I’m writing this post on behalf of Mr. Geeks. He is your typical man when it comes to beauty and grooming: very anti-product and when he finds something that he likes, he sticks to it forever. No exaggeration.

I asked him to write this post himself but he doesn’t know the beauty jargon. If he did post an entry, all we’d get is “This is X. I like it. It works. /grunt”

There is one beauty/grooming tool in particular that he constantly raves about: a nail clipper. Specifically, Sally Hansen Clip and Catch Nail Clipper ($4.99 at Well.ca, and drugstores). It solves the first-world problem of getting nail clippings all over the floor and well, everything. A plastic compartment catches clippings until you’re done, then you can dispose of them properly in the sink. Simple but kinda genius, eh? “Why hasn’t anyone else thought of this?” He tells all his friends about it. Haha.

A black background is manly, don’t you think? I briefly considered using bacon as a backdrop…

I gave him this after he complained of irritated dry skin on an especially cold week: Dot & Lil Repair + Calm After-Shave Serum ($30 online). The serum moisturizes with rice bran and avocado oils, then calms the skin with calendula. This is lightly scented essential oils of tea tree and cedarwood, so it doesn’t smell girly. This oil-based serum soaks into the skin immediately, which he really liked. Boys don’t like anything greasy so this one gets a thumbs up. I noticed that it does moisturize well with only a couple drops for his chin and cheek area. I used this to calm my skin post-wax and it is excellent for that, too.

I gotta give him props for trying. One day I presented him with a box of products, including Head & Shoulders Deep Clean Shampoo ($5.99 at Well.ca, drugstores and mass market stores). He actually read the instructions, leaving this shampoo for several minutes before rinsing. “I can feel it working,” he tells me. “It feels tingly.” That’s as much of a review one can get out of that guy. Anyways, this stuff is supposed to remove 100% of dandruff, buildup and grease. I admit that I’ve borrowed this in the shower as well, because I love the citrus-y, minty scent in the morning.

The one cologne he uses is YSL La Nuit De L’Homme Le Parfum. He doesn’t wear it everyday but when he does, it’s “because [he wants] to smell nice.” Ladies, if you haven’t sniffed this one yet, you must. It’s a very irresistible scent that’s light enough for the day, but it really is more of an evening cologne. From Fragrantica: top notes are bergamot, anise and pepper; middle notes are lavender, french labdanum and fruity notes; base notes are vetyver, patchouli and vanille.

What’s the man in your life (boyfriend / husband / brother / father) attitude towards beauty and grooming products? Does he love it as much as you, or is he a bit like Mr. Geeks?