shave Cream

Forget cheap foams and high-tech gels: if you want a truly luxurious shave, opt for a rich shave cream.

This one by Geo. F. Trumper is superbly creamy, creates the perfect cushion between skin and razor and smells heavenly. Although it works best with a badger hair brush, you can still whip up a decent lather with your fingers.

Trumper was favoured by aristocrats and British royalty when the company was established in London back in 1875, but it has since turned into a global brand, offering everyone a slice of gentlemanly grooming and becoming a by-word for elegance in the process:

5. Dermalogica Total Eye Care SPF15

More and more men are beginning to realise that an eye cream is an essential part of any effective skincare routine, rather than an optional extra – which is good news given that the skin around the eyes needs quite specific care (and products) to look its best.

Unlike some eye products, this cream does it all: as well as helping minimise fine lines and reducing puffiness it also features light-reflecting particles to help disguise under eye shadows and packs a built-in SPF to guard against sun damage, too.

Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of eye creams: