The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022 - Men's Folio
Grooming, Fragrance, Hair, Skincare

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022

  • By Bryan Goh

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022
Between the second week of March till this week and no thanks to our Grooming Awards 2022 slated to launch in June, I have tried over 80 new products which means a world of delight, discovery and hurt. The delight and discovery is what informs these 11 grooming editor approved products with the metrics being the same as every month. Do these feel good on the skin? I’m happy to report so. Do they work? Most of them work almost immediately. In a superficial sense, do they look good? That is really, up to one’s personal taste.

With the world of hurt however, comes the sensitivity that comes with the trying of products. A bane of the job that is often discussed with my fellow grooming or beauty editors. This then informs the exact curation of these grooming editor approved products: the typical Men’s Folio metrics are considered but this time around, most of them calm sensitivity faster than you can say “Dude, what’s that on my face?”.

Pictured Above: The HERA UV Protector Multi-Defense And Tone-Up SPF50+/PAz protects everything from sun rays to blue light and according to the brand, infra-red light and ultrafine dust. What I like the most however, is that it comes with a very slight green tint that conceals redness and its formula feels very “cooling” on the skin. The glow however, might come across as looking “oily” but one can always just apply a mattifying powder after.


The Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturiser is a lightweight gel that is heavily hydrating thanks to the squalane oil used inside. As for the probiotics used inside, it instantly soothes irritation which I noticed happened immediately as the skin around my nose usually becomes red and flanky after prolonged wearing of a mask. If one has dry skin, it even works as a hydrating primer that doesn’t cause makeup to “pile” up on the skin.

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022

 

 

Ask any grooming or beauty editor at any period of time and they’ll say that the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder is one of their most approved products. It’s shades are fool proof (1 Fair stretches between NC15 to 30 and 3 Dark from NC45 to NC60), it blurs out everything from pores to fine lines and its finish is a dreamy demi-matte. And because the powder is so densely packed, there’s no fall out no matter how aggressively you use the product.

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022
The Diptyque City Candle collection is back again and this year, one of the most beautifully scented ones is Pekin, the previous name of Beijing. Far from the generic scents used in China-themed candles — citruses, incense or herbs — Pekin scents with the sweetness of green tea, heady powderiness of magnolia and warmth of sandalwood. While the brand claims its inspired by Beijing’s imperial temples, I’d say it’s more of a leisurely stroll in a beautiful courtyard garden within a palace itself.

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022
The wonderful thing about Dr Jart+ is that no matter what product you use from the brand — the Cicapair, Ceramidin or the Teatreement series — you are guaranteed almost no sensitivity because everything from the Korean brand is formulated this way. As for the Pore Remedy PHA Exfoliating Serum, the PHA — polyhydroxy acid that resurfaces the skin while hydrating it — is at a relatively low percentage of seven and its watery base feels very soothing.


The honest truth about flankers (or in layman speak, spinoffs of perfumes) is that more often than not, brands always just tweak one or two ingredients and call it a day. Giorgio Armani’s Acqua di Gio Eau de Parfum however, is a combination of the original Acqua di Gio, Profondo and Profumo which means one is getting the beastliest version of this wonderful scent. The sillage and throw is impeccable but the biggest difference is that it has a salty-metallic note to it akin to a boat lying out in the sun.

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022
Not all sheet masks are made equal because some are just flimsy sheets of paper soaked in serum and some come so heavily drenched that you end up wasting it. The Illumia Skin All 1N One Sheet Mask instantly became a grooming editor approved product because firstly, the amount of serum it comes with is enough for the face, neck and upper half of the body with no wastage. Secondly, it does what it says on its packaging: restoring moisture, evening out the skin tone and if one finishes the box, expect a diminished look of fine lines.

The 11 Grooming Editor Approved Products of April 2022
An addition to the brand’s brightening Truth series, the Olehenriksen’s Barrier Booster Orange Ferment Essence has a milky consistency that absorbs quickly to boost the hydration levels of the skin. While it leaves one with an overall brighter complexion, it also works fades milder pigmentation quite quickly if one is disciplined enough to use it twice a day. Some might not like the noticeable orange scent to it but to those who do, it’s very uplifting if you’re using it in the day.


I have my hair permed every three months which means that not only do I experience hair fall for the first two weeks post treatment, my hair also becomes rough and dry. The PHS Fortify Tonic works so simply: spritz some onto the scalp, rub it in and let it dry instantly to reduce hair loss and condition the hair. It also alleviates itchiness or redness that comes with chemically treating the hair if you’ve permed, coloured or straightened it.


Think of the Rationale The Enriched Eye Cream SPF15 as an eye cream version of the #3 Tinted Serum. Both of them come in a one-tint-fits-all shade that brightens and lightly conceals, provides protection against the damage of sun rays and feels good on the skin. The latter, no sensitivity, “balling up” and is easy to remove with just micellar water. In a pinch, the eye cream even works as a cream concealer.


One can think of the Sigi Skin Anti-Aging Night Serum as different products. It can be a night serum that soothes irritation and sensitivity thanks to its use of three biotics, a day one that feels light on the skin and doesn’t intefere with other products, a leave-on or wash off mask if used heavily (you can even pop it in the fridge for a cooling effect) or even a specific treatment you can use on drier, flaky patches of the skin.

Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our April 2022 issue!