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5 min readTO BE A man often means embracing repetition. Whether it’s skincare, haircare, or the idea that this might actually be the Mets’ year before realizing they’re not even going to make the playoffs by mid-June, we tend to stick to our routines. But when it comes to your grooming, it pays to switch things up. I’m not talking about scrapping what’s already working, but rather adding a few key essentials that can take your look—and your confidence—to the next level.
These aren’t the bare-minimum essentials that would raise more concerns than I’m comfortable communicating digitally if you weren’t already using them. Whether it’s bar soap or body wash, I’m going to assume you’re washing your body. Hopefully, I don’t need to tell you to brush your teeth or wear deodorant every day, either. Instead, these are the products that help you go from looking presentable to looking put together. In short, these are the upgrades you need to fine-tune your grooming routine.
Face Wash (For Your Face)
Look, I get it. I was also raised as a member of the male species and spent much of my youth washing my face with whatever body soap I had lying around. It wasn’t until college, when I was in my girlfriend’s bathroom, that I asked her what the hell a cleanser was. But we’re adults now, and we need to be treating our faces with more respect. The skin on your face is thinner and therefore more sensitive, so using a body wash on it is going to lead to dryness and irritation.
You don’t need to go after anything crazy, either. Cetaphil Face Wash for oily skin or the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for dry skin are both readily available in any drugstore, and neither will cost you much more than $15. If you have sensitive skin and are willing to spend another five bucks, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is the most gentle option you’ll find that still effectively washes away grime and sweat.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Moisturizer
The crux of any skincare routine worth a damn is a quality moisturizer. You need to be moisturizing twice a day—morning and night. When you stick to this habit with a solid moisturizer, the effects are palpable. Your skin will feel smoother and less tight, and it’ll look younger and healthier. When it’s hot out, I always look to my Versed Dew Point Gel Moisturizer. It never feels heavy on my face and is packed with aloe vera and green tea extract to minimize inflammation and soothe skin after sun exposure. Plus, it’s only $15. If you want as much hydration as possible, look to Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel.
Versed Dew Point Gel-Cream Moisturizer
Neutrogena Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Gel Cream
Daily Face SPF
My older brother recently asked how to combat some emerging wrinkles and fine lines. When I inquired about how often he was wearing SPF, and he said almost never, I knew the culprit. Do not fall into the trap of thinking sunscreen is only needed on super hot days or visits to the beach. Not only will it minimize your risk of skin cancer, but applying an SPF to your face whenever you’re going outside—year-round—is the single best weapon against early signs of aging. So invest in a decent face sunscreen or SPF moisturizer.
For the average dude, Marlowe No. 128 Face Lotion with SPF 50 is your best bet. It absorbs quickly, is fragrance-free and safe for sensitive skin, is non-comedogenic (aka it won’t cause acne), and includes additional ingredients like aloe vera and shea butter for added hydration. If you prefer the feel of a mineral sunscreen, SPOOGE Ghosted is a favorite and never leaves a cast. It’s as lightweight a mineral option you’ll find. Skin prone to redness? Dune The Mug Guardis green-tinted, reducing the appearance of redness.
Marlowe. No. 128 Men's Facial Lotion with SPF 50
SPOOGE Ghosted Mineral All-Screen SPF 30
At Least One Quality Grooming Device
A classic cartridge razor is great, but the shave process can be such a production to get it going. Electric razors streamline all of that because most of them can be used wet or dry, with or without cream. I’ve been writing about the Braun Series 9 Pro+ since I joined Men’s Health as grooming editor two years ago, and for good reason.
Sure, it has stainless steel blades that deliver 40,000 cutting actions per minute, a ProLift blade that raises hairs before it cuts them for a smoother shave, and a sensor-based motor that adjusts to your own unique beard density. I'll tell you what actually matters: it shaves exceptionally well. It glides effortlessly across your face, delivers a remarkably close shave in fewer passes, and leaves skin smooth without the irritation that plagues most electric razors. It’s the type of upgrade you need for your shave routine.
For my fellow bearded guys, toss the dingy device in the trash and finally grab a legit beard trimmer. Something like the Braun Series 9 trimmer will take your grooming to the next level, while cutting back the time it takes to shape your facial hair. To be clear, this is a different device from the Series 9 Pro+ shaver, but it offers a similarly elevated experience with a clean, powerful trim. Something about Braun and the number 9 creates top-tier grooming tools.
Also, stop plucking (or ignoring) nose and ear hair, or the few strays between your brows, and grab a nose hair trimmer. You don’t need to drop major dollars to grab a decent one, either. The travel-ready Wahl Micro Groomsman—which is smaller than most vape pens—will quickly erase visible nose and ear hair, while also being able to trim and shape brows. Best part? It’s not even $10.
Braun Series 9 PRO+ Electric Shaver
Braun All-in-One Series 9 PRO Trimmer
Electric Toothbrush
I fought it for a long time. I thought the idea of an electric toothbrush was overkill and unnecessary for everyday use. Then I tried one, and the results were immediate. Now, if I brush with a manual toothbrush, it feels closer to when I’d improvise with my finger and some toothpaste after passing out on my friend’s couch, unprepared to stay the night. The absolute best option here is an Oral-B iO Series 10 Electric Toothbrush.This thing is like having a professional dentist clean your teeth twice a day.
It offers seven brush settings to choose from—from ultra-sensitive to heavy-duty intense—sensors that give you real-time feedback and guidance on how much pressure to apply (or not apply, in what is often the case for me), and an associated app that helps you track the progress of your session so you never underbrush.
It’s also $400, so I can understand your hesitation if you’re new to these devices—though, to be clear, it’s well worth it. For newbies, I’d recommend the Quip Ultra Lite. It doesn’t have the same number of settings or features, but it’s a powerful, effective tool that simply gets the job done and will prove to you that electric toothbrushes are better. Plus, it’s only $80.
Oral-B iO Series 10 Electric Toothbrush
quip Ultra Lite Sonic Electric Toothbrush
SURI 2.0 Sonic Electric Toothbrush
More of Our Favorite Grooming Essentials
How to Trim Your Neck Beard | How to Groom Body Hair | How to Cut Your Own Hair |How to Trim Your Beard | How to Trim Nose Hair | How to Maintain Your Trimmer | Best Beard Trimmers | Best Nose Hair Trimmers | Pubic Hair Trimmers | Best Hair Clippers | Best Cordless Clippers | Best Back Shavers | Best Head Shavers | Best Body Groomers | Best Razors | Best Electric Razors
Sean Zucker is the Grooming and Reviews Editor at Men's Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean's not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck.
Christian is the Style and Reviews Director at Men's Health and Women’s Health, where he oversees shopping and style content for both brands. He started his magazine career as an accessories assistant at Vogue, and has since held editorial roles at Tatler Asia and The Manual. When he’s not online shopping, you can find him on long walks with his two corgis.
