Yes, it’s already June, which means summer is starting and Father’s Day is near. No gift yet? Not to worry: Every man needs grooming supplies. Whether he’s looking for a better shave, natural and organic products, or travel-friendly packaging, dad will appreciate these luxe gifts that are at once personal and practical.
Courtesy Shodai
Shodai Face Wash and Moisturizer
With two products on offer, Shodai, a new natural skincare brand based in Tokyo, has men’s grooming basics covered. Both the low-lather face wash and lightweight moisturizer are free of parabens and artificial fragrances. The wash leaves skin truly soft and clean without drying, and the moisturizer melts into skin, imparting a subtle woodsy scent. Staying true to tradition, the brand marries old-school Japanese ingredients—calming hiba oil, sake (a rice wine that’s packed with brightening kojic acid and anti-aging amino acids), invigorating green tea, and healing onsen water from local hot springs—with today’s skincare technology. Expect an expanded offering this fall. From $20; shodaimen.com
Courtesy Jack Black
Jack Black Classic Shave System
A luxe alternative to standard home-delivery razor subscriptions, Jack Black’s new shave system comes complete with an exclusive five-blade razor and weighted stainless steel handle for increased comfort and control, two replacement blades, and three award-winning skincare products. The gentle cleanser-toner formula contains certified organic ingredients like rosemary and chamomile to clear bacteria and soothe skin. The shaving creams—either a conditioning, non-foaming lube or a whipped lather that forms a protective cushion beneath the blade—are specially formulated for a bump-free shave, and the vitamin-rich moisturizer protects from UVA and UVB rays. Reorder online or sign up for automatic renewals. $29; getjackblack.com
Courtesy Hawthorne
Hawthorne for Men Fragrance
Phillip Wong and Brian Jeong, formerly at menswear label Hood By Air and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton business school, respectively, launched Hawthorne for Men in 2016. The start-up uses an online biometrics quiz to match men with two fragrances that are mailed straight to their doors—with nary a sniff before purchase. Users’ scent preferences are determined from a set of 12 seemingly random questions: favorite drink (three-fourths of taste is really just smell), body temperature (sweat affects cologne’s strength), work environment (so as not to offend coworkers). The brand’s ten scents, which have only a 3 percent return rate, are crafted by award-winning, perfume-industry vets. “We focus on what goes inside the bottle as opposed to the outside,” Jeong said, referencing the brand’s sleek packaging and higher-than-average ingredients budget, which he says allows perfumers to “use more niche ingredients and keeps their creative license open.” $100 for two scents; hawthorneformen.com
Courtesy Kip & Co
Kip & Co. Toiletry Bag
The most travel-friendly luggage balances practical elements with stylish touches. This waxed canvas toiletry bag fits all grooming essentials, is easily wiped clean, and can be transported from gym bag to sink to carry-on without losing its shape. The electric-blue color with saddle leather trim and contrasting red zipper is not only striking but also easy to spot in a packed suitcase—perfect for a dad on the go. $45; kipandco.com
Courtesy Ernest Supplies
Ernest Supplies Modern Man Trio
The innovative packaging of Ernest Supplies’ skincare products—inspired by resealable, squeezable food pouches—not only allows for a smaller product-to-package ratio and mess-free traveling, but also locks in active ingredients, protecting them from oxygen and sunlight. The gel face wash in this gift set restores moisture with sodium hyaluronate and effectively brightens with vitamin C, and the quick-absorbing moisturizer fights signs of aging using natural ingredients like ferulic acid, acai, and green tea. The three-in-one shave cream conditions the face and hair with avocado, coconut, and jojoba oils and keeps redness at bay, thanks to cooling aloe and menthol. $60; ernestsupplies.com
Net-a-Porter
Czech & Speake Leather-Bound Manicure Set
This manicure set, exclusively designed for Mr Porter by Czech & Speake, a luxury lifestyle brand specializing in all things grooming (fragrances, accessories, soaps, bathroom fittings, and fixtures), features eight Teflon-coated, made-in-Germany instruments in a midnight-blue, pebbled-leather case. The magnetic lining keeps the tools in place without the need for additional trappings, contributing to a simple and sophisticated design that dad can use at home or on his travels. $689; mrporter.com
Courtesy Baxter
Baxter of California Shower Starter Kit
Baxter of California’s just-launched starter kits are grooming gifts made easy; think of this four-piece set as a shower makeover in a box. Each formula is paraben-free and packed with active ingredients like hair-strengthening proteins and skin-softening vitamin E, but it’s the complementary scents that really make these products stand out: Tea tree and peppermint oils in the shampoo and conditioner create a fresh, minty scent and leave the scalp softly tingling, while the exfoliating body bar with hints of cedar and oakmoss and the citrus-and-herb body wash can be layered or used interchangeably for a personalized scent. $60; baxterofcalifornia.com
Courtesy Malin + Goetz
Malin+Goetz Clarifying Clay Mask
Malin+Goetz specializes in creating simple products that are gentle enough for skin with rosacea, eczema, and acne and can be easily built into a customized routine. This exfoliating mask suits all skin types and contains both superabsorbent Chinese kaolin clay to detox pores without leaving them dry and volcanic pumice powder to remove dead skin cells that can clog razors and contribute to an uncomfortable shave. $48; malinandgoetz.com
Courtesy Brooklyn Grooming
Brooklyn Grooming Beard Oil, Balm, and Brush
Using organic butters, waxes, and oils that nourish facial hair and the skin beneath it, Brooklyn Grooming creates all its products in small batches by hand—in the bearded hipster’s mecca, no less. Available in myriad scents, the brand’s beard oil (for thinner facial hair) and balm (for thicker, coarser beards) soften skin and whiskers while enhancing their natural shape or curl. Finish off with the wooden boar-bristle brush to evenly distribute products down the hair shaft and to the follicle. From $26; brooklyngrooming.com
Courtesy LAB Series
Lab Series Maxellence Dual Concentrate Serum
This serum from Maxellence, a new collection by men’s skincare brand Lab Series that employs space technology, contains two formulas—one white and one black—in a dual-chamber system that, when combined, firm and lift skin. The anti-gravity effects are due to the collagen-boosting power of actual meteorite particles extracted from asteroids, which are rich in calcium and magnesium, two ingredients that act as anti-agers by stimulating cell turnover. $225; labseries.com
