Many people struggle to decide what to gift the men in their lives for the holidays, and we’ve been told that the best gifts for men are things he needs but wouldn’t think to buy for himself. So if you pay close attention, the men in your life have probably mentioned a thing or two they’ve been putting off buying — maybe it’s the winter jacket they’ve been meaning to buy since September or the luggage set they needed to replace two vacations ago. And there are more opportunities to find that perfect gift, since men’s skin-care and self care has come a long, long way.
Now that more men are embracing an expansive skin-care routine — and the myth that most men wash their face with a bar of soap and call it a day has been busted — Sephora is an ideal spot to snag a gift set for the guy in your life. This could even be the year you finally put your best guy friend on to your own favorite skin-care brand (or just sunscreen, at the very least). Of course, there’s the timeless option of a classic cologne. Both your gadget-obsessed dad and sneaker-head brother could likely benefit from a new scent in their (maybe non-existent) fragrance arsenal.
So if you’re on a mission to upgrade a man’s life this holiday season, look no further than this gift guide full of of gift ideas where you’re bound to a find a gift or two that are better than a gift card from categories including grooming, self-care, and clothing that will illicit the biggest smile on his face.
Fragrance
Whether the man you’re gifting is a cologne expert or exclusively uses Axe deodorant as his fragrance, both Issey Miyake’s L’Eau d’Issey Eau & Cèdre and Acqua di Parma’s Oud Eau de Parfum are ideal options. Both have a warm, woody scent profile, with the lighter Eau & Cèdre boasting notes like cardamom and patchouli and Oud Eau de Parfum skewing a bit heavier with some cedarwood, sandalwood, and musk.
Dior’s Sauvage has been very popular on #PerfumeTok this year, and now has a reputation for being a thirst trap in liquid form. Top notes of amberwood and pepper give the scent a spicy, woody tilt while bergamot adds a crisp finish. Burberry Hero has a similar profile, with notes of bergamot, cedarwood, and juniper. Giorgio Armani’s Code Parfum, the brand’s newest launch, is a woody scent blend that mixes tonka bean with notes of iris, sage and bergamot for long-lasting wear.
Grooming & Skin Care
Grooming is a significant part of many men’s beauty routines, so a quality grooming kit is a no-brainer. Bevel’s shave kit comes with a razor, pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and a post-shave balm, while the Manscaped kit is a full body grooming tool set complete with an electric trimmer, body wash, and deodorant that comes in a portable bag perfect for travel.
Help the guy in your life upgrade his skin-care and hair-care routines with these two all-in-one sets. The Juices & Botanics Juice Box for men comes with a shampoo, conditioner, co-wash, hair creams, a turban towel, and a beard oil, all of which contain nourishing oils like grapeseed, jojoba marula, and argan.
Pharelle’s line Humanrace is ideal for that guy who loves his medicine cabinet to look neat and stylish. The routine pack contains the brand’s three inaugural products: the Rice Powder Cleanser, Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator, and the Humidifying Cream, all of which were formulated in collaboration with board-certified dermatologist and Humanrace cofounder Elena Jones, MD.
As for a celebrity brand that anyone would enjoy receiving, Idris and Sabrina’s S’Able Labs core collection is the perfect regimen for those new to skin-care. Movie star Idris Elba and his wife created the three-step skin-care line with ingredients rooted in their African heritage like Somalian Quasil and Ghanaian shea butter. It also makes for a perfect couples’ skin-care experience.
