The 2024 Esquire Grooming Awards

0
The 2024 Esquire Grooming Awards
e

Every year, we slather, scrub, and spray our way through hundreds of grooming products to find the very best out there. To accomplish this feat, we assemble a group of testers—editors, experts, and enthusiasts (bordering on obsessives)—who consider the tiny differences in aesthetics and performance for longer than normal people would consider, well, normal, and who spend months trying every new product they can get their hands on. Our standards are high because yours are, too. Whether your grooming routine is simple or extensive, these products will transform the way you take care of yourself.


face
e

Ben Alsop

Best Face Cleanser

Matcha Gel Cleanser

Table of Contents

Tatcha Matcha Gel Cleanser

Inspired by Japanese home remedies, this gel-to-foam cleanser is tailor-made for oily skin and designed to deep-clean skin and pores—and does that very well—without leaving it feeling tight or dry. In fact it’s so gentle you can use it every day.

Best Moisturizer

Sisleÿa L'Intégral Anti-Age Fresh Gel Cream
Sisley Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Age Fresh Gel Cream

Packed with more than 50 active ingredients (among them apple seeds!) that target everything from fine lines and wrinkles to dullness and fatigue, this hyper-luxe cream is still so lightweight it’s suitable for oily skin.

Best Night Cream

Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue
Biossance Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue

Apply this cream before bed to let the ingredients like ultra-moisturizing squalane, moisture barrier-supporting ectoin, and soothing magnesium work while you sleep.

Best Facial Scrub

Green Slate Mineral Polish
Ursa Major Green Slate Mineral Polish

The superfine particles in this scrub clear away dead skin cells and buildup to leave your skin brighter and more even- toned without shredding it like other exfoliates.

Best Exfoliator

PowerBright Dark Spot Peel
Dermalogica PowerBright Dark Spot Peel

This high-potency peel contains a Mandelic acid-based blend of exfoliating acids that quickly and gently fade the look of dark spots while bolstering the skin barrier and helping reduce the appearance of pigmentation in the future.

Best Facial SPF

Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense
SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense

This lightweight sunscreen is nongreasy on your skin and leaves behind no white cast, thanks to the mix of chemical and mineral screens, while also helping to reduce redness and hydrate skin so well you may be able to skip moisturizer.

Best Tinted SPF

UV Daily Deep Tint
EltaMD UV Daily Deep Tint

The subtle tint to this daily sunscreen helps it effortlessly blend into your skin without any hint of white film, and now it comes in a deeper shade appropriate for darker skin tones.

Best SPF Stick

Super Stick SPF 45
Vacation Super Stick SPF 45

Keep this tiny solid sunscreen in your pocket or bag to easily reapply to areas like your nose, ears, and anywhere else that’s prone to burn.

Best Water Resistant Facial SPF

Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40
Supergoop! Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Our testers were gobsmacked that a mineral sunscreen could actually live up to the name “unseen,” but this one absolutely does. It blends into skin easily and quickly and without a trace left behind.

Best Mask

Deep Purifying Mask
La Mer Deep Purifying Mask

Think of this as the fancy version of your clay mask. With a base of microfine stone particles that attract and remove impurities, which is then mixed with the brand’s moisturizing Miracle Broth, this mask deep-cleanses pores while still leaving your skin soft and hydrated.

Best Sheet Mask

First Care Activating Sheet Mask
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Sheet Mask

Pop on this mask whenever your face needs a little TLC and the potent First Care Activating Serum IV (a mix of ginseng and other herbs) instantly transforms your complexion from dull to bright and nourished.

Best Acne Product

Alpha Beta On The Spot Eliminator 30ml
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta On The Spot Eliminator 30ml

The high concentration of salicylic acid in this spot treatment immediately goes to work to reduce pimples and soothe skin.

Best Acne Patch

Acne-Prone Skin Patches
Differin Acne-Prone Skin Patches

The best thing about these easy-to-use patches is that they can work to zap zits even before they reach the surface, ensuring they never see the light of day.

Best Eye Treatment

Peau Magnifique Eye Concentrate
RéVive Peau Magnifique Eye Concentrate

The trifecta of powerful peptides in this overnight formula target the look of fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles, and more, so you look like you never missed an hour of sleep in your life.

Best Eye Serum

Matcha Boost Eye Serum
Damdam Matcha Boost Eye Serum

Like a matcha latte for your eyes, this serum minimizes puffiness and dark circles and deeply hydrates your eye area so your peepers look perkier—plus the antioxidant-rich matcha helps guard against UV damage.

Best Lip Balm

Glazed Donut 101 Ointment Multi-Balm
Lanolips Glazed Donut 101 Ointment Multi-Balm

Just a little of this ultra-moisturizing lip balm keeps your lips hydrated, protected, and chap-free. And yes, it really does taste like donuts.

Best All-Around Serum

Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum
Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum

The combination of ectoin and peptides in this formula targets everything from skin repair to skin barrier function and signs of aging for all-around improvement in not just how your skin looks, but how it works, too.

Berst Vitamin C Serum

C-Luma Hydrabright Serum
Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum

Not only is this serum packed with brightening vitamin C, but it also has an additional triple antioxidant complex that lightens the look of dark spots and post-breakout pigmentation.

Best Exfoliating Toner

Immaculate Facial Tonic
Aesop Immaculate Facial Tonic

Swipe on this vitamin-laced toner to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells and hydrate your skin for a smoother, more even complexion.

Besat Hydrating Toner

Daily Rescue Water Lotion
Lab Series Daily Rescue Water Lotion

This newly reformulated toner gives your skin crazy moisture that lasts all day, and now contains a niacinamide and resveratrol complex that helps protect your mug from outside aggressors like pollution.

Best Retinol

Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Serum

Don’t let the tiny bottle fool you. This powerful serum pairs retinaldehyde, a potent antiaging retinoid, with synthetic oat analogs that help temper possible discomfort and irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin and retinol beginners.

Best Concealer

Quick Cover Stick

This handy stick can be used as a spot concealer or under-eye product, or anywhere you need a little camouflage. The easy-to-apply stick has a hidden brush in the base to make blending a breeze (and unclockable).


e
e

Ben Alsop

best body wash

The Body Cleanser
Augustinus Bader The Body Cleanser

This ultra-luxe body wash hits all the right notes: a gentle lather, a refreshing eucalyptus scent, and an infusion of techy skin-care ingredients, like the brand’s famous TFC8, that leave your skin feeling stronger, cleaner, and softer.

Best Bar Soap

On Sale

Cleansing Bar Soap

Dove Men + Care Cleansing Bar Soap

Now 17% Off

Unlike traditional harsh soaps, this gentle bar uses plant-based cleansers to remove dirt and oil from your body without stripping it of its natural protective oils, meaning you’ll never get that dry, tight feeling after you use it.

Best Body Sunscreen

SPF 50 Sunscreen Body Lotion
Sun Bum SPF 50 Sunscreen Body Lotion

There’s no thick, goopy mess with this sunscreen. Instead, it’s more like your typical moisturizing body lotion that just happens to contain a healthy dose of SPF.

Best Mineral Body Screen

Triple Power OS-01 Body SPF
One Skin Triple Power OS-01 Body SPF

By itself, this reef-friendly mineral sunscreen would be one of the best out there—the company’s founder has degrees in stem-cell biology and tissue engineering, plus a doctorate in immunology. But the fact that it doesn’t leave a ghostly white cast and contains antioxidants that further protect skin and target the effects of skin aging makes it a must-have.

Best Hand Cream

Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin Moisturizing Hand Cream

This ultra-moisturizing hand cream sinks into your skin with no greasy residue. Our testers recommend applying it at night so it works while you sleep and you can wake up without a hint of dryness whatsoever.

Best Body Lotion

Body Lotion Moisturizer
Osana Body Lotion Moisturizer

The trifecta of coconut oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid in this soothing formula make it one of the most hydrating lotions we tried, yet it’s somehow lightweight and leaves no greasiness behind once your skin drinks it up.

Best Body Gel

Eucalyptus Smoothing Body Gel
Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Smoothing Body Gel

This cooling gel is packed with ingredients like soothing magnesium, hydrating urea, and lightly exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids that work together to smooth and improve your skin’s texture while moisturizing. It also happens to smell fantastic.

Best Body Serum

Body Serum

This serum has more in common with the ones you typically put on your face than a body lotion. Packed with moisturizing and protecting ingredients, it sinks into your skin immediately with barely a rub.

Best Deodorant

The Deodorant Balm

Developed by professional dancers who know a thing or two about sweat, this deodorant balm can be used anywhere on your body to stop odor and curb moisture all day long.

Best Deodorant Spray

Total Body Deodorant
Old Spice Total Body Deodorant

Spray this deodorant anywhere from the neck down to squash odor no matter where it happens—pits, feet, and even your undercarriage—and instead enjoy the elevated shea and vanilla scent.

Best Antipersperant

Midnight Classico Antiperspirant Stick
Dove Men+Care Midnight Classico Antiperspirant Stick

When you need protection from sweat as well as odor, swipe on this stick, which will not only keep you dry for literal days but also moisturize and safeguard your skin thanks to ingredients like vitamin E.

Best Body Scrub

Smoothing Body Scrub
Youth to the People Smoothing Body Scrub

Inside this scrub is the double whammy of both chemical and physical exfoliants that work together to instantly leave even very rough skin smooth and bump-free. Plus, the yerba mate and caffeine leave skin looking brighter and more energized.

best body exfoliator

Resurfacing Body Serum
Philosophy Resurfacing Body Serum

Now 15% Off

This powerhouse skin serum not only contains gentle exfoliating enzymes that help smooth skin but also a combination of retinol and peptides that help to stimulate collagen production and hyaluronic acid for long-term hydration.

Best ingrown hair treatment

Brightening Ingrown Hair Wipes
European Wax Center Brightening Ingrown Hair Wipes

The name of the game when it comes to manscaping is ingrown hair control, and these easy-to-use wipes are perfect for delivering exfoliating and brightening ingredients to any area you need, even the hard-to-reach ones.

Best Anti-Chafe Product

Over and Under Cream-to-Powder Deodorant
Kiehl’s Over and Under Cream-to-Powder Deodorant

This deodorizing cream rubs on like a lotion but dries to a fresh, powdery finish that helps protect skin from the friction that leads to chafing. Apply it anywhere you need to soothe your skin.

best tattoo product

Enhancing Tattoo Stick
Papatui Enhancing Tattoo Stick

Glide this mango butter and coconut oil-based stick over your ink to moisturize your skin and make your tattoos look brighter, fresher, and more vibrant.


e
e

Ben Alsop

Best Shampoo

Rosemary Shampoo
Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo

Founded in 2018, California-based Nécessaire makes a shampoo with proteins to strengthen strands, ceramides to protect the scalp’s barrier, and rosemary extract, which may help stimulate growth. Plus, it smells incredible.

Best Conditioner

Super Moisture Conditioner
California Naturals Super Moisture Conditioner

This conditioner from California Naturals—a brand started by a former fashion stylist that counts Owen Wilson as its chief shampoo officer—features ingredients like agave nectar, guava-seed oil, and marula oil in a verdant formula that will nourish and hydrate even super-dry hair.

Best Scalp Product

Scalp Exfoliator
Living Proof Scalp Exfoliator

Massage this serum into your scalp before shampooing and the blend of glycolic acid, BHAs, and PHAs goes to work removing dead skin and product buildup, leaving your scalp clear to be cleansed.

Best Scalp Serum

Microbiome Cooling Serum
Act + Acre Microbiome Cooling Serum

The peppermint oil in this serum instantly gives it a cooling and soothing effect on your scalp and the amino acid complex helps balance the scalp and reduce flakes and itchiness.

Best Styling Cream

Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Light Work Sculpting Crème
Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Light Work Sculpting Crème

Our testers loved that this cream offered a flexible hold with a natural, no-frizz finish that lasted all day long without a hint of stickiness.

Best Clay

Severed Head Strong Hold Clay Pomade
Reuzel x Liquid Death Severed Head Strong Hold Clay Pomade

Use just a little bit of this heavy-duty clay for long-lasting hold with a natural, matte finish. It’s ideal for creating texture and volume that isn’t going to deflate as the day goes on.

Best Pomade

GRASP Intense Hold Shaping Balm
R+Co GRASP Intense Hold Shaping Balm

This concentrated balm from R+Co—founded a decade ago by a collective of three prominent hairstylists—is going to lock hair into place and keep it that way for as long as you could possibly need. Ideal for sleek, shiny looks, it gives a smooth finish with no crunch.

Best Dry Shampoo

AirWash Dry Shampoo

Apply some of this non-aerosol dry shampoo to your scalp and it instantly absorbs oil to make your hair look fresh. Plus, it features odorBIND technology that traps odor molecules and replaces them with a clean, pleasant scent.

Best Gel

Flexible Hold Finishing Hair Gel
Crown Affair Flexible Hold Finishing Hair Gel

This newfangled gel from Crown Affair, a company founded in 2020, has all the frizz-reducing hold of your classic but also features ingredients like tsubaki-seed oil and jojoba milk to nourish and soften at the same time.

Best Thinning Treatment

Hair Formula Rx

$45 per month

Thinning hair requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. This system uses a suite of ingredients—including power players like finasteride and minoxidil—to tune the treatment to your needs.

Best Texturizer

Beach Club Texture Spray
IGK Beach Club Texture Spray

Instead of salt, which can be drying on hair, this texture spray uses hydrolyzed wheat protein to create weightless volume and texture while still keeping your hair feeling hydrated and nourished.

Best Wave Styler

Hair Alchemy Heatless Styling Balm
Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Styling Balm

When you don’t have time to bust out the blow-dryer, spritz some of this on your damp hair and let it air dry. The result is frizz-free texture and lightweight volume that lasts for hours and hours.

Best Hair Oil

Solid Oil

Just a little bit of this shea butter and avocado oil-laced formula will moisturize and protect your hair while smoothing and de-frizzing it without hold.

Best Hair Clipper

enVISION Cordless Clipper
Andis enVISION Cordless Clipper

A professional-level clipper but tailored for home use, this powerful tool features all you need—like titanium-coated ceramic blades, a long-lasting battery for cordless use, and a plethora of guards—for perfect touch-ups and home cuts.

Best Blow-Dryer

Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer

The Dyson Supersonic now comes with a built-in network of Nural sensors that automatically adjust heat to prevent damage.


e
e

Ben Alsop

Best Shaving Cream

Shave Cream

The perfect balance between rich, moisturizing lather and easy-to-rinse capability, this surprisingly luxurious shave cream gives you a smooth shave while hydrating your skin in the process.

Best Razor

SkinGuard Razors
Gillette SkinGuard Razors

Specifically designed to be used on sensitive skin, this innovative razor has double the lubricating strips, and features two blades spaced farther apart to reduce tugging and nicking. It’s gentle but still delivers a close shave.

Best Beard Oil

Hinoki Spice Small Batch Beard Oil
Every Man Jack Hinoki Spice Small Batch Beard Oil

Now 13% Off

The squalane, jojoba, and avocado oils that make up this formula work quickly on dry whiskers to smooth and moisturize them, leaving them touchably soft but not greasy.

Best Beard Moisturizer

Sensitive Face & Beard Moisture Gel
Nivea Men Sensitive Face & Beard Moisture Gel

When balms or oils are too heavy, reach for this lightweight beard moisturizer that’s packed with plant extracts and vitamins like E and B5 to hydrate and smooth whiskers without weighing them down. (It’s so lightweight you can use it on your face, too.)

Best Beard Conditioner

Beard Conditioning Spray
Harry’s Beard Conditioning Spray

Spritz this lightweight leave-in conditioner after washing your beard or anytime your whiskers feel a little dry. It hydrates and smooths dry facial hair and moisturizes the skin underneath.

Best Beard Trimmer

King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer Pro
Gillette King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer Pro

This easy-to-use and budget-friendly trimmer has features you’d expect in trimmers triple the price, like 40 length settings, a rotary dial, and a month of use from a single charge.

Best Beard Wash

On Sale

Hinoki Spice Beard + Face Wash

Every Man Jack Hinoki Spice Beard + Face Wash

Now 13% Off

Not only does this plant-based oil laced cleanser whisk away dirt and grime from your beard, but it also leaves it hydrated and moisturized.

Best Beard Tool

Prestige Hair and Beard Brush
Altesse Prestige Hair and Beard Brush

The gold standard of beard brushes, this tool is made from boar bristles that help to distribute natural oils from the root to the tips of your whiskers so they stay smooth, shiny, and healthy.

Best Electric Razor

On Sale

S9000 Prestige Shaver

Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige Shaver

Now 17% Off

The three rotary heads of this razor adapt to every contour of your face, and SenseIQ technology automatically adjusts, cutting power to your beard density for the closest shave possible.


e
e

Ben Alsop

Best Toothpaste

Vitamin C Whitening Toothpaste
Hello Vitamin C Whitening Toothpaste

It still tastes like mint, but this paste harnesses the stain-fighting power of vitamin C to visibly whiten your teeth instead of relying on the traditional peroxide, which can be damaging to enamel.

Best Mouthwash

Clinical Solutions Mouthwash
Listerine Clinical Solutions Mouthwash

Now 11% Off

This alcohol-free mouthwash not only kills lingering bacteria in your mouth, but it also targets specific dental issues like bad breath, gum health, and enamel strength in just two uses a day.

Best Whitening Product

3DWhite Easy-to-Use Pen
Crest 3DWhite Easy-to-Use Pen

Now 12% Off

Testers raved about how easy this pen is to use versus your traditional strips or trays. Just paint the gel directly onto your teeth and let it go to work lightening stains. We saw results after only a few uses.

Best Electric Toothbrush

Sonicare 4100 Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare 4100 Toothbrush

Now 30% Off

This affordable brush has all the bells and whistles you want from a high-end electric toothbrush, like a built-in timer and a pressure sensor to protect your gums, and deep-cleaning sonic technology—just without the eye-watering price tag.

Best Water Flosser

Sensonic Complete Care
Waterpik Sensonic Complete Care

Combining an electric toothbrush and water flosser into one compact package, this device is a complete dental routine right out of the box. Multiple brush modes and flossing heads allow you to customize the experience.

Best Dental Tool

Custom-Jet Oral Health System
Proclaim Custom-Jet Oral Health System

Now 11% Off

Attach the custom 3D-printed mouthpiece to this device and it flushes your entire mouth with water in just a few seconds. It’s so effective it can actually replace flossing.


e
e

Ben Alsop

Sauvage Eau Forte

The new alcohol-free formula turns the typical Sauvage notes into something smoother and more robust. It’s grown-up, modern, and, dare we say, surprising.

Pour Homme Eau de Parfum
Michael Kors Pour Homme Eau de Parfum

This new fragrance harnesses the glamour of Michael Kors clothing through fresh notes of bergamot and sea waves and earthier patchouli and vetiver. Best paired with a yacht.

Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense
Jo Malone Hinoki & Cedarwood Cologne Intense

A lighter, elegant take on a woody cologne, this smooth and subtle concoction is somehow fresh and grounded at the same time, thanks to the unique vibe that Hinoki brings to the mix.

Under the Stars Eau de Toilette
Maison Margiela Under the Stars Eau de Toilette

The mix of oud and raw leather in this warm, spicy cologne is masculine, but dries down into something more cozy and inviting than aggressive.

Purple Patchouli Body Spray
Axe Purple Patchouli Body Spray

The high-end mix of patchouli, oak, and citrus in this body spray will fool even the snobbiest frag-head. It’s a richly layered, more mature version of Axe that you never knew existed.

A Grove By The Sea
Arquiste A Grove By The Sea

A modern interpretation of a fresh aquatic scent, this Adriatic-inspired cologne uses notes of fig, olive oil, cypress, pine, and wild herbs to transport you to the seaside.

Big Sur Eucalyptus
D.S. & Durga Big Sur Eucalyptus

The cool feel of eucalyptus is taken even further with the addition of wet wood, Pacific spray, and a variety of woods and herbs to make this cologne fresh as hell, but not in the way you’d think.

Polo 67 Eau de Toilette
Ralph Lauren Polo 67 Eau de Toilette

The intense freshness of this cologne, thanks to notes of bergamot and pineapple, gives you an instant burst of energy, while vetiver grounds it to your skin for hours.

link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *