Shopping for men can be hard. Of course there’s the typical gifts of socks, cologne, gift cards, anything beer related, but with barbering being so popular right now, men have seemed to step up their skincare game.
Gone are the days of just soap and water (okay, not really), and lots of guys are turning to beauty products for smoother skin and more polished facial hair. Us women have known it all along, but suddenly skincare is making a comeback in the men’s world and there’s tons of brands and products out there to help your guy look more clean shaven and have amazing skin.
Since this is a beauty blog first and foremost, I took a look at what’s out there for men and let me tell you, there’s tons! From beard oils to shaving creams to face cleansers, here are my top three skincare gifts to give the man in your life this season.
Les industries Groom Shaving Care Set
If you love Canadian-made products (who doesn’t?!), this Montreal-based men’s skincare and shaving company has come out with the perfect set to gift anyone who cares about maintaining their facial hair.
Handcrafted from natural ingredients, Groom’s products contain no parabens, no artificial perfumes, colouring agents or petrolatum. They are also small-batch produced (super exclusive) and not tested on animals.
Since this is a Canadian company and not as well known as others out there, gift their shaving care gift set, which includes a selection of beloved products. This set retails for C$80 and includes full sizes of their shaving cream (145 ml), aftershave balm (90 ml), and minis of their aftershave splash (15 ml) and protective shaving oil (7 ml). There’s also a branded shaving towel in the box, which really ties the whole set together.
You can order this set, and browse their other products, at their site, lesindustriesgroom.com. If you would like to see the products in person, visit their site to find a retailer near you.
Clarisonic Alpha Fit Cleansing Device
Clarisonic is the number-one face cleansing brush in the world, so it’s about time that the brand came out with a device just for men.
The Alpha Fit Cleansing Device is engineered exclusively for men’s skin. I believe this is the first Clarisonic targeted just for men, and it’s geared to get their skin cleaner and healthier looking. This is perfect to pair with the shaving sets I mentioned here as the Alpha Fit cleanses six-times better than hands alone while prepping the face and neck for a closer, smoother shave (meaning that the skincare products will work way better on your guys’ skin).
This device retails for C$229 and it’s different from the other Clarisonic as there is no handle. This device fits right in the palm of the hand and it also comes in the classic version as well, just in case you want his and hers.
Jack Black Beard Grooming Kit
I talk about Jack Black products a lot on here because I know they are amazing for men. They items can be a bit pricey, but they have a set for the holidays which would be amazing to gift under the tree.
The Beard Grooming Kit includes three essentials for keeping facial hair in check. First cleanse skin with the Pure Clean Facial Cleanser (3 oz.), then shave using the Beard Lube Conditioning Shave (3 oz.), then condition your skin with the Beard Oil (1 oz.)
This set retails for C$43 and you can find it at Hudson’s Bay, Sephora, or Jack Black’s site. Although these aren’t the full size of the bottles, they are about half and are available in these sizes for individual sale. If you were to buy all these products separately though, you would be paying more.
Men can be tricky to buy for, however, since skin care and facial hair is so in right now (barbering is making a major comeback), these gifts will be so on trend.
What are you getting your guy for the holidays?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
Like what you read? Check out these related posts:
Please note, products and compensation were provided to me by Colgate* Optic White, all opinions expressed are my own.
Okay so with Christmas being less than a month away, is anyone else getting excited for the holiday season?! I don’t actually celebrate Christmas, but I love the lights, the music, and just the sheer magic of the whole season.
Since holiday parties started in November, it’s time to start thinking about and planning your look. Tons of stores are stocking up on glittery frocks and fancy outfits, but it’s important to start thinking about your appearance too. In need of a haircut? How about new highlights? Maybe even a spray tan? For me, a big one this season is all about having white teeth.
Pair your designer handbag with a #DesignerSmile. Colgate-Palmolive recently sent over their new Colgate* Optic White Platinum High Impact White anticavity toothpaste, which I love pairing with the Colgate* Optic White™/MC Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen (I’ve been using this for over a year and love it!), as well as the Colgate Optic White High Impact White Mouthwash. (Remember to use the mouthwash before the whitening pen!)
Let’s be real here, you want to make a good impression when you show up as your beau’s date to his company Christmas party. It’s been said many times that the first thing people notice about you is your smile, so it’s important that you keep those pearly whites in tip-top shape. The Colgate Optic White Platinum High Impact White toothpaste is the brand’s latest innovation that delivers four shades visibly whiter teeth, when using twice daily for six weeks, starting to work in just three days.
If you want to speed up the process, and get whiter teeth in just one day, try out the Colgate* Optic White* regimen and pair it with your favourite red lipstick, your chicest black or glittery dress, and make a fabulous impression!
What are your holiday appearance staples?
*with the Colgate® Optic White® Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Toothbrush + Whitening Pen. Use mouthwash prior to whitening pen. Find the Optic White® Toothbrush + Whitening Pen in the toothbrush aisle. For best results, continue using products as directed.
Another day, another gift guide.
Like I said in my last post, bath and body products are always a good idea if you are stumped on what to buy someone that is hard to shop for. Although there are tons of brands out there, one that has been around forever is Mary Kay Cosmetics, which has some cute and practical gifts for this season.
This direct-sales brand is only available through a rep, but they have some really nice and wonderful smelling products to choose from. I absolutely adore their Be Delighted line, which is limited edition for the holiday season and includes a body mousse and body wash gift set, as well as a shimmer mist.
The gift set, which has trendy young packaging, retails for C$36, and features a delightful scent, which has notes of crisp fuji apple, raspberry chiffon, and tonic bean. It also comes with a festive gift bag adorned with the same polka dot print. The shimmer mist (C$18) also has the same scent and contains glitter, which is perfect for the holiday season.
If you have someone on your list that is constantly getting manicures (or suffers from dry skin – let’s be honest, who doesn’t get dry hands in the wintertime?), then they also have a few different hand sets to choose from.
Available in their signature scent of White Tea and Citrus (a blend of pink grapefruit and lemongrass, plus notes of cardamom, cherry blossom, and blooming jasmine), this hands pampering set includes a fragrance-free protecting softener, a White Tea and Citrus Refining Shea Scrub, and a White Tea and Citrus Nourishing Shea Cream. These products help to moisturize and protect skin, get rid of dead skin cells, and make hands soft and noticeably smoother. If you have a friend that has scent allergies, there is an unscented version as well.
If you are looking for something extra to toss in with your gift, I’ve been loving the Mary Kay Pure Dimensions Eye Palette, which comes in three versions (C$46 each), Maui Gardens, Paris Starlight, and Moroccan Dunes. Each palette is curated to create a certain look. The shadows contain luxurious and long-lasting colours which are blendable and smooth to work with.
Although all three are gorgeous, my favourite is definitely Moroccan Dunes, as the nudes and pinks make it perfect for everyday wear. Mary Kay also has a mini brush set that would be perfect to gift with these to create a fierce shadow look. To finish the eyes, you can create a fierce wing with their liquid eyeliner pen, which is long-wearing, flake proof and water resistant.
Finally, since chapped lips come hand in hand with the season, they have a great lip set out which includes the Shea Sugar Scrub to exfoliate and soften the lips, as well as the Shea Butter Balm, which moisturizes and leaves lips feeling nourished. This Satin Lips Set retails for C$32, however, both products are available separate as well.
Mary Kay products are a little harder to pick up since you need to order them through a consultant, but these products are definitely worth going the extra mile as the quality is wonderful and perfect for all ages.
Are any Mary Kay sets on your gift list this season?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
Like what you read? Check out these related posts:
