The 2023 Esquire Grooming Awards

This cleanser foams up to remove dirt and oil like the classics you’re used to, but it’s so easy on your skin that you won’t ever get that tight, squeaky-clean feeling that signals a compromised skin barrier.

Ultra-hydrating yet lightweight, this antiaging moisturizer really does wake up your skin in the a.m. (complete with tingling sensations). “I received compliments on my skin anytime I used this in the morning,” said one tester.

A clay mask that purifies your skin and leaves it smooth and hydrated? No longer a myth. “It’s so gentle I felt like I could have used this every day,” according to a particularly impressed tester.

It contains a depuffing peptide and plumping hyaluronic acid alongside a fast-acting “tensing agent” that helps tighten the skin around your eyes. A quick swipe makes tired, puffy eyes immediately look fresh and alert.

Use this super-simple serum—it has only seven ingredients, including 1.5 percent hyaluronic acid (the concentration found to be most effective for most people)—before your moisturizer for hydrated, smooth skin.

The low-level infrared light of this FDA-cleared home device deeply penetrates skin to help stimulate collagen production, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. Think of it as your old LED mask but way, way better.

The professional-grade lights in this wearable eye mask treat dark circles, puffiness, uneven skin tone, and fine lines and wrinkles—basically anything that can make your eyes look tired—in just a few minutes a day.

Add a few drops of water to one of these dry pellets and it instantly transforms into a gel serum loaded with peptides that help hydrate skin and fortify its protective barrier. It’s a postflight lifesaver—and won’t be seized by the TSA.

This technologically advanced cream works while you sleep to address the aging effects of glycation and collagen degradation in your skin. One tester said “the formula is thick but easy to blend in and I woke up with glowing skin the next morning.”

This surprisingly gentle scrub uses jojoba beads to clear away dead skin cells that can stick around on the surface of your face. It also contains salicylic acid to deep clean pores and prevent breakouts.

There are five different acids in this exfoliating tonic that helps to remove buildup but also brighten your complexion. Even with all those acids, it’s gentle and soothing thanks to a dash of witch hazel in the formula.

This completely clear sunscreen sinks into your skin instantaneously with no greasy or white residue at all. In fact, after a few minutes, testers completely forgot they were even wearing it.

The minute you feel a pimple forming, pop one of these bad boys on top. The micropoints dissolve to attack the blemish with salicylic acid and niacinamide before it even breaks skin.

This clear serum slides under and around your eyes easily and sinks in immediately, and the peptide-rich formula addresses everything from dark circles to puffiness to wrinkles.

Yes, there is a plumping effect to this lip balm, which our testers loved because it brings out the natural color of your lips (in a good way). The balm itself also sticks around longer than most for extra hydration.

Not only is this formula packed with antioxidant powerhouse Vitamin C to help brighten and protect your skin throughout the day, but there is also a cornucopia of botanical extracts to soothe it and address signs of skin damage.

Swipe a bit of this toner over your face after cleansing to gently remove dead skin cells and buildup, plus smooth out texture and firm up lax skin.

This antiaging retinoid serum is gentle enough that even a retinol virgin can use it without a reaction. What really takes it over the top is the complexion-bolstering and dark spot-lightening power of niacinamide.

A dab of this ultra-rich soothing cream with colloidal oatmeal and ground cherry instantly soothes red, inflamed skin and protects it from further irritation. It’s the ultimate antidote to chapped winter noses and hands.

Pop a pair of these patches under your peepers whenever you wake up looking extra haggard. They instantly soothe, depuff, and wake up tired-looking eyes with an added dose of Bader’s proprietary anti-aging formula.

“It changed my idea of what a shaving cream could be,” said one tester of this shaving/cleanser combo. It goes on clear, so you can see every detail of your shave, and rinses off quickly, for soothed and protected skin.

Harry’s newest razor is its most technologically sophisticated yet. It’s easy to use, just like the others, but is perfectly weighted for an extra-smooth shave and is so well designed you won’t mind leaving it out on your bathroom counter.

Since there’s no greasy mineral oil in this formula, your beard won’t feel overly slick. What really stood out for our testers, though, was the “bright, refreshing, and slightly barbershop-y” scent that made them reach for it over and over.

We opened the jar expecting something thick and heavy, but once we rubbed it into our whiskers the finish was more like a lightweight oil, just with more control.

There’s a lot to love about this does-it-all trimmer, but the weighty, ergonomic design and the ease with which you can swap attachments makes it a must-have for your beard (and everything else).

This silky cream instantly soothes any post-shave irritation and redness and doesn’t contain any added fragrance that may irritate sensitive skin.

The large head and five blades of this shaver power through a couple days of stubble with lightning speed, giving an incredibly close shave with minimal effort.

This combination of peppermint, meadowfoam, avocado, and clove leaf oils is thin enough to lubricate your skin pre-shave without feeling greasy, but substantial enough that it can replace your shaving cream for perfect detailing.

Dab a bit of this quick-absorbing gel on a razor bump or ingrown hair and the mandelic acid and allantoin in the formula help to soothe skin and release trapped hair.

There’s not a lot of lather to this cleanser and that’s by design. It effectively cleanses facial hair without a lot of mess.

Even if you don’t suffer from hair loss, this richly lathering, deep-cleansing shampoo removes dirt and oil from both your hair and your scalp without causing frizz. In fact, it pumps your hair with volume and shine.

This clay-pomade hybrid won high marks thanks to its ability to hold a style all day long for a clean, natural look. It also washes out easily with no hint of residue. The pine-and-sandalwood fragrance sent it over the top.

It’s your classic multiuse hair pomade, with an injection of hair-health-supporting biotin to strengthen your strands. And your style stays in place the entire day.

A few sprays of this on your scalp after a shower help block DHT (the culprit behind male- pattern hair loss) and reduce shedding, as well as volumize and style your hair instead of making it greasy like other serums do.

Ideal for keeping the lines of your haircut or beard tight between barber visits, this powerful professional-grade trimmer boasts a whopping 100 minutes of cordless use and toolless blade adjustment.

Testers were blown away by this conditioner’s ability to provide volume, thickness, and hydration without the feeling of being over moisturized or oily, especially on thin or fine hair.

Apply this mask to your scalp before shampooing a few times a week and while you massage it in the fruit enzymes and jojoba esters work together to exfoliate away dead skin cells and buildup for a more balanced, fresher scalp (and happier hair).

Unlike other two-in-ones that are heavy on the cleanser, this is more like a cleansing conditioner. It’s thick and creamy but lathers up when you add water for a fresh feeling that won’t strip your hair or make it dry.

This ultra-nourishing, creamy cleanser helps to remove dirt and grime but hydrates your hair in the process, ensuring your curls are frizz-free and smooth right out of the shower.

This lightweight cream was a hit with testers because it not only helped style their hair without weighing it down, but also helped protect it from damage while keep it in place and bringing out their natural texture.

Unlike other dry shampoos, this one sprays on clear and doesn’t leave behind any white, chalky residue. It also instantly soaks up dirt and oil to revive and plump up limp hair almost as well as actually getting in a shower.

Instead of leaving your hair crispy or crunchy, this lightweight gel gives you control that you can’t see (except for a little shine). Smooth a little bit through to finish your style.

It might be called a curl enhancer, but we found that it works on most hair types to bring out natural texture like waves and curls. Apply, then let it air dry to catch the waves.

Apply this to damp hair to help protect and smooth curls, allowing them to stay in place frizz-free “for days,” as one tester put it.

The trio of tea tree, jojoba, and Jamaican black castor oils in this formula helps to instantly smooth away frizz and deliver just a little bit of natural shine, making hair look and feel softer and healthier.

Our testers loved that this non-aerosol mist finished their styles with absolutely no crunch and a subtle hint of shine. The light hold helps keep your hair in place just as well as traditional sprays, no matter whether it’s short or long.

Not only is this sudsing gel-cream cleanser so gentle you could use it on a baby (or your extra-sensitive skin), but it’s also jam-packed with glycerin that draws in moisture from the air even after you towel off.

When you have dry skin, the best place to start treating it is in the shower. This ultra-rich, shea- butter-infused body wash is specifically formulated for dry skin and clinically tested to help keep it moisturized all day.

Most mineral sunscreens leave your skin looking chalky, but somehow this superfine moisturizing spray disappears almost immediately, residue-free. Plus, it’s full of vitamins C and E to help prevent signs of aging.

Wearing sunscreen every day can be a drag if you prefer not to show up to a meeting or date smelling like a piña colada. This clear natural-finish screen feels, and looks, like you’re wearing nothing at all—and there’s no telltale scent, either.

Slather some of this serum-balm on any part of your body that could use a little refresh—crusty elbows, pimply back, sun-spotted chest—and the combination of retinol and exfoliating alpha- hydroxy acids makes it smooth and clear.

The technologically advanced formula here creates a microscopic barrier on your skin that blocks sweat caused by factors such as heat, stress, and exercise.

Dealing with body acne is a pain, but when it’s on hard-to-reach areas like your back, it’s even worse. This spray makes treating those spots a breeze due to an easy-to-apply formula packed with 2 percent salicylic acid.

Take your recovery bath to the next level with this potent elixir. It’s stuffed with Epsom salts and magnesium to help soothe muscle soreness and relax your body—all without the mess of a bunch of chemicals dumped in your tub.

This is the elevated spiritual successor to the neon-green tub of “aloe” goo you used to rub on your burns as a kid. It is alcohol-free, contains real aloe vera as well as niacinamide and vitamin E, and smells really, really good.

Replace your oily healing ointment with this vegan balm crammed with shea and cocoa butters and sweet-almond and calendula oils. It’ll heal fresh ink or bring old, faded pieces back to life.

What made this a winner is the fresh, clean eucalyptus-and-spearmint scent that was way better than any other we tried. Not to mention, it cleansed and rinsed away with no filmy residue left behind.

Testers loved everything about this super lightweight, ultra hydrating hand serum, from the fact that they could reapply multiple times a day without any greasiness to the very pleasant scent.

The woody-fresh scent of this milky lotion won top marks but so did the fact that it instantly sinks into your skin and is so lightweight you can even use it during a heatwave.

“This could make me a body oil person,” said one tester after they tried this moisturizing yet lightweight oil that actually does feel dry on skin contact.

This natural deodorant worked “instantly” and “I didn’t smell whatsoever even through tough workouts and sweaty nights,” raved one tester who also appreciated the fresh, simple scent.

The superfine crystals of this body scrub instantly smooth away roughness, dry patches, and leftover cells from your skin, but also rinse clean and don’t get caught in your body hair.

This trimmer may be designed for pretty much every part of your body, but we found it shines below the neck, where the sheer number of length options allow you to trim, shave, and ‘scape with complete control.

We gave this hand soap a Grooming Award last year because of its gentle cleansing power. This new, citrusy-herbaly scent is so good, we had to award it again.

Swipe this deodorant-like stick wherever your skin is rubbing together and it forms an instant barrier to reduce friction and prevent uncomfortable rashes.

All of the features you want in an electric toothbrush—like dentist-recommended sonic technology, a pressure sensor, a brush- replacement reminder, and 14-day battery life on a single charge—in a small, portable, affordable package.

Remember those chemical-like, alcohol-filled breath sprays of the past? This is the same idea but much better tasting (and smelling). Formulated with botanical essences, the citrus, lime, licorice, and peppermint combo is like cologne for your mouth.

Not only did this toothpaste taste the best out of all the options we tried, but it also felt the gentlest on our gums while still removing plaque and stains immediately.

This innovative concentrated mouthwash (just add water) is ideal for your Dopp kit or desk drawer. It also had the best flavor and left our mouths feeling fresh the longest.

The combination of LED light with peroxide white strips means you don’t have to leave them on for as long to see immediate whitening results (which we did).

Echoing the understated clothes Cucinelli is known for, this cologne (due for release in October) reminds you of pulling on the softest cashmere sweater. The notes of juniper berries, cypress, and Ambrox are warm, cozy, and the definition of quiet luxury.

The Drakkar Noir your dad wore has been updated for a new generation with notes of lavender, rosemary, and clary sage, plus a dose of citrus to lighten the mood. It’s still intense but in a very good way.

Can a vanilla fragrance be manly? Absolutely. The vanilla in this potent cologne isn’t sweet; instead, it’s mixed with smoky vetiver, giving it a deep, sexy warmth that invites people to get closer.

If the bright-green bottle doesn’t tip you off, this fresh, summery scent evokes your favorite green juice—albeit a very expensive one full of lemon, orange, basil, and mint.

This patchouli, pepper, cedar, and sage concoction from the heritage apothecary is anything but old-fashioned. It’s traditionally masculine yet subtle, with a hint of freshness.

Woods have always been a staple in cologne, and this rich fragrance takes it up a notch with a healthy amount of sandalwood mixed with cedarwood and balsam oil. A dash of myrrh lends a mysterious vibe.

Think of this as an after-party in a bottle. Fresh notes of green mandarin, grapefruit, and lavender commingle with deeper scents of leather, patchouli, and olibanum for a lush, late-night feeling.

Inspired by the smoky, sweaty bars of the ’70s-era Sunset Strip, this scent is all about a certain carnal activity. Black musk, suede, tobacco leaf, and cinnamon bark work together to create a heady “hey there, cowboy” of a fragrance.

The notes may be floral (jasmine, mimosa, and orange flower), but the smell is anything but a bouquet. It’s more like walking through a forest right after it rains—deep, calming, and otherworldly.

Named for a very rare fruit from the 1700s (and rediscovered in the 1980s), this is like no other citrus fragrance you’ve ever smelled. With notes of orange blossom, neroli, musk, and, of course, bizzarria accord, it’s both familiar and completely unexpected.

If there’s one reason to consider body spray again, it’s this: It deodorizes your skin to help keep BO at bay, and the surprising lavender, mint, and amber scent is more akin to a fancy cologne than your high school spray.

There are plenty of reasons to light a candle, but take a flame to this incense-forward option and you get immediate ashram vibes. It’s the easiest and best-smelling way to relax after a long day.