If there was a time where men didn’t have to worry about their skin and hair, we don’t remember it. But we have always felt more self-confident when our hair is in place and we haven’t got pesto in our teeth. Still, while the horror of an esteem-shattering spot might not have changed, the ways in which we can bolster our appearance have. Men are now privy to a swathe of brands that address all of our concerns, harness the latest science and also look impressively smart for grooming products. But if your bathroom cabinet’s seen better days, here’s what to fill it with.

Back in the 1970s, a group of scientists noticed something unusual about Japanese workers brewing sake. The brewers’ faces were aged and wrinkled, but their hands – which spent most of their working days plunged into steamed rice to make alcohol – looked as though they belonged to someone decades younger. It turned out that a strain of yeast in the rice was responsible, and those scientists spent years isolating it into an ingredient called Pitera™, which is packed full of vitamins and amino acids. SK-II, a revolutionary Japanese skincare brand, has built its whole ethos around this ingredient. And after creating a routine around its cleanser, clear lotion and essence (which you can pat onto skin as you would a toner), our skin is the brightest it’s ever been. The essence from the brand contains 90 per cent Pitera™, the highest concentration of the ingredient you’ll find.

A good shave is more than a step in a man’s maintenance routine – done well, it can be a ritualistic experience as health-giving as a warm bath. MÜHLE, a family-run shaving brand founded in Stützengrün, Germany, has been around since 1947 and has honed its razors and brushes to brilliant effect. Crafted from a weighty, corrosion-resistant chrome, the shaving sets make fabulous gifts, and the vegan-friendly brushes and safety razors will appeal to the sustainably-minded consumer.

Depsite the fact that it says so on his Instagram bio, calling Mr Larry King a celebrity hairstylist feels like an understatement. The man who has cut and styled the barnet of Messrs David Beckham, Jamie Redknapp and David Gandy, Mr King knows what it takes to get good hair. Happily, his line of haircare recently launched on MR PORTER, and we’re pleased to report it’s already a hit. His hair cream (called A Social Life For Your Hair) makes hair look nourished and styled (but not overly-so). It is a veritable favourite on MR PORTER’s editorial desk.

Jaxon Lane was founded with the idea of bringing the expertise of Korean skincare to the masses, and its sheet masks are the real thing. Fortified with ingredients specifically targeted to men’s skin (which is generally thicker and oilier than women’s), the brand’s hydrogel Bro Mask is a quick way to reduce blemishes, redness, and sun damage. It may sound like a brand trying a little too hard to make sheet masks sound manly, but the Bro Mask is a bona fide addition to any man’s grooming routine, however fragile his masculinity.

If you really want to step up your grooming game, this is the brand to go for. From the premium-grade ingredients to the space-age packaging (seriously, the silver cylinder the body wash comes in looks like it was recovered from Area 51), everything from Patricks has brilliance behind it. Up until recently, the brand was known mostly for its hair loss-preventing haircare and selection of pomades, but it has now expanded into skincare. The eponymous founder Mr Patrick Kidd worked with the neuroscientist Dr Matthew During to create the products, which include the aforementioned body wash – which has the sophisticatedly masculine scent of bergamot, cognac and amber – and a face scrub fortified with crushed diamond and volcanic sand. As Mr Kidd himself says, “This is good shit!” And, quite frankly, it really is.