Product watch: Father’s Day gift ideas
The worst thing about Father’s Day gift shopping as a child, I recall, was my early awareness that if my father actually wanted anything my pocket money could buy, he would already own it.
Increased income allows for better gifts but I’m still apt to throw some new skincare in the bag, if only because I can be certain he’ll benefit from what I choose.
Regular readers of this column might have spotted that the only products specifically formulated for men I rate are by Lab Series and Clinique (with rare exceptions, see below). This is not a homogenous plug, I don’t recommend everything by either brand, but products by their household-name brand competition are all so disappointing that they shine in comparison.
Overwhelmingly, formulas are either too basic to warrant their price (lacking in antioxidants or the kind of soothing extracts that formulas for people who shave daily should have as standard), or too rife with alcohol and fragrance to mention. Shaving is a form of exfoliation.
Doing it with an aggravating gel or cream (and even products from so-called ‘sensitive’ ranges can be culprits) is bad, following up with a fragranced balm and inadequate UV protection is so much worse. Men and women have different skin for hormonal reasons but we all need to take the same basic steps to keep it healthy.
If you share your man’s skin type, there is no formulaic reason he can’t share your skincare. If your dad is more traditional, one of the below gifts should suit him. I include a great new fragrance, just in case his grooming regime is already set.
Treatments that make a distinct and immediate difference can make skincare believers of soap-and-water minimalists.
This is a deep-cleansing mask that best suits oily, blemish-prone types. The ingredients list reads like a luxe upgrade on the Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask, €29, as it contains many of the same non-irritating clays but has a lot more additional antioxidants and water-binders, including blue agave extract and hyaluronic acid.
The clay element, comprised of kaolin, bentonite and montmorillonite, absorbs dirt and excess oil without irritation. Charcoal, know for its absorbent and disinfectant properties, is also high on the list. Skin does look instantly brighter and more even-toned after rinsing, without the tight sensation or redness wrought by most oily-skin products labelled ‘for men.’
Sisleÿum Global Revitalizer has a GQ Grooming Award for Best New Anti-Ageing Product. Now, I know a glossy magazine never met a luxury skincare launch it didn’t like and that price-wise this one is a brow-raiser.
I share the monthly Quarterly’s enthusiasm for this one based solely on its content. The ingredients list shows high concentrations of proven antioxidants, natural moisture barrier-supporting fats and soothing anti-inflammatory extracts.
Global Revitalizer’s texture is light and non-greasy and the sleek pump-bottle packaging keeps the formula stable and potent. It dries clear and without shine, leaving skin comfortable and fine lines less noticeable.
This product comes in a normal skin option, though even this favours those who tend towards dryness as it contains ingredients to emollient for combination types. Minimally fragranced. Antioxidants and other reparative extracts are most effective when skin is consistently shielded from UV damage.
Moisturisers like Lab Series for Men Power Protector Broad Spectrum SPF50, €61, help maximise the benefits of this and any other anti-ageing serum.
Gadget-based cleansing may be a more valuable development for men than women because the timers on face brushes compel a longer and more thorough focus on this first skincare step than one never exposed to the teen-girl magazine mantra ‘cleanse, tone, moisturise’ is willing to give.
The bristles are mild but consistent exfoliation brightens the complexion and contributes to the prevention of ingrown hairs. An overly vigorous application of any exfoliant can make skin red and sensitised but Clinique’s Deep Cleansing Brush is designed to be used without pressure, almost effortlessly.
Running it lightly over skin in circular moments is sufficient. The device works with any liquid cleanser but if you’d like to make one part of the gift I recommend Take The Day Off Oil Cleansing Oil, €29, for dry types, and Lab Series Skincare for Men Max LS Daily Renewing Cleanser, €39, for normal to oily.
Products used after brushing are more effective, unimpeded by dead skin and other debris. UV protection is vital to maintaining good skin generally but especially so after exfoliation, so an SPF moisturiser is another great addition to this present.
A voucher for this salon treatment is a nice gift for overworked dads as it soothes tired eyes, balances dehydrated skin and includes a foot massage.
The facial begins with a lifestyle consultation and some facial-mapping analysis to determine hydration levels, UV damage and other precursors to unsightly skin.
The latter affects the therapist’s product choices but is also useful in addressing specific skincare needs at home. Dad will benefit from at least thirteen different Elemis formulas on the day.
Skin is cleansed, exfoliated, scrubbed and treated to a circulation-boosting facial massage. A gel eye-mask and line-plumping serum capsules ensures he leaves the salon looking and feeling revived.
This treatment is listed as the ‘Skin IQ Facial’ on some salon menus. Check www.elemis.com/spa-locator for your nearest provider.
Loris Azzaro’s signature dress details — intricate beading, sheer panels, lace, cut-outs — made him all Seventies sirens like Raquel Welch and Marisa Berenson wanted to wear.
The late designer’s fragrances for men are usually inspired by the yang to this kind of woman’s yin: sophisticated, a little hedonistic, maybe unwilling to make peace with the ageing process. Model Nikolai Danielson stars as a James Bond-like character in the short film and ad campaign for Wanted, and the eau de toilette’s bottle has the look of a multi-metal gun-barrel.
The cologne within is woody and spicy, not dissimilar to YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme or Dior Sauvage, if you are trying to match your gift choice to dad’s current taste.
Wanted opens with zingy lemon and ginger top notes. The warm cardamom and juniper heart gives way to a Brazilian tonka bean and Haitian vetiver base.
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