When it comes to shopping for grooming products, we’ve never had it so good. Twenty-four-hour access, ultra-convenient delivery and endless choice are all standard these days.
It’s easy to forget how limited it used to be back in the day, with only the local town pharmacy to source from. Now, you can live a half a day’s drive from the nearest metropolis and browse like a local. Be grateful, too, if you’ve never had to run the gauntlet to get the more sensitive personal care items; anonymity and privacy count for a lot when you’re buying sex toys or condoms for the first time, or trying out a treatment for hair loss or erectile dysfunction. Madness even got a chart-topping hit out of the whole ordeal back in the 1980s with ‘House of Fun’.
Today’s teenagers will never know the horror of approaching a brightly-lit makeup counter in a bustling department store; the ducking and diving around the hair colour aisle to avoid being seen; or having to hide ladies’ waxing strips and fake tan under your food shop, all without fear of the embarrassment of bumping into someone you know.
The siren call of the ubiquitous Amazon Prime can be hard to resist, but in this cost of living crisis, we like to make sure that we’re spending our hard-earned cash in the best way possible. That’s why we’re set to champion independent retailers, grassroots barbershops, or those who like to give a little back at the same time. In a competitive field, brands are working harder than ever to attract and retain customers.
Our favourite online destinations carry carefully curated edits of the most sought-after brands. They also cover every wellness need, offer additional deals and incentives to keep us coming back for more and wrap it all up in top-notch packaging. So, without further ado – let’s check out some of our best-loved male grooming stores.
Horace
Whether you’re building a core or complete routine and don’t want to spend a fortune or compromise on quality or sustainability, our first thought is always Horace. Made in France, Horace aims to create performance products using natural ingredients, often by listening to the needs and wants of its loyal fan base.
Itchy scalp? Thinning hair? Dark circles? Oily skin? Dry beard? Horace will take care of it all. Up for something new? Watermelon toothpaste and dark blue nail polish are just two of the quirkier discoveries you’ll find on site.
The Perks: 10% off with your first order, free gift and free delivery with orders over £50.
Fellow Barber
As one of the first contemporary barbershops on the block, Fellow Barber now boasts 12 locations across the hipster enclaves of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco, offering shaves, beard trimming, speedy treatments for the face/scalp and – a radical concept – pay-what-you-can for a hair cut.
On the website, prices are fixed in a more traditional manner. You can shop the full Fellow Barber range, including the season-specific shampoos: Summer Wash and Winter Wash. It also carries Jupiter haircare, Musgo Real shave products, skincare from ASYSTEM, Alder, Wonder Valley and Five Wits, retro sun care from Vacation, and fragrances from MCMC (we like Dude No.1), Abel, Cavern NY and Odin.
Exclusives: The signature Fellow Barber line and limited editions such as the Ezra Arthur x Fellow Barber pocket comb.
MR PORTER
MR PORTER entered the world of grooming almost a decade ago in 2013. The first brands to come on board with the premium menswear e-tailer include the mainstays: Baxter of California, Aēsop, Le Labo, Perricone MD, Malin + Goetz, D.R Harris, Czech & Speake and Santa Maria Novella.
It’s now grown to over 90 names covering the best in skincare, shaving, bath & body, fragrance and home fragrance, as well as accessories that span useful bathroom organisers from Tooletries, top of the range anti-ageing masks from Dr. Dennis Gross, and the most extra toothpaste squeezer from Lorenzi Milano that we’ve ever seen.
MR PORTER also regularly secures exclusive items that you won’t find anywhere else, such as 19-69 x Palm Angels Orange Kush Eau de Parfum and deluxe Brunello Cucinelli wash bags.
The Perks: We always get a kick from the personalised name cards that arrive with every purchase.
Liberty London
As one of London’s more intimate and historic department stores, it’s always worth paying Liberty a visit. But when you can’t pop by, let the store come to you. As one of the earliest stockists of harder-to-find, cult fragrance brands, Liberty stocks the best names including Creed, Frédéric Malle, Diptyque, Byredo, Vilhelm Parfumerie, Le Labo, Escentric Molecules and Jack, a fragrance by the actor Richard E. Grant.
As for all your skin- and haircare needs, it carries Aesop, Kiehl’s, Dermalogica, Malin + Goetz, Sisley Paris, Aveda and Davines.
The Perks: Collect loyalty points and receive £10 for every £200 spent, alongside free delivery with orders over £45 or $70.
Browns Fashion
A new player on the grooming scene, Browns has global clout and a long history as one of the most cutting-edge fashion retailers in the UK. Naturally, we’re keeping a close eye on what it can bring to our bathroom cabinet.
The next time you’re up for shopping exclusive items from the cream of London’s menswear talent, you can add Aēsop, Grown Alchemist, Haeckels, The Grey, Wood Copenhagen, Archiman, Doers of London and Patricks – plus a wealth of unisex skincare brands – to your cart.
The Perks: A Conscious Edit, for those who only want to purchase the most ethically-responsible products, plus a Club Loyalty program for regular spenders with many perks including free global shipping.
Mankind
Mankind was one of the first online grooming destinations ‘for men’ to borrow from women’s ranges and stock products like hair dye, home waxing kits and magnifying mirrors.
A one-stop-shop for all your grooming needs – whether that’s de-fuzzing your nether regions, reclaiming the bald spot, taming the monobrow or finding the right foundation to match your skin tone – it has a mammoth selection of brands and designer fragrances and every tool you could ever need to bring out your best self.
The Perks: Spend more and save with 10% off £40 and 20% off £60 orders, student and key worker discounts, plus international shipping.
Soko Glam
Founded in 2012 by Charlotte Cho and David K Cho, Soko Glam is one of the largest suppliers of Korean skincare in the US, stocking a wide range of genderless brands including COSRX, Neogen, Acwell and Sioris.
South Korea is a world leader in sheet masks, multi-purpose BB and CC creams and snail-mucin-infused skincare. What’s on our shopping list? The Canadian Clay Pore Cleanser from Neogen, Mediheal sheet masks and The Klog Soft Shield Pimple Patches to get that that spotless K Pop complexion.
The Perks: The tiered loyalty programme has benefits for members, VIP and VIP Premier based on your annual spend. There’s 15% off your first order, $10 for referring a friend and bonus points for recycling your empties.
Kiehl’s
The original NYC apothecary brand, Kiehl’s has a long history of making efficacious formulas that do what they say on the tin. The Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, Ultra Facial Cream, Ultra Light Daily UV Defense and the Midnight Recovery Concentrate are just a small selection of our go-to products.
Online tools such as the Instant Skin Reader make it easy for the brand to help identify your skin concerns and recommend a routine that’s right for you.
The Perks: 15% off your first order, next day delivery, free standard delivery and Kiehl’s Rewards gives extra points for consultations, referring a friend, recycling and a birthday gift.
Beast.
Beast is an online grooming emporium with bricks-and-mortar concessions in House of Fraser and Flannels (coming soon). With a tight edit of brands and Skin Match algorithm, it’s easy to find products based on age, sensitivity and need.
We recommend Marram Co.’s travel-friendly shave accessories, AKT deodorants – which come with a fancy gold applicator – and workout aids from Eurosport.
The Perks: International shipping available.
Humānery
Now a settled UK citizen, Sid Baveja’s experience of traditional beauty retail had left him feeling like an outsider. He launched Humānery (pronounced ‘human-airy’) to create a dedicated space for men’s self care that would combine education, advice and lifestyle across all aspects of wellness.
Easy to navigate, Humānery carries high-quality personal care products and accessories covering skincare, designer fragrance, haircare, post workout recovery, men’s makeup, oral health and sexual wellbeing.
Exclusive products include Devonine, a vegan, natural skincare line from South Korea; bundles from ADAM Grooming, Heath, Ruffians, Barber Pro and Simone Thomas Wellness; plus curated sets for specific hair and skin concerns in Humānery-branded wash bags.
The Perks: You can earn points with the reward programme (£1 off per 100 points) and subscribe and save on repeat products. Delivery is free for orders over £35, while the site currently offers £20 off all orders over £135, and international shipping.
Baxter of California
The original LA barbershop and West Coast purveyor of fine grooming products, Baxter of California is known for its performance formulas that use natural and ethically-sourced ingredients.
Shop cult skincare – like the zero plastic, delectably scented Vitamin Cleansing Bars and deeply detoxifying Clay Mask AHA – along with a wide wide range of shampoos and styling products that take care of all hair types and styles.
The Perks: 15% off your first order, 20% off for you and a friend. Subscribe and save. Free shipping on orders over $50.
Shop now at Baxter of California
Harry’s
Harry’s modus operandi has always been to to undercut the big brands and offer an affordable alternative to over-priced, over-engineered razor cartridges. Need to save some pennies? Blades still cost almost 50% less per cartridge than Gillette.
Harry’s keep expanding the collection, and now offer full skin, body, scalp and hair products at very reasonable prices. There’s something for every skin type, including brightening, anti-blemish and overnight treatments, simple and stylish razor handles, stands and travel covers.
The Perks: Flexible refill plan, single purchase or subscribe and save.
The post Skincare Saviours: The 13 Best Online Grooming Stores For Men appeared first on Ape to Gentleman.
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