Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
Whether they steal your cleanser or if they only have one cursed bar of shower soap, deep down, everyone likes to be pampered. But there are a few things to consider when choosing a grooming gift for the man in your life. The gift should be practical but luxurious — and it should also suit the person who’s getting it (don’t give a soufflé face mask to someone just getting to grips with moisturizing, for example). There’s also the question of tone. You never want to offend with a gift: Does this razor say “sort out that scruff”? To help you answer those questions, we’ve compiled a list of 43 grooming gifts we’re sure will delight any (and every) kind of man. If you have a budget in mind, use the menu to jump straight to that section. Otherwise, read on for a curated selection of our favorite purchases from across our grooming coverage.
The olive-green color and gold zipper make this dopp kit a handsome upgrade to that bag he’s held on to for too long.
This all-in-one kit has been a go-to for Lenny Kravitz since junior high.
If he’s full of excuses about not putting on lotion but complains about itchy skin, give him this very light and — crucially — fast-absorbing moisturizing body oil.
The shea butter in these lip balms makes them go on smooth, not waxy, and the SPF 25 protects the lips from harmful UV rays, which are still a factor in the winter.
This eucalyptus-scented energizing bodywash will help him feel less groggy while moisturizing his skin.
Whatever his skin type, this tube of luxurious exfoliating scrub uses lemon peel and glycolic acid to gently remove dead skin cells without irritating sensitive skin for a brighter complexion. Plus it’s free of any parabens, phthalates, and plastic microbeads.
OffCourt comes recommended by Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa, who praised this spray for its fresh, subtle scent. “I didn’t want to constantly smell like the aggressive scents of my teens or the formal notes that come with a typical cologne,” Rellosa writes. “OffCourt’s low-investment, high-return spray filled that void perfectly.”
Priority No. 1 for anyone new to skin care beyond soap and water is making sure to moisturize and protect skin from the sun. This affordable moisturizer, recommended by fashion designer Sid Mashburn, does both.
Mustachio’d men will appreciate this pair of precision scissors. They come cosigned by writer David Notis, who included them in his list of everything he uses to keep his beard in check.
Celebrity stylist Yvey Valcin says castor oil is the unsung hero of the aftershave world. It can soothe irritation and blend the appearance of shaved areas and non-shaved areas, leaving your face hydrated and smooth.
This light, moisturizing mist in a can will keep him cool (and do wonders for his skin).
I simply won’t travel without this handy set of toiletry bottles that includes toothbrush caps, leak-free squeezy bottles, and dinky tubs. If he’s ever had to give up a shampoo at security (or found it exploded in his bag on arrival), he’ll welcome these.
If he’s in the know about skin care, he’ll be aware of COSRX and its culty, best selling snail mucin. If not, he’ll still appreciate an oil-controlling cleanser that simplifies a skin-care routine (simply use once in the morning and once at night.)
A spalike perk-me-up for bathtime is a simple gift — but always appreciated.
This charcoal bag has everything we look for in a dopp kit: a sturdy exterior, a roomy opening, and a handy hanging loop.
Whether you’re throwing them into his stocking or buying a bunch to wrap up, sheet masks make great gifts. This one combines cooling properties with charcoal to refine his pores and help him relax.
Not only is this our favorite nose and ear trimmer, but it has a stainless-steel finish and satisfying weight in the hand — making it eminently giftable.
While there’s nothing wrong with a drugstore classic like Old Spice, there comes a time when some men may want something a bit fancier.
Poet Hanif Abdurraqib told us he has a pretty elaborate skin-care routine that includes this firming antioxidant night oil. Even though it’s an oil, it won’t clog pores, and it gently exfoliates as you sleep.
Photo: Retailer
The shampoo’s antifungal and antibacterial zinc pyrithione, along with the conditioner’s vitamin E, helped Strategist contributor Steven John tackle his years-long battle with dandruff.
For a subtly tousled finish.
Bearded men fricking LOVE beard oil because it adds shine, but also because it makes their beards smell good and feel less itchy. This one is our favorite thanks to its mixture of soothing oils.
This moisturizing rose oil is actually a twofer: It can be used as both a fragrance and an anti-aging facial oil.
This biocellulose mask perks up the skin with ingredients like seaweed and algae, and has a very non-offensive subtle minty scent.
We may still be a way off from spring, but at least the living room will smell gorgeously herbaceous with this candle from Boy Smells.
There’s nothing more exciting than unwrapping a brand-new gadget or appliance, especially if that appliance also gives you an excuse to put down the floss.
Let him dabble with a new trial-size fragrances each month (for just $16 per delivery).
Writer and stylist Alexander Julian uses this deeply moisturizing mask any time he has to go to an event or get in front of a camera. Give this to any man who loves a quick fix as much as he loves getting compliments.
If he’s been dropping hints about retinol or DMing you Dewy Dudes posts, get him a tube of this night cream. It’s strong enough to make a difference fast but gentle enough to keep his skin from looking like a plate of Lox.
Nobody wants to look tired, even when they have a perfectly good reason for getting zero sleep. This creamy balm firms and protects delicate eye skin with ingredients like Persian-silk-tree bark and macadamia, olive, and jojoba oils.
You’re about to make the problem ten times worse with this protective hair oil, which gives “shampoo-commercial shine” according to Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla.
I was skeptical that you could find a great-quality shiatsu foot massager for less than $100 until Strategist writer Kitty Guo tracked down this slim, inexpensive model. It has three settings (including a heated massage) and slips under the bed when not in use.
As a Formula One racing driver, Lando Norris is a frequent flier, which means he often stops by airport duty-free shops to test scents. He swears by this cologne from Tom Ford, which has a woody scent with notes of leather, violet, and jasmine.
If he needs his shaving routine to be fast, this Philips Norelco self-cleaning electric shaver is a stellar gift. (We picked the 7700 as the best overall model in our roundup of the best electric razors.)
This teeny Theragun (it’s less than six inches wide) will help work on those arm-day-induced aches and pains.
We’ve praised the Foreo brush for being an excellent skin-care tool. The men’s version has thicker silicone bristles for massaging his face and beard.
If he’s looking for a nonobvious fragrance but is still a fan of woodsy scents like Santal 33, this may be the next cologne for him. Actor Patrick Vaill likes how it’s surprisingly subtle and unassuming yet quite unique.
Photo: Courtesy of the vendors
It’s hard to beat the Dyson Supersonic, which we crowned as one of the best hair dryers.
Photo: retailer
We named this safety-razor set as the most giftable item in our razor guide: Ideal for the guy who’s attracted to the romance of a classic shave.
Two stylists recommended Parlux hairdryers to us for their resilience and power — powerful enough to convince him to stop stealing yours.
Additional reporting by Liza Corsillo and Jeremy Rellosa.
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