10 best skincare products for men in 2023

If you’re looking for something you can do to enhance your life, a good skincare routine might be it. Men often overlook the gift of good skin. But the older you get and the deeper the wrinkles, the more you’ll care about how the rest of the world sees you.

We want the world to see the fresh, youthful bad boy you are. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best skincare products for men in 2023. Instead of giving you a guide on how to build a table or bookshelf, we’re going to teach you how to create the best skincare routine for your skin type.

Let’s get glamorous skin, lads.

1. Blu Atlas Exfoliating Scrub

The first step to any high-quality skincare routine is a face wash and exfoliating scrub. An outstanding scrub takes care of dirt, bacteria, and clogged pores in one fell swoop—no need to worry about acne or that oily sheen anymore. The Blu Atlas Exfoliating Scrub is one of the best skincare products for men on the market. It employs the finest all-natural ingredients that don’t irritate the skin, even as it delivers a good scrub.

If you want to tackle dry patches or get baby-soft skin, the Blu Atlas Exfoliating Scrub won’t disappoint. Jojoba oil calms and soothes irritation while refreshing your skin’s protective barrier. Bamboo extract strengthens the skin barrier and can even prevent acne. The antioxidants roll in with hibiscus extract to nourish the skin and increase elasticity.

You can say hello to your new glowing face with the Exfoliating Scrub from Blu Atlas.

2. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment

Protect your skin from the outside world with the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men. This facial cream adds an extra barrier between your skin and the rest of the world, not to mention its skin-healing ingredients and properties.

Kiehl’s dynamic moisturizer blends critical ingredients vitamin C, chestnut extract, and caffeine. While the moisturizer is hard at work protecting the skin’s barrier, other vital ingredients are brightening skin, neutralizing free radicals, and bringing life back to dull, tired skin.

Facial Fuel is the perfect moisturizer for your skincare kit.

3. Bevel Shave Cream

We get it—choosing the perfect shaving cream can be a chore. There are a million brands to choose from, and honestly, they all look pretty great. But Bevel is a standout in the grooming and shaving scene. They have some of the best grooming products for men of all skin colors and types. They understand that not all hair and skin are the same and create products that tackle the face in a delicate approach.

You only need a nickel-sized amount of product to work into a rich lather and start your close shave. This shaving cream formula skips the traditional water ingredient and instead focuses on skin-loving elements to keep your skin hydrated while shaving. The shave cream is stacked with shea butter, aloe vera, and comfrey extract to take care of irritation, razor bumps, nicks, or cuts.

A protective shaving cream to enjoy a close shave is what Bevel brings to your bathroom counter. The shaving cream goes on smoothly and lightly, and you never have to worry about clogged pores.

4. Aesop Sublime Replenishing Night Masque

If the sticker shock doesn’t make you lose your mind, the incredible Night Masque might. Aesop is famous for its high-end luxurious skincare and grooming products. A 21st-century indicator of wealth and prosperity.

The Night Masque is a deep moisturizing face mask that you leave on overnight to deliver deep hydration and rejuvenate tired skin. This light gel-cream applies to the skin smoothly and won’t feel heavy or bothersome. This is the best night mask on the market, and we know it will nourish any man’s skin.

5. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Honestly, we don’t know why this stuff isn’t classified as magic. Hyaluronic acid is the new darling on the scene for skincare brands. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, and it nourishes and naturally replenishes the skin. Hyaluronic acid is a potent serum that you can add to your skincare routine before applying a facial moisturizer to lock in that hydration before you complete the final stage of your skincare ritual.

The Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 from The Ordinary is a simple serum solution that is easy to apply to the skin. It’s vegan, silicone-free, alcohol-free, oil-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. Your skin is getting the best with this take on hyaluronic acid.

It’s the perfect addition for a guy looking for extra hydration and moisture in his grooming routine.

6. Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Our list wouldn’t be complete without a skincare product that tackles signs of aging and helps men regain their youthful skin. A-Passioni is Drunk Elephant’s patented vegan retinol formula that tackles signs of aging. It’s free from chemical fillers such as silicone, essential oils, and fragrance.

If you want to add a step to your skincare routine that battles deep lines, wrinkles, or sun damage, A-Passioni Retinol Cream would be a high-quality addition to your toiletry bag.

7. Jaxon Lane 100% Hydrogel Bro Mask

Men love Jaxon Lanes’ 100% Hydrogel Bro Masks, a Korean face mask that treats men’s skin needs. There’s no shame in wearing these hydrating facial masks. Masks targeted at women are usually cheesy, colorful, or have silly prints and patterns on them. You don’t need to look silly to have great skin, though. That’s why we love Jaxon Lane’s Bro Masks. These understated facial masks are full of powerful ingredients that revive, hydrate, and rejuvenate your skin.

We know men have different skincare needs than women because men’s skin is different. The Bro Mask uses ingredients that a man’s skin needs. The skin-loving ingredients include niacinamide, peptides, green tea, ginger, licorice, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. These potent natural botanicals work together to target dull, dry, red skin.

If you’re looking for a nice bro glow, the Bro Mask is just waiting to treat your tired skin. They put guys first, introducing a mask that can be split in half for those guys with fantastic beards that don’t get along well with face masks.

8. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Standard cleansers get a bad rap, but CeraVe’s is a fan favorite face wash. If you’re building a skincare routine and want to use the best and easiest cleanser, CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser is the obvious choice. It’s a gentle face wash that won’t irritate or bother the skin, and it’s the perfect first step in taking care of your skin.

At the beginning and end of every day, you want to wash away the day’s dirt, oil, and bacteria. It’s essential to find a face wash that can do its duty without stripping your skin of its natural oils or disrupting the skin’s natural barrier. CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser harnesses the power of three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid to scrub the skin of impurities gently. There’s no need to worry about irritation with this face wash, and it’s gentle and perfect for normal to dry skin.

9. The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream

If you’re a night owl or just a busy working man, you’ll want to throw an eye cream in your daily skincare routine to take care of your eyes after all those late nights. Just because you’re a hardworking guy doesn’t mean your eyes and skin have to suffer. The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream is an excellent addition to your grooming ritual. It’s an easy-to-use, quick-to-apply eye serum that lays gently on the most delicate skin on your body.

The critical ingredient caffeine is gentle on your delicate under-eye skin. It revives this area by tightening the skin around your eye. The Caffeine Eye Cream is a non-irritating formula that includes a Matrixyl 3000 peptide with Persian Sleeping Tree bark extract to reduce signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

Its size makes it easy to toss in your luggage, gym bag, or even a small satchel.

10. Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

Every solid skincare routine needs a good eye serum, but which serum entirely depends on your skin type. If you’re working hard to hold off signs of aging, Dr. Dennis’s Gross Retinol Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum is here to shut down the aging party and destroy those fine lines and wrinkles.

One of its ingredients, retinol, is a potent compound and can treat more than just the signs of aging. It also treats blemishes and problem areas, boosts hydration, firms the skin, and gives your undereye an overall healthier appearance. The gentle formula is safe for sensitive skin under the eyes while still treating signs of aging. It’s good to note that retinol is not an excellent choice for men with dry or sensitive skin.

Building Your Skincare Routine

The key elements to a great skincare routine depend on your skin type. After identifying your skin type, you can build your incredible skincare routine.

What Is Your Skin Type?

One quick way to identify your skin type is with blotting paper. Use a piece of blotting paper and press it to a spot on your face. Hold the paper up to a light to see how much oil is on the paper. If there’s a lot of oil on the paper, you have oily skin.

You have normal or combination skin if you see minimal oil on the paper from your T-zone. If there is little to no oil, you have dry skin.

If you don’t have blotting paper in your toiletry kit, read below for a description of each skin type.

Dry

If you have flaky or rough patches of skin, it’s probably because you have dry skin. Dry skin needs a lot of moisturizing ingredients and hydration. Skincare products with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, jojoba oil, and organic shea butter are fantastic for dry skin.

Sensitive

If you notice your skin regularly experiences stinging, burning, redness, irritation, or other reactions, you most likely have sensitive skin. Look for brands that specifically work for sensitive skin or are fragrance-free. Skincare products with those labels will have fewer irritants and fillers that bother the skin.

Oily/Acne

This is an easy one to pin down. Oily skin is shiny or appears greasy. For men with oily skin, you’ll want to look for a product with oil or acne blasting properties. A few great treatment options are tea tree oil, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. Depending on the severity of the acne, you may want to use a skincare product prescribed by a dermatologist, such as retinoic acids or tretinoin.

Combination

Combination skin is a unique type. Your skin may appear normal but will swing between blemishes to normal to dry skin. With combination skin, you’ll want to add a few extra products to your skincare routine.

Normal

People with normal skin usually don’t suffer from dryness, acne or blemishes, or sensitivity. With normal skin, you may have still have a few blemishes or dry spots caused by weather and environment.

What Do You Need to Treat?

Now that you know your skin type, this guides you toward skincare products that help treat your skin.

Acne

If acne treatment is high on your list, you’ll want to start with an oil-free moisturizer. A significant first step is a facial cleanser with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a gentle tea tree cleanser. You can also add in spot treatment of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to treat aggravated spots or blemishes. You won’t want to use a heavy, oily moisturizer that lays thickly on the skin. Use a light lotion or moisturizer with a gentle antibacterial, such as tea tree extract.

Dry Skin

With dry skin, you’ll want to add extra layers of hydration and moisture and avoid harmful chemicals and fillers. First, choose a gentle facial cleanser free from toxic chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and fake fragrances and dyes. When choosing a moisturizer for dry skin, check the ingredient to see it’s free from alcohol.

Best Daily Skincare Routine for Men

When building your best skincare routine, you don’t want to overthink it. Build an easy routine that you can follow every day, even when you don’t feel like taking care of your skin.

A three or four-step grooming routine will help your skin stay fresh and bright and keep away signs of aging.

Start by cleaning your face with a facial cleanser or exfoliator. Then apply a layer of moisture. After that, treat any spots or add extra serums. Finally, apply SPF lotion or sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.

Clean

Cleaning and exfoliating your face is the first step to a good skincare routine. Using the skincare product of your choice, simply wash your face. This step aims to get rid of any dirt, oil, or bacteria floating around on your face. It’s best to wash your face during a morning and evening skincare routine.

Tone

The second step in your routine is to even out the skin tone and balance the skin. Apply your preferred toner using your hands. A toner can inject an extra layer of nutrients and get locked in by your moisturizer.

Moisturize

The next step is to use or apply your lotion or face cream to hydrate the skin. A moisturizer keeps the skin hydrated, supple, and fresh and locks out environmental stress. Facial moisturizers can be heavy or light, depending on your skin’s needs. So be sure to find a moisturizer suitable for your skin type.

For men with dry skin, you’ll want a nourishing liquid, possibly a cream or a lotion with shea butter or hyaluronic acid. If you have oily skin, you might prefer a lighter option like a lotion or gel that dries quickly and won’t leave your skin feeling greasy or shiny. You can use a generic lotion moisturizer for normal to combination skin to get the nutrients you need.

Treat

If you’d like to use an extra serum, oil, or liquid, this is time to do it. If your skin is acne-prone, you can apply a targeting spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide or tea tree oil. For men with dry or sensitive skin, an extra layer of cream or nourishing ingredients could help the skin stay fresh for a more extended period. Vitamin C adds an extra boost of brightening and balancing if you’re looking for a youthful appearance.

SPF/Sunscreen

Applying sunscreen is an essential part of the skincare routine, preventing signs of aging by blocking the sun out to protect your skin. You’ll want to apply an SPF every day. A fast and easy way to remember this step is to buy a dual moisturizer that includes SPF. You’ll want at least SPF 20 or 30 to protect your face from the sun.

Ingredients Your Skin Will Love

Hyaluronic Acid

This Superman of skincare ingredients carries up to one thousand times its weight in water. This powerful ingredient helps your skin keep its moisture and prevents evaporation. It works well for all skin types. Even men with dry or oily skin can use products with hyaluronic acid. It’s a great supplement to any skincare routine, especially when weather changes occur. The changes in temperature and humidity cause a change in skin condition and can leave the skin feeling dehydrated.

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the protective barrier that keeps environmental factors and influences at bay. Ceramides help build, protect, and keep your skin safe. As you age, your level of ceramides drops, so it’s a key ingredient to battle signs of aging. Synthetic and plant-based ceramides keep skin looking young, so we always recommend adding a ceramide-rich product to your skincare routine.

Vitamin C

We know you’ve heard of vitamin C, the scurvy-curing nutrient for pirates, but you may not know that it also packs a powerful punch when it comes to skincare. There are many forms of vitamin C, but you want ascorbic acid in your skincare items. Ascorbic acid supports collagen creation, acts as an antioxidant to fight UV sun damage, balances your skin tone, and reduces hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin E

There are eight vitamin E types, an oil-soluble ingredient that works as a powerful antioxidant. Tocopherol and tocopherol acetate are the two most commonly utilized in skincare products. The ingredient brings a range of benefits to your skin—including increased moisture and hydration—and it can work as an anti-inflammatory mechanism to soothe skin. Vitamin E is not suitable for men with oily or acne-prone skin or extremely dry or sensitive skin.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is a light, natural plant oil derived from the argan tree. More lightweight than many other oils, it works well for all skin types. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that tackle many skin conditions. The natural plant oil moisturizes, reduces signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines, treats sun damage, and reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scarring.

Algae Extracts

It’s important to know about the wide range of algae extracts. They all work hard as anti-inflammatory agents and utilize their antioxidant powers. Algae extracts reduce the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, brighten skin, reduce blemishes and blackheads, help skin retain moisture, and help detox the skin.

Green Tea Extract

Even if you don’t enjoy drinking green tea, your body will love its use in your skincare products. Green tea extract reduces signs of aging, protects skin from sun damage, and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Ingredients to Avoid

Skincare products can be full of harmful or toxic chemicals. Sometimes they include chemicals to extend shelf life, create a lather, or produce a pleasant scent. Let’s look at a few ingredients we know we don’t want in our skincare products.

Parabens

Many companies use parabens to extend the shelf life of products and make them last longer. It also prevents microorganisms from growing within the products. While those are two beneficial side effects, parabens have been linked to disrupting a human’s hormone function.

Phthalates

This chemical helps fragrances stick to your skin. Scientists have linked phthalates to a disruption of the endocrine system and organs.

Lanolin

This wax comes from the sebaceous glands of animals with wool. If you have a wool allergy, do not use a product with lanolin. This ingredient can be incredibly irritating to the skin. If you’re the type of guy who never reads the ingredient list, be sure to test skincare products on a patch of skin before applying them to your whole face or body.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfates

A filler for cheap skincare products, SLS makes a rich lather. The side effects aren’t worth it, though. It will strip your skin of its natural moisture and destroy your skin’s protective barrier.

Formaldehyde

This chemical is often used in water-based skincare products to kill and prohibit microbe growth. They are essentially killing any bacteria or other unwanted growth. Sadly though, formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. Companies often try to disguise formaldehyde, so be on the lookout for this toxic chemical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Men Really Need to Use Skincare Products?

Yes, you really do! Skincare products are just as important for men as they are for women. If you want to keep your skin soft, supple, and free from signs of aging, it’s wise to start your skincare routine as early as possible.

How Many Steps Are in the Best Men’s Skincare Routine?

In an excellent yet basic skincare routine, you only need to follow three steps. Cleanse, moisturize, and apply sunscreen. If you have one or two of these already, you’re well on your way to a great skincare routine. If you want to start small, just start with a gentle cleanser in the morning, followed by a light moisturizer. To step up your game from there, you can begin cleansing and moisturizing in the evening or add a layer of SPF.

Do I Really Need to Wear Sunscreen?

A thousand times yes! You want to wear sunscreen every day. Why? Because preventing damage from the sun is much easier than repairing skin after it has suffered sun damage. If you love your skin and your good looks, you’ll wear sunscreen daily. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your neck and the back of your hands as well!