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Dating Again After 40: First Date Essentials for Men
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items Dating again after 40 can feel surprisingly unfamiliar — especially when it has been years since your last first date. This practical first-date checklist for men over 40 covers the things worth sorting before you go: skincare, grooming, hair, teeth,...
Map
Sections
4
Get the Grooming Sorted
The Details You Don't Want to Forget
The “What Am I Supposed to Wear?” Bit
Final Check Before You Leave
Get the Grooming Sorted
Been out of the dating game for a while? Start with the basics. A simple first-date grooming routine for men over 40 — clean skin, tidy facial hair and decent hair without suddenly trying to look ten years younger. (Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a...
If your current skincare routine is basically whatever soap is nearest, start here. This straightforward men's face wash gets rid of dirt and excess oil without turning getting ready into a 10-step routine. Use it in the shower, rinse, done.
Men's Face Wash for Everyday Use
You don't need a complicated skincare routine. After washing your face, use a small amount of moisturiser and you're done. Particularly useful if your skin tends to look dry, tired or a bit rough — and considerably easier than suddenly becoming a ski...
One Extra Step That Makes Tired Skin Look Better
Nose hair, ear hair and unruly eyebrows are easy to overlook until you're getting ready for a date. This handles all three without turning grooming into a major project. Give yourself a quick check the day before — you're aiming for tidy, not transfo...
Check the Bits You Don't Usually Notice
Beard, stubble or clean-shaven — the important thing is that it looks intentional. This all-in-one trimmer makes it easy to tidy your neckline, cheeks and stray hairs without needing a drawer full of grooming tools. Do it the day before the date rath...
Make the Facial Hair Look Intentional
If your usual hair routine is a quick comb and hope for the best, this is an easy upgrade. It gives shorter hair some shape and texture without the shiny, heavily-gelled look. Start with a small amount — the aim is simply to look a little more put to...
Good Hair Without Looking Like You Tried Too Hard
The Details You Don't Want to Forget
The small things are easy to overlook when you haven't had a first date in years. Fresh breath, clean teeth and tidy nails don't require much effort, but sorting them beforehand means they're one less thing to think about when you're actually on the ...
If it's been a while since you've thought about dating, your smile is an easy place to start. These are something to use in the weeks before the date rather than the night before — a simple upgrade that can help you feel a little more polished withou...
Give Your Smile a Head Start
Fresh breath sounds obvious until you're sitting two feet away from someone for a couple of hours. Use this after brushing before you leave and then forget about it. It's alcohol-free too, so you get the freshness without that aggressive mouthwash bu...
One Less Thing to Feel Self-Conscious About
Check Your Hands — She Will See Them Nails are one of those tiny details you can completely forget about. Trim them, clean them and leave them alone. Five minutes of effort and you're done.
Revlon Nail Clipper Set
The “What Am I Supposed to Wear?” Bit
If deciding what to wear on a first date feels harder than the date itself, keep it simple. Dark jeans, a good Oxford shirt and clean trainers make an easy first-date outfit for drinks, coffee or a casual dinner — smart enough to look like you've mad...
If you haven't bought date clothes in years, don't reinvent your wardrobe overnight. A pair of clean, well-fitting dark jeans works for drinks, coffee and plenty of casual dinner dates. Add a decent shirt or polo and you're already most of the way th...
The “I Don't Know What to Wear” Jeans
A light blue Oxford with dark jeans is one of those combinations that's difficult to get wrong. It looks like you've made an effort without looking dressed up for the occasion. Wear it open at the neck, sleeves down or casually rolled, and keep every...
The Shirt That Makes the Outfit
You don't need dress shoes just because it's a date. A clean pair of simple white leather sneakers works brilliantly with dark jeans and shirt — relaxed, grown-up and still like you've made an effort. The important word here is clean.
Buy Polo Ralph Lauren White/Blue/Red Heritage Court II ...
Final Check Before You Leave
You're nearly ready. A little fragrance, sorted lips and one final mirror check are enough. Then stick the breath strips in your pocket for later — just in case. The goal isn't to look over-groomed, just clean, comfortable and like you've made an eff...
Haven't bought a fragrance in years? You don't need to spend $150 on a full-size bottle to get started. This smaller 0.33 oz YSL Y Eau de Parfum is fresh, grown-up and easy to wear for drinks or dinner. Start with one or two sprays — you're aiming fo...
Smell Good — Just Don't Overdo It
One of those tiny grooming details that's easy to ignore until you're sitting directly opposite somebody. This isn't about glossy lips — just keeping them from looking dry and cracked. Women notice these things.
Because Dry Lips Are Surprisingly Noticeable
Meeting straight after work? Had a coffee on the way? Keep these in your pocket for a quick freshen-up before you walk in. They dissolve in seconds, so there’s no gum to remember to get rid of while you’re saying hello.
Keep These in Your Pocket