Angus McDougall’s top products for looking your best.
As we ease into late winter with brighter mornings and the promise of spring just ahead, it’s the perfect moment to reset your beauty routine and refresh your wardrobe. This month’s edit is all about smart upgrades that feel effortless but make a big impact. Whether you’re shopping sales or dressing with more intention, these are the tools and ideas that will help you look and feel your best.
SKIN TINTS: NATURAL, POLISHED, YOU
A good skin tint gives that “I woke up like this” radiance while quietly doing the work underneath. M.A.C. Strobe Dewy Skin Tint is a sheer, hydrating wonder that blurs and boosts with every wear. Packed with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, squalane and vitamin E, it feels like skincare with just the right amount of glow ($77 for 30ml). Available at Farmers and MAC.
If you prefer a formula with SPF built in, the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tinted Moisturiser SPF 15 is a beautiful 2-in-1. Light coverage, a healthy finish and infused with vitamins for a nourished, naturally polished complexion ($88). Available at Farmers.
And for those who like a little more lift while keeping things fresh, the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift and Firm Makeup SPF 15 PA++ offers creamy, medium coverage with added anti-ageing technology. Skin looks firm, dewy and smooth with a finish that flatters mature skin ($88). Available at Elizabeth Arden.
HAIR GROWTH, BUT MAKE IT STYLISH
Hair thinning and loss is one of the most common concerns among men—and it can have a real impact on confidence. Bouf, pronounced “boof”, is a new player in the haircare space that’s taking the issue seriously, with science-backed solutions that don’t break the bank. The star of the range is the Flouf Factor Growth Tonic, a concentrated leave-in formula powered by FGF5-blocking technology.
The tonic is supported by a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in mask that help strengthen strands and prevent breakage ($40 for the tonic). Available at bouf.com and Farmers.
FRAGRANCE THAT SMELLS LIKE MONEY
White Tea Eau Lilac by Elizabeth Arden is the kind of fragrance that tricks everyone into thinking you spent a lot more than you did. With notes of Italian mandarin, jasmine sambac, French lilac and white woods, it’s crisp, fresh, quietly sensual ($57 for 30ml or $110 for 100ml). Available at Farmers, Ballantynes and Green Cross Health.
TOOL YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED
I have long arms. I still can’t tan the middle of my back. Enter this genius tool: the Bondi Sands Back Applicator, which makes fake tanning stress-free and streak-free ($18). Available at Chemist Warehouse.
FASHION: YOUR STYLE, YOUR RULES
Angus McDougall’s guide to the smart way to shop sales!
Here’s a tip I live by. Add your favourite pieces to wishlists at sites based in the opposite hemisphere. Think ASOS, SSENSE or MR PORTER. While we head into summer, they’re clearing theirs out. That means swimwear, linen shirts, resort sets and sandals go on major markdown—often up to 80 percent. You’ll be stocked before the season even hits, with pieces you actually want. Not just the dregs of a Boxing Day rack. Add to this the benefit of buying from global retailers—often you’ll find pieces that aren’t widely available here, giving your wardrobe that extra edge.
Wear your best pieces, now
One of my favourite quotes is by Harry Winston—”Everybody will stare, make it worth their while.” It’s a reminder I come back to often. Style is theatre, and the world is your audience, whether you’re running errands or heading to a dinner. Too many people save their favourite things for a mythical future event. Stop waiting. Wear the jacket that makes you feel unstoppable. Pull out the shoes that always earn a compliment. Life happens in the everyday—so dress like it matters. Looking good isn’t about vanity. It’s about showing up for yourself. You move differently when you know you look sharp. Confidence isn’t something you find. It’s something you wear.
Confidence comes when you feel like you
Style is deeply personal. Whether you’re a minimalist in clean monochrome, a streetwear head in oversized cuts and graphic sneakers, or a vintage hunter mixing eras like a pro—own it. The key is authenticity. When you’re dressing like yourself and not the algorithm, people feel it. Your energy shifts. Your presence sharpens. That’s the difference between wearing clothes and having style.
Make dressing your daily ritual
Clothing sets the tone. That morning moment when you pull together an outfit isn’t superficial—it’s strategic. It’s a chance to remind yourself who you are, or who you want to be today. A crisp shirt, a perfect trouser, a fresh pair of kicks—it’s armour and expression rolled into one. So curate your wardrobe like it matters. Because it does.
Know your tailor, know your shape
If you’re investing in great clothes, make sure they fit you properly. Even off-the-rack pieces can look made-to-measure with a little tailoring. Shorten the sleeve, take in the waist, taper the leg—these tweaks elevate a look instantly. A good local tailor is worth their weight in gold and will help your clothes work harder for you.
Buy in outfits, not pieces
Impulse buys can be fun, but smart fashion means thinking in full looks. Before buying anything new, ask yourself what you’ll wear it with. If it doesn’t go with at least three things already in your wardrobe, leave it. Building outfits around pieces you already love keeps your style cohesive and cuts down on that dreaded “I have nothing to wear” moment.
Elevate the basics
White T-shirts, quality socks, good underwear—these unsung heroes form the foundation of every outfit. Don’t skimp here. When your basics are fresh, soft and well-made, they support everything layered over the top. Great style starts underneath.
Statement accessories are your shortcut
When in doubt, add one strong accessory. A watch with weight. A well-made belt. A chain or signet ring. Sunglasses that make people pause. Accessories give personality and punch to even the simplest outfit. They also transition a look from day to night without needing a full change.
Be a repeater, but switch it up
Outfit repeating is not a crime—it’s the mark of a well-curated wardrobe. The trick is in the styling. Switch up your footwear, layer with a jacket, roll the sleeves, add a bold sock. Small changes keep your favourites feeling fresh.
