Beauty Bible Christmas Gift Guide 2024: The men's edition
The grooming world has impressed us with some great Christmas offerings for 2024. So, from teens embarking on their skincare journey through to dapper dads who’ve embraced the concept of moisturiser (!), here’s our considered edit
Shakeup The Routine Revolution (above)
We first encountered Shakeup at a Brandstand PR press day, and immediately put it on our list to buy for, er, ‘maturing’ family members. Going beyond the basics, this set’s perfect for the chap who’s beginning to worry about lines and wrinkles, offering a skincare ritual that is more akin to that of most women, with cleanser, toner, anti-ageing serum and moisturiser all showcased here in full sizes, and described – we wouldn’t e-x-a-c-t-l-y call it ‘mansplained’ – in an easily understood way, even for those who are just waking up to the importance of complexion care. (Smart bag for the kit, too, with a kinda Bottega Veneta vibe.)
Shakeup The Routine Revolution/£99.99 - buy here
Acqua di Parma Barbiere Collection Essential Shaving Kit
We always imagine that a man’s shaving ritual is probably as key a part of clearing the head for the day as it is for beard removal – a little bit of ‘him-time’. However, to ramp up the head clearance factor, here’s a zesty set based around classic Acqua di Parma Colonia, with Eau de Cologne (20ml), Shaving Cream (40ml) and Aftershave Emulsion (40ml), in a spiffy yellow bag – AdP’s signature shade.
Acqua di Parma Barbiere Collection Essential Shaving Kit/£86 - buy here
ESPA Men’s Winter Wellness Collection
A few years ago, many chaps we know would have looked at us in a derisory way if we’d dared to mention the ‘wellness’ word – but post-pandemic, with soaring stress levels, that’s all changed. So, ESPA describe this as ‘elevated self care’, with a great-value set that features peppermint-andcitrus-powered Invigorating Facial Wash (150ml), lightweight moisturiser The Hydrator (50ml), Post-Shave Rescue (50ml) and Fitness Shower Gel (100ml), which is just fabulously aromatic with eucalyptus, clove and lavender. For a calm mind and calm skin, it’s seriously good value, too; individually, the items are worth £91.
Horace is a brilliant men’s grooming destination on Covent Garden’s Neal Street showcasing a great line-up of their own fragrances and skincare (the range landed here fairly recently from France). Horace offer vouchers, which might be an idea for a chap who knows his way around the scent/grooming universe, but for someone who needs a little more guidance this pulls together some of their own label skincare bestsellers: Purifying Face Cleanser (200ml), Moisturizing Eye Cream (15ml), plus 75ml sizes of Mattifying Face Moisturiser, Gentle Face Scrub and Purifying Face Mask.
Clarins Men Start Up Essentials
Ah, Clarins. Guaranteed to be a skincare brand he has HEARD of, and here, with a splashily-decorated selection box featuring a cracking line-up of a full-size ClarinsMen Shampoo & Shower (200ml), ClarinsMen Active Face Wash 30ml and ClarinsMen Super Moisture Balm (12ml). Jolly, jolly, JOLLY reasonable, too.
Liz Earle Daily Revitalising Men’s Collection Bodycare Gift Set
Our interest was piqued by the concept of bodycare for men, since in our experinence, other than the occasional swipe of deo, not much goes on below the vest-line. And then actually, when we drilled down, it’s mostly – aside from the Botanical Body Wash (200ml) – for faces, actually, with a Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser for Men (100ml), two of those so-familiar pure cotton cloths, After-Shaving Moisturiser (50ml) and a super-stylish sponge bag that (never mind HIM!), we’d quite like ourselves.
Liz Earle Daily Revitalising Men’s Collection Bodycare Gift Set/£52 - buy here
AESOP Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet
We just love the scent of this shaving duet – comprising 60ml sizes of Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum and Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion – which means we’d love getting up close and personal with someone who’d used this to shave with. (Well, obviously we’re not talking perfect strangers, here, but if you wanted to be selfish about a gift for a paramour, you couldn’t go far wrong with this scented pair.)
BULY 1803 Crème Pogonotomienne
We’re not asking you to SAY it. (And please don’t ask us to.) But for a touchy-complexioned recipient, this is an exquisitely packaged soothing cream from a brand with a fascinating history, always quirkily marketed (their website is the most joyous online rabbit warren, ripe for exploration). As BULY 1803 put it, about Crème Pogonotomienne: ‘Enriched with soothing sweet almond, scented with subtle hinoki charred wood, this silky cream is gentle to the most fragile chins and tender cheeks.’
BULY 1803 Crème Pogonotomienne/£30 for 75ml - buy here
