Today’s cutting-edge products do far more than simply hydrate or fragrance. The right unguents and devices can jumpstart collagen production, alter gene expression, rebalance the microbiome, even defy the twin cruelties of time and gravity.
The catch? It often feels like a PhD in biochemistry is required to cut through the marketing noise, and this can make gifting something of a minefield.
A good gift is practical; a brilliant one upgrades a step, ritual or product that’s already part of his routine. So here, devoid of jargon and marketing blurb, are the grooming products that do what they say they will, and should find their way into the recipient’s daily routine. Especially if said recipient is you.
See all of our gift guides here.
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O2 caffeine eye cream, Element Eight
Biology tells us oxygen is essential for life; experience tells us so is caffeine. Both feature in Element Eight’s eye treatment, an age-defying formulation that targets the telltale signs of jumping through multiple time zones. Oath, the brand’s proprietary ‘liquid oxygen’, mimics haemoglobin and delivers the essential element directly to skin cells, boosting skin repair and renewal. Caffeine, meanwhile, improves blood flow and drainage, thereby reducing puffiness and dark circles. You may not be able to gift him a solid eight hours of sleep, but this comes pretty close.
Price
$175
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Anti-aging LED mask, FAQ Swiss
The benefits of red-light therapy – improved skin health, reduced inflammation, faster wound healing – are well documented. But very few at-home products have the power or light variety to capitalize on LED’s lofty promises. This flexible silicone mask from FAQ Swiss features 600 LED bulbs that work across eight different wavelengths (all the way from near infrared to Cyan) to tackle everything from frown lines and pigmentation to blemishes and dullness. Technophiles will appreciate the app and its pre-set routines.
Price
$799
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Holistic Health Epinome supplement, Clinique La Prairie
Longevity is the buzzword du jour among wellness enthusiasts. Rather than defy age (other products featured here do an excellent job of that), the venerated Swiss clinic behind Epinome believe it is about living with vitality and quality. To that end, each dose of phytochemicals, minerals, and vitamins in this daily supplement positively influences which of your genes are switched on or off, a physiological process that tends to drift over time. Cell repair and immunity are boosted and stress-induced inflammation pacified, making this a no-brainer for the ‘work hard, play hard’ crew among us (or, indeed, Bryan Johnson fans).
Price
$525
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Restorative scalp and hair system, Augustine Bader
Trust Augustinus Bader, purveyors of luxury skincare, to breathe new life into something as mundane as shampoo and conditioner. TFC8, the secret sauce that made the brand’s moisturizer a cult classic, features in all three of the products in this kit, including a scalp treatment. It turns out that the regenerative blend of of lipids and peptides is just as good at addressing weak or brittle hair as it is at improving skin health.
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Skin cushion, Dr David Jack
Those loath to indulge in a longwinded, multi-step regime will appreciate Dr David Jack’s ‘less is more’ approach to skin health. The esteemed Harley Street doctor has created a simple, evidence-based solution for dry, stressed or sensitized skin in the form of this nourishing moisturizer. The no frills formula contains ceramides (to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier) and resveratrol (to go about the work of repairing damage at a cellular level). It works a treat on angry post-shave skin too.
Price
$179
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B683 Extrait de parfum, Marc-Antoine Barrois
Marc-Antoine Barrois fuses vegetal and carnal notes in this warming and sensual reinterpretation of the original B683. Spicy pepper berries, cumin seeds and green apple set the stage for a woody-leather accord that has been embellished with patchouli and vanilla for this punchy ‘extrait’. Imagine eating apple cobbler while dressed head to toe in biker leathers and you get the idea. With a perfume oil concentration of 40 percent, this juice has considerable projection, power and an almost animal-like presence. Not for wallflowers.
Price
365
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Traveler's essentials set, Officine Universelle Buly
Officine Universelle Buly resuscitates the glamour of old-world travel with a kit that has all the vintage theatricality of a Wes Anderson prop. Every item brims with character, from the serpent-adorned apple toothpaste to the faucet-capped haircare bottles. The whole ensemble exudes charm, not to mention Scottish Lichen Eau Triple (a water-based fragrance that will delight men whose skin responds badly to alcohol-heavy formulations). Personalize the case with initials for instant gifting glory.
Price
$400
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Skin prep cloths, Isamaya x Conserving Beauty
This display-worthy canister from beauty disruptor Isamaya Ffrench houses 120 dissolvable cleansing cloths infused with skin conditioners hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and panthenol. Perfect for a quick refresh when a full cleanse, tone, moisturize routine isn’t a practical option. A gift for the time-poor aesthete.
Price
$145
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Augmented skin - the serum, Prada
The pivot from fashion house to beauty juggernaut is rarely executed with this much rigor. Prada’s serum pairs exquisite, minimalist design with a formulation that’s every bit as precise. Hyaluronic acid and squalane hydrate and protect but it’s the antioxidants and adaptogens – plants that help the skin better respond to stress – that give this serum a sophisticated twist.
Price
$410
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Advanced hair system, Calecim
A hair density program might not be received with glee if the gift giver isn’t a life partner or a very close friend. This six-week system champions the power of exosomes – regenerative molecules that encourage older cells to behave as they did in youth – to increase follicle growth by 24 percent. A single milliliter of the active ingredient contains 3,000 active growth factors, proteins and cytokines, making it a viable alternative for prescription medication – or, indeed, mirrors angled at the back of their head.
Price
$360
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Adjustable copper razor, Rocnel
For those who’ve graduated from cartridges to safety razors, Rocnel represents the apex. The Istanbul-based artisans work with materials ranging from 316 stainless steel to grade five titanium and manage to craft their products without resorting to plating, welding or pressing methods. Moreover, they employ the sort of finishing techniques usually reserved for luxury watches. This unique all-copper model from their 2025 Master Collection is a feat of engineering, and with a limited number set for production, it will become an instant collector’s item.
Price
$1,060
