Grey Is The New Black

And though studies have shown there is a difference, albeit minor, between men's and women’s dermatological makeup – men having thicker, slightly oilier skin – it is not enough to justify the often sexist implications of the marketing, formulations, and packaging that dominate the men’s skincare aisle. The truth is simple: good skincare is about individual needs, not sweeping stereotypes.

Enter The Grey. Established in 2018 by Gregor Jaspers, the brand emerged from the desire to create a “360” product range for the contemporary man. The product range is broad – covering skincare, supplements and hair care products – but simple. There are no unpronounceable ingredients nor endless serums of dubious quality. With clean, minimalist packaging and a results-driven philosophy, the brand is moving on from the beardy trappings of “grooming” and towards a more contemporary, wellness-curious man.

I decided to test The Grey’s full range for a week: here are some of my hero products from across the week.

Daily Face Protect SPF50

I don’t cleanse in the morning – I keep a fan on low all night, and my skin is often quite parched by morning. Instead, I just slather on a generous amount of SPF and call it a day. Unboxing The Grey’s Daily Face Protect SPF50 and piping a generous amount across the length of my finger, I was struck by its light, milky texture. Upon application, there was no dreaded white cast, settling into my skin within seconds and leaving a lightly glowy finish. I ended up being outside in the sun for most of the day, but with multiple reapplications, my skin had no chance of burning. It’s a keeper!

The Self-Tanning Serum

Apart from one drunken evening, armed with a cheap bottle of fake tan and a kitchen sponge (it was Covid!), fake tanning has never been my thing. I never seem to get an even application, and I hate the tacky consistency and cloying smell. However, The Self Tanning Serum from The Grey might just get me to change my mind. With just a few drops mixed into my SPF in the morning, I noticed a subtle but significant change in my complexion, a healthy glow that will carry me through those anemic winter months.

The Charcoal Face Wash

It’s hard to reinvent the wheel with a charcoal face wash: as consumers, the concept has been familiar since Patrick Bateman lathered his face with the stuff in American Psycho. Cleansers are one area where I notice the gendered divide between products most greatly: I often find women’s cleansers to be too weak, whereas men’s products often go way too far the other way. This lightly scented, deeply cleansing gel is the platonic ideal of what a face wash should be: soothing and non-drying, it also has the added benefit of softening beard hairs pre-shave. Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to get right.

3 In 1 Face Cream

Having grown tired of endless multi-step routines making me late for work, I was on the lookout for a hero product that would combine the benefits of those serums clogging up my cupboard space. The Grey’s 3 In 1 Face Cream is this product for me: a versatile moisturiser chock full of actives, lightly scented and offering a whole smorgasbord of benefits: a stronger skin barrier, firmed up fine lines and adding a healthy glow.

Shop The Grey here.