Do men actually need cosmetics/skincare — and if so, which products are the real essentials?

Men's skincare and grooming is a booming market, but plenty of guys still think moisturizer, sunscreen, and concealer are 'girl stuff' and a bar of soap is all they need. Dermatologists disagree: men's skin actually has different oil production and thickness, and daily sun exposure doesn't care about gender. So which is it — is buying cosmetics for men just marketing hype, or a real need? And if it's real, which products actually deserve a spot in a no-nonsense men's routine: sunscreen, moisturizer, a proper cleanser, concealer for blemishes and dark circles, or basic eyebrow grooming?

🖼️ Bigger images

𝗕 Bold text

Sunscreen (SPF 30+) - the one dermatologists agree on regardless of gender. Daily UV exposure causes wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancer risk whether you 'do skincare' or not, which makes this less a cosmetic and more basic preventive maintenance.

►

A daily face moisturizer - basic hydration and barrier support, especially after washing or shaving strips natural oils. Doesn't need to be fancy or scented like 'women's lotion' - just something that keeps skin from getting tight, flaky, or irritated.

►

A proper facial cleanser instead of bar soap or shower gel on the face. Regular soap strips skin and throws off its pH, which can actually cause more breakouts and irritation than it prevents - a mild, face-specific wash fixes that for a couple bucks.

►

Concealer - for covering blemishes, redness, or dark circles before an important meeting or a date. Still the most taboo item on this list for a lot of men, even though a light dab is basically invisible and no different from covering a bad haircut with a hat.

►

Basic eyebrow grooming - trimming stray or unibrow hairs with small scissors or a trimmer. Low effort, no product required, but it makes a noticeable difference to how put-together someone looks in photos and video calls.

►

Optional photo for your new option. Take one or choose from your device. Shown as a 200 x 200 pixel thumbnail, cropped from the centre.

✨ Vote to reveal a bonus tea Easter egg!