Best Men's Grooming Gifts 2016
This 1 Dude's Honest Review of Men's Grooming Gifts Will Make You Laugh
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Whoever the man is that you're buying for this year, you love him and know him inside and out, right? Right. Then why the hell is he so hard to shop for every year? I'd love to think that no one knows my boyfriend better than I do, but when it comes to buying him a gift, I am clueless! And don't even get me started on my dad. Last year I got him an eye cream and was like, "I'm sorry, but this is legitimately the best I can do." (It was a really good eye cream, though.)
What I'm saying is, let me help you nail down great gifts for your guy(s) so you're not scrambling this December. As it happens, I am a man, and I've tried everything, so these don't just sound good — this stuff actually works.
Anthony Fresh 5
"A travel kit? BORING!," you will say. Au contraire! Even though I'm a beauty writer who travels often, I am usually scrambling to cram things into my dopp kit before I miss my flight, inevitably forgetting something essential.
It wasn't until I got myself an official travel grooming kit that my traveling got a whole lot easier. Sometimes, just having everything all in one place and in TSA-approved bottles takes all of the guesswork out of travel preparations. This Anthony kit contains a facial cleanser, facial scrub, moisturizer, shave cream, and two-in-one hair and body wash to make sure he's ready for anything.
Anthony Fresh 5 ($30)
Baxter of California Pomade Mixer Kit
OK, fine. I'll be the one to say it. Even when you're a guy with short, messy hair, finding the right styling product is difficult. Pomades are not one size fits all. Depending on the hold he wants and the length of his hair, waxes might be too hard, but pomades, too soft. There's a lot of trial and error in finding the right hair product for him. And then his hair grows half an inch and all of a sudden, it's not right anymore, and the whole process starts over again.
That's why the Pomade Mixer Set is kind of a genius idea. It comes with four mini pots of product with varying holds and finishes, so he can concoct the perfect product for his hair type, no matter the length or texture.
Pomade Mixer Kit ($28)
Blind Barber Wild Watermint Gin Shave Cream
Oh, your boyfriend shaves? Cool, that makes one of us. Wait, what am I complaining about? I have a beard, too . . . If, by some miracle, you are dating a guy in 2016 who does not have a beard, you should make sure he has a good shaving cream as a reward for not making you kiss him through coarse, bristly scruff.
This shave cream is very, well, creamy, so he won't need a lot of product during use. It helps the razor glide over his face for a close, clean shave and leaves him smelling fresh from the barbershop. Gin sold separately.
Bröö Shampoo and Conditioner
While we're on the subject of booze and beauty, how about beer shampoo? Why beer? Because it's great for your hair! No, really. Have you ever had your hair soaked in beer? I have, numerous times! But I suppose that's an article for another day.
Beer contains vitamin B, proteins, and minerals that are great for your hair. A beer rinse is a great way to increase shine and volume, and Bröö has taken all of these benefits and put them into a shampoo.
Bröö has three formulas for thickening, moisturizing, and invigorating your hair, all of them leaving it soft, full, and shiny. It gives a whole new definition to the phrase "shower beer."
Bröö Shampoo and Conditioner ($7 each)
Clarisonic Alpha Fit Men's Cleansing Gift Set
You really just can't beat the clean you get with a Clarisonic. It will truly revolutionize anyone's skin care regime, and the cleansing you get from a Clarisonic becomes addictive in the best way. This is one of those items that people might not buy for themselves but would love to receive as a gift. He will look at it in the store and surmise, "Can't just wash my face using my hands?" That's what he thinks.
If you're pondering gifting him a sonic cleansing brush, do him (and yourself) a favor and get him the Cleansing Gift Set. It comes with an extra brush and a full-size cleanser (which is really great, by the way) all for the price of the brush itself.
Bevel Shaving System
Want to know why I stay scruffy all year round? Because shaving isn't fun, and razor burn is worse. The Bevel Shaving System is designed to shave hair at skin level to cut down on bumps and irritation. The system is especially good for men of color who typically have more coarse, curly hair, which can be prone to razor burn.
The kit contains everything he needs for a close shave including the Bevel Razor, Bevel Badger Brush, Priming Oil, Shave Cream, Restoring Balm, and 60 blades.
Bevel Shaving System ($30)
Nivea Post Shave Balm
When it come to aftershave, there are a ton of luxury options, but you really can't beat an awesome one at a nice price. Nivea Post Shave Balm is packed with vitamin E, chamomile, and witch hazel extracts to soothe skin and moisturize. It won't burn his freshly shorn skin when he applies, and it will keep him free of any irritation.
Plus, this is the stuff that makes an awesome makeup primer. Believe me, I've tried it. Think of it as a gift for him but your secret weapon.
MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator
Everyone's bathrooms should be equipped with a good exfoliator. They're essential for men who don't pay special attention to their skin or cover imperfections with makeup. The MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator is like a facial in a tube, and the difference it makes in your skin is immediate.
The texture is as coarse as wet coffee grounds, and when worked into your skin, it melts as it sloughs off dead skin, pulls impurities from your pores, smooths, and brightens. When used in the shower a few times a week, the results are brighter and clearer skin, and getting it couldn't be easier.
Buckler's Chapped Skin Remedy
A HAND CREAM. Die of boredom.
But yo, it's Winter, and I'm sure he doesn't have a hand cream, let alone gloves (note to self: buy gloves.) I got this years ago, and I'm still singing its praises because it's simply that good. It's thick and creamy, it doesn't leave your hands greasy, and it's unscented. Oh yeah, and it's hydrating, very much so. Buy a tube for him and buy a tube for yourself. You won't regret it.
Garnier SkinActive Miracle Anti-Fatigue Wake-Up Hydra-Gel Moisturizer
Wait, am I really going to create this list without a moisturizer? No, I am not.
There are a ton of clutch moisturizers out there from our favorite brands that I could have included, but this little drugstore baby is amazing. Gel moisturizers are great because they pack a higher water content than your typical cream moisturizer to keep your skin more hydrated. Garnier's contains 15 percent of hydra-glycerin, which is a humectant, helping your skin keep moisture in. My favorite feature is that it keeps your skin matte all day, with just a touch of glow. I'm obsessed with the finish.
Garnier SkinActive Miracle Anti-Fatigue Wake-Up Hydra-Gel Moisturizer ($17)
Unnamed by Byredo
I'm not just drinking the Byredo Kool-Aid, I'm making it. Can you blame me? The perfumer knocks it out of the park every time, and the brand has really caught people's attention with what is arguably its most playful scent yet. But, what's it called?
It doesn't have a name. It comes with a sheet of stick-on letters so he can name it himself. This is a wink at how personal scent is to all of us, encouraging the wearer to let the fragrance guide the name. It smells different on everyone, and this spin on personalization really makes wearing the scent a one-of-a-kind experience.
Unnamed by Byredo ($150)
Four Vices Beard Oil by Beardbrand
Notes of tobacco, coffee, hops, and hemp come together to give this beard oil an intoxicating (see what I did there) fragrance. This oil keeps his beard soft and conditioned, all while providing a subtle scent that's perfect for Fall.
Glossier Balm Dotcom
Good lip balms don't seem like an essential until you don't have one. Even more frustrating? Many of them dry out your lips, causing the same problem that they're supposed to remedy and creating a vicious cycle.
Glossier's Balm Dotcom is one of my all-time clutch products. It's hydrating, long lasting, and not too glossy (contrary to the brand name). It really is the best. I have nine tubes on my nightstand. If he's worried about carrying around a pink product, get him the mint flavor that comes in a green tube, and tell him to chill out.
Glossier Balm Dotcom ($12)
Wanderer Calming Body Cleanser
The benefits of this gift are twofold. For one, it's a great body wash that smells amazing and is very affordable. I have both scents in my shower, and they're a delightful way to start your day. The scent doesn't cling to you all day long like a bad body spray, as some men's products do.
Plus, he will discover Dollar Shave Club's rapidly expanding bathroom empire. What started with razors has grown into a full line of men's grooming that can outfit any bathroom with quality, affordable products.
Kiehl's Age Defender Eye Repair
The one question I constantly get from guys is about eye cream. Should they be using it? Does it make a difference? Does everyone need it?
Yes. Yes. And yes.
I'm a little obsessive when it comes to eye cream, so I've tried a lot of them, but this is the one that I will always go back to. It's thick, so you don't need to use a lot, it sinks in fast and dries matte, and it's packed with so many ingredients that you can feel it working on contact. It helps reduce the appearance of dark circles, firms the undereye area and reduces crows feet, and makes your eyes look more youthful.
