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For men, grooming is now becoming big business and the pressures of media on the world are encouraging men to make more time in their lives for daily grooming. However, most men want quick and easy products that can do pretty much most jobs with the least of fuss.

Nonetheless, we all know mens skin types are more acidic than woman’s and their skin is tougher so with all this in mind how do men choose what is right for them? In a nutshell, like woman, men have to experiment with what works for them.

The market is now becoming saturated with all kinds of grooming products from daily washes to shampoos, from scrubs to colognes, and, the products range from the budget to the ridiculous!

We would all love to purchase the premium branded products that can price in excess of £100 but lets face it most of us earn a beer money salary and cannot justify champagne products when it comes to daily grooming.

With this in mind here are my own personal favourites with an acceptable budget to match….

TEETH AND MOUTH HYGIENE

Nobody likes bad breath and no-one wants to kiss a smelly mouth. Quite simply keep your mouth clean and healthy and visit a dentist regularly. Your oral regime should consist of a good toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss. Taking time to clean not only your teeth but tongue and gums too.

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SHAVING AND FACIAL WASHES

Personally I don’t shave as I suffer from ingrowing hairs regardless of the preparations involved to reduce this. I do however trim to keep my facial stubble tidy and I have found one of the best products on the market is the PHILLIPS ONE BLADE. This is an electric razor that trims pretty close to the skin and can change the blades when they lose their ability to trim effectively.

FACIAL WASHES – Where to start? I have generally very oily skin and am prone to spot breakouts very easily. I have tried and tested all kinds of facial washes and soaps that claim to work wonders for your skin. Nonetheless, I found none of those products hit the mark with the exception of the L’Oreal skincare range with activated charcoal.

The skincare range comes in two parts: (1) The Purifying Daily Facewash that cleans deep into the pores as the charcoal draws out the impurities, and, (2) The Daily Anti-Blackhead Face Scrub that scrubs away the dead skin cells allowing the new cells to reach the surface. Both products used together help promote healthier cell formation and reduces fatigued looking skin.

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SHOWERING AND DEODORANTS

If like me you just want one product that can wash your hair and body then look no further than the Dove For Men range. This is personally my favourite brand that not only smells great but doesn’t dry out my skin when I dry off afterwards. With this, I additionally find the Dove For Men deodorants are great. They leave me feeling fresh even after a long day at work, dry and doesn’t irritate my skin like some brands do.

Just remember to change your deodorant to a ‘Plan B’ brand after a couple of months otherwise your body becomes used to it and the product becomes less effective. I use the L’Oreal For Men range as my Plan B.

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MOISTURISERS

Once you have shaved and showered you want to keep your skin in top condition. During those Summer Months aim for a moisturiser with an SPF to aid against the sun’s effects and during those harsh Winter Months find one that nourishes against the cold.

Some men prefer a moisturiser and others prefer a serum. Personally myself I choose a good serum. My skin is oily and I tend to find moisturisers greasy. A good serum is non-oily, absorbs quickly and hydrates deeper into the skin for longer.

For my face I use L’Oreal Men Vita Lift daily moisturiser then apply a small amount of sunscreen over it once it has absorbed. For the body I use Nivea Body Lotion. I tend to find the Nivea body range less greasy than some other brands on the market.

DON’T FORGET YOUR EYES! Sometimes when we feel exhausted it shows in our eyes. They become puffy with dark circles. I use Nivea Cellular Eye Cream. Again, I find the Nivea Skincare products less greasy. This eye cream additionally packs anti-ageing properties to aid against those crows feet!

As an extra boost to sore dry eyes always have a good eye drop that contains a good amount of oil. Your tears contain oil and water. The water keeps the eyes from drying out but the oil film is the part that adheres to the eye and keeps the drop from evaporating too quickly. I use Thealoz Duo.

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SMELLING GREAT AND HAIR

Colognes and aftershaves are a hard one to recommend as fragrances smell different on different peoples skin. The rule of thumb here is to try different types and then narrow them down to at least three/four types to alternate.

I have a cologne that I use for special occasions, one for work, one going out with friends and a daily one. To get the most out of your cologne spray a small amount on the areas that will get warm. This is usually the wrists, inner elbows and chest. Just remember less is more – Don’t overkill it!

HAIR – Keep your hair clean and of a reasonably tidy cut. There are all sorts of hair products on the market from mousses, gels, sprays, waxes and putty’s. The aim here is to find the product that suits your hair and style type. For me, I find VO5 Rework Putty works great for my hair and is easily washed out too, unlike waxes.

All these products are available through most retailers with the fragrances purchased from either The Perfume Shop or major Department Stores.

Please remember the products listed are the products that work for myself and are all subjective. What suits me doesn’t necessarily work for others. Go out and find the products that work for you.