Guys’ Grooming: When Is Multi-Use Too Much?

“Multi-use.” “Multi-function.” “2-in-1.” “3-in-1.” “10-in-1!” “It’s a carrot peeler…that’s also a toenail clipper!” “Do your taxes, while mowing your lawn!”

We’ve been conditioned to think it’s better to get things done fast, that time is a premium in our society that we absolutely cannot waste. And the best way to cut down on time is to do a whole bunch of things at once.

But at what cost? I saw the multi-taskers above in the drugstore the other day (yes, sometimes I peruse the aisles at Duane Reade just to see what’s the latest in men’s grooming. I don’t think that’s weird, do you?!?), and if this is the newest trend, I say: your new-found free time will come at the cost of your FACE.

…I mean, it’s not going to fall off or anything, but it’s not going to look its best.

I’m no skin scientist, but I’m pretty sure what you’ve got on your body and the skin on your face are like, wa-a-a-y different. I mean, I could look into it some more, but let’s just go on the trust issue that I’m right about most skin stuff because I’m a girl, and we care about this stuff. I mean, do you know how many things I use on my face? And none of them are the same things I use on my hair. And I don’t use anything for my hair on my body. I even have different things for different parts of my FACE (hello eye cream).

Do you know how many products girls use to keep their bodies clean and feeling soft? Thousands. Well, not thousands, but definitely the tens. Doing a quick inventory of my own shower and bathroom cabinet situation, I counted 18 different products I use on the regular. And that’s not even before we hit makeup. They include:

• shampoo
• conditioner
• weekly deep conditioning hair treatment

• body wash
• body scrub

• morning face wash
• nighttime face wash

• body lotion

• face primer
• daytime face lotion (with SPF)
• daytime face lotion (with SPF and color tint for coverage)
• nighttime face lotion
• eye cream
• retin-a night treatment that goes *under the nighttime face lotion twice a week

• heat protectant spray for hair
• hair styling lotion (that’s actually a spray)
• hair thickening “spritz”
• hair spray

 

And I swear on everything holy, I am low-maintenance.

 

Am I saying you should go all metro and start using tons of products? No, of course not. I want your routine to be much faster than mine, but not carrot-peeler-that’s-also-a-toenail-clipper faster. Not body wash that you put on your face faster.

Start with your hair. Move to your head. Use different products. Repeat.

Tell me:

Have you tried the multi-use men’s products?

If so, how were they?

How many products make up your normal body/face/hair grooming routine?