Grooming tips from Canada’s hottest male celebs

Men need to groom too

Sales for men’s grooming products are up in North America, according to market researchers-no surprise if you’ve seen drugstore aisles beefed up with male-targeted products.

And beyond the most popular items, like shower gels, Canadian men are starting to appreciate the benefits of a skincare routine; according to a survey of Canadian men by Nivea, guys spend 10.5 minutes a day taking care of their skin.

Besides being thicker and oilier than women’s skin, says Montreal-based Danielle LaRoche, national director of public relations for Clarins Canada, men’s skin is “subjected to aggressors including regular shaving, which dehydrates the skin. That can cause irritation and discomfort, as well as signs of premature aging.” She says men generally want oil-free products-ones that don’t feel sticky, or leave any residue. “For men, it has to be simple,” says LaRoche. For example, on Clarins’ products for men, there’s a “how-to-apply” pictograph on the packaging. (LaRoche offers this tip for men: “When you’re applying a face or eye cream, don’t rub it in-pat it on, and go easy.”)

Carole Rissmann, director of marketing for Beiersdorf Canada (makers of Nivea), also has some advice. “Men who already shave and are looking to adopt a basic skincare regimen should follow this routine: Cleanse, shave, apply after-shave, moisturize. If you are not a shaver, cleanse and moisturize daily.”

Here’s some guy-friendly advice from Canadian celebs:

Image: ThinkStock

Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds (People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010) is a 36-year-old Vancouver native who recently married his Green Lantern co-star Blake Lively. He is the face of the Boss Bottled collection. Reynolds says that, when it comes to personal style, “I love suits. One thing I love about living in New York is you can get away with wearing a suit to dinner. In L.A., you see nothing but people in flip-flops. I mostly like a classic style, and never feel more comfortable than when I’m in a black suit with a black tie.” It makes sense, then, that Reynolds also believes in the idea of a signature scent. “I think it’s a personal thing. I don’t think it’s necessarily a good thing when someone buys it for you. So I’m pretty much the captain of that ship. Personally, I like a really masculine scent, and always have.”

Image: Guy Aroche

Chuck Hughes

Celebrity chef Hughes, 36, is chef and co-owner of Montreal hotspots Garde Manger and Le Bremner. Hughes, a native of Montreal, is host of Food Network Canada’s Chuck’s Day Off. Earlier this year, HarperCollins Canada published his cookbook Garde Manger. Hughes, whose favourite foods are tattooed on his arms-bacon, lemon meringue pie, lobster and arugula, to name a few-was not shy to, ahem, spill the beans: “When I’m not in the kitchen or filming Chuck’s Day Off, I’m playing hockey, and among my teammates I’m known as the guy with the funky soap or body wash. I’m always using a dessert-smelling body wash-milk and honey, or vanilla and coconut. Any brand will do. And I gotta have my shower pouf!”

As for skincare products, “I like Burt’s Bees Milk and Honey Body Lotion-again, love the smell.” For a scrub, Hughes uses St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

And he gives Best Health readers a tip for working in the kitchen: “Hand hygiene is important. I always keep my hands clean, and my nails neat and at a good length. I think that’s a good tip for outside the kitchen as well.”

Image: Food Network Canada

Ben Mulroney

Anchor of CTV’s etalk, Montreal-born Mulroney, 36, is a contributor to ABC’s Good Morning America weekend edition, and divides his time between Toronto and New York. “I try to get a haircut every two to three weeks. It sounds like a lot, but I don’t like that “freshly cut” look, so going to the barber often keeps it a consistent length. Oh, and by the way, I’ve been going to the same barber, Arturo, for 11 years. If it ain’t broke, never fix it!

“The product I use in my hair is KMS California Clay Crème. A dollop the size of a penny worked into wet hair, and I’m done. I used to use a lot more product, for which I was perhaps unfairly raked over the coals, but today, less is more.

“For skin care, I can’t shave without my Dermalogica products. The company makes a very easy-to-use, three-step shave that involves a pre-shave guard, a soothing shave cream and a post-shave balm. It sounds like a lot of work, but if you’ve ever battled ingrown hairs or razor burn, you’ll be so glad you took two extra minutes in the morning to take care of your face.”

Mulroney says nearly every face cream he uses has SPF, and that “after a day in TV makeup, a face scrub feels great.” Does he agree that healthy lifestyle habits can keep you looking and feeling your best? “When you get to be 36 years old, exercise, sleep and water are the Holy Trinity of looking as good as you can.” 

Image: CTV

Jordan Sisco

The wide receiver (#12) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders grew up in Regina as a fan of the team. Sisco, 24, recently launched a clothing company called Noddingham with two others. When going from a game to a social event, Sisco says he depends on “some hair putty or wax-I like the dry look. I like to use cocoa butter on my body after showers. For shaving gel, I use Nivea for Men, as it makes my skin nice and soft-no razor burn. And for deodorant, I use either Old Spice or Dove.” Sisco does wear fragrance: Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Image: The Saskatchewan Rough Rider Football Club

Milos Raonic

Yugoslavia-born Raonic, 21, who grew up in Thornhill, Ont., is a rising star in the professional tennis world. In 2012, he became an ambassador for Biotherm Homme in North America. “Playing tennis, I am often outside and so I always use sunscreen. Also, because I train so much, I take a lot of showers and really feel the need to hydrate my skin-the same way that I need to hydrate my body when I train and compete. Biotherm Homme textures are light, non-greasy, very pleasant. To me, the Aquapower moisturizer stands out because it is the last product I put onto my skin, and I love how my skin feels after I apply it.”

Image: Biotherm Homme Canada

Alexandre Despatie

The 27-year-old world champion diver from Laval, Que., is a two-time Olympic silver medallist, and a brand ambassador for Gillette. When he isn’t training, Despatie works in sports broad-casting. Because he spends a lot of time in chlorine and shaves daily, Despatie says hydration is key for his skin. “Gillette HydraSmooth shaving gel’s shea butter and glycerin help hydrate. The ProGlide Power razor makes shaving fun-the micropulse technology helps raise hair for a smooth shave.” For hair, he likes Garnier styling products-including hairspray.

Image: Ron Moody

Alexandre Bilodeau

The freestyle skier from Rosemère, Que., made history and thrilled the nation when he won our first gold medal on Canadian soil at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Bilodeau, 25, and his brother Frederic, who has cerebral palsy, are Canada’s ambassa­dors for World Cerebral Palsy Day. Bilodeau says Frederic has “taught me to push my limits and never give up on my dreams.”

We asked Bilodeau how he protects his skin from the sun when training. “I wear sunscreen mainly when we are at high altitude. With its reflection off the snow, the sun burns the skin more quickly so we need to have strong protection like SPF 45
to 60, and at least SPF 15 to protect lips.”

As for going from the slopes to a social event, “after showering, my aftershave and parfum are Armani Code Sport. For my hair, I use Wella’s clay.” When asked if he’s gotten into men’s skincare products, Bilodeau says: “I am very, very simple. I think to stay active in life is the best way to take care of yourself!”

Image: ShootStudio.ca

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