The busiest months of the year are here; after the festive days, the wedding and party months await us. If it’s your big day this year or you’re on groomsman duties or have a packed party calendar, one thing is for sure that your skin and hair will go through high levels of stress due to external aggressors, pollution, erratic sleep cycle, and disturbed diet. To redeem your grooming routine from this stress, we reached out to India’s leading dermatologists to give us one essential product or ingredient pick for the season which you must invest in:
All-in-One
Dr Jaishree Sharad, Celebrity Dermatologist, Author & Founder Skinfinitii
“Men like to keep it simple so rather than suggesting multiple products, I’d like to suggest a face cream with multiple ingredients infused in one. A cream with peptides, retinol, and moisturising and melanin reducing ingredients is all you need; it reduces wrinkles and fine lines; improves skin firmness and elasticity; evens out skin tone and reduces hyperpigmentation; boosts hydration for a radiant complexion and a gradual release system of three different retinoids minimises irritation.”
MW recommends: Sesderma Reti Age Anti-Aging Cream
Soothe, Calm, Relax
Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Celebrity Dermatologist, Author & Founder of Yavana Aesthetic Clinic
Hypochlorous acid in skincare is an easy-to-use product for men this wedding season. It can be used on acne prone skin or after sun exposure to calm and soothe the skin. It works well for sensitive skin too. One can use it as spray mist too. Spray it on the face in the morning after washing the face and follow it up with your usual routine.
MW recommends: Minimalist HOCL Skin Relief Spray
All Round Protection
Dr Kiran Sethi, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Found of Isya Aesthetics
“I like succinic acid for men–it cuts down the grease, controls oil and evens out the skin and makes it look brighter. Use it in toner or overnight serum. For those who are having under-eye circles from partying too much, under-eye products with ingredients like hisperidin works on vascular clumping that occurs under the eye causing discolouration. Thermal water and sunblock sprays are great for men during wedding season and one can keep spraying them throughout the day. These are cooling, transparent, prevent oxidation and sun damage throughout the day, leave no white cast and are easy to apply.”
MW recommends: The Derma Co 1% Hyaluronic Quick-Absorbing Sunscreen Spray and Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-In-1 Mist
Beard but Better
Dr Batul Patel, Celebrity dermatologist & Medical Director, The Bombay Skin Clinic
“A perfect grooming tip for men for the wedding season is to know how to style their hair and beard to keep it frizz-free. I suggest using a hydrating shine wax rich in organic argan oil, linseed oil and hydrolised collagen. Look for something that’s free from phosphate, SLES, SLS, paraben, and EDTA. This kind of product is safe for hair and beard area and will cause no allergic reactions or hair damage.”
MW recommends: Nashi Argan Style Shine Wax
Targeted Solutions
Dr Geetika Mittal, Medical Director, ISAAC Luxe and Founder of SkinByDrG
“I suggest using products that target your skin concern as the stress and hectic wedding days may aggravate these issues. For example: use 1 per cent Encapsulated Salicylic Acid Foaming Face Wash for acne and pimples, 2 per cent alpha arbutin and hyaluronic acid face serum for dark spots and hyperpigmentation, 1 per cent retinol face serum with bakuchiol for anti-ageing. However, don’t introduce any new products, especially actives right before the big day, and start early after consulting with your dermatologist.”
MW recommends: The Derma Co 1% Salicylic Acid Foaming Daily Face Wash
Quick Fixes
Dr Apratim Goel, Dermatologist & Founder, Cutis Skin Solution
“There are many products that men can make use of during the hectic wedding time. Dry shampoos can be used occasionally as they give volume as well as texture. Also, one can use conditioning balm for beard grooming, brow fixing gel for setting brows and even beard hair. Don’t use these regularly but can be used as a quick fix. One other quick hack that really works is using a stretch-mark cream on the under-eye area. It helps relax wrinkles and fine lines.”
MW recommends: Anomaly Dry Shampoo and Benefit Cosmetics 24-HR Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel
Glow Getter
Dr Shefali Trasi Nerukar, Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Trasi Clinic and La Piel Skin Clinic
“One of the grooming products that we cannot miss is ampoules containing licorice extracts, active oat and glycerin. It is a must to calm and restore the skin's balance. It can be used in all skin types and in both skin genders. Licorice in the ampoules helps in decreasing inflammation and irritation. It also has a soothing effect on sensitive skin. Oat actives also calm and desensitises the skin. It has anti-allergic properties that decrease itchiness, inflammation and erythema. Glycerin has a hydrating effect on skin.
These ampoules also help in restoring the skin’s elasticity and firmness. It can replenish the hydration levels and smoothens to give a rejuvenated look.
One can use the ampoules after coming back from a good workout or hectic office work. The ampoules should be broken at the neck and applied once or twice daily. Thus, by restoring the hydration one can use this molecule as an anti-ageing product by men who do not want sticky sweaty creams. On treks and sunny outings, these ampoules protect from sunburns as it reduces inflammation and erythema.”
MW recommends: Innisfree Black Tea Youth Ampoule