With a rapid rise in mercury levels signaling an extended sweaty summer this year, one cannot help but stay indoors in the mercy of air-conditioners, all the while dreaming of a cool holiday. Alas! Work never ends and your chances to get a respite are at a bare minimum. Although a holiday may be out of reach, Instep has the next best solution for men in the glorious shape of 5 unique grooming products under PKR 5000 that you can use to keep calm this summer.

Behind the Mask

Although you may have heard that the day starts with a face wash, it actually starts a few hours earlier with a mask. With so many options and trends in the market, look no further than charcoal infused masks if you’re a man living in Pakistan. With its strong activated particles, charcoal marks literally drag out radical agents from your face in a swift second. So, if you’re looking for a product with all that jazz, you should look no further than Lush Cosmetics’ aptly named Prince of Darkness.

Made with absorbent charcoal to cleanse, fine sea salt, lavender oil, and our very own Multani mitti AKA Fullers Earth to boost exfoliation without excess moisture, we can all afford to indulge in a little darkness to bring brightness to our skin tones whenever needed.

Price: PKR 1100 (Plus Shipping) for a 75g jar

Buy it from: www.Lush.co.uk

Energy Shot

Along with soaring temperatures, there’s a high possibility for your stress levels to rise as well. In such circumstances, all one wishes for is some sort of energy burst inside to help deal with everything. Well, instead of looking for harmful energy drinks to energize you, look towards Clarins Men Fatigue Fighter Gel to tickle your fancy.  A cool, energizing-gel that gives an instant boost to tired, stressed looking skin, there is absolutely no other gel available in the Pakistani market that can provide you with that much-needed pick-me-up after a late night or busy week at work than Clarins.

This tried and tested formula eliminates dead cells that make the skin look dull and grey, and protects the skin against environmental aggressions, all the while making your face not look like a zombie rising from the dead. Do yourselves a favour and invest in this beauty ASAP.

Price: PKR 4200 for a 50ML tube

Buy it from: Scentsation

Eye Spy

The days when men would hide using products in a bid to safeguard the image of masculinity are over. Anyone who is a real man knows that there is no harm in indulging in some much needed grooming whenever needed. Thus, when Clinique introduced its Anti-Fatigue Cooling Eye Gel, it didn’t take even a few hours for the product (made especially for men) to achieve sold out status.

Made to tackle under-eye puffiness and dark circles that make you look tired, this instant relief on a stick is the perfect roll-on gel that will instantly revitalize, hydrate and brighten tired-looking eyes. Plus, if that is not enough to satisfy you, its ophthalmologist tested and is guaranteed to help you this summer.

Price: PKR 3200 (Plus Shipping) for one roll-on

Buy it from: www.Clinique.com or Debenhams

Squeaky Clean

If there is one thing a summer’s day cannot start without, it has to be a cold shower providing you with a day’s energy to handle everything in your path. However, much like other grooming products, this is yet another place where men opt out on the best products for alternatives that ruin your skin’s natural moisture.

It is time to listen to some good advice and perhaps invest in good quality products that is the American Crew’s 24-Hour Deodorant Body Wash that promises a long-lasting scent and effect that will help keep you smelling fresh and clean all day long. It will also help control the odour in your skin that is caused by microorganisms and fight off bacteria. If that’s not enough remember that it is a cleansing agent derived from raw vegetable and is perfect to sooth and refresh skin even in the quickest of showers.

Price: PKR 2000 for a 440ML bottle

Buy it from: N-Gents by Nabila

Summer Zest

In a list of must-have items for every man, a perfume will always make the cut. Whether it is an office day during which one needs to feel energized or a much needed summer soiree, nothing speaks volumes about personal grooming than a good perfume. However, what exactly works as the perfect summer scent? Citrus and spice are a good choice and one that won’t cost you more than you can afford. For these reasons and more, our recommended product is The Body Shop’s White Musk Sport.

It is not just a blend of zesty citrus with grapefruit, lemon and hints of amber but is also a cruelty-free product that will make you feel good about purchasing it.  With all the rage about ‘athleisure’ being the latest fad, invest in this perfume to keep yourself satisfied throughout what resembles a grueling summer season.

Price: PKR 4000 for a 100ML Bottle

Buy it from: The Body Shop