Baffled by the world of men’s grooming? Pick up our expert selection of essential products for all your travel needs.

One of the difficulties with choosing grooming products (especially online) is that, ultimately, you have to try most things yourself to really see whether they will work for you, your skin type and your regime. It’s all very well reading something is packed with glow-inducing vitamin C or skin-smoothing collagen, but what if you hate the smell or texture? This is why we at MR PORTER regularly offer a compilation of travel-sized versions of some of our best grooming products, presented in an attractive box for your experimental pleasure. The latest incarnation of this grooming toolbox, available now, features a curated range of 12 products we think every man should give a test-drive. Alongside travel-sized variants of products from the likes of Penhaligon’s, Clinique For Men, Malin + Goetz and Ren Skincare, the kit features full-sized versions of the below products, which bought individually, would set you back far more than the entire contents of the box. Here’s why these three alone might well be the items your bathroom cupboard is missing.

MR PORTER GROOMING MR PORTER Grooming Kit, Winter 2016

DR SEBAGH Serum Repair, 20ml

So what exactly is the point of a serum? To keep it short: most serums act like an oil-free moisturiser, using ingredients such as hyaluronic acid – a naturally occurring substance that helps the skin retain water – to support skin renewal and hydration without overloading it like a heavy cream. Dr Sebagh’s Serum Repair is a standout example of the type, loaded with hyaluronic acid as well as collagen, which will help to plump and smooth your skin. By itself, it’s a great, low-shine solution for hydrating and freshening the skin post-shaving. But it’s also highly effective for using before your moisturiser – the hyaluronic acid will help to deliver the latter product’s ingredients to your skin cells more efficiently and deeply.

DR. BARBARA STURM Face Scrub, 100ml

Anyone who’s had an ingrown hair on their face will know that this is one of the most frustrating of grooming problems, often taking days, if not weeks, to clear up completely. Of course, you can avoid ingrown hairs by using an exfoliating scrub before shaving, but face scrubs come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them are particularly kind to the skin. This example from Dr. Barbara Sturm, on the other hand, is packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as purslane and chestnut serum, which will help your skin look and feel refreshed post-scrub, rather than red and sandpapery. It’s also free from synthetic fragrances and parabens, meaning that it’s among the most skin-friendly scrubs you’re likely to come across.

BAMFORD GROOMING DEPARTMENT Hand And Body Wash, 250ml

Bamford Grooming Department’s hand and body wash isn’t just your run-of-the-mill scented shower gel – it’s packed full of active ingredients, such as anti-inflammatory willow bark and echinacea, that will soothe your skin as well as cleanse it. Whether you take it with you into the shower, or merely squeeze a few drops onto your hands before you set out the front door, you’re also likely to appreciate its rich, woody scent, with notes of smoke, amber, cassis and vetiver.