I spoke to Dr. Muneeb Shah, aka the “DermDoctor,” a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the new skincare brand Remedy. Dr. Shah said that a good skin care routine (a face wash, moisturiser, and SPF, at the minimum) is the foundation for lasting good looks as you age. But it’s also important to be realistic. We’ve all seen celebrities who seem impervious to ageing, but the truth is, the Hollywood glitterati are regular visitors to plastic surgeons. Modern male celebs are using everything from steroids and veneers to laser treatments, Botox, and fillers, fillers, fillers.
“It all starts with good habits," Shah says. “And then, we describe it as a plateau. Like, eventually, you’re going to max out the benefits from your peptides and your retinol, right? Once you do that, then it’s time to move on to some procedures… so, there are a lot of male celebrities who look natural that are getting these beauty treatments done. But it all starts with a really good skincare routine. Getting some laser treatments and maybe even a little bit of filler in the jaw, maybe a little bit of Botox in the forehead, around the eyes… those are probably the most common things I'm seeing my male patients do.”
Shaving & Beard Care
You might not think of razors as men’s beauty products, but that’s what they are. Part of being a gentleman is mastering the art of the perfect shave. It’s why GQ has spent so much time covering the best men’s beard care tools, razors, shaving cream, and beard oil. Whether you keep it trim or grow it out hermit-style, knowing what to do with your facial hair is part of being a modern man. So, if your shaving routine needs an update, try adding some of these tools to your bathroom shelf.
Triumph & Disaster Old-Fashioned Shave Cream
Fragrance
Do you have a signature fragrance yet? If not, get a whiff of the fine fragrances featured below. Are you a guy who prefers smoky, woody notes that call to mind Joshua Tree and desert sunsets? Or do you prefer crisp citrus and jasmine that puts you in the mood for a gin and tonic on the beach? Musk and amber? Tobacco and vanilla? Find the fragrance notes that speak to you and then peruse our guide to the best cologne for men, featuring classics from Creed and (relative) newcomers like Le Labo.
Makeup
Men don’t wear makeup, right? Wrong. Many of them do — and proudly so. To find the best men’s beauty products, I talked to a beautiful man. Manny Gutierrez isn’t just a makeup artist and YouTuber (you can also follow his work on TikTok and Instagram); he’s also beautiful. That’s not just my opinion — back in 2017, he made the official People list of beautiful people. He told me that he’s seen “a huge shift” in mens’ attitudes toward beauty and makeup since the start of his career.
“I think that social media has really helped bring different walks of life to the forefront of people's eyes and minds,” Gutierrez tells GQ. “There's still a lot of haters out there, a lot of homophobic people, a lot of people who are super into, you know, hyper-masculinity. They don't want to open their eyes to different things… [But] when you're seeing something constantly, it doesn't freak you out as much as something you've seen for the first time, and people just get a little bit more acclimated."
Makeup can be intimidating for guys (YouTube and TikTok are your friends here), but even little steps can go a long way. With just two to three simple products, it’s easy to clean up your look, whether it’s an everyday routine or a just-for-special-occasions glam moment. “And everyone, every person, has their version of being cleaned up, whether that's applying concealer or it's combing their hair or shaving their face,” Gutierrez says. If you are ready to dabble in makeup, Gutierrez specifically recommended using a tinted SPF or tinted moisturiser, in addition to a basic concealer. Dr. Shah also had an important reminder for guys, especially those with sensitive skin: makeup is waterproof, so your regular face wash won’t cut it. Be sure to buy a cleansing balm to remove makeup properly.
