According to experts, the best skincare products for men are the streamlined, everyday products you’d likely expect: a gentle cleanser, exfoliator, moisturizer, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.
“My skincare philosophy, and the philosophy my line is based on, is that one size does not fit all,” celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau tells Bazaar. “It’s not about using a complicated skincare routine; it’s about carefully choosing the right ingredients for your skin type. Men most commonly have thicker skin with enlarged pores prone to oiliness and blackheads.” Rouleau adds that products containing ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, sodium PCA, witch hazel, and panthenol are key for controlling oil production and minimizing overall breakouts.
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Along with having generally thicker skin, men who shave regularly are often susceptible to ingrown hair and irritation on their cheeks and around their beard lines. “For men who shave, an exfoliating ingredient to help prevent in-grown hair is very important,” board-certified dermatologist Omer Ibrahim says. “This can be a BHA in a cleanser or an AHA in a leave-on aftershave product.” We understand that sometimes even getting the guys in your life to use moisturizer regularly is a challenge, but it’s easier than ever to help round out their rotation.
Surprising your dad, grandfather, brother, uncle, or partner with a new serum, skincare tool, or weekly treatment in addition to the basics helps take the guesswork out of grooming. Here, we’ve pulled together a short list of what experts and editors consider some of the best skincare products for men. These top-rated essentials from brands like Foreo and Summer Fridays are the perfect grooming options for both the skincare minimalist and the person who maintains a 16-step routine. Read on for some of our favorites to shop now.
The Ordinary is one of the buzziest skincare brands around, and for good reason: Its range of complexion essentials, including this set of brightening favorites, offers the perfect balance of product effectiveness and budgetary savvy. Since he’ll find bottles of alpha arbutin and hyaluronic acid serum, glycolic acid, and a caffeine solution in this kit, we recommend gifting it to the man in your life with a more established routine.
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Show him that skincare can be a self-care experience with this handsome gua sha from the experts at Sisley Paris. It will not only provide him with a nice facial massage when he applies serums and creams, but also lift and sculpt his facial contours at the same time.
He’ll get a mini facelift and deep cleaning experience all in one with this silicone facial brush from the beauty tech experts at Foreo. It uses T-sonic vibrations and a range of touchpoint sizes to not only lift dirt and oil from pores, but also give his go-to serums and moisturizers a little extra oomph once he’s done cleansing.
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After using this hydrating shaving cream, which features a blend of pomegranate seed and lemon oils, basil extract, and hyaluronic acid, he might be convinced to book the next flight to Italy.
Here’s a multifunctional facial spray that can help him stay awake through a string of Zoom meetings while keeping his skin refreshed. It uses a blend of rambutan peels, sage, and citrus to rejuvenate his complexion with just a few spritzes.
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Treat his skin to this alcohol-free toner from Grown Alchemist, which contains ginseng, chamomile, and aloe vera to give his complexion a healthy glow.
For the luxurious man in your life, this super-rich cream from Le Domaine boasts olive oil, shea butter, and the brand’s proprietary complex, which includes antioxidant-rich grapes, and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and plump. Plus, this cream is one of Brad Pitt’s go-to products, so it is bound to impress him.
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If he knows his way around ingredients like glycolic and lactic acids, surprise him with this top-rated two-step peel set from celebrity aesthetician Shani Darden. In addition to brightening and exfoliating skin, the peel is also ideal for clearing congestion while refining pores.
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It’ll only take him three minutes to depuff his under-eyes and minimize wrinkles after you gift him this high-tech mask from Dr. Dennis Gross. It uses 96 red LED lights to treat the entire eye area, including crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles.
Beauty shoppers in the know are raving about SkinCeuticals’ hydrating and redness-reducing Phyto Corrective Essence Mist, which is perfect for the guy whose skin is easily irritated.
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This hydrating eye balm won’t feel heavy on his skin and helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while boosting under-eye brightness.
Over 4,000 Beauty Insiders are raving about Summer Fridays’ viral Jet Lag Mask, and we’re betting your boyfriend will, too. Its fragrance-free formula combines plumping hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and more to improve skin’s texture, tone, and hydration.
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The guy in your life with super-sensitive skin will deeply appreciate this soothing, alcohol-free set from Tower 28. It features the brand’s redness-reducing SOS Rescue Spray in full and travel sizes, along with its top-rated serum.
Here’s a soothing aftershave balm from Le Labo to help his face heal after a grooming session. Its cooling formula is entirely plant-based, and features notes of bergamot, lavender, and tonka bean.
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It may seem a little on the nose, but gifting your actual brother with this set of four firming and brightening sheet masks with “bro” in the title is almost too thoughtful of a gift.
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Tiffany Dodson
Associate Beauty Commerce Editor
Tiffany Dodson Davis is the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar. Don't ask her to choose a favorite fragrance—it's like picking a favorite child. As one of the brand's resident shopping experts, she specializes in trend forecasting, testing the latest beauty and wellness launches, and curating bookmark-worthy commerce guides. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in SELF Magazine, Bustle, and Teen Vogue. She's also been tapped as a commerce and beauty expert for The Business of Fashion, NPR’s Life Kit podcast, and more.