Father’s Day falls tomorrow and though your father may have forgotten, you shouldn’t. Though it’s true that women are the primary consumers of male beauty products and toiletries, men tend to be loyal to brands they like. Father’s Day is a nice occasion to encourage dads to care for their skin and take some time to indulge themselves and de-stress.
The Body Shop For Men Maca Root Range has a variety of handy products in suitably understated, masculine packaging. With a long history of conscientious, hardworking products, The Body Shop is often underrated – the quality of their skincare products is impressive. The Body Shop For Men Maca Root Shave Cream (€14.50) has a rich, pleasingly thick formula that makes shaving a little more comfortable. It contains nut and sesame oils to lubricate skin and prevent the razor from pulling or tearing skin, which any man who shaves regularly will appreciate. Follow it up with the For Men Maca Root Energetic Face Protector (€17.50), which is a really effective moisturiser, but also contains SPF 15, which is essential for protecting skin. Most women use skincare or cosmetics containing some level of sun protection, but men are less likely to regularly use an SPF. A moisturiser like this makes protecting skin a really easy step in the morning.
Kiehl's Facial Fuel celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, and I have yet to encounter a man – no matter how disinterested – who hasn't been converted by it. A facial exfoliator is a good idea for men as their skin is both thicker and oilier than women's and exfoliating weekly will help slough away dead cells, brighten skin, and help to minimise breakouts and blackheads. Exfoliating before shaving minimises rough texture and softens the hair slightly, making it a little more malleable. Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub (€20.50) contains caffeine, menthol and citrus extracts, making it a lovely reviving product to use in the morning. The scent is universally appealing, but still masculine, and it leaves skin feeling clean and fresh, but not tight.
If you have a fragrance-loving father, L'Occitane Eau de Cedrat Eau de Toilette (€49) is the men's fragrance of the season. Citrus fruit combines with the warmth of bergamot and nutmeg to make this fragrance homely and unintimidating, while cedar adds a certain sophisticated crispness that makes the scent recognisably masculine.
Far more men than ever before can be seen traversing the halls of spas in fluffy robes. For a father who may consider the idea of a facial entirely alien and excessive, try gifting a voucher for a massage. Spa Salveo at Knockranny House Hotel in Westport, Co Mayo offers a Gentleman's Club Full Body Massage (€80 for 50 minutes) which is perfect for anxious or athletically inclined fathers.
This massage isn’t the fluffy, gentle kind. It aims at working out muscle tension and stress. Soothing coconut oil makes the experience wonderfully fragrant, and he’ll leave with looser limbs and feeling noticeably more relaxed.
lkennedy@irishtimes.com
