Stay one-step ahead of the game with our guide to Male Grooming Trends for 2017
Christmas feels like years ago and here we are almost through the first week of January. 2016 was a great year for male grooming, with new launches from new brands and the industry generally 'stepping it up a gear' when it comes to performance. Last year, for the first time, we witnessed the industry taking men’s skincare super-seriously with investment in new product development soaring to levels never previously seen, taking the efficacy and potential of our favourite products to new heights.
With 2016 now firmly behind us, we thought we’d shine some light on the year ahead to keep you one-step ahead of the competition and to let you into the insider’s info for 2017.
What To Watch Out For
Face Washes
Facial cleansers for men saw huge growth in 2016. We’ve finally succumb to the daily cleansing ritual and rightly so. Investing in good skincare is essential, but if you’re not going to create the perfect canvas upon which to apply it, you’re wasting your time. Give your skincare products the very best access to your skin by washing your face at least once daily to remove grime and excess oil. Cleanse the skin with lukewarm - not hot - water, pat dry then continue with your usual favourites. Our top 2 face washes for 2016 where Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser (suitable for all skin types) and Triumph & Disaster Ritual Face Cleanser (again suitable for all skin types but great for those with dry/sensitive skin).
Serums
Serums have been around for many a year but the popularity in these power-packed gels grew enormously in 2016, and the growth is set to continue throughout the course of 2017. Serums are the quickest and easiest way to give your skin a shot of what it really needs. Whether hydration is a concern, lines and wrinkles, or you simply want to boost the skin's nutrition levels, serums are the way to go. Our 2 most popular serums in 2016 were NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 1% and Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic & Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum. Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum has quite literally changed the face of skincare. It doesn’t promise to deliver instant results or answer all of your skincare prayers, but what it does promise to do is to train your skin to act younger by placing it into a heightened state of natural repair. The results are simply outstanding and in our opinion every man should have a bottle of this in his wash bag. Ferulic & Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum by New York Dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross, is great for those with concerns about ageing skin. We always advise those with concerns about lines and wrinkles to challenge the onset of ageing skin before the evidence is visible, but if you’ve been caught out fear not, Dr Dennis Gross Overnight Serum will kick your skin back into shape. Used every night before going to bed, the Retinol and Ferulic Acid gently smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and overtime will help to reduce the appearance of ageing skin.
Packettes
Daily disposables are no longer exclusive to contact lenses. Some (a rapidly growing number!) of our favourite skincare saviours now come in disposable single-use sachets making it easier and quicker to apply, with the added bonus of being completely travel friendly. Dr Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel is a daily 2-step face peel that gently lifts dead skin from the face whilst helping to keep clogged pores and blackheads at bay. During the course of 2016, Dr Dennis Gross’ Daily Face Peels became incredibly popular, a trend that is set to grow enormously in the year ahead. Watch out for our latest arrival, Colbert MD Intensify Facial Discs, launching mid-January. They’re like a mini at-home micro-dermabrasion treatment for the skin, designed to be used 3 times weekly and guaranteed to overhaul your complexion.
Escentric Molecules
I know we seem to mention these guys all of the time, but the popularity of their award-winning Molecule 01 grew to new heights in 2016 and there’s no sign of it waining. This fragrance can only be described as phenomenal, it has a different effect on every skin, giving a unique and alluring scent. It’s our signature 'office scent' and on trips out to the bakery for lunch it’s completely normal for our guys to be stopped in the street by passers-by asking what fragrance they’re wearing. Molecule 01 will certainly have another amazing year in 2017 and if you haven't joined the club yet, you’re missing out. Please note: fragrances are only availble for delivery within the UK.
Retinol
One of the best anti-ageing ingredients available, we’re expecting to see more and more of this in the future. We launched Verso in January 2016 and owing to their patented Retinol 8 delivery system, the demand for their products have been huge. The Dark Spot Treatment is the best dark spot remedy we’ve ever come across. If you have age-spots or pigmentation, use this as an on-the-spot treatment to gradually fade the appearance of it. Within just a couple of weeks the results are clearly visible. Super Eye Serum is another of Verso’s hero products. The delicate eye area is more susceptible to pre-mature ageing that other parts of the face, and this informatively named Super Serum helps to erase fine lines from the eye contour.
Sheet Masks (and Face Masks in general)
Face masks are a superb way of giving your skin an instant boost. During the course of 2016 the amount of men’s face masks increased dramatically and the popularity is humongous. Sheet masks, a Korean skincare essential, saw the largest growth in popularity with Verso Deep Hydration Mask and Germaine de Capuccini’s Timexpert C+ Sheet Mask finding themselves in hundreds of our customers shopping carts. The ‘sheet’ keeps the product in constant contact with the skin and as such improves the delivery of the ingredients. If you’re feeling a little jaded this January, slap on a Verso Deep Hydrating Mask for 10 minutes and witness the ‘boost’ for yourself.