Treat Your Face Right With These 16 Must-Have Grooming Essentials
Your face is the first thing women look at, after all.
Breaking news: For everyone in the northern hemisphere, winter is nigh, which means it’s almost the season of dry skin, chapped lips, and red, wind-burnt skin.
If that sounds awful, it’s because it is. But you already knew that. Life’s no fun when your face is a complete mess.
And right now, we’re basically in the golden age of men’s grooming products, so why settle for a face wash you found on the clearance rack at Walmart when you can treat yourself and your face to some of the greatest grooming essentials the market has to offer?
That said, here are 16 of the best tonics, creams, and everything in between, to keep you looking fresh AF, all the time.
1. Zirh Alpha-Hydroxy Face Wash
The first step of skincare starts with a cleanser, and this face wash does the job well.
Formulated with alpha and beta hydroxy acids to remove dirt and excess oils and slough off dead skin cells, Zirh’s face wash will leave your skin fresh, clean, and delightfully lemon-scented.
Get it here for $20.
2. Grown Alchemist Blemish Treatment Gel
Because even grown ass men deal with the occasional breakout. Just a dab of this, and your zit will go back to wherever the hell it came from, without drying out your skin.
Get it here for $49.
3. Imperial Shave Balm and Face Moisturizer
Free of problematic parabens and sulfates, this moisturizer softens and heals your skin with natural shea butter, jojoba oil, and green tea extract.
Get it here for $22.
4. Rohto Cooling Eye Drops
Hungover? No one will know, thanks to this cooling eye drops that’ll make your eyes whiter than snow, and perk you up.
Get it here for $7.29.
5. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Tonic
With brightening caffeine, nourishing vitamins C and E, and Bamboo Extract, this toner tightens pores, lightly moisturizes, and soothes your skin.
Get it here for $18.
6. Grown Alchemist Sandalwood & Sage Shaving Gel
Sure, this is a bit pricier than your average shaving cream, but do any of those contain tripeptides that protect your skin from free radicals and keep your cheeks firm and supple? I highly doubt it.
Plus, in addition to those tripeptides, Grown Alchemist’s shaving gel has sandalwood and coriander seed oil to calm and sooth your delicate skin, while moisturizing for a close and comfortable shave.
Get it here for $49.
7. Jack Black Oil-Free Moisturizer
If your face tends to get greasier than a plate of Taco Bell, this is the moisturizer for you.
This face cream is a “daily, oil-free facial moisturizer for all skin types—pure and simple. A lightweight burst of moisture leaves skin refreshed and healthier-looking with a natural, shine-free finish. Organic White Tea and Sea Kelp deliver antioxidant protection, while Niacinamide helps improve skin tone and texture.”
Sound good? Get it here for $30.
8. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream
Dry skin? No problem. Clinique’s “dermatologist-developed formula combines all-day protection with skin-strengthening ingredients to soothe even the driest skins.”
Get it here for $27.
9. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Got even drier, flaky, eczema-prone skin that flares up sometimes? No worries about that, either, my friend. So do I. I personally swear by this stuff, so give it a try if you have some sensitive skin that just won’t give you a break.
Get it here for $11.69.
10. Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser
This face cleanser contains kaolin clay, a.k.a. white clay, which is the gentlest of all the facial clays out there, making it perfect for washing away impurities, dead skin, and excess oils, without drying out your face.
If you have normal or oily skin, give this face cleanser a try. You won’t be sorry.
Get it here for $20.
11. Tom Ford Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment
Your eyes part of your face, right? Right. That’s why you need to take care of them — especially since the skin around your eyes is thin, sensitive, and prone to getting wrinkly and saggy. True story.
Get it here for $75.
12. Acqua di Parma Barbiere Facial Scrub
“Formulated with organic extracts of pumpkin and rosemary with micro granulated pumice stones to gently remove dead skin cells, unclog pores and prepare the skin for shaving,” this scrub is perfect for getting rid of any and all crusties on your handsome face, leaving your skin perfectly smooth.
Get it here for $55.
13. C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm
It’s almost winter, which means it’s almost chapped lips season. And guess what? Dry, crusty lips aren’t hot…but moisturized lips that smell like mint totally are.
Get it here and banish chapped lips forever for $7.50.
14. Baxter of California After Shave Balm
Here’s another product for you dudes with sensitive skin — this milky gel aftershave has tee tree oil (super good for red, angry skin), menthol (refreshing!), and is alcohol-free, making it a great pick if your skin doesn’t exactly deal with irritation very well.
Get it here for $19.
15. Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser
Keep your skin clear and sexy with this detoxifying charcoal cleanser that gets warm and tingly as you wash your face. Feels good, looks better.
Get it here for $30.
16. Dr. Squatch Bay Rum Bar Soap
Lastly, if you’re someone who doesn’t exactly care to take the time to wash your face with one type of soap, then shower with another, my recommendation for you is simple: use a bar soap from head to toe.
This handmade soap smells like a warm, tropical vacation, thanks to its spicy blend of moisturizing shea butter, cloves, cinnamon, pine, and orange.
Get it here for $7.