Male models grooming regimes

AKA what it's like to be really, really ridiculously good looking...

Our Beauty and Style Director, Lisa Oxenham, chatted to the next-gen models for our 'Men of the Moment' shoot for the December issue. Here are their grooming secrets and the products they swear by....

The Fitness Fanatic

Toby Huntingdon-Whiteley says “I couldn’t be a party boy - I’m a personal trainer and into health, nutrition and fitness. I like to wake up feeling refreshed and healthy, not hung-over."

Go-to hero products: “Using paraben-free products is important to me so I buy moisturiser and face wash from Planet Organic or Wholefoods. I use Kiehl’s Midnight Oil, and Floris Shaving Soap that I picked up from my dad when I started shaving. I can’t grow a beard or have stubble with my job so I shave a lot and that gives me spots around my chin area. To combat that I change my razorblades often, don’t touch my skin and keep it as clean as possible. I also go for facials at Dr Murad and use their Man Face Defence moisturiser.

Hair: “Washing my hair once a month is enough. It’s naturally very fluffy so I need it to be dirty to stay in place or I use V05 Extreme Matt Clay. I get a trim at George Northwoods.

Scent: “My grandad has worn Christian Dior Eau Sauvage since I was young so I wear that now along with Tom Ford Grey Vetiver.

Man-to-man tip: “I’m a great believer of healing from within and really notice a difference in my skin when I take high quality fish oil supplements. Norwegian ones are the best and I always rotate brands so I’m getting different nutrients. I stick to organic food so I’m not consuming pesticides or hormones that are injected into animals and I drink filtered water. After a workout I keep my system as clean as I can so I’ll just have Sun Warrior – an organic vegan pea protein with water – it’s all I need for my muscles to recover but for breakfast I’ll have a smoothie with almond milk, almond butter, chocolate protein powder, cocoa nibs and blueberries.”

The Skincare Purist

Alex Dragulele says “I always get mistaken for a girl which is awkward. My look is androgynous, which is good with the current gender fluidity thing, and I guess unique, so I get to work with brands like Burberry.

Go-to hero products: “Looking after my skin is my top priority so I see a derm once a month. She uses lactic acid, which clears my skin. I also make time at home for a proper routine after my morning shower and before I go to bed. I use an oil-free cleanser and moisturiser by day, which won’t block my pores - the cheaper the better as there are less ingredients, and potential for irritation, in the products. Then, at night I use a retinol-based cream. I also have a strict diet. I don’t have dairy, sugary carbs or coffee, and I drink two litres of water a day to flush everything out of my system leaving me with clearer skin. I also take vitamins A, E And D, zinc and omega 3. To relax my body and keep a fresh mind I meditate once or twice a week using the Headspace app."

Hair: “I wash my hair every day so my hair stays soft and I let my brows grow. I used to pluck under the arch and they got super thin, which is not a good look."

Scent: “I wear high-end perfumes for women. They are more interesting and have more depth than fragrances for men, which are very generic and smell the same to me. Cartier Basiser Voie Eau de Parfum is magical - I can smell every part of the flower - the stem, the roots, the leaves, the petals and I love Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere. When people smell me they say “Wow, are you wearing a woman’s fragrance?” It makes me feel unique.

Man-to-man tip: “I’m obsessed with Revitalash. It makes my lashes longer and helps my eyes to stand out.”

The Beauty Geek

Asa Freeman says “I’m a proper geek. I love knowing about the chemistry behind ingredients that specifically affect skin. I’m also into mathematical science and physics so product design in the grooming industry fascinates me. If it’s aesthetically pleasing it’s going to make me look more aesthetically pleasing, right? Plus, I’m much more inclined to buy it if it’s going to look good on my bathroom shelf.

Go-to hero products: “I’ve had sensitive, red and rashy skin my whole life and it’s taken me years to work out what is good for it. I exfoliate every other day, probably more than I should but instead of using a harsh scrub once a week I do it gently and more often. I’m a fan of Simple Smoothing Exfoliator as it has rice in it instead of plastic polymer beads. I then use Simple’s Deep Cleansing face mask and Aveeno, a wheat-based moisturiser to leave my face feeling soft and smooth.

Hair: “My hair is really curly so I need a product to define the waves - I use Paul Mitchell’s Curl Definer on special occasions.

Scent: “I love fragrance bottles – especially Jean Paul Gaultier’s vintage designs, the new Diesel Only the Brave and The Big Pony Collection by Ralph Lauren, which is almost like an art installation in my room.

Man-to-man tip: “For my skin I need calming products so when it flares up I use my moisturiser with a few drops of orange oil which is a natural anti-septic and anti-inflammatory.”

The Street Skater

Glen Abrantes says “I’m a professional roller-skater. I bought my first skates three years ago and now I can dance on skates, shuffle, chop, go backwards and jump. I go street skating through the centre of Stratford and on the roads in central London between midnight and 7am.

Go-to hero products: “I use coconut oil on my face and body after every shower - it makes my skin go really smooth. It’s a tip I picked up from my girlfriend.

Hair: “I’ve had a trim every week at the same barbers - DNL in Finsbury Park - since I was 10. I had a long Afro before that - I didn’t really want it, but the style was my mum’s idea. I kept telling her it’s too high maintenance and I just wanted a fresh, clean cut to feel neat so in the end she let me have it cut off! They use the old-fashioned technique of steaming my face with a hot towel. Ten pounds and it’s done - I walk out I feel like a new person with fresh skin and a new haircut. Sometimes I put some soft wax in my hair to make it wavy.

Scent: “I’m drawn to Paco Rabanne 1 Million, which sells the lifestyle of being rich and famous!

Man-to-man tip: “Choose a sport you love. I don’t like going to the gym and burning calories on a treadmill, so skating is my way of keeping fit. It helps with everything - stamina, strength, building muscle and endurance. Make sure you drink a lot of water. I drink three bottles of water a day to stay hydrated. Skating is thirsty work.”

The Traveller

Sebastian Suave says “I’m an explorer, I like to be on the road. I take on average one flight a week for work - it’s the big secret to having a healthy career in this industry. Just keep moving. Don’t just sit there and wait for it to come to you.

Go-to hero product: “Lucas Paw Paw is an amazing product, and essential oils like rose hip, sandalwood, cedarwood do a lot for mind and respiratory wellness. I’m also getting into coconut oil – it’s a wonder drug and I put it on my skin everyday. I’d love to go to the Dead Sea as I get psoriasis – I’ve tried a lot of different remedies but my mum told me to sit in a cold bath for four hours with Himalayan salt, baking soda and apple cider vinegar and the flakes fell off leaving me with baby-soft skin underneath. In general I use a little Gillette shaver (which lasts forever), Old Spice deodrant (because it isn’t an antiperspirant) and one good bar of no-soap, soap.

Hair: “Everyone’s always like ‘what do you do to your hair, man?’ And I’m like ‘nothing’. I use shampoo once a month maximum. A good summer in the sun and my hair goes healthy, thick and blonde.

Scent: I shot the campaign for Paco Rabanne 212, which I like and I love Hermes Terre d’Hermes with orange and peppercorn but mainly when it comes to perfume I stock up with freshly crushed oils from the streets in India.

Man-to-man tip: “I drink a lot of water before a flight rather than after when it’s too late. I also have vitamins C, E and Omega every day and never get sick. I switch them up so do spiralina for a few weeks and then cut it out so my body doesn’t get used to it.”

Team credits: photographs Luc Coiffait, Makeup Gina Blondell, Hairstylist Jody Taylor, Styling and Beauty Direction Lisa Oxenham, Toby Huntington-Whiteley at Models 1, Sebastian Sauve at Premier Models, Alex Dragulele at Premier Models, Glen Abrantes at Squad Models, Asa Freeman at Next Models, Videography Dimitri Lambridis