Men’s Grooming – Scouting For Girls (Products)

With a shift in attitudes and the release of more high quality products, the grooming industry is stronger than ever. But as much as the male market has boomed over the last ten years, it still has a way to go before it can reach the heights of the female beauty industry. Both in terms of the products available, and the mind set of those who use them, I think it’s fair to say that the fairer sex have the upper hand.

Now the last thing I want to do is take a swipe at men’s grooming, because as you all know by now, I am some what of a product junkie and grooming addict (although currently sporting a beard I’m sure some of you would question that!). So the focus of this article isn’t about slating the men’s market, it’s about utilising the best of what’s out there. If there isn’t a men’s product to suit your needs, then you can bet that your bottom dollar that the female beauty industry has one ready made for us to steal, and why not?

While you might raise a few eyebrows if you strolled down Oxford Street in a dress, adopting the beauty habits of our female counterparts is a little easier, and a touch more discreet. So whether you’re going to openly walk into the store and buy them, or you’re going to steal them from the bathroom cabinet on the sly, these are the products to look out for that cross the male/female divide.

1. ghd Mini Styler

What?
Renowned for creating the world’s best hair straighteners, ghd use the same award winning idea and pack it into a smaller, more compact mini styler. With 1 cm wide plates and a digital temperature control, this mini iron matches the iPhone for clever time saving technology.

Why?
Because of its compact design, the ghd Mini Styler is perfect for shorter hair, making it the ideal investment for most of us guys. Instead of spending hours in front of the mirror trying to tame your mane with buckets of product, let this little gadget do all the hard work for you.

2. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

What?
A skincare classic and a real multi-tasker, women all over the world rely on Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. Scooping more awards than Avatar, this skin saviour works overtime to restore, calm and help relieve chapped, cracked, dry skin.

Why?
The major appeal of this skin protectant is that the list of uses are literally endless. Not content with healing dry skin anywhere on your face or body, it can also be used as a lip balm, on sun burn, as a hand or foot cream, on nicks and cuts after shaving, to heal blemishes and even on minor scars and burns.

3. YSL Touche Eclat

What?
Although this product has been repackaged for guys by the YSL marketing bods after the recent men’s make-up boom, it’s the same product women have been using for years. You can count on Touche Eclat to cover all kinds of blemishes and complexion worries as well as dark circles and signs of fatigue.

Why?
Like it or not, men’s make up isn’t going anywhere. The whole reason we dress and groom the way we do is to look good, so there’s no reason we can’t use a bit of concealer to sneakily cover up imperfections, just like women do.

4. Kerastase Lait Vital

What?
Kerastase pride themselves on innovation, exclusivity, indulgence and elegance. What that means to you and me is Kerastase Lait Vital can be relied on as a luxury conditioning solution to nourish and enrich your hair when your regular products aren’t quite up to the job.

Why?
With all the washing and product based stress we put our hair through, it’s bound to take its toll. This hair care treat gives re-conditions, softens and makes sure you don’t end up with hair like a scarecrow.

5. St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan – Body

What?
Wherever you are this summer, a ‘t-shirt tan’ (i.e. tanned arms/white chest) is NOT a good look. But then again, neither is the fake tan ‘David Dickinson’ orange look. A happy medium, this product helps build a natural looking gradual tan, without having to risk your health on a sun bed.

Why?
St Tropez Everyday Gradual Tan covers every self tan concern – it’s quick and easy to apply, it builds a gradual tan that’s natural in appearance and has no fake tan smell. Job done.