Introducing the best in men’s grooming for the year. We begin the four-part series with facial products that you should include in your regime.
Best Cleansers
For normal skin: Too often, cleansers formulated for normal skin types tend to strip the skin, leaving it worse for wear. However, Porcelain’s Hydro Cleanser left ours feeling nourished and supple thanks to its blend of 80% aloe vera and soothing botanicals. Over time, we noticed that this low-lathering product also played a role in building our skin’s resilience, leaving it less prone to damage.
Product: Hydro Cleanser, Porcelain.
Available at Porcelain from $29
For oily skin: With this cleanser, DrGL seems to have found the right combination of ingredients to calm overactive sebaceous glands down. While the combination of lactic acid and zinc gluconate work to dissolve excess sebum and keep our complexions free from shine and acne, both glycerine and pumpkin seed oil help to soothe and restore moisture.
Product: Oil Control Cleanser, DrGL
Available at DrGL from $68
For dry skin: It’s rare to find a gel cleanser that is formulated for dry skin, so this one by Esthe Twin is a keeper. It uses sea holly extract for its ability to retain moisture and boost the skin’s firmness, leaving it lifted and hydrated. This new and improved formula also has vitamin C that helps to brighten the complexion.
Product: SC Cleansing & Foam Cleanser, Esthe Twin
Available at Hanbang Skin Solutions from $90
For mature skin: We liked how this cleanser worked up a rich, luxurious lather. Unlike most age-defying cleansers that tend to leave our skin feeling tacky after a wash, this one purified our skin without leaving any unwanted residue. We also appreciate that our skin looked fresher after each wash. We believe it’s the Molecular Age-less Complex in the product at play here.
Product: Max LS Daily Renewing Cleanser, Lab Series
Available at Lab Series for $74
Best Toners/Mists
For normal skin: The mist is packed with a medley of botanical extracts such as maqui berry, chamomile and Baikal skullcap to protect your skin against environmental aggressors with their combined antioxidant properties. The formula is also infused with Aqua3G technology to help boost and retain moisture so your skin doesn’t dry out, especially in air-conditioned spaces.
Product: Dew Potion, Sigi Skin
Available at Sigi Skin for $48
For oily skin: Counteract the harshness of purifying cleansers by following up with a nourishing toner like this one from DrGL. While the lactic acid in the formula helps to control excess oil and acne, the blend of amino acids and extracts of aloe and ginko biloba complements its effects by restoring balance. Together, they work to keep skin hydrated, balanced and free from shine and blemishes.
Product: Oil Control Toner, DrGL
Available at DrGL from $68
For dry skin: The secret to its hydrating properties lies in the synergy of low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid and onsen water. The former penetrates deep into the skin to deliver hydration while the latter helps to maintain moisture. Just a simple spritz of this product before applying moisturiser helps to enhance its effects. We use it to perk us up when our skin gets dull in the office too.
Product: Pure Serum Mist, Skin Inc
Available at Skin Inc from $30
For mature skin: Traits such as dryness, fine lines and hyperpigmentation are often seen in mature skin and can be alleviated with Hera Homme’s Black Perfect Skin. The toner’s lightweight texture penetrates easily into the skin to allow patented ingredients like Black Perfect Blending and Abcell 2.0 to deliver hydration and antioxidants to skin cells.
Product: Black Perfect Skin, Hera Homme
Available at Hera for $72
Best Serums
For normal skin: Instead of taking normal skin for granted, maintain it with skin-enhancing products like Porcelain’s HA+ Hydrating Serum. It has hyaluronic acid to intensely hydrate and keep dryness at bay. It also contains botanical extracts of elderflower, cucumber and wakame in an aloe base to soothe your skin and improve its resilience.
Product: HA+ Hydrating Serum, Porcelain
Available at Porcelain for $198
For oily skin: Instead of using harsh acids to deal with blemishes, Kylaz’s Blemish Healing Emulsion fights acne-causing bacteria with tea tree extracts. It also soothes the skin with compounds from clover flower and lilac. Additionally, mucor miehei extract promotes a healthy and radiant complexion. Layer this under a neutral moisturiser for best results.
Product: Blemish Healing Emulsion, Kylaz
Available at jyx.shop for $21
For dry skin:
Anyone with dry and dehydrated skin will be amazed at how this serum helps to improve its condition. Hyaluronic acid gives the skin a moisture boost by helping to erase dullness, fine lines and flaking. The product owes its purple hue to purple rice extract, which works with patented proxylane and other botanical ingredients to enhance the properties of the hyaluronic acid component.
Product: HA Intensifier, SkinCeuticals
Available at skinceuticals.sg for $159
For mature skin: This curious sounding serum provides the special care ageing skin requires to stay healthy. The stem cell and snail mucin base provide intense hydration and regenerative benefits, while amino acids and niacinamide helps with skin firmness. All you need to do is to apply a thin layer of this before putting on moisturiser to reap its benefits.
Product: Stem Cell + Snail Waterfall Serum, JS Orphic
Available at jsorphic.com for $288
Best Moisturisers
For normal skin: This product is made for normal skin that doesn’t need to get overloaded with superfluous nutrients. It relies on a blend made simply out of ginseng and caffeine to rev up tired skin for a fresh and lively appearance. Niacinamide in the mix provides reparative aid to strengthen your skin barrier. It is intended for daytime use, but can also be applied at night so as to wake up to a fresher mien.
Product: Age Rescue Face Lotion, Lab Series
Available at Lab Series for $89
For oily skin: Anyone with oily skin will appreciate the effective moisture-locking action of this lightweight gel moisturiser. Additionally, it contains tea tree and lemon extracts that banish acne-causing bacteria, and witch hazel to control sebum production with its astringent properties. It may sound a little harsh on the skin, but the gel is also thoughtfully formulated with cupuacu seed extract and squalane to soothe and protect.
Product: Hydraclear Gel, Porcelain
Available at Porcelain for $128
For dry skin: This luxurious cream glides on the skin and quickly sinks in to deliver a wide array of nutrients that nourish and condition your mien. Vitamins A, C and E provide regenerative action, while botanical extracts, amino acids and yeast filtrate build and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. Seed butters repair and protect the skin without leaving a tacky residue.
Product: Crème Concentrate, Tom Ford Research
Available at Tom Ford counters for $588
For mature skin: Don’t underestimate its lightweight texture because this gel restores youth to aged skin effectively with a blend of botanicals and a bio-fermented extracts. Vitamin E phosphate plays a major role in skin repair and also provides antioxidant properties to protect the skin from environmental damage. Pair this with sunscreen in the daytime and what you get is a potent anti-ageing strategy.
Product: Age Control Firming Care, Dior Homme
Available at Dior counters for $140
Best Sunscreens
For normal skin: Unlike other sunscreens that tend to be either too thick or too thin, Salt & Stone’s SPF 50 Lotion has just the right consistency that matches the skin’s natural state. The formula employs non-nano zinc oxide, a physical sunscreen that safely and effectively blocks out skin-damaging UVA and UVB rays. If you’re worried about that telltale white residue left by most sunscreens, you’ll be surprised by its natural-looking finish.
Product: SPF 50 Lotion, Salt & Stone
Available at deckout.sg for $32
For oily skin: Although this sunscreen is formulated more like a lotion, it does glide and gets absorbed easily into the skin like a gel as its name implies. It offers double protection with both physical and chemical sun filters, thus ensuring that you’re adequately protected while pursuing outdoor activities. There is also vitamin E in the formula to condition the skin and improve its texture.
Product: Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 Aqua Gel PA++++, Kiehl’s
Available at Kiehl’s for $56
For extreme sports: Those with mature and dehydrated skin will appreciate the fine consistency of this sunscreen. Its fast-absorbing formula uses a blend of chemical sunscreens that provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. It sits comfortably and invisibly on the skin like a moisturiser, yet provides effective and lasting protection, even through heavy perspiration.
Product: Anthelios SPF 50+ Shaka Fluid, La Roche-Posay
Available at Watson’s for $46.90
For dry and mature skin: This sunscreen’s luxuriously rich texture makes it most suitable for dry and mature skin types. The patented Sweatproof Film Technology and enhanced chemical sunscreens provide superior sun protecting benefits, while the WaterLux technology injects a burst of hydration. Aside from diminishing the appearance of fine lines, it also prevents new ones from forming.
Product: Sun Mate Leports Pro Waterproof SPF 50+ PA++++, Hera
Available at Hera for $46
Best Shaving Products
Best shaving cream: Unlike most shaving creams that leave a sticky residue, this leaves our chins feeling velvety smooth. This all-natural cream uses the softening effects of grape seed oil and shea butter to reduce razor burn. There’s also birch extract to help soothe any irritation and redness. We also enjoy the comforting scent of myrrh that adds a luxurious touch to the product.
Product: Cut Out The Fluff Shaving Cream, Doers of London
Available at Sephora for $29
Best shaving tool: We thought that no electric shaver could ever provide a clean shave like a razor does until we came across this one. We personally like to use this on a wet beard, but this rotary shaver glides smoothly and accurately on dry beards as well, thanks to its Beard Adapt sensor. The shaver also mimics a razor’s close shave with its NanoTech Precision blades, while reducing irritation with its anti-friction Superb Skin Comfort rings.
Product: S9000 Prestige Electric Shaver, Philips
Available electrical stores for $599
Best shaving tool: When we’re not careful with our shaving techniques, we’ll grab this product to quickly soothe razor burns and calm irritation. This ultra healing salve uses aloe for its healing properties, while peppermint extract cools the skin post-shave to reduce discomfort. We also like that this product switches skin-drying alcohol out for squalane, which has moisture-locking properties to help the skin remain hydrated.
Product: Post-shave Repair Gel, Kiehl’s
Available at Kiehl’s for $40
Best beard conditioner: If you’ve put off growing a beard because you couldn’t tame it, Chanel has answered. This luxurious formula tames unruly facial hair and leaves it soft and touchable thanks to a blend of shea butter, squalane and glycerine. Because it doubles as a moisturiser, you can also get away with slathering some of it on your skin before applying sunscreen on mornings when you’re strapped for time.
Product: Bleu de Chanel 2-in-1 Moisturizer for Face & Beard, Chanel
Available at Chanel counters for $73.
