With all the grooming products out there, deciding which ones to spend your hard-earned cash on is a tough decision. Does the pricey shaving cream really deliver a smoother shave than the drugstore brand? Related: 12 Grooming Products You Should Steal From Your Wife We gathered your grooming essentials and took a look at the ingredients across the spending spectrum. Read on to see what works for both your body and your budget. The key to brightening your coffee-loving smile without harsh abrasives: Supersmile. Its key whitening ingredient, Calprox, is a bleaching agent developed by Dr. Irwin Smigel—the father of aesthetic dentistry. And it doesn’t use silica, an abrasive element in standard toothpastes that wear away your teeth’s enamel. Plus, the green apple flavor tastes good enough to eat. For those who prefer a classic mint toothpaste for clean teeth and fresh breath, Crest will get the job done. The toothpaste gently removes surface stains over time, so don’t expect quick whitening results.
This coconut oil-based bath soap works to naturally soften skin while releasing a clean rosemary eucalyptus fragrance. Besides its killer scent and hydration, it’s paraben-, sulfate-, and cruelty-free—and fit for a vegan lifestyle. This frugal favorite pulls double duty with a formula that gives your body a thorough clean while still being gentle enough to use on your face. It’s infused with Dove’s signature 1/4 moisturizing cream, which helps combat dryness all over. This Caudalie anti-wrinkle serum uses a strong combo of grape seed and Vitamin C, which prevents fine lines from turning into permanent wrinkles. The serum also protects skin against free radicals and daily UV-radiation damage, two of the leading causes of aging skin. It’s potent, so you only need a dab each time you use—no watered-down ingredients here. This serum uses a blend of multivitamins and antioxidants to regenerate your skin’s outer layer for smoother, younger looking skin.
This quick-absorbing formula adds the right amount of moisture to your skin without leaving residue behind. Bonus: The light Eau D' Italie fragrance lingers long after application. Lubriderm’s advanced therapy formula is easy on sensitive skin, and the vitamin E replenishes nutrients naturally found in your skin. When it comes to specialty ingredients, La Mer is king. One of its key components is the Miracle Broth, a combination of hand-harvested Pacific sea kelp, nutrients and minerals—like calcium and magnesium. These battle signs of aging by reducing redness and softening fine lines. This lightweight moisturizer protects your skin with Helioplex, a sunscreen technology developed by Neutrogena that protects six layers of your surface skin from both harmful UVA and UVB rays. It also won’t clog your pores. This hand cream is a must for dry skin. The shea butter is highly concentrated, so you’re getting more of the good stuff in every use. The shea butter, honey, and almond extracts soften rough skin without leaving your hands covered in a slippery residue.
Aveeno hand cream uses colloidal oatmeal to restore skin’s natural pH balance. It also strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier, which means it not only repairs dry skin now but prevents it from drying up in the future, too. This smooth shave cream uses coconut, menthol, and tea tree oil to create the perfect canvas for a clean shave. The formula is highly concentrated, and goes on smooth—no gritty or sticky texture here. Grooming Lounge makes the ultimate no-frills shave cream fit for all beard types. It’s low foaming, so you get a close shave without having to plow through a layer of froth. Don’t let the word oil scare you: Facial oils are jam-packed with antioxidants and other good-skin elixirs. The ingredients in a luxury oil, like this one, won’t make your skin break out. Instead, it’ll smooth out lines, even out skin tone, and hydrate your cells. Argan oil is light and non-greasy—a solid entry-level oil. You can also use it to spot treat areas, like chapped lips or rough patches.
A good scrub will gently exfoliate your skin to improve its texture over time. Jack Black combines Vitamin C for anti-aging, allantoin for hydration, and menthol for cooling. This scrub takes it easy on both your face and wallet. Tiny polyethelene beads exfoliate dull skin without roughing it up. Plus, it’s created without any dyes, oils, sulfates, or parabens—preservatives that can beat up sensitive skin. When it comes to cleansing foam, Avene reigns supreme. The brand is known for using thermal spring water and a soap-free cleansing base to clean skin without any harsh ingredients. The CeraVe foaming cleanser clears skin without stripping it dry. Ceramides work to condition the skin, leaving it soft. The Fresh age-delay cream uses high-quality, but familiar ingredients like black tea, blackberry, and lychee to create a soothing anti-aging cocktail. The high potency of black tea ferment works to enhance your skin’s shine, while the lychee seed extract stimulates new collagen growth for tighter, youthful skin.
It also inhibits enzymes that break down collagen and elastin. The key to seeing results with an anti-aging moisturizer is repetitive use. Use this wrinkle-fighting moisturizer—loaded with resveratrol, vitamin C, and glutathione—every morning for lasting results. Dark eye circles give away your age in an instant. Keep your eyes bright and wrinkle-free by investing in a heavy-duty eye cream. This one goes on smooth, lifting skin to reduce those sleepy bags under your eyes. It’s also vital for fighting crow’s feet. Apply gently, and daily. Every Man Jack’s eye cream uses green tea extract and cocoa butter to hydrate, lighten, and soothe dark undereye circles. Peter Thomas Roth’s toner mist uses a nourishing aloe vera to soothe, pro vitamin B5 to hydrate, and antioxidants to fight damage. Thayer’s is a classic drugstore buy. After washing your face, apply the toner to a cotton ball, and swipe your face and neck. We like that it’s alcohol-free and uses aloe vera to steer clear of irritation.