It’s almost Father’s Day! This holiday gives me anxiety! Help!
Well, everything gives me anxiety, but Father’s Day especially does because my dad is so hard to buy for. It’s not that he’s the man who has everything, but when he wants something, he just goes out and gets it for himself without making a huge fuss about it.
That’s great and all, but it sucks every time Father’s Day comes around, because when he says, “You don’t need to get me a gift, I don’t need anything,” he really means it.
While I’d love to respond “FINE, BYE!” I still feel like I should get him something, because how else will I prove that I’m a good son? (Besides the fact that I’m dragging him to see Britney in Vegas this September.)
Beauty products (or “grooming” products, if you’re talking to a dude, while rolling your eyes) make great gifts for people who are hard to buy for -- they’re the last things that people buy for themselves, but are always excited to receive.
I get a ton of products sent to me all the time, but I get very few for men because:
- They’re boring.
- They’re always the exact same products as the ones for women, just in grey packaging.
- Everything is unisex.
- Women are superior and so are their products.
But every time I get a men’s shaving product, I receive it with open arms because I HATE SHAVING and I’ll gladly try anything that promises to make it easier for me. I surprisingly get a lot of questions about shaving products, too. Last holiday season, a few readers emailed me asking about the best products to buy for men who have sensitive skin, and last week, a guy stopped me in the elevator to ask me about the Dollar Shave Club package I was holding.
Maybe I should just do a big article on shaving for men, but I won’t, because I hate men.
(I wrote about Dollar Shave Club last Father’s Day and I’m still using their great razors -- buy them for your dad.)
Anyway. If you’re in a pinch for what to get for Father’s day, I’ve got two shave products and a fragrance that you really can’t go wrong with. Chances are, the man in question doesn’t even know what he likes anyway, so the best gift you can give him is just to make his mind up for him.
The first product is new to me, but is one that I can see myself using for a very long time because I really, really like it.
Natural Whisker Oil by Olie Biologique, $48.
I’ve been trying a lot of beard oils lately, and I hate all of them! Except this one.
Beard oils are supposed to be used to prep skin (post-exfoliation) for a shave, and make the razor glide more easily and cause less irritation. Most beard oils that I have tried feel very synthetic and almost make the shave worse. But not this one!
Made from a ton of different natural oils (black seed, pumpkin, rosehip, etc.) Olie’s Natural Whisker Oil creates a barrier between the skin and the blade allowing a close, smooth shave without any discomfort. It can be used alone or under his favorite shaving cream, and even as an aftershave. I use it in conjunction with shaving cream because my neck is very sensitive and gets razor burn from every shave.
The first time I used this whisker oil, I got an all-around smoother, easier shave with absolutely no irritation afterward. I even forgot to use an aftershave, which is an essential for me, and there wasn’t one bit of razor burn. I was shocked and elated, which is why I will be singing Olie’s praises for a while.
Now onto aftershaves. I’ve tried a bunch and the only one that I trust can be found at your local drugstore!
Nivea For Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm, $5.50.
I’m surprised at how many aftershaves still burn when they hit your skin. Like, I just dragged five razor blades across my neck and and didn't die, now I have to rub something all over my freshly shorn skin that’s going to make it burn? What is this? "Saw 4"? Save your dad’s skin from all that and get him this aftershave.
It’s a very thin aftershave balm that glides on without any burning, and you only need about a nickel-sized drop to do the trick. It lasts forever. I always end up going back to this trusty drugstore product because it’s the only thing I’ve found that really protects from discomfort, redness, itching, and unsightly razor burn. I think that the whole reason I started using this is because I stole it from my dad, so we’ve come full circle!
Last thing, the Nivea aftershave has no fragrance, so it’s not going to anger his skin or interfere with his cologne, which is something that always bothers me. Don't stack your scents.
And speaking of cologne…
Chances are, the fragrance your dad is wearing sucks, so you should buy him an updated scent.
Gentlemen Only by Givenchy, $61.
Whether it’s clothing, accessories, or fragrances, Givenchy always gets it right. Gentlemen Only is one of their latest offerings, and it’s an instant classic. It opens with mandarin, nutmeg, and pepper, giving way to cedar and patchouli, with incense and musk at its base.
The scent is built around bringing out the incense, instead of burying it. The woody notes are a nice compliment that help warm up the scent, and the citrus at the top adds just enough sweetness.
It’s fresh, clean, cool, very wearable, and great for a man of any age, at any time of year. He'll smell inviting and sophisticated without smelling like a pile of foliage or a gay bar.
What are you getting your dad for Father's Day? What are your favorite men's products? Tell me everything down below!
Tynan is anxious on Twitter @TynanBuck.
