How am I curating the grooming editor-approved products for February 2022? I’m thinking about the repurchase and recall factor of them. If I am on my last few dollars in my bank account, will I feel incredibly compelled to take a bank loan to purchase them (God forbid the day it happens)? Will I feel compelled to purchase them for the people I like while aggressively pushing their merits till they physically and psychologically succumb to me (“He’s a pusher!”)? Am I able to remember the exact name they have been bestowed by the brand’s marketing department down to a t?
Well, I think these ones do and that is the part of grooming that makes it a pleasure for us to write about. The stuff that’s memorable, that really, really, really makes an impact on the way you perform your routine and most importantly, creates a difference you can both see and feel. So here, the 10 grooming editor-approved products of February 2022.
Pictured Above: The thing about Penhaligons and especially so for The World According to Arthur is that they’re unabashedly old world in charm and scent. The latter is a reference to how everything is reminiscent of scents from barber shops but the latest addition to their Portraits series (TLDR: eaux de parfums as characters in a Victorian family saga) is particularly interesting. The brother to the Noble Patriach is zesty grapefruit that bursts open on first spritz, a strong incense in the middle and ambrette on dry down that adds a slight chalky, powdery undertone. As for how it smells like four hours later, expect a woody and resinous vanilla with some smooth spice: kind of like what the first Bridgerton brother would smell like.
The Amouage Gift of Kings — Taurus Man set contains three beautifully packaged travel scents (10ml) that sort of reminds me of indivudally wrapped cigars. The scents however, remind me of most Taurus men I know. Strong (one of the scents is…Epic Man that’s woody oriental), sometimes quite chaotic neutral (Interlude Man is spicy and woody) and if push comes shove, hyperaware about himself (Reflection man is woody floral). While the three sets all have that same smooth woody note, they can form a fragrance wardrobe too as they differ quite vastly on the drydown.
I reviewed the Belief Man.ology 101 Smart Recharger by taking its name quite literally: something to “recharge” the skin when it’s feeling particularly dehydrated and dull. While the brand vouches for it as a three-in-one (toner, essence and lotion), I still believe you should only use it on its own if you’re pressed for time. But, as a pre-emulsion or moisturiser product, it performs beautifully: hydrates without stickiness, brightens without looking fake and most importantly, it absorbs incredibly quickly. A trick I like to employ when feeling fatigued is to soak cotton pads with this product before leaving it on as a “sheet mask” of sorts.
I’ve actually been pondering for the longest time if powder-to-foam washes are coming back and the Chanel N°1 de Chanel Powder-to-Foam Cleanser proves my hunch right. Its mechanism is genius in that all you need to do is twist the cap and slide it open (its small opening means you’ll never make a mess) before pouring the powder into your hands to foam it up into a relatively dense lather. The lather however does not strip or shrivel (maybe because you might need so little of it too) but instead, softens your skin up for the next step. While it does not remove makeup, it pretty much does its job prettily. I mean, how often do you get to use a product that contains both red camellia extract and oil while looking sharp and modern?
I’ve actually been using the Dior Forever for six years and not once has it failed what my face needs. It covers up what it needs to do, lasts for as long as I’m physically and mentally able to be outside and in certain cases, is smudge proof. The new-generation Forever Skin Glow however, feels slightly thinned out to my delight and still performs similarly albeit with two major differences. Firstly, it gives an incredibly dewy glow (important to note: it’s still smudge proof) owing to a hydrating formula and soft-focus powders and secondly, it really plumps out the more “sunken” areas of my face like under the eyes. It’s basically Photoshop in a clear, glass bottle.
I call oils like the Drunk Elephant A-Gloei™ Maretinol Oil “dry-touch oils” as they usually pump out oily (well, duh) but when smoothed into the skin, dries out as it is massaged in. Some might find this unpleasant because the oil grits up on their skin (a tell-tale sign they’re putting on too much) but this factor makes this oil so wonderful to use both day and night. While its gentle dosage of retinol managed to clear up blemishes and discolouration in a week with weekly use, I noticed lines around my forehead fading too which I chalk up to the Virgin Marula Oil used. Don’t be fooled by the low dosage of retinol though, you should still be using sunscreen with it.
Is the Filorga Illuminating Perfecting Fluid a highlighter? Well, it dispenses a fluid that you can dab onto wherever you need to highlight with a pearlescent glow albeit being “eaten” up by oiliness peaking through. Is it skincare? Well, I noticed the discolouration around my cheeks fading away with repeated use which is thanks to the vitamin C and algae extract contained inside. What I enjoy the most about this product, however, is its “twist-lock” mechanism that allows the fluid to only be dispensed when you twist it open. That means it’ll never leak no matter how you store it which is a mechanism I wish more brands would employ.
I was reintroduced to Ylang49 at Le Labo’s new Marina Bay Sands store (FYI, they can even freshly produce each of their scents for you which is quite a visual spectacle) and I can’t believe how I’ve forgotten about such a delightful chypre. Chypres are fragrances that usually start with a citrusy accord before transitioning to a floral heart built on a woody base note. Ylang49 however, has an incredibly modern non-binary wearability with a soft and yellow banana-like creaminess that tempers the high-octane brightness of the Ylang flower. While the Le Labo store stocks everything from fragrances to bath products, you can even opt to customise your fragrance’s bottle and refill it at 80% of its price because why would you want to recycle a bottle that has been made uniquely yours?
Millenials on the older end of the spectrum (sigh, really) might remember the first generation of the MAC Lightful C line (Sheered out formulas, heavy on hydration and glow and TLDR: MAC did it first) but the second generation titled MAC Lightful C3 improves on the first by really putting in skincare benefits into the product and hence the name, C3+: Vitamin C, coral grass and Cherry Blossom. The emulsion — with a texture inbetween a serum and a cream — feels like a cushion you’re applying onto your face and the pink pearls infused into it colour corrects darkness on the face. The latter property especially works for undereye circles or “uneven discolouration” if for some odd reason, you tan quite unevenly. Word of warning though: the effect works best up till NC45.
The Verdure Purifying Volume Boost Shampoo works unlike other purifying shampoos because firstly, it does not strip moisture which in turn, forces your scalp to produce more oil. Secondly, it actuallyrestores volume and bounce to the hair which to me, signifies the greatest sign of hair health. While it does not foam up densely like other products, it does get the job done but it depends on how you wash your hair. I usually recommend using your fingertips instead of your nails to wash your hair (nails tend to “cut’ into the scalp) and then rinsing it out completely.
Once you’re done with this story about the best grooming products of February 2022, click here to catch up with our February 2022 issue!
RELATED ARTICLES
