Men’s Seasonal Skincare Saviours 

It’s no secret that I’m possibly the more (ahem) mature member of the Man Wants editorial team. The years just keep slipping by and as I struggle to comprehend that we’re now in October (Lord help us) a lifetime of experiences and a continuous fight against the elements has left me boasting a few frown lines, a silver tint and a beard full of secrets. I’m proud that I have a face that says, ‘I’m no stranger to adventure’ but a little disappointed that I didn’t invest in protecting my skin a more in my earlier years.

I was born into a generation which saw Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen riding fast motorcycles, smoking cigarettes and hitting the hay at night without the insurance of a night cream and a soothing Aloe Vera eye mask….

However, the reality is that skincare is not a luxury but a necessity to protect your biggest organ, regardless of gender. In recent times, younger generations of men are adopting a basic skincare routine with a suggested 58% of men ages 18-24 using some form of skincare product on the regular. Despite this recent advancement in male skincare consumer patterns, Mintel; a Global market research company discovered that just 32% of men aged between 55-64 have used some form of moisturising, skincare product. The facts are astounding but it’s never too late to start taking care of your face and with this in mind, we thought it was about time we banished the Autumn/Winter blues and introduced our readers to some of the Ultimate Man Wants Skincare Saviours – Easy to use skincare and cosmetics, just for men.

P.S I must state that, many products mentioned in this article were tried and sourced by me, way before I decided to write this article. So, I must thank all the brands which were willing for me to mention them!

Gruff Beard – Sensitive Soaps for Face & Beard

Everyone has a different skin type, so it’s essential that you can assess what kind of skin you have (dry, oily, combination, sensitive) when choosing some skincare products. The first step to maintaining clean, clear skin is investing in a cleanser which does the job for you. There’s many different cleaners on the men’s skincare market which all have different aims. Acne tackling cleansers are often useful for younger gents but the harsh chemicals can strip skin of its natural oils, so commit to finding a cleanser that aims to bring balance to your skin.

Our favourite cleansers come from family run, Cardiff based company Gruff Beard. Gruff Beard deliver high-end, beard & skincare products enriched with natural oils and ingredients. The Gruff Beard Bars come in three face friendly types: Cleansing Green Tea Beard Bar, Exfoliating French Green Clay Bar and Goats Milk Moisturising Beard Bar, to cleanse and nourish all skin types.

We’re big fans of the Exfoliating French Green Clay Bar to gently remove oil and dirty and enrich your skin and facial hair with conditioning proteins. 

Above: Gruff Beard, Exfoliating French Green Clay Beard Soap

Man Cave – Protect & Moisturise

In my earlier years, I genuinely thought that moisturising was a myth and figured that unless you were Ranulph Fiennes, battling extreme conditions – did men really need to moisturise? Boy, was I wrong. Not only does moisturising reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes but it promotes circulation, slows down visible ageing and protects.

Even if you struggle with oily or combination skin, a good moisturiser will help balance your skins natural moisture. We like the selection of moisturisers designed for men at Man Cave. Man Cave is a British company with a mission to bring a fresh inspiring regime to men’s skincare. They stock a comprehensive range of men’s skincare products but the team at Man Wants love their moisturisers.

Above: Man Cave SPF 20 Protective Moisturiser

Man Cave have produced an Original Moisturiser, Sensitive Moisturiser and a SPF 20 Protective Moisturiser. Although I swear by their Sensitive Moisturiser, the SPF 20 Protective Moisturiser comes on high recommendation with SPF 20 and anti-aging properties. This Man Cave moisturiser uses Shea Butter and Radicare to counteract signs of aging and Rosehip Oil, Jojoba and White Tea to protect an hydrate. Just the trick for these chilly months!

Half Ounce –  Lip Balm

Okay, so it’s become a running joke in the office how proud I am of my Half Ounce lip balm and I’m not even ashamed to tell you how much I love it – honestly, I should have put this in the ‘how to be more manly’ article. The Half Ounce Lip Balm was another item, gifted to me from a friend. Half Ounce cosmetics are a London based brand, who specialise in an eclectic range of cosmetics and skincare (including Beard Glitter kits?!). Their products are made with organic ingredients and their lip balms are free from petroleum jelly.

Above: Half Ounce Cosmetics, Lip Balm & Lip Repair

I’m hooked on the Whiskey Flavour Men’s Lip Repair by Revered Beard at Half Ounce Cosmetics. The selling point? “Because Men need to protect their lips too, and what could better protect a gentleman’s Lips than a Balm flavoured like a fine Malt?” Sold!

The Willow’s Bark – Organic Facial Steamers

I first heard of the organic, skincare brand The Willow’s Bark when my friend purchased me the Vetiver & Spruce, Hair & Beard Wax from their Etsy store last year. Willows Bark is a Canadian brand which delivers to the UK. This men’s skincare brand uses cruelty-free, toxin-free, preservative-free and gluten free ingredients to produce some, out of this World skincare in a range of rich, masculine scents.

Since trying out their wildcrafted skincare, I’ve been a little hooked on what The Willows Bark brand have to offer and completely respect their refreshing ethos. The fact that The Willow’s Bark skincare products use only natural ingredients means that they’re kind, gentle and perfect for sensitive skin.

Above: The Willow’s Bark Wildcrafted Skincare Herbal Facial Steams

For a proper detox, we recommend checking out The Willows Bark Herbal Facial Steams. Available in Green Tea & Sage, Neroli & Marigold and Rose petal & Mint these facial steamers are ideal for repairing, nourishing and rebalancing tired skin. Just drop them in a bowl of water, stick a towel over your head and listen to Bohemian Rhapsody – that’s how little time it takes for them to get to work. The essential oils, herbs and minerals in these men’s facial steams will open pores, promote circulation and hydrate the skin.

Essential Beards – Beard & Facial Hair  

Your skin is not the only thing affected by the colder climate. Facial hair, beards and moustaches can become dry and prone to frizz across the winter months. If you’re like me, you’ll grow your beard a little thicker from October to combat the cold but it really helps to make a few slight changes with beard and moustache maintenance in autumn and winter to keep your facial hair feeling fresh and manageable.

Above: Essential Beards Beard Balm & Beard Comb

Essential Beards offer a range of premium facial hair grooming products to cater for all your beard grooming needs and if you use a Beard Oil or Beard Balm, Essential Beards have an extensive collection of Beard Grooming and styling products available in some indulgent scents to keep your facial hair glossy and smelling good. For a little extra insurance over winter, we recommend the Essential Beards, Beard Balm (available in 26 different scents) it acts as a leave-in conditioner and prevents split-ends and skin irritation from first use.

Bee Cosmetics – Ointments & Treatments

There’s some skin conditions which can be aggravated by the transitional, changing seasons. In certain cases, some moisturisers, cleansers and treatments may not cut it. Bee Cosmetics is a family run business, which uses Bee products to produce natural skincare and cosmetics. Bee Cosmetics skincare are quite effective at treating dry and problem skin without the inclusion of unnecessary additives. Although Bee Cosmetics offer a broad range of Men’s Skincare products, I was particularly interested in their Propolis Ointment.

Above: Bee Cosmetics Propolis Ointment

Propolis is a tree resin collected by honeybees and used in the hive for health and hygiene. Propolis has been used as skincare for centuries because of its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. The Bee Cosmetics Propolis Ointment is used to treat eczema, psoriasis, burns and other rashes and can also help with skin conditions like dermatitis, spots, cold sores and athlete’s foot. At just £6 for a small pot, it’s certainly worth a try for treating unhappy skin.