THE JOURNAL
Illustrations by Mr Joe Mckendry, Ms Karin Kellner and Mr Nick Hardcastle
There is such a thing National Men’s Grooming Day (the third Friday in August, for the uninitiated), which apparently encourages gents to take more care of their appearance and encourages brands to flog them the products that will aid them to do so. But the grooming world is fast-expanding, and from signature fragrances and haircare products to Korean skincare routines and vampire facials, there are things out there you never knew you needed (but can’t live without once you’ve tried them). In other words, there is much work to be done. So, to help you make sense of it all, dear reader, we at MR PORTER have compiled a handy A-Z guide to good grooming. Salt spray at the ready!
Is there anything more sought after in grooming than products which can preserve (and restore) a bit of youth to your skin? Probably not. Fortunately, there are a wealth of brands that excel at slowing down the ageing process. One of our favourites is Sisley.
Barbers are everywhere, but choosing the right barber? That can present a hairy dilemma. To make things easier, we’ve collated some of our best tips for ensuring a good chop.
Haircuts move in and out of fashion in much the same way as clothes do. From the classic square cut and the loose fade to the “art part”, check out this season’s hairstyles, and the celebrities who have mastered them.
Skin doctors making skincare is a no-brainer, but dermatologist-led brands such as Dr. Dennis Gross, Perricone MD and Dr. Barbara Sturm are really pushing the envelope when it comes to the science-grade stuff we’re putting on our skin.
Founded in 2006 by Berlin perfumer Mr Geza Schoen, Escentric Molecules is driving a new guard of olfactory innovators that are redefining how we use fragrance. Its groundbreaking Molecule 01 fragrance strips the scent back to a single ingredient that works differently for each individual by reacting and responding to your hormones. Apparently.
Mr Frederic Malle is what is known in the perfume industry as a “nose”. It’s something that runs in the Malle family, and has earned his eponymous fragrance brand a venerable status in the scent world.
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Many have tried, and many have failed, but growing your hair out can be done, if you follow the steps we’ve compiled here, as told by Messrs Jake Gyllenhaal, Kit Harington, Harry Styles and more.
Ah, something simple. Want to know how best to care for your hair? Look no further than our comprehensive guide on the matter. Use it before you lose it, as they say.
When was the last time you read an ingredients list on a skincare product you used? We get it – those things can be tough to make sense of – even with a PhD in cosmetic chemistry. We’ve made a list of some of the most important ingredients to look out for, and how they can help you.
One of the world’s most discerning perfumers, the esteemed Jo Malone London is known for its distinctive scents. Reliably congenial across the board, we particularly recommend the smoky but fresh Black Cedarwood and Juniper, or the heady Oud and Bergamot.
As far as master skincare routines go, the Koreans lead where the rest of us follow. From cellulose sheet masks to pre-cleansing oils, these are the steps that will take your grooming regimen to the next level.
La Mer’s Crème de la Mer might be described as a cult grooming product if it wasn’t so universally lauded by everyone from celebrities to skincare addicts from Reddit. Try it for yourself.
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We all make them, especially when it comes to grooming. From too-hot showers to skimping on your haircuts, here’s seven that you might be guilty of.
Everybody knows that how good you look on the outside starts with how you treat your insides, and good nutrition is paramount. For a helping hand in that vein, try adding a supplement to your diet.
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If you want your social interactions to go swimmingly, good oral hygiene is a clever place to start, and white teeth can’t hurt. Check out our guide to good mouth-grooming.
Mr Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho protagonist – along with being a narcissistic sociopath – is also the poster boy for a damn good grooming routine. Grab the expert shaving tips and run.
Retinol has been making waves as an ingredient in women’s skincare for the past few years because of its unparalleled anti-ageing properties, but us gents are only just catching on. It can be harsh on sensitive skin if you’re not used to it, but keep going and you’ll reveal skin that looks at its absolute prime.
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The best way to get tousled beach hair without actually going to a beach. See what a bit of saline in your hair can do for you.
Hey, it happens to most of us eventually. Take a look at our guide for how to make the most of a hairy – or not-so-hairy – situation, as the case may be.
It’s not what we want to hear when we’re not even on a sunny holiday, but SPF should be worn without fail – even in the middle of winter. If you’re keen to keep your youth intact (or at least keen to look no older than you are), discover the best products to use.
Not for those men who prefer a simple cleanse and moisturise of a morning – the process of extracting a patient’s blood and making a face cream out of it has brought dermatologist Dr Barbara Sturm relative fame. It works, apparently.
Like shaving in summer, but different (and a bit harder).
OK, we may be bending the rules of the alphabet somewhat, but the X is in there somewhere. Exfoliation is a key component of any skincare regime – including ones conducted after gym workouts.
