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Visit InsideHook’s Holiday 2020 gifting hub to find gift ideas for every person on your list this year. Also, who are we kidding? Find lots of ideas for yourself there, too
While gifting grooming products might have seemed futile in seasons past, something received with feigned enthusiasm only to be stuffed away and never used, the grooming gift has garnered more importance in the year 2020. You might be wont to think it would be the opposite, what with masks disguising a good portion of one’s face and little to no social interactions lessening the need for upkeep of one’s appearance. But as people’s routines grow increasingly dismal or nonexistent, the grooming gift is now more important than ever.
Besides, bestowing someone with a new face wash or cologne communicates to the person that you want them to take care of themselves. Because for all the talk that surrounds grooming as it refers to one’s appearance, there’s little talk of grooming as it regards to self-care and one’s mental health.
So this holiday season, gift someone a grooming-related product not because you want them to alter their appearance or to improve them in some way, but to encourage them to take time to care for themselves.
Fur Shave Cream
As much as a nice, clean shave depends on the razor, it also depends on the shaving cream. To allow for a smooth, bump-free shave, add Fur’s Shave Cream to the routine. The non-foaming cream features a whipped-like texture that helps to prevent ingrowns and other types of irritation, while the olive oil and aloe vera formula leaves the skin soothed and soft.
Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash Refillable Glass
Surely in the year 2020, no one is still using 3-in-1 body washes, but if you know someone who is, it is your responsibility to help them immediately. This organic body wash from Bathing Culture contains all organic ingredients, including skin saviors aloe, shea and guar. Even better, the bottles are refillable glass, meaning no unnecessary waste.
Aesop Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm
Hopefully the man you’re shopping for has been fervently and frequently scrubbing his hands, and if that’s the case, then they’re probably on the dry side. Rescue them from their current reptilian state with Aesop’s hand balm, a rich formula containing a blend of emollient ingredients to help soften the skin and provide sustained hydration. Plus, the bergamot and vetiver scent doesn’t hurt.
Acqua di Parma Colonia
Determining the right scent for someone, no matter how well you think you no them, is no easy feat, so play it safe with a classic like Acqua di Parma’s Colonia. Created in 1916, the scent has persisted as one of the most beloved and iconic of all time, thanks to the classic citrus scent that’s bright and fresh, without leaning too feminine. If it was good enough for Cary Grant, then it’s probably good enough for any man.
Nécessaire The Body Serum
Skincare extends to all parts of one body, and Nécessaire knows this well. Their body serum is a fragrance-free gel that quickly absorbs to replenish, hydrate and plump the skin without leaving any greasy residue behind. It’s important to note that this gel isn’t meant to replace moisturizer completely but to be used in tandem with it.
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Yes, you should be wearing sunscreen everyday, regardless of whether it’s overcast or the sun is blazing. Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen is not of the greasy white variety you’re likely to slather on before hitting the beach, but is instead crafted specifically for wear on the face and, as the name suggests, will blend seamlessly into the skin.
Bravo Sierra Aluminum-Free Scented Deodorant
Aluminum-free deodorants are all the rage these days, and Bravo Sierra’s also features a woody (and manly) scent of white vetiver and cedarwood. In addition to all that, it’s a deodorant that actually works, due in large part to the sweat-absorptive powder, extracted from the root of the cassava plant native to Brazil.
Malin+Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil
You might think that splashing water on your face is enough to wash away all the dirt and impurities, but you’d be sorely mistaken. In fact, even washing the face just once isn’t good enough, which is where the double cleanse comes in. Use this emulsifying cleansing oil from Malin+Goetz to rid the skin of any buildup and impurities, then follow with another cleanser (preferably one that’s water-based) to finish the job.
Baxter of California Daily Face Wash
For the second part of your double cleansing process, follow with this Daily Face Wash from Baxter of California. The face wash is simple enough for everyday use without stripping the skin, and even counts caffeine among its ingredients, which will in turn leave the skin refreshed and energized.
Maapilim Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer remains a hot commodity these days, but instead of the drugstore versions that reek of alcohol and leave the hands dry and unsightly, gift someone a hand sanitizer that is equally effective yet infinitely more luxurious.
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
Keep those lips nice n’ luscious with Jack Black’s Intense Therapy Lip Balm, that also happens to be sans any shine for a finish that’s matte without drying the lips.
Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum
Fine lines and dark spots be gone! $70 might seem steep but Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum is practically radiance in a bottle. Consider it the closest thing yet to the fountain of youth.
Byredo Bibliotheque Candle
A candle isn’t technically considered a grooming item, but if we’re thinking of grooming as a ritual of sorts, then it’s a key part of the process. Burn Byredo’s woody Bibliotheque candle as you wash your face and carry out your skin routine, and allow yourself to feel like you’re in a spa of your own making.
Port Products Soft Hold Styling Paste
The problem with most hair pastes and pomades is that they’re either too heavy and thus leave the hair stiff, or they don’t have enough hold and thus leave the hair flimsy. Port Products’ Soft Hold Styling Paste manages to hold hair without weighing it down, the success of which can be attributed to the paste’s carnauba wax.
Boy De Chanel Nail Color
This gift is either going to be a huge hit or a huge miss, but it’s my belief that all guys should follow in the steps of Harry Styles and the e-boys of TikTok and start sporting polished fingers. And you can never go wrong with black.
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