Must-Have Mens Skincare | Father's Day Gift Ideas

I missed the boat on posting this before Father's Day last week, but c'est la vie my friends! When real life calls, my online life has to take the backseat. Luckily we still have birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, etc. to rack our brain for what to buy the guys in our life, and I'm here to give you some ideas. The following items are a selection of goodies I yoinked from Joseph's medicine cabinet, and also things I've added to my Walmart.ca order (or Shoppers basket) about 2 million times before. So let's go!

Hair Care

The Nioxin System 3 Shampoo and Conditioner is gentle on sensitive skin and effective at helping to bulk up thinning hair. I love the shampoo because it leaves a stimulating minty sensation. This is ideal for any guys who are sporty and active, it adds a great boost of freshness. The mint also serves to bring blood flow to the follicles and encourage healthy hair growth.

For styling after washing, Joseph lives for the Men Only Matt Styling Clay. He first tried it at his old barbershop and I was able to buy a box of 12 online from a beauty supply store. It's hard to find otherwise, but a great alternative for that waxy, matte clay product is the Sebastian Molding Mud hair cream.

Body Care

Yves Rocher makes some of my favourite body products, and their Relaxing Bath & Shower Gel in Olive Petitgrain has such a nice woodsy scent. It's manly enough, but not like Axe. It foams well on a loofah and the bottle is sleek.

For after-shower fragrance, Versace Eros Flame is the winner this spring/summer. It has notes of vanilla, pepper, rosemary, vetiver and patchouli. Warm, welcoming and fun, this fragrance (that is totally unisex!) is ideal for the warmer months ahead.

Deodorant is so personal, and can become quite expensive since it's a non-negotiable step while getting ready for the day. Joe swears by Dove Men Care "Clean Comfort" Aerosol Deodorant for its spray-and-go functionality and dry feel. Sadly, the travel size version of this is only available in Europe.. but something we ALWAYS stock up on when we're away!

Dental Care

A few items that are staples at the sink are Sensodyne Mint Toothpaste,  Listerine Total Care Easy Sliding Floss (formerly known as Reach), the OraBrush and Sulcabrush (not pictured). These are all so good for tackling bad breath and plaque. The Sonicare is also fantastic, but be wary if you have sensitive gums. I’ve reverted back to manual brushing for the day-to-day, with my electric on hand for a deeper clean once a week.

Facial Care

Korres Wild Rose Face Wash is truly an amazing cleanser for a thorough clean on normal, dry and combination skin. The scent is subtle, and a little goes a LOOONG way! Isn't it nice when pricy products really live up to their hype? I also don't even entertain cleansers that aren't in a pump now-a-days, so this is a keeper for all of us.

1-2 times a week, I recommend using this Ole Henriksen Face Scrub. It smells like the best eucalyptus spa and it WARMS UP on contact. Omg! The granules are very effective, but not too rough. It removes dead skin and helps to tighten pores. The only problem is that the texture is very thick and hard to squeeze out at the end, I'll have to cut it open soon.

I've always been amused by the fact that my dad really enjoys the L'Oreal Paris MEN Expert Hydra Energetic Ice Cold Eye Roller. Great for anyone who wants a little bit of tightening and de-puffing under the eyes, this simple orange eye roller is very refreshing to use before early morning meetings.

One of the most non-negotiable steps of Joe's nighttime routine has been the addition of an all-in-one moisturizer. The Pomegranate Day Cream from Rocky Mountain Soap Co is one of my absolute favourite moisturizers for normal/combination skin, and he simply adores it. For only $36 CAD you can't go wrong supporting this amazing Canadian company that makes delightful (and GREEN!) wellness goodies.

The Schick Hydro 5 Razor is a go-to, and one of my favorites as well. The sleek razor is great for sensitive skin and provides an extremely close shave. Sad part is that the refills are so expensive, as expected.

I recently discovered ArteStile grooming tools, and a little voice inside was like "yaaaas!" 

It's rare to find grooming tools made from premium surgical grade stainless steel that won't fall apart in a year, so these Italian-made tools are essential in our washrooms.

The ArteStile x Monte & Coe Grooming Kit ($160) brings together two great Canadian brands focusing on “slow fashion” and investing in quality products that are ethically produced and that will last for years. Monte & Coe are known for handcrafted luxury leather accessories made in Toronto using vegetable tanned leather and Italian wool. ArteStile's luxury handcrafted beauty and grooming tools are made in Italy, serving as the perfect combination for a dopp kit must-have. 

The kit contains four stainless steel tools: tweezers, scissors, nail file and nail clipper, along with an eyebrow brush and comb – great for on the go, and in your travel bag. The full grain leather case is available in Cognac, Navy, Nude (pictured) and Black.

Beard and Moustache Care

Last on my list, beard care! The ArteStile x Monte & Coe kit can fall under this category too, but today I'm looking at a stunning oil that will change the texture of your facial hair.



The Peppermint & Cedarwood 10mL Beard Oil Roller from Educated Beards is another awesome Canadian-made gem and you're guaranteed to get addicted to the fresh minty zing that this leaves on your skin. This cute (and affordable!) bottle lets you roll the oil directly onto your skin, leaving your hands free from oil. Easy, effective and good for keeping your beard soft and healthy.

Happy dad-day! xx

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