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Grooming Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep

By Jennifer Ryan Jones Published July 26, 2024

Start the New Year with these easy grooming resolutions. You don’t have to break the bank or add hours to your morning routine to feel accomplished. Consider these simple reminders and make this your best-looking year yet. We promise following these tips will be way easier than cleaning up your diet or fixing your finances.

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Plan on quitting smoking? Whiten your pearly whites and you’ll brighten up your whole face. Reward yourself at the dentist with a pricey laser treatment or DIY with Crest 3d White Luxe Professional Effects Whitestrip Teeth Whitening Kit. You’ll start seeing results in just three days and a super bright smile by the end of the month.

Clean up

Not all-facial hair is created equal. If it’s your first go at cleaning up your brows, you may want to have them shaped by a professional. The trick is to keep your brows looking as natural as possible and never over-tweeze. The Panasonic ER430K Vacuum Ear/Nose Trimmer will help you get rid of unruly nose and ear hair, as well as any runaway beard or mustache hairs. It comes with a mirrored cap to help locate strays and a vacuum system to whisk away fresh cut hairs.

Be smooth.

Leave the nicks, cuts, razor burn and bumps in 2015. Keep your razor armed with a fresh blade to minimize the bloodshed and irritation. Set yourself up with a Dollar Shave Club subscription and you’ll never be dull. Choose one of three blades: The Humble Twin, The 4X or The Executive. They’ll land on your doorstep exactly when you need them.

Protect yourself

You’ve come a long way baby. You know you don’t have to settle on a greasy sunscreen or a moisturizer that doesn’t contain an SPF. Hydrate and protect your skin every single day, including the winter months with Neutrogena Triple Protect Face Lotion with sunscreen SPF 20.

Get organized

Clean out the medicine cabinet. Ditch anything you’re not using and replace products that have seen better days. Travel light this year. Gather all your crucial grooming supplies and stash them in Owen and Fred’s “Hey Handsome” Shaving Kit. You’ll streamline your daily routine and be ready to jet at a moments notice.

Jennifer Ryan Jones

Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual

Jennifer Ryan Jones is a fashion and grooming expert who contributed regularly to The Manual and AskMen.com. Her past…

Grooming

Mineral vs chemical sunscreen: Which one should you actually use?

mens skincare routine changes to make man in sunscreen

Even on cloudy days or days spent indoors, wearing sunscreen every day is a non-negotiable part of a healthy skincare routine. Not only can excess sunlight cause premature aging of the skin, but it's also critical to wear sunscreen to protect against various types of skin cancer. When choosing sunscreen, you'll find two main types -- chemical and mineral sunscreen. The mineral vs chemical sunscreen debate has been an ongoing one, as both forms of sunscreens have their pros and cons. Below, we'll dive into the pros and cons of each type of sunscreen to help you choose the best option.

Pros and cons of chemical sunscreen
Chemical sunscreens, often made of chemicals such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octinoxate, or other similar chemicals, are absorbed into the skin when applied. This type of sunscreen is generally easy to apply to the face and body and absorbs UV rays that touch the skin.
Pro: hydrating for the skin
Due to the thin and blendable nature of chemical sunscreens, they are generally hydrating for the skin and can be added to cosmetics such as moisturizers, skin tints, or foundation products.
Pro: sweat and water resistant
Many cosmetics that market "SPF included" contain chemical sunscreens. People also like chemical sunscreens because they are quite sweat and water-resistant.
Pro: no white residue
Chemical sunscreens also blend well into the skin and do not leave any white residue. If you think back to the sunscreen you used as a kid, chances are it was a chemical sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens have become more popular in recent years as consumers are paying more attention to the ingredients in their skincare and health products.
Con: not the best for sensitive skin
Although chemical sunscreens are easy to use, they are not always a great choice for those with skin conditions or sensitive skin. The chemicals found in this type of sunscreen can cause allergic reactions or worsen conditions such as melasma.
Con: chemical ingredients and environmental impact
In addition, some of the chemicals used in these products may be linked to cancer, as trace amounts get absorbed into the bloodstream. Another con to consider is the environmental impact of chemical sunscreen, which may damage reefs and other marine environments.

Grooming

How often should you change your razor blades?

Razor being rinsed under water.

It's a hassle and an annoyance, but when it comes to your daily shaving ritual something that you absolutely don't want to skip is changing out your razor blade. Trying to shave with a dull razor is bad for your skin and can cause razor bumps, plus creating a higher likelihood of problems like infections, and it will do a poor job of removing hair, resulting in a patchy shave. If you're not up for trying out a straight razor, then you'll need to get into the habit of regularly swapping out the replaceable blades on your razor or using fresh disposable razors instead. Knowing when to swap out your old blades for new ones will help keep your skin happy and your face looking its best, so our guide can help you work out how often you need to change your razor blades.

How often you should change your razor blades
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, you should change your razor blades or throw away disposable razors after every five to seven shaves. High-quality razor blades should last five to seven shaves if you take care of them properly and keep them clean. However, cheaper disposable razors may wear out sooner.
Signs it’s time to change your razor blades include skin irritation after shaving, a less close shave, patchy areas or spots missed, skin that still feels rough after, dullness of the blades, feeling hairs are getting pulled instead of cut, and excessive friction of the blades across your skin that it feels like you have to drag it over your skin.
Moreover, a razor that has an accumulation of gunk that can’t be rinsed away should be immediately discarded, as this causes nicks and infections by dragging unevenly across your skin and introducing harbored bacteria into your pores.

Grooming

Make grooming easy: The 8 best beard trimmers to get the job done

Whatever look you're going for, one of these trimmers will get you there

Smiling businessman with brown bag walking in city

If you want to be the envy of facial hair enthusiasts everywhere, growing a beard is only half the battle. Once your facial hair goes beyond a certain length, it starts to get messy, and even the best beard-styling products will only get you so far before it’s time to bring out a good power tool (and we do love power tools.) Enter the beard trimmer. Using a good trimmer on the regular may be what some men need to keep their facial beasts under control. Depending on how fast their hair grows, others may want to use one between visits to a barber, maintaining style daily. If you are trying to develop a longer beard, you still need to trim the ends to ensure you keep the hairs strong and healthy, and it will even help them grow faster in some instances.

Either way, there is a wide range of options, from value-priced to expensive, from simple solutions to those with significant horsepower. Most include comb attachments to cut hairs to specific lengths, allowing for elaborate shaping and styling. Cordless models offer convenience with as much power as you should need. Below are some of our picks for the best beard trimmers on the market.