Brandon is a blank slate. There's so much room for new products -- but also a high potential for resistance. He hates anything that's overly fragranced (I haven't burned a scented candle in our apartment in years), but he loves a long, hot shower. So at least I have that working in my favor. I'll concentrate the bulk of my efforts there.

The real problem, however, is bathroom real estate. Yes, I want him to use grooming products, but our tiny vintage medicine cabinet is already bursting at the hinges. I accept that I'm going to have to make some room for his new routine if I want this to work.

In addition to all the real estate I'm hogging in our medicine cabinet, I also have these three shelves � and six additional storage bins. C'mon -- I test beauty products for a living. Though I'm starting to think that maybe Brandon only uses bar soap because there's nowhere to put anything else.

If I could get Brandon to use one product in addition to his beloved bar of soap, it would be sunscreen. He's an avid golfer, and he grew up in Florida -- both of which are starting to show in the form of fine lines and sun damage. A daily SPF would help protect his skin, and hopefully stave off skin cancer.

I lecture him about this constantly, but I haven't made much progress. (Surprise, surprise, right? As any woman knows, nagging isn't exactly the best way to inspire her guy to change.) So I do an informal poll of my male friends who wear sunscreen, and they almost unanimously recommend Kiehl's Facial Fuel UV Guard SPF 50+ For Men, $38. I head over to Kiehl's to test it out. It sinks into the skin almost instantaneously and feels like nothing -- and nothing is exactly what Brandon wants. I make room for it in the medicine cabinet and hope that it catches his eye.

A few days later, Brandon packs a bag for a weekend golf trip and I notice that the SPF is missing from the bathroom. I stare in disbelief at the blank shelf space where his sunscreen now lives. Then, I remind myself that packing a product is one thing -- using it is something completely different.

When he gets back Sunday night, I notice that his skin is the same shade it was the Friday before. "Was it very sunny?" I ask coyly. "It was hot as hell," he replies. "I used that sunscreen that was in the bathroom. It was pretty good -- it didn't get all over my clubs." And then he promptly changes the subject.

I sneak into another room to do a happy dance.

I get invited to a men's grooming launch party, and I'm encouraged to bring a male plus one. Perfect timing. And get this: They have games! With prizes! Brandon spends two hours drinking Heineken, playing Golden Tee, and saying, "I wish my job were like this." At the end of the night, he's got the best golf score and wins a gift certificate to our local driving range.

We also leave the event with two bottles of Lab Series Pro LS All-in-One Face Treatment, $29. I assume we'll be donating them to my younger brother -- he grew up with three women and understands the appeal of a good beauty product -- but Brandon stashes them in the medicine cabinet. Victory! The lotion contains antioxidants, moisturizing ingredients, and mattifiers -- it's a major step up from his routine of nothing.

While I never see him apply the lotion, I can feel it on his face -- and his skin starts to glow. (OK, maybe not glow, but my man is definitely more radiant than usual.) He doesn't say anything, but I notice that he lingers in front of the mirror for a few extra seconds in the morning. Maybe he sees a difference, too?

I decide to tackle the shower. We run out of soap, and I tell Brandon we have none in our backup stash. (Lies, lies!) I replace his bar soap with Axe Shower Gel in Apollo, $4.85. It's their newest scent -- inspired by astronauts (what guy doesn't love astronauts?!). And it's more subtle and grownup than some of their other fragrances.

I also make room for a bottle of Dove Men + Care Fresh Clean Fortifying 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner, $3.99. Brandon's comfortable with Dove because of their iconic beauty bar ("soap" to him, of course), and I'm hoping this new Dove Men + Care product will entice him.

He emerges from his next shower smelling like an astronaut and has crazy-soft hair. I'm feeling seriously smug.

However, he can't let go of the soap. First it's: "Can you please bring some soap home from the office?" Then: "Any soap yet?" After two weeks of talking about soap, I give up and unwrap a beautiful bar of Fresh soap and pop it in the shower. He's delighted -- which is actually a victory if you think about it. How many guys obsess over a $15 bar of soap?

But here's the really crazy thing: The soft-haired-astronaut situation continues -- except with a hint of fancy soap mixed in. I don't want to ask him because I'm afraid to jinx it, but I think he's using not one, but three products in the shower.