Men's grooming: facial bliss

There was a time when anything more than a hunk of carbolic soap and a basin of cold water would be treated with disdain, if not outright suspicion. But, as an increasing number of men are starting to realise, there are considerable benefits to taking care of our skin and, in particular, our faces.

While each season comes with its own challenges, Hong Kong’s hot, humid, fumefilled summers bring a multitude, and thus proper skincare is essential to feeling and looking refreshed. We spoke to experts at three luxury grooming salons from around the world for the most suitable treatments and easy ways to replicate them at home.

Gentlemen’s Tonic in Central’s Landmark Atrium has been providing male-centric spa treatments – with a focus on the barber’s chair and facial care – since opening in 2011.

Head barber Kemal Mehmet says that as summer approaches, the demand for refreshing and detoxifying facials increases. He recommends their 55-minute Detox treatment (HK$950), as it concentrates on tackling the build-up of natural oils during the really humid months. It includes a hot towel, deep extraction of the pores, a detoxifying mask that helps balance oils without drying, and finishes with a cold towel and cooling moisturiser to help retain the skin’s “natural position”. Mehmet notes that the spa uses a wide range of organic products in its treatments, and that the Detox facial includes both SkinCeuticals and Gentlemen’s Tonic products.

“Nothing can really re-create the spa experience, but knowing which luxury products best suit you and having a daily ritual is a start in replicating the results,” says Mehmet, who notes that therapists will suggest products and offer instructions for a routine to follow at home.

To that end, Gentlemen’s Tonic recently launched a new skincare collection that includes a Soothing Aftershave Balm, an Exfoliating Facial Scrub and a Daily Moisturiser.

It also stocks SkinCeuticals, whose Clarifying Clay Masque has 5 per cent hydroxy acid to exfoliate dead skin cells, and chamomile to soothe the skin.

To combat the summer heat and grime, international chain Hommage – which has outlets in London, New York and Dubai, among others – suggests its Signature Facial performed simultaneously by two therapists.

Founder and CEO Tom Wilscam describes it as “an all-inclusive facial treatment tailored to your skin’s specific needs, designed to minimise pores and fine lines, soothe irritated skin and brighten the complexion”.

The treatment features the brand’s Achieve mask, which contains naturally occurring bioactive silt collected from two freshwater lakes in eastern Europe.