1 Real Dude Reviewed 14 Beauty Gifts That Guys Actually Want

For years I’ve been that guy: the one who strives to look like he just so happened to stumble out of the shower with the perfect shaggy-dog messy hair look. But let’s be real, achieving that effortlessly grungy look isn’t easy. That’s why a $27 bottle of Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray had me getting unnaturally giddy. The results were wonderful: a few quick spritzes (ideally on dry hair) with this salt water-infused hair spray and I looked like I’d stepped out of a Abercrombie and Fitch catalog circa 2003. OK, without the egregious nudity.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray ($27)

Typically, holiday gift sets seem nothing short of a waste of money: a few mediocre products thrown together in a fancy box hardly equals quality in our books. This year however, two high-end designers nailed their men’s grooming ones. Hugo Boss and Lacoste each offer up killer gift sets — the former with three offerings (shower gel, cologne, and deodorant) and the latter with two (shower gel, cologne). Both offer bold scents, although Lacoste’s leans a bit more subtle with touches of watermelon, lavender, lemon, and Egyptian basil. Boss on the other hand is aromatic of leather-bound books with dashes of ginger and lavender.

Lacoste Eau de Lacoste Noir Gift Set for Men ($72)

Hugo Boss Boss The Scent Gift Set ($88)

Celebrity-endorsed skincare products? Normally we’d tell you to commence eye rolling. But he of perpetually smooth skin and voice, Rob Lowe, has broken the mold with his new line of grooming products, Profile. The Road Rescue Kit — rehydrating cleanser, under eye rescue, age combating serum, and shave gel — is perfect for guys like me. We give off an air that we’re too masculine to fuss around with fancy skin-care products but secretly geek out at the prospect of lathering on a soothing under-eye ointment before bedtime. Lowe’s line is not only painless in application but left my skin feeling reenergized and, dare I say, a bit perky.

Profile grooming products (starting at $18)

Picking out the right cologne for a man is admittedly a highly subjective and personal experience. But every so often a scent comes along that seems to be the go-to for a large swath of sophisticated gentlemen. OK, so we’re not always the most sophisticated, but we still are obsessed with the colognes from New York-based menswear boutique, Odin. The brand is famed for it's signature scent #12, and with its sweet, backroom whiskey-sipping scent we understand why. But make space on your dresser for it's newest iteration, Odin #00. It's definitely lighter with a fresh, springtime feel, making it well suited for easygoing evenings rather than luxe affairs. Oh, and the packaging is as chic as it gets.

Odin New York Formula 12 ($165)

For years I fumbled around with a $20 beard trimmer/electric shaver only to see its battery life dwindle down to nothing and my stubble grow increasingly more natty with each passing month. Thankfully, Norelco has continued to improve its trimmers to the point where all you’ll ever need is the Beardtrimmer 9100. Light, insanely effective, and armed with a laser for precision, the 9100 has, dare I say, made shaving and beard trimming a literal pleasure. The best part: there’s even a digital meter on the front to gauge the length you want to shave.

Philips Norelco BeardTrimmer 9100 ($56)

Nowadays it seems like there’s a new boutique shaving company popping up everywhere you look. But Harry’s, with its affordable prices and sleek, no-nonsense products, is undoubtedly one of the best in the business. We already love the labels' razors (check out the beginner Truman set) but the Foaming Shave Gel is the clear-cut best we’ve ever tried. It smells like you just stepped out of a scented steam room and, unlike other shaving creams that leave a filmy layer on your skin, Harry’s cleans up quick and easy. The cherry on the cake: the $8 price tag is on par with any other pharmacy brand.

Harry's Foaming Shave Gel ($8)

Luxurious, heaven-scented soaps were once considered just for grandmothers. But nowadays it’s not only acceptable but trendy to get excited about soap. Colorado-based Spinster Sisters is one of the best soap-crafters out there. The brand's beer bar that's made with — no joke — yeast, hops, malt, and barley alongside vitamins and minerals — is great for your skin. How so? Brewers yeast is packed with vitamins, including vitamin B, which improves hydration. If you want to go big this holiday season, the four-soap sampler (other “flavors” include Pine Tar and Workshop) is your best bet.

Spinster Sisters Beer Soap ($36)

Many men fancy themselves multitaskers and, well, who is to say that can’t extend to their grooming? It’s why Malin + Goetz’s Hand/Body Wash is so crucial. We’ve got nothing against simple, sweet-smelling hand washes but when we find ones like M+G’s Lime or, even better, the Rum offerings that work for both hand and body, we’re sold. Early-morning showers leave you smelling crisp and fresh rather than like a bag of potpourri.

Malin+Goetz Rum & Lime Hand Wash Set ($44)

Some gifts are no-brainers, and Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment is exactly that. Kiehl’s is as trusted a skin-care line as is out there, and its men’s line is nothing if not a regular part of many guys' regular grooming routine. That said, if your boo is not already a user, then this Facial Fuel moisturizer is the perfect gateway drug. I'm an admitted fan: gently rubbing it onto my face every night before I hit the pillow leaves my skin feeling alive and refreshed. And it helps me forget about my many other hygienic mishaps earlier that day.

Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men ($42)

I’m a perpetual sufferer of dry skin and, to that end, my wife is constantly on my case to get me on a moisturizing regimen. I’ve resisted mightily until I came across Jack Black’s Cool Moisturizer Body Lotion. It’s a super-simple once daily application, and makes you smell like a man without announcing to the world you’ve lathered up in fragrance that morning. Plus, what partner doesn’t love soft skin? It was a major win for this guy.

Jack Black Cool Moisture Body Lotion ($28)

Ordinarily I'm the sort of guy who is just fine with a generic drugstore lip balm, or perhaps Burt’s Bees if I want to get fancy. But once I got word that Tom Ford offers a must-try lipbalm for gents, I had no choice but to give it a whirl. I'm glad we did: sure, it’s pricy at $25, but the blend of oils, vitamins, and butters giving your smackers consistent moisture is well worth it. Don’t underrate your lips. Trust us: (important) people notice them.

Tom Ford Hydrating Lip Balm ($25)

When a man takes the plunge and commits to a life of straight-razor shaving, it comes with a major caveat: no matter how hard you try you’re going to have some razor burn. So I'm damn glad to have The Grooming Lounge’s The Shavior at the ready. A few splashes of this miracle cream after shaving and you’re in the clear. Expect it to exfoliate dead skin, combat ingrown hairs, and caress your mug.

Grooming Lounge The Shavior ($24)

With all the products, treatments, and time we dedicate to our hair it’s a wonder how many dudes straight-up slack on the one product we use every day. Yes, we’re talking about shampoo. Men are especially guilty in this arena, which is why investing in a product like Baxter of California’s Daily Protein Shampoo is so crucial. Showering with this easy-pump bottle left my hair feeling salon-smooth with a strong mint scent. Even better for 30+-year-old men like me, the shampoo removes buildup and natural toxins like DHT, a male hormone found to be harmful to the hair's growth cycle.

Baxter of California Daily Protein Shampoo ($16)

After discovering that yes, men can and should also get facials on the regular, finding a trusty facial scrub for at-home use was essential. The Art of Shaving holds it down on all things men’s skin care so I assumed its face scrub was no different. I was right — the Peppermint Facial Scrub, which I only need apply twice a week, exfoliates and deep-cleanses my pores. Sure, it’s stocked with peppermint essential oil, white kaolin clay, and lavender essential oil, but all I really care about is that my skin feels extra fresh all week long.

The Art of Shaving Peppermint Facial Scrub ($25)