Father's Day 2008 Gift Giving Guide for Beauty

Father’s Day is June 15, 2008 — have you picked up your perfect gift for that father figure in your life?  (Or maybe the father-to-be?)  I’m still at a total and utter loss as to what to pick up for my dad as he is a no-fragrance-no-frills kind of guy, so anything beauty related is completely out of the question (sigh!).  I’ll probably try to find some doodad or gadget in my budget that he doesn’t have!  What are you planning to get (or already get) for your Dad this year?

Here are some product suggestions for the father who is not nearly so adverse to a few male-care items in his toiletry bag…

L’Occitane CADE products are designed for men to strengthen and keep skin lookings its best despite working hard and playing hard. Wild Juniper is called “CADE,” which means that the scent of these products is an earthy, masculine, slightly woody fragrance. It’s definitely not a scent that they’d balk at and call too feminine. You can pick up their Shaving Set ($42.00), which includes Cade Juniper Scrub (4.4oz) and Shaving Cream (5.2oz), or you can build your own gift set with various other Cade products. The scrub helps exfoliates skin so they can get that ultra close, smooth shave us women adore. The cream also helps make that perfect shave just mere moments away! www.loccitane.com

Every Man Jack’s The Perfect Shave ($20.00) is a pack of essentials that is bound to please your darling dad, without breaking the bank, too.  I love Every Man Jack products because they’re effective, utilitarian, and guys are far more receptive to its clean, masculine packaging.  The Perfect Shave kit includes their face wash, face scrub, shave gel/shave cream, and face lotion.  Even my boy, who is pretty hard to persuade to use skincare products–even when designed for men–loved their body wash.  www.everymanjack.com

Liz Earle Men’s Essentials ($70.00) kit contains a face and body wash (200ml), Sensitive Shave Cream (100ml), After-Shaving Moisturizer (50ml), a towelling cloth, and handy dandy traveling case.  Liz Earle is a brand I consider for those who want to focus on more natural products, and at the same time, groom up the men in their lives without handing them bottles of sweet-scented facial lotions or pink-packaged products.  I’ve had great success with Liz Earle’s suncare line (adore their After Sun products!), and I imagine that their men’s skincare range is just as fabulous for the man in your life.  www.lizearle.com

Kiehl’s “The Jesse James Dopp Kit” ($66.00) was inspired by Jesse James (West Coast Choppers).  It contains Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, “White Eagle” Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream, Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap, Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment, and a deluxe sample of Ultimate Strength Hand Salve.  I know Kiehl’s is often the go-to brand when it comes to buying a man something for his skin and what better way to do it than with a Jesse James-inspired kit?  www.kiehls.com

LUSH has packaged three fun father-loving products into a cute pre-wrapped gift. “DAD” ($29.95) consists of Happy Hippy shower gel, Ice Blue soap, and a new shampoo bar. All easy-to-use and nothing girly in the slightest!

Lush has also hand-picked the Marathon Bar ($5.25), which aids in relaxation and has a spicy, cinnamony scent.

Plus, Wiccy Magic Muscles ($8.95), which contains aduki beans and helps to relieve tension and knots, as great gifts for dads, too. www.lush.com