The Expert Edit: 5 products worth buying, according to grooming expert Adam Hurly

“It’s an imperative product because it not only prevents chafing but it also prevents chafing by preventing moisture accumulation in your groin,” says Hurly about his must-have product to combat warm weather discomfort below the belt.

“It’s basically a tapioca starch cream. It does leave a light chalky white film on your hands, so you need to be able to wash your hands afterwards. You don't want to touch the pants that you're wearing with that same hand until you wash your hands. 

“So there's a little bit of a learning curve because it's sort of a level above like ballpowder, but what it's basically doing is it's preventing moisture from accumulating and it's preventing chub chub rub, thigh rub, and chafing by having a really nice film over your skin so that you aren't having two wet thighs rubbed together. 

“It’s this really functional, pragmatic product. The second the temp is above 75 degrees, I'm wearing this every day, even around the house. My male partner and I will often do wallet-phone-keys when we leave the door, and we'll be like, ‘Oh crap, we didn't apply Happy Nuts.’ And then we have to ceremoniously make sure that we leave the house in a state of comfort.”

“Dr. Bronner’s peppermint hand sanitizer: We’re obsessed with it in this house,” says Hurly.

“It is not very drying. It smells incredible. They have a lavender version too, which is also really lovely, but we are all about the peppermint. It tingles and smells great.”

Just like Happy Nuts, this little sanitizer has become part of Hurly’s daily routine: “It’s also wallet, keys, Dr. Bronner’s hand sanitizer.”

Plus, Hurly says, “they last a while, too. One spritz probably lasts us a month, with two people using it daily, multiple times.

“I should add that in my job, I can pretty much call in any product I want and receive it, but it gets a little weird if I’m asking brands to send 20 of something. Because I live overseas and this is one of the products Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t carry overseas, I don’t bother them with a request for this one. Whenever I go back to the U.S., I get a 20-pack and bring it back with me. So, it’s one I actually spend my money on happily.”

“I think every guy should have an anti-dandruff shampoo in his rotation,” Hurly says. “Nizoral’s over-the-counter anti-dandruff shampoo has 1% ketoconazole that anyone can just buy.

“The key ingredient here is ketoconazole. What I love about it is not only is it antimicrobial, but of all the ingredients you can get in a shampoo that can actually help prevent hair loss, ketoconazole is the one that has research behind it that suggests even temporary exposure to it can prevent the buildup of DHT, dihydrotestosterone, on your scalp.

 “DHT is the thing that can shrivel up your hair follicles and lead to hair loss. Now, you’re not going to treat hair loss with a shampoo. So many shampoos are targeted at hair growth, hair loss, and hair retention, and they’re kind of pulling your leg because no shampoo is going to do more than just wash your scalp. Here’s an active ingredient that fights dandruff while offering some tangential benefits, too.

“It’s a really great clarifier. It’s going to do that sort of every-two-week prevention for flake buildup. I like to say it’s going to prevent you from ever getting to the point where you’re seeing flakes. It’s going to stop you from being like, ‘Oops, I need to do my dandruff shampoo.’” 

The catch? Your strands aren’t going to love it as much as your scalp. 

Hurly says, “it can be really drying, but if you use your normal conditioner after it, or if you have really short hair, it’s going to be fine. It’s not a shampoo you use daily. I would say every two to three days when you’re actively treating something.”

“If I have maybe one cleanser on my sink ledge that I’m going to use first thing in the morning or when I shower, this is the one I’m using every time because it’s cushioning,” Hurly says. “I love anything that feels cushioning. I love anything that feels fun when you have it in your hand and you’re like, ‘You’re a weird texture. That’s fun.’

“Because I have combo skin, it never leaves me feeling too dry or too oily anywhere. So, I find it really balancing, and you can use it multiple times a day.

“It’s a triple clay blend, so all those clays have replenishing, nourishing properties. The clay is actually really hydrating, even though it’s meant to purify your skin and pull out impurities like oil, and whatnot.” 

But there’s something prickly hiding inside that you may not expect. Hurly says, “the key ingredient in a lot of Cardon products is cactus extract, and it has similar benefits to aloe where it’s really anti-inflammatory and really soothing.

“It’s the best purifier for me, and I feel like I never use this word in this way a lot, but I feel purified afterward. I love this brand in general, and this is, to me, their magnum opus.”

“I also just think a razor is something that every guy should have in his arsenal. If I were to choose one and spend my money on it, I would point myself to the Harry’s Plus razor,” Hurly says. 

“I alternate between shaving and trimming. I’m shaving a lot more lately just because I have to produce more videos of myself educating guys on shaving and razors. This is my go-to and I find that it glides on the face so beautifully.

“It’s great for trimming, too. I love to shave my neckline with it, a little bit above my mustache, right under my nose, keep the strays on my cheeks clean, and break the bridge between my mustache and my chin hairs.

“And, what’s really nice about the Harry’s Plus is they have a detail blade on the back side. It’s a single blade at the top that makes it really easy to target and do detailed shaving.”

With this tiny blade comes a tiny warning: “You have to be careful not to press your thumb on that back side when you fix the razor on because you might get a little cut,” says Hurly. 

“It’s not a fully novel thing to have that detail blade, but I just think they have nailed the user experience on flexibility, close shave, not too irritating. So, that’s been my favorite cartridge razor.”