Written by: Adrienne Brookbanks
The days where men only used toothpaste and aftershave are long gone. In the past, men who used grooming products were thought to fall into one of two categories: pretty boys or David Beckham (and if you aren’t David Beckham, buying moisturisers and facial products were frowned upon).
Today, it’s an entirely different ball game. According to Packagedfacts.com, the male-specific grooming products market was valued at US$19.7-billion worldwide in 2009 and it is expected to grow to $US28-billion by 2014. More is being spent on grooming products than ever before, thanks to the ongoing rise of the middle-class sectors, marketers’ more sophisticated appeals to men and an enhanced connectivity to all corners of the world via the internet.
Whether you consider yourself to be a metro man or simply like to take care of your appearance, there’s more to grooming than buying great products. Sustainable, eco-friendly solutions not only offer fantastic results, but they also contribute to a greener planet. While not all of the products listed below are on the shelves at Clicks and Edgars, most of them can be bought online (which is a good thing, seeing as a recent poll on Ape to Gentlemanshowed that 53.3% of the readers preferred buying their grooming products online).
- Bulldog’s range of fair trade products: Rhodri Ferrier and Simon Duffy decided to found a small company that would manufacture fair trade grooming products for men in 2006. Their aim was to “provide men with fantastic grooming products without the use of man-made chemicals such as parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, artificial colours, or synthetic fragrances.” Bulldog’s range of products is also the first male skin care brand to be recognised and approved by the BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) under their Humane Cosmetics Standard.
- Florame organic deodorant: This organic deodorant for men is produced without any raw petrochemical materials and at least 95% of the ingredients are natural (or of natural origin). They also contain no synthetic colouring or fragrances.
- Every Man Jack: This range of eco skincare and grooming products are not only preservative, dyes, phthalates and paraben-free – they are also affordable. All products from Every Man Jack are under US$4.99 (around R40), which is extremely cost-effective when compared to other eco grooming products on the market. The clean cut graphic design on the products combined with the minimalistic packaging (the products don’t come with unnecessary frills – only plastic wrapping and boxes that are 100% recyclable) will definitely make this a hit amongst men. There is also a choice between scented and fragrance-free products and none of the products aren’t tested on animals.
- Lavera organic aftershave: This environmentally friendly aftershave is made from sea minerals and a number of herbal moisturising ingredients. The product is approved for vegans and it was designed specifically for men’s facial skin.
Some new releases:
In a press release for the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association of South Africa, Sharon Bolel of Sharon Bolel Chemical Marketing (SBCM) – a company that sources ranges of high quality natural cosmetic ingredients – says that there has been an increase in the number of cosmetic product developers looking for male grooming products formulations to best suite local preferences, skin types and climate conditions.
SBCM recently started supplying B&T Company’s (an Italy-based leader in the development of olive-based personal care grooming products) product range to the South African market – the products are green and all raw materials are sourced through responsible exploitation of natural resources. Some of the eco-friendly products in this range include body lotion, suncare products, face wash and hair conditioner.
The popular Environ brand has also launched a range for men, which includes shower gel, moisturiser and shaving oil that contains Vitamen E and Tea Tree Oil. Environ describes their new green range, called Environ Men, as a solution formulated exclusively for men that is uncomplicated and simple to use.
Burt’s Bees, a company that provides natural, organic and environmentally-friendly products (which used to be mainly for women) has also launched a grooming kit that contains shaving cream, aftershave, lip balm, shower gel and soap (this would make a great gift for a friend or your dad too).
The liveeco team
