A man’s travel kit of grooming goodies is a bag of many names. Toiletry bag. Wash bag. Dopp kit. Whatever you want to call it, what you pack in it will depend on your personal needs. We asked Kristan Serafino—groomer to Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Jake Gyllenhaal—which items she recommends you not leave behind. “A man’s dopp kit is a highly individualized item. From its contents to the bag itself, it’s a traveling man’s Swiss Army knife of grooming and wardrobe emergency preparedness.”
Is face wash enough?
“Nope! Use an exfoliator to remove a barrier of dead skin that clogs the skin and recovers fresh new cells below. This opens the way for moisturizing products to penetrate deeply into the skin. Exfoliate 2-3x a week.”
Pro Tip: After exfoliating, apply a toner to rebalance the skins PH level.
IN A RUSH BUT Nicked yourself shaving?
“Worried about staining the collar of your new shirt or having to keep dabbing microscopic torn pieces of tissues over the wound? Use a styptic stick to seal the skins surface and help prevent infection.
Pro Tip: Dab or roll the cold wet tip of the styptic stick over the cut until skin stops bleeding. Oh! And be prepared for the sting.”
They say, “Never let them see you sweat.”
“Then why do you always look shiny in a photo or on a Zoom call? It’s because you neglected to blot.. .yes, blot your skin! Paper Blotters are used to absorb and remove excess skin oils, perspiration and minimize pores.
Pro Tip: Blot forehead and around nose. Just press and peel.”
Not rocket science here.
“Your eyes are dry, they burn, they are red, but you ignore the fast and simple solution. Dude, use eye drops to whiten eyes, and minimize that dry burning sensation.
Pro Tip: Aim for the outer corner of the eye, pulling down the lower lid to create a pocket for the drops to go into.”
Rough can be manly, but…
“I can assure you, rough hands are not welcome. Use a moisturizer designed for rough hands.
Pro Tip: If you over moisturize your hands, rub excess onto your elbows. They probably could use it too”
