Boyfriend beauty

If your chap keeps nicking your lotions and potions, strike back. Emma McCarthy finds that men’s products work for women, too
Manly solutions: Lab Series hair tonic, after-shave lotion from Anthony Logistics, Kiehl’s deodorant, This Company fragrance and VitaMan soap
Emma McCarthy29 March 2012

The philosophy in relationships is supposedly simple: you give, and you take. But in the beauty world, this share-and-share- alike sensibility doesn’t often translate. While he may borrow a dab of concealer here and a squirt of rose-scented body wash there, the same can’t be said for the female in the relationship — at least until now.

As the world of men’s grooming gets increasingly more sophisticated, it seems the playing field is beginning to level, thanks to a host of grooming products for the guys that are also good for girls. As the majority of men tend to have fewer concerns with their grooming routine, the products out there are made with a purpose and none of the fluff, with the end result in mind. So it’s time to take a gander down the men’s grooming aisle — or better still, your boyfriend’s bathroom shelf — for these top beauty steals.

Use your Head

A man’s relationship with his hair is often an anxious one — particularly when it comes to the thought of thinning. So for serious thickening results, forget women’s hair care and head straight for the men’s range. Alpecin Caffeine Shampoo Hair Energizer (£5.35, boots.com) strengthens weakened hair at the roots, while Lab Series Root Power Restorative Hair Tonic (£27, labseries.co.uk) will combat daily hair loss from breakage. And for a weekly detox against product build-up, try Korres Green Silt Hair and Scalp Scrub (£18, nivenandjoshua.com), designed to remove dead skin cells and improve hair’s health and shine.

Smooth Operator

If you’ve ever been plagued by post-shave irritation, you’ll have also come to terms with the fact that a women’s after-shave balm simply does not exist. Luckily the chaps have it covered. The Art of Shaving Lavender after-shave balm (£29.95, brummellsoflondon.com) and Geo F Trumper’s Skin Food (£14.50, trumpers.com) are both nourishing choices for everyday shaving, or for problem shaving, The Cool Fix from Anthony Logistics (£25, spacenk.com) will provide soothing relief. Malin & Goetz ingrown hair cream (£26, liberty.co.uk) is the answer for tricky regrowth.

Makes Scents

While an increasing number of fragrances are being sold as unisex, you would be hard pressed to find one that was more feminine than masculine. So try a men’s scent on for size, with the original L’Eau fragrance from Diptyque (£60, diptyqueparis.co.uk), or for a modern take on the interchangeable, opt for Molecule 001 from This Company (£64, liberty.co.uk), consisting of one single, pheromonic ingredient.

And believe it or not, we can also learn something from the hairy regions of men’s armpits. Built for endurance, Menscience Advanced Deodorant (£17, mankind.co.uk) is an ideal gym buddy, while Kiehl’s Cross-Terrain 24-hour strong dry stick (£14, kiehls.co.uk) will take you from boardroom to bar without breaking sweat.

Buff and Bluff

When it comes to shower staples, many women’s products are guilty of putting the smelly before the welly. But what’s left once those lovely scented suds have disappeared down the plughole? For a shower that packs a punch, try VitaMan Exfoliating Soap (£22, vitaman grooming.co.uk) and follow with Murad Acne body wash (£38, murad.co.uk) for a thorough spring clean with an imperfection-free result.

Men have also got it cracked when it comes to the big tanning bluff. Designed for slapping on to stubbly skin with little thought for tactics or tanning mitts, men’s self-tan formulae are the best on the market for an even and subtle finish. Try Pevonia Botanica’s Fitness Glow Hydrating self-tan (£30, the beautymarket.co.uk) for a fresh-off-the-treadmill flush or Clinique Skin Supplies for Men non-streak bronzer (£16.50, boots.com) for a deeper shade.

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