Carmelo Guastella, Artistic Barber And Male Grooming Expert
What’s missing from most men’s grooming routine?
I don’t think there’s any excuse for having a bad haircut. Most guys always go for a short haircut but they need to be bolder. Grow it a bit longer on top and maybe get an undercut. You don’t need to be vain but you should spend at least two or three minutes styling your hair.
RECOMMENDED: The Best Men’s Hairstyles of 2016
What’s your top tip for younger-looking skin?
Lots of guys have beards but they can be a bit scruffy. Ask a barber how to style it properly. Take off the cheeks and the lower neck. You don’t want it to look perfect but you do want to look like you’ve made an effort.
RECOMMENDED: How To Trim A Beard
What’s your top date-night grooming tip?
Exfoliating your skin will make it look healthier because it gets rid of the dead cells. If you don’t, your skin will look dull. Always exfoliate before you use a moisturiser, otherwise you’re wasting your money because you’re putting it on dead skin cells so it won’t be as effective.
What product could you currently not live without?
I’d never be without a good exfoliator. I wouldn’t use one with plastic beads – I use one with fine natural beads so it’s not too harsh on your skin. That means you can use it every day, although you still need to apply it gently.
RECOMMENDED: Men’s Grooming Gifts and Gift Sets For Christmas 2016
Chris Beastall, Editor of Ape To Gentleman Male Grooming And Lifestyle Site
What’s missing from most men’s grooming routine?
A pre-shave oil. So many men suffer with shaving irritation and this extra step in your shave will go a long way to reducing that.
What’s your top tip for younger-looking skin?
Lead a healthy lifestyle. Anti-ageing creams will help but it’s about the whole picture too, so make sure you’re on top of your sleep, diet and exercise.
What’s your top date-night grooming tip?
Dating is often about confidence, so if you have anything that affects this, deal with it beforehand – a blemish can be concealed, nervous sweating can be controlled and a receding hairline disguised. My favourite is to choose a fragrance that suits your style, one that gets a lot of positive comments. It will get your confidence high – but be careful not to over-spray.
What product could you currently not live without?
The Malin+Goetz SPF 30 High Protection moisturiser (£28). It’s the Swiss Army knife of skincare – it keeps skin hydrated, has anti-ageing ingredients and protects the skin from sun damage, which is one of the main offenders for skin problems. Even on a cloudy day the sun can take its toll, so swap your regular moisturiser for am SPF one. And don’t worry, you’ll still tan.
Jason Shankey, Founder Of The Jason Shankey Male Grooming Salons
What’s missing from most men’s grooming routine?
I think what most guys could improve is actually having a routine – a set thing they do every day. Guys often faff around, use one product one day and another the next. Your routine shouldn’t be time-consuming, just five or ten minutes.
What’s your top tip for younger-looking skin?
You can use topical treatments such as an exfoliator, which is a bit like sand-blasting your face. You can also use acid-based treatments, such as alpha-hydroxy acid, which will take away the top layer - the most dead layer - and reveal youthful-looking skin underneath. They are low-concentrate products so it’s not as scary as it sounds!
What’s your top date-night grooming tip?
Use an astringent eye drop to make your eyes look brighter. Go for a blue one that contains witch hazel – blue is an opposing colour to yellow on the colour circle, and this will contract the blood vessels in your eyes to make them look whiter.
What product could you currently not live without?
A good-quality shave cream – the best option to reduce irritation. It needs to be thick and creamy to lubricate the shave and moisturise your skin.
