Men Grooming from Malaysia Tatler Weddings 2013

Our step-by-step guide on essential morning grooming rituals for men who want to look good and feel great.

For the longest time, the only known beauty regimen for men was the simple ‘washing your face with a bar of soap’ routine before they dashed out the door. But things have changed. Men have stepped up their game on grooming – sometimes owning even more products than the ladies – and it’s more than just the three-step ‘cleanse, tone and moisturise’.

So for those of you who haven't jumped on the bandwagon, now is the time with our step-by-step guide on essential morning grooming rituals for men who want to look good and feel great.

Cleansing with more the just a bar of soap
Freshen each morning with a good facial cleansing. The SOTHYS Homme Energizing Facial Cleanser (RM 188) is a great option for your daily cleansing, with a smooth creamy texture that is gentle to the skin and with micro particles to clear off excessive dead skin without de-hydrating or damaging the skin. 

A good shave a day makes you dashing all day

Shaving comes after cleansing and before nourishing the face. Lather your beard and moustache using the Pure Badger Shave Brush and Nomad Shave Soap by Crabtree & Evelyn (RM 120 and RM 85) before pulling out the blades. Often, we neglect the shaving aid to save time but with this extra step, you will be less likely to get cuts and burns (never a good way to start the day!). For your choice of razor, why not try the Trufitt & Hill Razor Fusion 5 blades (RM 855) for a closer shave with a hind blade for clean, even shaves.

A dab of ‘Miracle Water’ before moisturising

After a good facial cleanse and shave, nourish the skin to keep it fresh and supple throughout the day. For this step, nothing beats the SK-II Men Facial Treatment Essence (RM 494), the famed ‘Miracle Water’ enriched with Pitera™. The treatment essence helps enhance the natural moisturising factor in the skin and improves all five dimensions of the complexion including texture, skin tone and firmness.

Tightening pores
For those of us who have larges pores and blemishes, toning is an essential part of the beauty routine. Toner is applied after the treatment essence and before the moisturiser, used to tighten pores and clean out the pores. Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner (RM 80) works wonders for all skin types with its natural organic ingredients and no use for alcohol, which might cause excessive facial oil.

It burns but it’s good for you

Cuts are inevitable when you shave especially for 'hairier' individuals. This is when the aftershave kicks in to help heal your cuts and skin burns. Apply the aftershave right after your moisturising drill as a finishing touch to your regime but there is no definite step. You can also do it before your other skin care supplements. The L’Occitane After Shave Balm (RM 120) helps to soothe the irritated skin and heal micro cuts that occur when you shave.

Away with dead skins cells
Exfoliation is a weekly cleansing used to remove the dead skin cells and unclog the pores – allowing the skin to breath. For men, exfoliating also helps expose the hair follicles for a better and stress-free shaving. Dr Brandt Microdermabrasion (RM 329) is an excellent choice that gives you a professional levelled treatment – done at the leisure of your home.

The finishing touches

Hands are one of the most neglected parts of a man’s grooming procedure. Most men prefer to keep their hands rough and tough to parade their manhood but truth be told, soft and smooth hands is a much preferred image. The Aesop Reverence Duet (RM 395) provides both hand wash and balm for cleaning and moisturising. So even if you are working the nitty gritty, a good hand wash followed with a soothing balm helps to make those mitts softer (and don’t worry, it doesn't make you any less of a man).

 

Photos: Aesop, Crabtree & Evelyn, Dr Brandt, Kiehl's, L'Occitane, SK-II, SOTHYS, Trufitt & Hill