Every year I am so stumped on what to get my husband because after more than 10 years together, I've gotten him MOST of the things he has ever wanted. I know I could always get him video games from his Steam wishlist or more V-neck sweaters, but I am definitely starting to bore even myself with shopping for him. Shortly before we got married three years ago, my husband decided to grow a little beard because his skin was so irritated from shaving all the time. That little beard grew into a hobby and now he has his own little corner of the bathroom for his supplies and his become quite the "shave connoisseur" when it comes to his beard needs. Thankfully this means something new I can buy him in the gift department! My husband was the one that introduced Italian brand Proraso to me as he adores their shaving cream. He loves the lather and that a little goes a long way!
I don't really know the first thing about beard care, but I assume it's similar to regular hair care, but with extra attention to taking care of skin. This holiday season, Proraso has put together a beard care kit (without the brush and razor) to prep and prime as well as keep your man's beard looking extra shiny!
The Proraso Beard Wash* is a cleanser for both beard and skin and contains benzoic and salicylic acid so definitely on the more aggressive side when it comes to skincare. It has a very strong and manly scent so I always know when my husband is about to shave! Though this can just be treated as a cleanser, my husband still shaves to keep his beard length in check so while he's in the shower, he will use one pump of Beard Wash to prep his skin. This product is something he has been enjoying as he usually hands something back to me right away if his skin is freaking out or he hates the texture. Men are probably the best critics of beauty products because they really just tell it like it is - like children.
My husband's beard isn't very long, so beard oil, a lot like hair oil, is meant to be used as a final step to condition and give hair a shine. I actually thought this Proraso Beard Oil* was meant to be used as a pre-shave treatment because oil softens the skin, but I was only half right. This product is intended to be a daily treatment for men with longer beards to soften stubble and make hair soft with a blend of sunflower, avocado and macadamia oil. I watched some very "woodsy man" Youtube videos to figure out when and how much beard oil should be used and it is just a few drops depending on beard length and fullness. A little goes a very long way so a 30mL bottle should last at least 3 months! Since my husband couldn't use this, I started to use it for my hair and it's super nice! The scent is a blend of cedar and Mediterranean citrus and though reminds me so much of patchouli, does have a subtle citrus note.
Shopping for men is never easy, but around the holidays it's nice to have kits like this ready to go for either a stocking stuffer or under the tree. I still have a couple of things I want to pick up for my husband, so if anyone has discovered some other items I can add on, let me know!
Proraso is available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations and Jean Coutu in Quebec. Full beard kit retails for $35 CDN.
.JPG)
No comments