Naturally... cosmetics for men

Over the past couple of months, I’ve spoken to male friends, colleagues and family members about skincare to find out what products men like and what they wouldn’t entertain for a second.

Many have actually come to me, asking about natural skincare and saying they use their wife’s/girlfriend’s products, but would prefer something designed with men in mind.

The men I spoke to, and asked to try out a few products for me, said they prefer packaging that is simple, clean and leaning towards neutral, rather than anything overtly masculine or “trying too hard” (a natural brand called Man Cave didn’t go down well at all).

Scent, it seems, is preferred over fragrance-free, but it should be mild (I’ve heard words like clean, cottony, woodsy and citrusy). Anything that feels heavy or oily is out. And it can’t be time consuming, or as one tester put it, “Men want to get in and get out.”

A couple pointed out the importance of taking care of their skin before and after shaving: change the blade regularly, shave after showering, go with the grain and use after-shave balm.

I’d add regular exfoliation: by sloughing off dead skin cells, you reduce the risk of ingrown hairs.

With these preferences in mind and going from tester feedback, I’ve picked out a few products and brands for the boys.

The no-frills gentle face range from EO

Ireland

– named a ‘Safe Cosmetics Champion’ by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics – is unisex and great for sensitive skin.

I love the Everyone Face moisturiser (eoireland.com, €17.99), made with organic argan oil, mango seed butter, carrot extract and sodium hyaluronate, a popular moisture-boosting, anti-ageing ingredient. It absorbs quickly, has a fresh, clean smell and comes in a handy pump dispenser. It's a large bottle for a face cream (236ml) and a little goes a long way.

Some of my testers didn’t care for the name of British natural men’s brand

Bulldog

, while others really liked its simple white packaging, but all agreed the products get the job done for a reasonable price. Moisturisers come in at €8.49, after-shave balms at €7.69 and the face scrub at €7.29.

The mild scent, dominated by citrusy bergamot and warm and woodsy cedarwood, in particular was a hit. Another plus, they're easy to find: pick up Bulldog products in Tesco, Boots and select pharmacies.

Dr Bronner's Pure Castile Soaps (starting at €3.35, from health stores and pharmacies) are multi-purpose soaps made with organic oils that lather well, don't dry out your skin, don't cost a fortune and smell great. They're available in both bar and liquid form. Try the peppermint and citrus.

Liz Earle

’s very popular

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

(lizearle.com, €20.75), comes in a men’s range version with simple, clean, beige/brown packaging. It takes care of both cleansing and gentle exfoliation.

You massage the cleanser onto the skin and then use a warm, damp cloth to sweep it away, along with dead skin cells and excess oil and grime. It comes with a muslin cloth, but any gentle washcloth or flannel will do.

Ren Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial (Arnotts, €38) is a great quick fix for men and women. Gently rub this toothpaste-like gel onto your face, dampen your fingertips with warm water and massage again, leave for one tingly minute and then rinse for instantly brighter, smoother, firmer skin.

It’s a pricier product, but again, a little goes a long way, and it’s not for everyday use – use it three times a week at most.

[ kharris@irishtimes.com ]