While the men’s beauty industry has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, partners across the globe still find themselves surreptitiously dipping into their girlfriends’ beauty stashes, pilfering their go-to essentials like squirrels hoarding acorns ahead of winter.
Suddenly, our overpriced shampoos are running on empty, while luxury night creams and serums are being slathered on with the same abandon as suncream. All in the name of ‘just trying it out’, of course – and certainly not a reflection on their masculinity.
No matter, it always fills us with joy when we see our beaus taking an interest in beauty. What feels like a win for us is also a win for them - their neglected skincare and shineless curls suddenly receiving a bout of new life.
Now, at Hello! Fashion, we’re all about transparency. There’s no gatekeeping here, even when it comes at the expense of our male companions. We’re happy to share the spoils if it means dismantling a few outdated notions of manliness along the way. Read on to discover the beauty products swiped and sanctioned by our boyfriends and husbands below.
Clare Pennington, Editor
"I popped this in our shower recently and was horrified to see my husband liberally slathering himself in the stuff from head-to-toe. But I can't really blame him - it smells divine and leaves your skin feeling super soft and smooth. But he has yet to learn that you don't need handfuls of the stuff..."
- Body Wash: Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Body & Hand Wash 250ml, £38.00, CULT BEAUTY
- Eye Patches: NIP+FAB Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Hydration Jelly Eye Patches (20 Pairs), £19.95, LOOKFANTASTIC
- Hairbrush: LABEL.M Detangling Brush, £19.00, TONI & GUY
- Sleep Spray: Sleep Plus Pillow Spray 100ml, £38.00, THISWORKS
Tania Leslau, Fashion Features Editor
"There are three standouts here. First, cooling jelly eye patches, which I’ve trained him to keep in the fridge ready for blurry-eyed mornings. Then there’s the LABEL.M Detangling Brush, a gift from my mum that massages the scalp and makes his dark curls look divine – an instant hit. Finally, my trusty This Works pillow spray, which I’ve used for years. We’ve both grappled with insomnia over the years, so spritzing it before bed has become a shared ritual of sorts."
Lauren Ramsay, Deputy Digital Editor
"My fiancé once asked if he could try some of my moisturisers because, apparently, 'your products are better than mine.' And after letting him try the Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm, I can confirm I’ve been the victim of a skincare theft - I’ve not seen the pot since. In all fairness, it’s incredibly moisturising and smells lovely without being overly perfumed. I’d steal it too to be honest.
He also decided to help himself to my Kérastase Blond Absolu shampoo and conditioner, despite having the darkest hair imaginable and seemingly failing to notice the very obvious word 'Blond' on the bottles. He came to me and said, 'Wow, your purple shampoos have made my hair so soft.' I nearly had a heart attack thinking he’d been washing his hair with actual purple shampoo and was about to turn up looking like a highlighter. Thankfully, he was just accidentally treating his hair to a luxury salon-worthy wash. At this point, I’m convinced he thinks my entire haircare collection is a free trial he never has to return."
- Hair Set: Best Anti-Frizz Curl Styling Set, £47.50, COLOURWOW
Molly Saunders, Creative Lead
"This duo is a firm favourite in our house, and I can always tell when it’s been spritzed post-shower…even when I haven’t been the one to do it! I can’t really blame him, as these are hands down the best curly hair products I’ve ever used. Having trialled and tested my fair share of curl creams and sprays, I can recommend this duo without hesitation. If you’re in the market for a little curl love, these are your guys."
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