Have you ever twisted off the top of your posh moisturiser only to notice a couple of suspicious swipes that weren’t there before? Your groom may be covertly trying your latest beauty buy, and he’s not alone. Research shows that men are actively looking for ways to care for their skin in ways that go beyond a bar of soap and a quick splash of water.
Research by Mintel shows 84% of men aged between 18 and 44 use facial skincare, in addition to traditional products like shaving cream, beard oil and deodorant.
But, in the same way you don’t need a specifically pink razor to de-fuzz your legs or ‘lady’ deodorant to stay fresh, the need for gender division in skincare is largely moot. Once you strip away the packaging, the high-performing ingredients inside should deliver the same results for everyone, men and women. After all, skin is skin. The good news is that there’s an influx of products that promise to work harder than ever to get you both camera-ready for the Big Day.
Facemasks:
These can give you spa-like results fast. GLAMGLOW ThirstyMud and Origins 10 Minute Mask both perk up tired skin - apply before showering to minimise mess. Meanwhile, Susanne Kaufmann Calming Mask works wonders on the sensitive areas around just-shaped eyebrows (wait 24hours after threading to apply) and men’s razor rash. As your Big Day approaches, up the ante with sheet masks, like COLBERT MD Illumino Anti-Aging Brightening Face Mask and La Mer’s luxurious The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask, available separately or in packs of six.
Moisturisers:
Clinique’s iD Moisturiser may well be the skincare hit of the season. It lets you build your ultimate moisturiser by pairing a Clinique base (lotion, gel or jelly) with a cartridge loaded with a skin concern-specific formula, giving you a double-action product that’ll give your skin the super boost it needs. The latest US brand to land on our shores is Drunk Elephant, which has quickly gained cult status thanks to its focus on ‘clean-clinical’ skincare. We’ve never had so many compliments since using the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum.
Lebon Making Waves Fresh Mints Mouthwash 275ml: £36, www.LebonToothpaste.co.uk. COLBERT MD Illumino Anti-Aging Brightening Face Mask (5 pack): £85, www.SpaceNK.com. La Mer The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask: £25, www.CremeDeLaMer.co.uk. Lebon Cap Ferrat Mood Toothpaste: £17.99, www.LebonToothpaste.co.uk. Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil 15ml: £34, www.CultBeauty.co.uk. Bobbi Brown Remedies: £30 each, www.BobbiBrown.co.uk. Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains for Face: £33, www.BobbiBrown.co.uk.
Face Oils & Serums
Bobbi Brown’s Remedies come in lab-like glass vials and target a number of skin issues. Brighten dull skin or bring plumpness back to your visage with just a few drops of these magic elixirs. Need results fast? Reach for MALIN+GOETZ Recovery Treatment Oil which uses nine oils to lift your complexion as well as guard it from free radicals. Drunk Elephant’s antioxidant-rich Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil drenches skin in silky moisture and while the 15ml bottle may look tiny, rest assured that a little goes a long way.
Facial Enhancers
Every couple needs a few wonder products in the event of a beauty crisis. Nothing shrinks zits like Origins Super Spot Remover™ Blemish Treatment Gel. Dab it on the offending spot before bed and it should disappear by the morning. Danish skin expert Ole Henriksen has just relaunched in Boots, and its Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner is perfect for those with uneven skin tone. Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains for Face gently but effectively exfoliates dry skin, while Clinique Fresh Pressed leaves skin looking oh-so glowy, a result of the Vitamin C packed within.
Jo Malone London Bronze Wood & Leather Cologne Intense 50ml: £75, www.JoMalone.co.uk. Ole Henriksen Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner 190ml: £22, www.Boots.com. MALIN+GOETZ Recovery Treatment Oil: £66, www.MalinAndGoetz.co.uk. Acqua di Parma Chinotto di Liguria EDT 75ml: £72, www.AcquaDiParma.com. Clinique iD Moisturiser: £36, www.Clinique.co.uk. Origins Super Spot Remover™ Blemish Treatment Gel 10ml: £16, www.Origins.co.uk. Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream 50ml: £37, www.Dermalogica.co.uk. Origins 10 Minute Mask 75ml: £22, www.Origins.co.uk. Clinique Fresh Pressed (pack of 4): £58, www.Clinique.co.uk. Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Supplement 30ml: £48, www.BobbiBrown.co.uk. Molton Brown Vetiver & Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel: £22, www.MoltonBrown.co.uk.
Fragrance:
Jo Malone's Bronze Wood & Leather Cologne Intense, is great for couples who like heavier scents. On the other, lighter end of the olfactory scale is Acqua di Parma’s Chinotto di Liguria EDT, which, if you close your eyes, has you believing you’re on the Italian coast.
GLAMGLOW ThirstyMud Hydrating Mud Mask Treatment: £42, www.GlamGlow.co.uk. L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Mist: £15, www.Loccitane.com Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum 50ml: £44, www.CultBeauty.co.uk. Urban Apothecary London Green Lavender Luxury Hand & Body Lotion: £22, www.UrbanApothecaryLondon.com. Susanne Kaufmann Calming Mask 50ml: £48, www.LibertyLondon.com. Urban Apothecary London Green Lavender Soap: £12, www.UrbanApothecaryLondon.com.
As seen in Khush Wedding Spring 2019 KW21. Buy this issue here