Hopefully, without breaking the bank…
Men’s grooming is now a booming industry. You’d be forgiven for being a little overwhelmed by all the options available to you.
But, there’s only a certain amount of space available in your wash bag. So you have to prioritise the items you want to put in there aside from the essentials like antiperspirant, toothpaste and toothbrushes etc.
As a student, you probably survived with some kind of combination of two-in-one shampoo along with some wax and a bit of Lynx. All of these would be used prior to your night out before you danced your way into oblivion in the nightclub and did your best to get the shift.
Success in the quest for the shift varied wildly… but we’re not putting that down to the quality of products in your wash bag.
Here, we’re going to show you things you should consider adding to your wash bag to make sure you look after yourself the way you deserve.
Moisturiser
Whether you’re a fresh-faced 21-year-old with skin as supple as the day you were born, or a 45-year-old fighting the signs of ageing, a good moisturiser is essential.
No, it’s not just for women. It will stop you having dry skin after you shower. Flaky skin on your forehead and your nose is very unbecoming, so it’s an important part of any man’s grooming regime.
There’s plenty of options out there for you, on both ends of the price scale.
Bulldog Original Moisturiser features a raft of skin-saving antioxidants and essential oils. It’s soft on the skin and easily absorbed and with it being available for as little a tenner in Boots, it’s the ideal addition to your wash bag.
Shaving
While stubble and often poorly maintained beards are popular among men at the minute, there’s always a spot in the world for the clean-shaven man.
One of the best options for shaving is Total Shaving Solution. Now bear with me, this isn’t a shaving foam, but rather a shaving oil. It will leave you with the smoothest shave you’ve ever had (their words), but I fully agree. It also prevents irritation and prevents dry skin following your shave.
A 10ml bottle which will last you for 90 shaves is available for €5 from Total Shave and is well worth adding to your wash bag.
Your eyes (a bit of a curveball, we know, but give it a chance)
In your working life, it can be quite difficult to juggle sleep, work and socialising with your friends. Therefore, the recommended eight hours of sleep can often dwindle to six hours or sometimes even less.
Little by little, this builds up on a person. It can lead to dark patches and lines forming under your eyes. And while this may seem like no big deal, you’re far too young to have such wear and tear around your eyes.
One of the best options for you is Kiehl’s Age Defender Eye Repair, which will reduce any wrinkles and darkness around your eyes (any darkness in your actual eyes may require a priest and a confession to get rid of).
But, it’s slightly more expensive than its predecessors on this list, coming in at €37 on the Debenham’s website.
Hair
We’re not going to stand here and recommend another brand of wax that leaves your hair sticky, and if applied wrong, makes your hair look greasy.
If you’re looking for a natural look, that makes your hair nice and manageable, then styling powder is the way to go.
This is especially useful if you’ve longer hair, as it will give it volume and shape that can be easily reworked throughout the day.
This is one example called Styling Powder Dusted, which is available for about €15 in The Grafton Barber stores, or in Total Health pharmacies.
Any suggestions to add to the list, let us know…
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
