Online Shopping Picks: Best Men’s Grooming Products for Winter

Editor’s note: For more menswear-minded online shopping picks, including Oxford shirts and weekender bags, head here.

We’ve talked a bit about grooming lately here on The Style Guide,  namely in the form of this Doc Elliott giveaway earlier in January. But that giveaway is just the tip of the iceberg. Here in NYC, and I’d guess elsewhere for a lot of us #menswear fans, it’s pretty cold. And windy. And snowy, or rainy. All of that wreaks havoc on your skin, and if you don’t have a solid grooming routine in place, you could end up looking like this. There are a couple parts to assembling a solid grooming routine though, from caring for your face and beard (or stubble, or heck, no beard) to caring for your hands — so the below picks cover each of those bases (hopefully pretty well, too!). It’s not the full list of every brand you could look into certainly, but it’s a heck of a place to start — if I do say so myself. And if you haven’t given much thought to grooming before, it’s another small upgrade that can work in tandem with other style upgrades, especially if it was one of your style resolutions for 2016. So read on and stock up — you’ll beat winter in no time.

The Essential Moisturizer: Baxter of California Oil-Free Moisturizer, $24.00

A small tube that packs a big punch.

A small tube that packs a big punch.

One of the first steps to taking on winter is making sure your face is properly taken care of — and that starts with a hard-working, effective moisturizer from a brand that knows what it’s doing. The Baxter of California Oil-Free Moisturizer fits the bill perfectly. It’s a bit pricey for a small tube of lotion, but it’ll make a big difference — I’d say (although I’m no expert), using this as your last morning grooming step and your last nightly grooming step can definitely fight the effects of winter.

The Ultimate Beard-Care Kit: Doc Elliott Grooming Beard Care Combo Kit, $30

Two essential items in one package.

Two essential items in one package.

While $30 might at first look a bit steep for such a small package, rest assured that Doc Elliott Grooming absolutely knows what it’s doing in terms of beard care. This Beard Care Combo brings you two-in-one — the brand’s Beard Serum should work quite well as far as conditioning and smoothing that beard of yours, while the Beard Balm offers up even more protection. Two refined scent options are available, along with an unscented pick. There’s no wrong choice, my bearded brethren. And if you find yourself needing shaving essentials, we’ll cover that further down the line here.

The Hand Cream: Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $15

From a brand known for its quality and longevity.

From a brand known for its quality and longevity.

Another oft-overlooked part of grooming — dry hands. We’re all prone to ’em, particularly in winter and even if you’ve got yourself some nice leather gloves. Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve uses a blend of botanical oils and natural wax (derived from olive oil, no less), should definitely prove a hydrating combination. Trust me, your co-workers — and yes, your partner — will thank you. The price is a bit steep for a small container, but the 22oz. size isn’t a bad value.

The Shaving Cream: Baxter of California Super-Close Shave Formula, $20

This shaving cream would be a wise pickup from a brand that does things like this quite well.

This shaving cream would be a wise pickup from a brand that does things like this quite well.

We turn again to a reputable brand known for its everyday essentials, particularly its well-known Super-Close Shave Formula. It’s hydrating and crafted with coconut oils for a smooth shave — having checked out some myself, it’s the real deal. It leaves no mess (it’s a thicker, fluffier blend than typical shaving cream), it’s a solid value and it’s got a hint of refreshment built in.

The Finishing Touch: Brooklyn Grooming Anchor Aftershave Tonic, $16

Handmade using organic ingredients, with a touch of Brooklyn edge to boot.

Handmade using organic ingredients, with a touch of Brooklyn edge to boot.

For when you’re all set shaving (and even if you just like to freshen up your beard after a quick trim), reach for a crisp aftershave made in part with aloe vera gel.  The brand says its scent blends exotic woods and balsam resins among others, and if you’re into it, it’s imbued with some unique spiritual elements (yes, indeed) — like immune-stimulating “holy wood.” At the end of the day, you be the judge of whether that works — but it should handle the basics in a refreshing way regardless.

While the above list might be a bit longer than the stock you have in your medicine cabinet right now, the best advice would be to pick and choose what works for you — at the very least, some solid basics, like a nice moisturizer and hand cream, can definitely sort out your grooming situation to start. And when used as part of a solid daily routine, they can impart some nice structure, style and of course, refreshment to your day. In the long run, they’ll all help you fight the aftereffects of winter — and come spring, the same routine will continue to take you far.

What’s your winter grooming routine like? Do you own any of these products or will you be making any new purchases.

Reader Giveaway Opportunity: Doc Elliott Grooming

Read on for details on how to win your own set of winter beard-care essentials from Doc Elliott Grooming. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Read on for details on how to win your own set of winter beard-care essentials from Doc Elliott Grooming. Photo courtesy of the brand.

Editor’s note: Thank you to all who participated! And congrats to the winner, Christopher C. Thanks, as always, for reading.

Now that winter’s fully upon us (if it happens to be warm where you are, lucky you!), hopefully you’ve got all the great winter gear you need — from a  warm topcoat to a stylish peacoat and tough winter boots. But with the ever-advancing chill comes the need to turn to another area of the men’s lifestyle department here at The Style Guide — grooming. If you’re among the bearded set out there, it’s crucial to take care of your beard in the winter — it’s one of those little style details that can go further than you think. After all, no one wants to look like a cast member in The Revenant. And it’s with that thought in mind (seriously, groom your beard!) that today’s reader giveaway opportunity comes up. Doc Elliott Grooming, based out of Austin, Texas, certainly has you covered in that regard.

I first stumbled across the brand thanks to a timely 2014 Christmas gift from Santa, and I’ve been a fan of the brand’s Pure Pomade ever since. Their focus is equal parts rugged, refined and vintage-inspired (hence the tagline, “Honor Your MANcestors”), and they like to focus on heritage, authenticity and quality ingredients — that goes for their products across the board.

Its beard care game is equally on-point, and that’s what we’re giving you the chance to enter to win today, my friends. One lucky winner will get the Beard Care combo pack (that’s the brand’s Beard Balm and Serum), plus the brand’s Edge Wax and a fun graphic tee. That entire combo will have your grooming game upgraded in no time, trust me.

To win — simply follow the instructions in this link(Editor’s note: Contest runs until 12 a.m., January 21, 2016).

Stay warm out there and stay stylish!

-Beau

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