• Men's Grooming

The Ultimate Streamlined Morning Grooming Routine

You may not share David Beckham’s predilection for lotions. Your skin may look more like the underside of a trawler than a baby’s. But you still need a few products in your bathroom cabinet. If only for the people who have to look at you everyday.

Yet that doesn’t mean half an hour in front of the mirror every morning. Pick products that pack a punch and you can cut the steps between bed and the front door, while keeping your look on-point. These are the grooming products that prove less is more.

The Shaving Gel That Won’t Make You Break Out

The ultimate shaving goal? Precision without irritation. Creams hide hair, so switch for clear gels that let you trim your beard just right.

Look for ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E, which nourish the skin your razor’s just stripped, and glycerine to smooth its glide.

The Pick: Recipe For Men Clear Shaving Gel

Unlike most gels, Recipe For Men’s won’t foam, so you can see exactly where your blade’s cutting. No more mismatched sideburns.

Its formula also softens hair, so no snagging, then soothes skin with aloe vera and razor burn-extinguishing allantoin.

Available at Amazon, priced £16.

The Cleanser That Won’t Dry Out Your Skin

Soaps strip away skin’s natural oils, which means you need a host of other products to put them back in. A pH-balanced cleanser cleans your face without drying it out.

The Pick: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser

When it comes to cleansers, the fewer ingredients the better. Kiehl’s eschews fragrances and opts for a trio of natural moisturisers instead: apricot kernel oil and avocado oils, which are packed with vitamins A and E, plus squalane to keep oil in check.

Available at Amazon, priced £8.50.

The Serum That’s More Than Skin Deep

Creams can sit on your skin, making it appear greasy. Serums absorb quicker and deeper, pack more youth-inducing ingredients into less space, and block pollution. Think of them as your bathroom cabinet’s utility man.

The Pick: Jack Black Protein Booster Skin Serum

Jack Black’s serum dives deep into your epidermis to fight ageing from the inside out. Vitamin C keeps skin elastic, omega-3 oils lock in moisture, amino acids heal shaving nicks, and green tea’s antioxidants fight free radicals on the surface.

Available at Amazon, priced £47.

The Moisturiser That Tans Without Damage

Every skin cream is designed to counteract damage caused by the sun. So even if moisturising seems a faff, blocking wrinkle-causing rays is non-negotiable.

The Pick: Lab Series BB Tinted Moisturiser SPF 35

It’s good to avoid sun damage. It’s also nice to have a tan. Lab Series’ BB moisturiser features SPF35 to deflect skin-ageing UVA and UVB rays, plus a subtle tint so you get that healthy glow without the health damaging side effects.

Available at Amazon, priced £36.

Kelly Greene