The male grooming industry may be growing at an alarming rate (it’s predicted to hit a mega $166bn by 2022), but what most men do to make themselves look their best remains rather clandestine. Still, we’re in the business of divulging our grooming secrets at MR PORTER. If we can’t share the best stuff, what good is it anyway? With that in mind, we decided we’d give you the lowdown on our secret grooming weapons, the things we use to help us look as if we’ve just stepped out of a bandbox of a morning. “But they’re not secret if we’re telling everyone,” protested one colleague, but we figured we can trust you, right? So, just between us then…

Released in the summer of 2008 as a limited edition, I remember going into the Jo Malone store on Brook Street in London to pick up a bottle of Dark Amber & Ginger Lily. I had never been so consumed by a fragrance before, and I don’t think I have since. I bought five bottles there and then, so I could continue wearing it after it sold out, never to return. Unsurprisingly, I couldn’t afford to go on holiday that summer, but whenever anyone else did, I made sure they picked up another bottle for me at duty free – the only place on the planet that still had stock. It’s subtly sweet with warm, aromatic, smoky notes. It’s light and fresh enough to wear during the day, but also deep and intense enough for evening, smart and casual, summer and winter. It’s the only fragrance I’ve worn for more than 11 years and, on the rare occasion where I’ve been curious to discover something new, nothing compares. It’s hardly a secret, nor would I say it’s a weapon, but I would certainly feel naked and vulnerable without it.

I was born with oily skin – not necessarily a bad thing, but I’ve always been on the lookout for a moisturiser that could take the natural shine off. With the La Mer The Moisturizing Matte Lotion, I noticed the difference as soon as I applied it. It comes in a 50ml bottle, so I can take it away with me on work trips and it’s now part of my in-flight grooming routine to make sure my skin is extra hydrated on a long flight. I’m not an expert, but when you can feel the results, that’s good enough for me.

What’s the best cover-up for a hangover? A strong oud? No, too overwhelming. A fry-up and lots of coffee? Not in this office, sweetie. TOM FORD concealer? Ah, perfect. For me, it’s the only thing that holds me together when I’m feeling fragile and slightly broken. Actually, I may even look better when feeling a bit groggy because this lends me a healthful glow that I didn’t have before. I know that make-up is an intimidating concept for many men, but this magic wonder stick (or weapon, if you wish) is light and pretty translucent, which means it’s discreet once applied. You can even mix it in with a bit of moisturiser to tone it down, but it will still brighten your complexion and hide dark circles. Go on, try it. I dare you.

My scalp is a testing ground, continually exposed to different schema of washing/not washing, hair oils, lotions, sprays, styling products and varying temperatures of water. At any given time, I usually feel like I've found the perfect combination of all these things, but there inevitably comes a point where I need a refresh and to go back to the drawing board. That's when I reach for this tub of wonder. A luxuriant scrub formulated with salt crystals and free from nasty chemicals, it strips your hair of product and reinvigorates the scalp without leaving it either dry or itchy. Plus, it makes the most amazing thick foam and smells incredible, so always feels like a step in the right direction.

There are a lot of grooming products out there and although I’m a bit of a product junkie when it comes to trying out new things, there are certain ones that I always come back to. If there’s something I can always rely on, it’s Dr Dennis Gross’s daily peels (much kinder than they sound, I promise). They’re a bit of a step up from your average cleanse-exfoliate-moisturise routine, and involve two steps: first, a wipe soaked in AHA and BHA acid solution that resurfaces skin and tingles away all the dead cells, and second, another anti-ageing wipe that heals and rebalances the pH of your skin. They’re a great way to fade acne scars and fine lines and, although they can be used every day, I generally save them for special occasions where I want my face to look particularly beatific. The product comes in various strengths, from gentle to extreme (and goes all the way up to a professional grade liquid peel – available from Net-A-Porter) and brightens up and smooths out my skin to another level. Seriously, I’m talking freshly-polished-linoleum-floor smooth.

If I were stranded on a desert island and could take with me only one grooming weapon, I would choose an oil I could use everywhere. This one by Dr Jackson’s is made in the UK and packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. I use it on my beard, on my skin (in the evening after serum and moisturiser), on my cuticles and on my scalp. It’s also made from 100 per cent plant-based ingredients. Baobab is a great defence against dry skin (sea water can be particularly drying) while Marula nut oil is an amazing hydrator.