Any well-rounded skin care routine consists of a few key steps: cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising, and, last but not least, a broad-spectrum sunscreen featuring SPF 30. To delight your dad, grandfather, brother, uncle, or partner with a special surprise to take their routines to the next level, gifting some of the best skincare products for men—from serums and toners, to weekly treatments, and more—is an easy way to help enhance their basics. But with so many options on the market, it can sometimes be tricky to determine what’s really worth the buy—which is why we’ve pulled together a short list of some of our favorite picks he’s sure to love.
These top-rated essentials from popular brands like Le Labo, Kiehl’s Since 1851, Dr. Dennis Gross, and others come highly recommended from editors, skinfluencers, and beauty enthusiasts alike (with some pulled directly from men’s routines in our Go to Bed with Me series). Plus, now that Father’s Day is almost here, these coveted selects also happen to make great last-minute gifts for both the man in your life with a 16-step routine and the skincare minimalist. Here, 42 of the very best skincare products for men to shop now.
Related article: Skincare Maven Ole Henriksen Shares His Tips On How To Stay Young
A BRIGHTENING QUARTET
The Ordinary The Bright Set
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 budget-savvy. Since he’ll find bottles of full-strength vitamin C and seven percent glycolic acid in this kit, we recommend gifting it to the man in your life with a more established routine.
A MESS-FREE CLEANSING TOOL
Foreo Luna 3 Facial Cleansing Brush for Men
He’ll get a mini face lift 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 moisturisers a little extra oomph once he’s done cleansing.
AN IRONMAN-LIKE FACE MASK
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro LED Light Therapy Device
He can combat wrinkles and firm skin in no more than three minutes a day using this popular face mask from Dr. Dennis Gross, which contains 100 LED lights in red mode (anti-aging), and 62 LED lights in blue mode (acne-fighting).
AN ANTI-AGING MOISTURISER
Hims Goodnight Wrinkle Cream for Men
If your dad is tired of staring at the years-worth of wrinkles on his face, this hyaluronic acid and caffeine-based anti-aging cream might be the routine essential he didn’t know he needed.
AN ENERGISING CLEANSER
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Facial Fuel Energising Face Wash (One Liter)
Help him feel more awake in the morning with this value-size version of Kiehl’s culty and energising Facial Fuel cleanser (which nicely happens to be 25 percent off right now).
A WELL-LOVED SPF
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
No skin care routine is complete without the addition of an effective sunscreen, which is why this dermatologist-recommended pick is one of our everyday go-tos (and beloved by more than 30,000 Amazon customers).
A LUXURIOUS CREAM
Le Domaine Skincare The Cream
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’s bound to impress him.
A MOISTURE LOCKING BALM
Joanna Czech The Balm
Featuring a blend of ceramides and plumping hyaluronic acid, we’re betting this rejuvenating balm from celebrity aesthetician Joanna Czech will become a mainstay in his daily routine.
A RENEWING FACE MASK
buttah. by Dorion Renaud Charcoal Detox Mask
Nearly 500 Amazon shoppers are fans of Buttah.’s Charcoal Detox Mask, which also features Argan oil and shea butter to replenish his complexion as it draws out dirt and oil.
A SOOTHING AFTER SHAVE BALM
Le Labo After Shave Balm
Here’s a soothing after shave balm from Le Labo to help his face heal after a shaving session. Its cooling formula is entirely plant-based, and features notes of bergamot, lavender, and tonka bean.
A SET OF RELAXING SHEET MASKS
JAXON LANE Bro Mask: Korean Face Mask for Men (4-Pack)
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 good of a holiday gift.
A WEEKLY SKIN TREAT
disco Rejuvenating Face Mask
Treat Dad to a spa day at home with this rejuvenating face mask that contains bentonite clay and charcoal to remove excess oil, dirt, and bacteria deep within his pores.
AN SPF FOR FACE AND SCALP
Mantl Face + Scalp Invisible Daily SPF 30 Broad Spectrum
For bald (or balding) men, an exposed scalp is another area of the skin to keep protected. This SPF 30 sunscreen is formulated for both the scalp and face, and won’t leave behind a ghostly white cast once it’s rubbed in.
A RICH SHAVING CREAM
Acqua Di Parma Barbiere Shaving Cream
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.
A GENTLE TONER
Grown Alchemist Balancing Toner
Treat his skin to this alcohol-free toner from Grown Alchemist that contains ginseng, chamomile and aloe vera to give his complexion a healthy glow.
A REFRESHING FACIAL MIST
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist
Beauty shoppers in the know are raving about SkinCeuticals’s hydrating and redness-reducing Phyto Corrective Essense Mist, which is perfect for the guy whose skin is easily irritated.
A NOURISHING EYE BALM
L’Occitane Immortelle Divine Eye Balm
This hydrating eye balm won’t feel heavy on his skin, and helps minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while boosting under-eye brightness.
A SET OF REDNESS REDUCERS
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Redness Rescue Kit
The guy in your life with super sensitive skin will deeply appreciate this soothing set featuring Dr. Jart’s Cicapair Tiger Grass Serum, Cream, and Color-Corrector.
A KIT FOR MELANATED SKIN
Dr. Barbara Sturm Darker Skin Tones Discovery Kit
This five-piece skincare set from Dr. Barbara Sturm includes travel-friendly essentials like foam and enzyme cleansers, a hyaluronic acid serum, and more, each formulated especially for melanin-rich skin.
A PLUMPING SERUM
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
Aesthetician Sean Garrette loves incorporating this hyaluronic acid serum into his rotation while his skin is still damp. “I love PCA,” he previously told BAZAAR.com. “I like this hydrating serum because it has ceramides and niacinamide, so it’s really nourishing and helps strengthen the skin barrier, which is the protective layer of your skin. It just makes my skin super plump—I love this serum.”
AN UNDER-EYE SOOTHER
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels (Pack of 12)
Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton uses these cooling under-eye patches on a regular basis to de-puff and relax. And because they come in a 12-pack, they’re the gift that keeps on giving.
A SPECIAL LIP BONUS
Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask
“I like to finish off with a lip mask,” celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin previously told BAZAAR.com of his skin care routine. “This one from Tatcha is incredible, it’s the Kissu Lip Mask, and this is like a really hydrating lip jelly that’s made out of peach nectar—I’m obsessed with this product. It doesn’t really taste like anything, but it’s really, really comfortable, and there’s no weight to it.”
AN EVENING CLEANSING BALM
Paula’s Choice Omega+ Complex Cleansing Balm
Garrette is also a fan of using this Paula’s Choice balm to double cleanse, which he says is ideal to combat uneven texture and hyperpigmentation.
A HYDRATING FACIAL SPRAY
Fieldtrip Wandermist Hydrating Facial Spray
Here’s a multi-functional product 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.
A PROFESSIONAL-LEVEL PEEL
Shani Darden Skin Care Triple Acid Signature Peel
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.
What to Look For in Men’s Skincare
According to the Cleveland Clinic, those designated male at birth often have a thicker and tougher dermis layer than those designated female. This skin difference often causes deeper, more furrowed wrinkles from repeated muscle movement, with increased testosterone contributing to oilier skin.
In addition to these factors, it’s important for men to determine their overall skin type—dry, oily, combination, or “normal”—to incorporate the right products for their overall skin needs. Keeping up a consistent regimen also plays a key factor in the effectiveness of one’s daily skin care routine.
Why trust Harper’s BAZAAR
For more than 150 years, Harper’s BAZAAR has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
This article originally appeared in Harper’s BAZAAR US.
