“It all starts with good habits, right?” Shah says. “And then, we describe it as a plateau. Like, eventually, you’re going to max out the benefits from your peptides and your retinol, right? Once you do that, then it’s time to move on to some procedures…So, there are a lot of male celebrities who look great, look natural, that are getting these beauty treatments done. But it really all starts with a really good skin care routine, and then, you know, getting some laser treatments and maybe even a little bit of filler in the jaw, maybe a little bit of Botox in the forehead, around the eyes. Those are probably the most common things I’m seeing my male patients do.”
For more tips from Dr. Shah, check out his advice in our guide to the best wrinkle creams. You can also build your own skin care regimen with our favorite face washes, face moisturizers, and serums for men.
The Ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
If you’ve found a skincare ingredient that works for you, ditch the overpriced designer version and get it from The Ordinary instead. This cult-favorite skincare brand keeps its products and packaging as simple as possible, and this HA serum provides a hydration boost wherever it’s applied.
Kiehl’s
Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide
If you’re ready to add a retinol to your skincare routine, then don’t overthink it. Kiehl’s makes an excellent anti-aging retinol lotion that’s not too expensive. Retinol serums help fight all the major signs of aging, from dark spots to loss of elasticity.
Patricks
NS1 Night Serum
Patricks uses the “Rollys Royce of retinoids” in its luxury night serum, along with a who’s who of anti-aging ingredients—peptides, probiotics, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. It’s satisfying to apply and helps calm my skin after a long day.
Caldera + Lab
The Eye Serum
Formerly known as Eye Con, this is one of the few under-eye treatments that provided me with undeniable improvements to dark circles and puffiness. Caldera+Lab dropped the pun but kept the peptides, hyaluronic acid, adaptogens, and plant extracts that work together to give your collagen a boost and moisturize the sensitive skin under your eyes. It’s expensive for an eye treatment, but after putting dozens of these products to the test, this is the only one I swear by.
Beau Domaine
The Complete Routine
If you’re looking for an all-in-one skincare regimen, then try the trio of products from Beau Domaine, part of a collaboration between Brad Pitt and French winemaker Marc Perrin. The antioxidant-filled The Cream and The Serum are truly impressive anti-aging products, and they provided noticeable brightness and more even skin tone where other products failed.
Prose
Custom Skincare Trio
In my Prose review, I said that the brand’s skincare offerings might be a better value for men than their famous hair products. If you’re not quite in the anti-aging and retinol demo yet, then this custom moisturizer, serum, and face wash provide a gentler approach to skincare. Prose’s customization is more than just buzz—they truly do customize each product, with more or less UV protection based on your zip code, the time of year, and your skin type, as one example. My set included nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and caviar lime.
Dr. Dennis Gross
DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Are you skeptical of red light therapy? I was, but according to Dr. Shah, there’s “quite a bit of science” that red light helps your skin at the cellular level, and he’s seen the benefits firsthand in his patients. However, prepare to invest, and not just money. “The people that get the results are the ones who really use it every night and are very consistent with it.”
SkinCeuticals
A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream
So, you’re 36. You’ve officially aged out of the trendsetting 18-35 demo. Whether you’re trying to fight wrinkles or prevent them, this advanced wrinkle cream helps support your skin’s natural collagen and protein for smoother skin.
Typology
L61 – Targeted Blemish Serum
I like to think of Typology as the French answer to The Ordinary. It keeps its formulas as simple as possible (in the best possible way), but with a more refined aesthetic. The brand also makes an excellent caffeine under-eye cream, but I’ve come to rely on this salicylic acid and zinc serum as soon as I spot a breakout forming.
Grown Alchemist
Face Renewal Oil
Grown Alchemist is part of the Aussie skincare boom, and if you want to add some radiance to your skin, then try their Face Renewal Oil. It has a bewitching aroma, like a tincture that’s been cooked up for some wiccan ritual, and it provides your skin with an overnight glowup.
Cardon
Prickly Patch
If they had pimple patches when I was a teenager, I wouldn’t have acne scars today. Alas, Gen Z doesn’t know how good they’ve got it. If you’re too old for star stickers, try Cardon’s cover-up patches, which use microneedles to deliver a concentrated dose of salicylic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
Flamingo Estate
Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick
This large body bar has developed a cult following among grooming insiders. Its potent peppermint fragrance will have your entire bathroom smelling better than ever.
Kiehl’s
Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask
Kiehl’s clay mask is an old favorite, and for good reason. Its texture is buttery soft, and its blend of botanicals and Amazonian white clay draw out impurities and cleanse your pores.
The Grey
Daily Face Protect SPF50
Is SPF30 just not enough for you? This sunscreen goes hard with SPF50 protection (anything more than that is a gimmick). This lightweight sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection as peptides work to boost your natural collagen.
Cardon
SPF + Moisturizer
This SPF30 daily face sunscreen from Korean skincare brand Cardon has racked up so many grooming awards, and we just can’t quit it.
Cardon
Purifying Clay Cleanser
I love this face wash, so I was pleased to see that my GQ colleagues recently named it the best face wash for men, period. It combines everything we love about clay face masks with the best everyday cleansers.
Makeup
Men don’t wear makeup, right? Wrong. Many of them do—and proudly so. To find the best men’s beauty products, I talked to a beautiful man. Manny Gutierrez isn’t just a makeup artist and YouTuber (you can also follow his work on TikTok and Instagram); he’s also beautiful. That’s not just my opinion—back in 2017, he made the official People list of beautiful people. He told me that he’s seen “a huge shift” in mens’ attitudes toward beauty and makeup since the start of his career.
“I think that social media has really helped bring different walks of life to the forefront of people’s eyes and minds,” Gutierrez tells GQ. “There’s still, you know, a lot of haters out there, a lot of homophobic people, a lot of people who are super into, you know, hyper-masculinity. They don’t want to open their eyes to different things…[But] when you’re seeing something constantly, it doesn’t freak you out as much as something you’ve seen for the first time, and people just get a little bit more acclimated and used to it. And I think that with social media, people sharing their stories, people sharing their experiences, people can empathize with people and what they’re going through.”
Makeup can be intimidating for guys (YouTube and TikTok are your friends here), but even little steps can go a long way. With just two to three simple products, it’s easy to clean up your look, whether it’s an everyday routine or a just-for-special-occasions glam moment. “And everyone, every person, has their version of, you know, being cleaned up, whether that’s applying concealer or it’s combing their hair or shaving their face,” Gutierrez says. If you are ready to dabble in makeup, Gutierrez specifically recommended using a tinted SPF or tinted moisturizer, in addition to a basic concealer. Dr. Shah also had an important reminder for guys, especially those with sensitive skin: Makeup is waterproof, so your regular face wash won’t cut it. Be sure to buy a cleansing balm to remove makeup properly.
Seche Vite
Dry Fast Top Coat
For manicure and nail polish newbies, a solid top coat like this is essential. Not only will it make your nail polish dry faster, but it’s also helpful for home manicures of all kinds.
Essie
Nail Polish
If you’re looking for good nail polish, Essie makes easy-to-apply and long-lasting polish in every possible shade.
Supergoop
Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops Mineral SPF 40
Makeup artist Manny Gutierrez highly recommends that men try a tinted moisturizer, and he personally recommended this new “Happy Hour” SPF from Supergoop. This mineral SPF provides lasting protection from UV rays while also evening out and boosting your skin’s natural radiance.
Horace
Concealer for men
This concealer for men has a matte finish, providing a subtle coverup for acne and dark circles. You might scoff, but it could come in handy before a big event like a wedding.
Neutrogena
SkinClearing Blemish Concealer
There used to be a brand called Frontman, which made a concealer for men that also contained salicylic acid to cover up and fight pimples. Now, Neutrogena has a similar product, and it comes with a built-in applicator, a handy addition if you don’t own a makeup brush.
Woak
C4 Men’s Tinted Moisturizer
A tinted moisturizer can act as a foundation for other types of makeup, but even on its own, it evens out your complexion. This tinted product has a subtle enough look to fly under the radar, too.
CeraVe
Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 with Sheer Tint
This product does double duty: use it as a moisturizer and a sunsreen, saving you a step in the morning. Actually make that triple duty—it also acts as a tinted primer.
Just for Men
Beard & Brow
Don’t call it mascara if it makes you uncomfortable, but that’s what this Just for Men product is. If you want to cover up greys in your beard or give your eyebrows a lift, then try this affordable darkening treatment instead of dyes, which are a much bigger commitment—and risk.
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Clear Brow Gel
I’m going to be entirely honest—I’d never heard of brow gel before talking to makeup artist Manny Gutierrez. The social media star said: “So a brow gel—a brow fluffing product—is something that I also really recommend, because it’s such an easy thing to incorporate. You just brush it through your hair, and it gives you a little more of a fluffiness to the brows. I just think that it’s like, one thing men could really incorporate easily.”
Crest
3D Whitestrips Professional Effects
In our Crest 3D Whitestrips review, we confirmed that these popular whiteners really work. So, while they’re not makeup in the traditional sense, they’re the next best thing to expensive veneers.
Shaving & Beard Care
You might not think of razors as men’s beauty products, but that’s what they are. Part of being a gentleman is mastering the art of the perfect shave. It’s why GQ has spent so much time covering the best men’s beard care tools, razors, shaving cream, and beard oil. Whether you keep it trim or grow it out hermit-style, knowing what to do with your facial hair is part of being a modern man. So, if your shaving routine needs an update, try adding some of these tools to your bathroom shelf.
DSC
Shave Gel for Sensitive Skin
Though it may be sacrilege, I still haven’t found a better 2-in-1 shaving combination than Harry’s Truman Razor paired with the popular DSC (aka Dollar Shave Club) Shave Gel. This foaming formula is safe for sensitive skin and uses shea butter and aloe vera to achieve a smooth and nick-free shave.
Harry’s
The Truman Razor
You aren’t still using a disposable, right? Right?!
Horace
Lemon & Mint Beard Oil
Both myself and fellow GQ grooming guy Adam Hurly love this French beard oil, which has a refreshing citrus fragrance and natural oils to soften and moisturize your beard. A just-right combination of Jamaican black castor oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, and grapeseed oil penetrate through to the skin to stop beard funk before it starts.
Bevel
Clear Shave Gel
The appeal of a transparent shave gel is kind of in the name, and Bevel’s excellent gel provides a smooth glide for your razor while taking a preemptive strike against red bumps and ingrown hairs. The lotion uses aloe vera and cucumber extract to soothe your skin, preventing the irritation that causes razor burn.
Nivea Men
Sensitive Soothing Post Shave Balm
You don’t need to spend a lot to get a good post-shave product. The drug store brand Nivea has been releasing a lot of new men’s skincare products lately, and this soothing balm is the standout from the Nivea Men line. You can apply this lotion liberally after a shave, and it uses vitamin E, vitamin B5, witch hazel, and chamomile extract to calm the skin and prevent redness and bumps.
Kiehl’s
Ultimate Razor Burn & Bump Relief
Witch hazel is the undisputed champion of after-shave relief, and Kiehl’s goes even further with salicylic acid to exfoliate and prevent ingrown hairs. This lotion also uses fireweed extract and vitamin E to calm down irritated skin. This product has a classic barber shop fragrance and is the perfect finishing touch after a close shave.
Philips Norelco
Prestige Series 9000 Ultimate Precision Beard Trimmer
If you have a short beard, then you won’t find a better trimmer than the Prestige version of Philips Norelco’s famous Series 9000 beard trimmer. This isn’t the standard model. Instead of 21 accessories and attatchments, this waterproof trimmer uses a rotating dial to adjust trimming length on the fly. It’s a sleek, ergonomic trimmer that’s a cut above the competition.
Panasonic
MultiShape
Guys with longer beards should opt for the Multishape. Not only is this a reliable beard trimmer, but thanks to swappable heads, you can also use this versatile multigroomer as an electric shaver, toothbrush, facial brush, hair clipper, and body groomer—for starters.
Zeus
Palm Beard Brush
If you have a beard, then you need a beard brush. Consider them non-optional accessories to your facial hair.
Supply
Twig Single Edge Razor
Do you really need a razor with six (or more!) blades? Not if you know what you’re doing. So, for old school fellas, this is the safety razor you need. Say goodbye to disposables and razor cartridges, for good.
Fragrance
Do you have a signature fragrance yet? If not, get a whiff of the fine fragrances featured below. Are you a guy who prefers smoky, woody notes that call to mind Joshua Tree and desert sunsets? Or do you prefer crisp citrus and jasmine that puts you in the mood for a gin and tonic on the beach? Musk and amber? Tobacco and vanilla? Find the fragrance notes that speak to you and then peruse our guide to the best cologne for men, featuring classics from Chanel and (relative) newcomers like Le Labo.
Fulton & Roark
Ghost Trees Extrait de Parfum
An extrait de parfum is more highly concentrated than your typical fragrance, and this cologne is potent but not overpowering. The fragrance is light and breezy—imagine drinking a fine gin while taking in the sea air someplace where the desert meets the ocean. With top notes of juniper and pink pepper chased by cypress, sea salt, and driftwood, this cologne lingers just so.
Le Labo
Thé Matcha 26 Eau de Parfum
Self-described fragrance geek Adam Hurly named this the best overall cologne for men. As he put it, “I can never quite tell if it’s more smart or playful, more introverted or sexy. In reality, it’s all of those and more, which makes it such a platonic signature scent for the fella with an equal amount of layers.” What’s it smell like? Breathe in fig, citrus, and woodsy notes.
Aesop
Rōzu Eau de Parfum
We could make an entire guide to the best Aesop beauty and body products (oh wait, we did exactly that), but here’s one you probably haven’t tried yet. The Rozu cologne has floral, green, and woody notes.
Chanel
Blue de Chanel Eua de Toilette
What says beauty more than the word “Chanel”? This iconic fragrance is truly timeless. It combines notes of citrus, wood, and a pleasing fragrance you can’t quite place.
