Universal Appeal

Posted by Valerie, Senior Editor

There's no shortage of unisex products on the market these days, from fragrances to jeans (such as the universally unflattering ones from Cheap Monday, which aren't doing men or women any favors, from what I've seen -- sorry, CM). Even Calvin Klein keeps going back to tweak his seminal gender-bender. Such products often seem to fall short of their sex-specific counterparts -- which often work well for both him and her, without being advertised as such. Of course, that lack of marketing makes these gems even harder to find.

My own gentleman-friend tends to dismiss most female-oriented beauty and grooming products into one of two scent categories: "baby powder" or "old-lady flowers." But once in a while, when I bring home freebies from work (yes, we actually test things before writing about them!), a product's scent will fall somewhere between those diapered bookends of life, and thereby pique his interest.

There are three in particular that he reaches for over and over, to the point that I want to tell him to buy his own. First is Thymes Gardener replenishing hand cream. The response to this one is, "You're wearing the lettuce stuff!" (his idea of a compliment). It's the only lotion of mine that he'll touch.

The second one: Basis So Refreshing facial cleansing cloths. He blows through more of these than I do. They're that good. (Or, we're that lazy about walking all the way into the bathroom to wash faces.)

The third is a classic: Cetaphil facial cleanser. He whines whenever I run out of it and switch to any of the more exciting foamy/tingly/flavor-y face washes that I've brought home.

So what about you girls and boys? Got a product that your opposite-sex partner loves even more than you do?

Comments

[Diane Gatewood]

Hey!! I keep hearing about the Nadarra products....couldn't find it on-line...anyone know how I can get my hands on it (or IT on my hands..hah!)

Most appreciative! Diane

[Patti Mcdonogh]

The Nadarra products I ordered online I put aside until I finished up some old Clinique products. I would say that two weeks after starting the Nadarra products my skin looked far better than it did using Clinique, in fact, I even got comments on it. My skin is very dry and the only difference I noticed is sometimes I had to apply the product twice to get it fully moisturized, because it sank it. However, this is really good stuff, no parabens.

[jail diet]

my husband and i were at anthropologie and we ran into some lip balm that i used to use called a Apookalips by Pookie-- it's amazing! he smelled the sample and he's been hooked. our dog even is a freak for it and begs to lick it off our lips at night...so, it's a hit with our entire family!

[anne]

What is it about boys and mint? My BF *loves* our minty ABBA Scentsation Conditioner. Even when I was worried about getting more b/c it does cost a bit more than our standard Pantene or whatnot, he said he really really wants more of the ABBA. Who knew?

[Sara]

Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo/Conditioner - he can't live without it! We once found it as the "free" hotel soap at a place in Canada - I'm sure it's one of the reasons he still calls that place his favorite hotel!

[Sara]

I'm getting my husband into some of the Philosophy products. He needs the face wash (and eye/lip firming cream) just as much as I do; it has almost no scent. I'm a big fan!

[Shannon]

Oh my god, Meg--I just discovered that St Ives scrub in our shower the other day, surreptitiously bought my boyfriend, like, "ummm...what's this?"

[Laura]

My husband loves Oil of Olay moisturizer for sensitive skin, and Rosebud Salve...

[miss]

whoa Gail! I checked out your nadarra link thinking 'pshaw! what's this chick shilling for...' and i actually got all ensnarled in the product list and theories - now I have to get my hands on some of it! Thanks for the suggestion..

[Erin]

Ah! My husband is crazy for the St. Ives Apricot scrub, too! Too funny!

[Jamie]

My boyfriend is officially hooked on my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. I finally ended up just buying two because his mustache and goatee rip up the product - and I also couldn't stand to share. :)

[Petra]

My boyfriend uses a minty shaving cream that I LOVE: Sharps Kid-Glove Shave Gel (sharpsusa.com). I just can't sneak it too too often because he gets very distraught when he runs out, and it requires a trip to Bloomingdales or Barneys rather than just CVS. But it's definitely worth it! I should just order us a huge stash of it.

[Nic]

My husband's a chef, so his hands are pretty torn up. I got him Lush's lemon cuticle cream and he looooves the lemony scent. Gotta say I do too.

[Gail]

Just after Christmas I stumbled across these products while looking for something to clear up my eyes after having an allergic reaction to some products. Nothing that the doctor prescribed worked. I ordered a cream and cleanser at first. Within 4 days my skin cleared up. I decided to try all of this gal's products. I love them all. They smell fabulous and work great and they're all natural. One day I told my hubby that he should try using some of the products. He looked at me sheepishly and said that he was already using them!! He uses the Pure Exfoliating Cleanser and the Pure Intensive Moisturizer. I found out that my brother is using his wife's products and absolutely loves them. I carry a little container of handcream in my purse and when I tell people about these products I let them try some. They're instantly hooked and have to get some of the products themselves. You should check this gal's site out. Her products are fabulous...there's nothing else out there like them.
http://nadarra.com/

[Meg]

This post made me laugh! My husband got hooked on my St Ives Apricot Scrub a few years ago. He really likes the grit of it (and complains bitterly whenever I buy the gentle version).