The modern world of grooming is a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a hydrolyzed collagen masque with enhanced aloe vera complex. Gone are the days of soap, water, and a splash of Brut every other Saturday – today’s man-about-town is expected to keep up with an ever-changing cast of alchemical tinctures and imported serums. It’s enough to make you weep, if all those salty tears didn’t dry out your epidermis.
Good thing, then, that our experienced panel of judges – including Oliver Cheshire, Jack Guinness and Toby Huntington-Whiteley – is here to clean up your act and narrow down your collection. From a shortlist of more than 50 grooming products, our five adjudicators picked the items that best satisfied their exacting criteria. It’s dirty work, but someone’s got to do it.
Best Shaving Product
First up: shaving. The judges were particularly impressed with Aesop’s Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum. “It has an amazing scent and really soothed my skin post-shave.” said Toby Huntington-Whiteley, while others liked the product’s low-foam format — plenty of glide without all the mess. An honorable mention went to Harry’s Post Shave Balm, with its “subtle scent and calming quality.”
Best Skincare Product
For skincare, Malin + Goetz reigned supreme with their advanced renewal cream. Light, bright and showing almost instant results, the judges noted that the cream had an excellent smoothing and tightening effect. Dr Sebagh’s Skin Perfecting Cream was also highly rated — “This really worked wonders on my skin overnight,” Toby said.
Best Fragrance
In the fragrance department, Acqua di Parma’s Colonia just edged past Creed’s Aventus as the scent of choice. Phil Green noted that the Italian cologne was “clean and classic, and the best fragrance to take you from day to night”, while all agreed on the scent’s enduring appeal (Colonia was the spritz of choice for Cary Grant and David Niven, after all.) An honorable mention must also go to Floris’s Bergamotto, which the judges agreed conjured up summer evenings spent on the Mediterranean.
Best Haircare Product
Over in haircare, Refinery’s Conditioner was a clear favourite, with the judges praising its subtle fragrance and remarkable softening qualities. The Moroccan Oil Texture Clay also garnered praise for its understated hold: “It fixed my hair in place without it looking too styled,” Toby said.
Best Moisturiser
The moisturiser category was perhaps the most keenly contested. Kiehl’s put up a strong fight with their Facial Fuel, which the judges liked for its powerful enlivening effect. As Adam Tanous, Founder of The Dapper Chapper, noted: “Once a day keeps the dry skin away”. But it was Perricone MD’s Lightweight Moisturizer that secured the top spot. Lighter than silk, yet potent enough for a wind-bitten winter day, the judges praised how the product’s antioxidants made it perfect for jaded skin.
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