This year, GQ editors plunged into the vast ocean of grooming products, meticulously testing countless scrubs, serums, and soaps to identify the standout performers. After months of dedicated evaluation, the results are in, presenting the definitive 2025 GQ Grooming Awards. This guide showcases an array of exceptional products, spanning facial care, body care, hair care, and fragrances, all chosen for their ability to deliver remarkable results and elevate personal care routines.
We have carefully curated this selection to highlight products that truly make a difference, separating genuine innovations from mere hype. Our desks were inundated with bottles, shelves strained under the weight of moisturizers, and our bags were filled with countless samples, all in pursuit of identifying items that offer true value and deserve a permanent place in your daily regimen. Prepare to discover the best of the best in grooming, designed to leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and impeccably polished.
Optimal Facial Treatments
Achieve a flawless complexion with our top selections for facial care, featuring advanced cleansers, potent serums, and nourishing moisturizers. Our experts have identified products that address various skin concerns, from fine lines and discoloration to hydration and protection against environmental aggressors. These award-winning items promise to revitalize your skin, providing a radiant and youthful glow, all while integrating seamlessly into your daily routine. Experience the transformative power of these expertly chosen facial treatments.
Our facial care category begins with exceptional cleansers designed to purify without stripping the skin. The Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil, a Korean herbal blend, effectively removes excess oil and sunscreen while maintaining the skin’s natural barrier and offering a calming ginseng and eucalyptus aroma. For travel, the ANNEMARIE BORLIND Natuneo Powder-to-Foam Cleanser provides a talcum-like texture that cleanses thoroughly and gently. In the realm of serums, Skinceuticals C E Ferulic stands out, combating fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration with a powerful blend of vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid. La Prairie's Caviar Lifting Serum visibly firms and tones the skin, justifying its premium price with scientific backing. For quick moisture, Narcyss Acid House Retouching Serum, with its tri-hyaluronic acid solution, improves elasticity and leaves a sophisticated scent. Moonjuice Plump Jelly offers an invigorating boost with low-weight hyaluronic acid and adaptogens, smoothing skin and providing an earthy fragrance. For advanced skin rejuvenation, Plated Intense Serum utilizes exomes to boost collagen and even skin tone without irritation. Finally, Dr. Dennis Gross' Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel offers an at-home facial peel that treats wrinkles, acne, and redness with remarkable speed, making it an essential for immediate skin improvement.
Superior Body and Hair Care Innovations
Elevate your body and hair care routines with our award-winning selections, encompassing luxurious body washes, effective sun protection, and nourishing hair products. These innovations are designed to cleanse, protect, and revitalize from head to toe, ensuring your entire grooming regimen is exceptional. Discover products that combine natural ingredients with scientific advancements to provide optimal results, leaving your body feeling refreshed and your hair looking its best.
For comprehensive body care, Evolvetogether’s Nutrient-Rich Body Cleanser nurtures the skin while thoroughly removing grime, leaving a delightful scent. Aesop's Geranium Leaf Body Care Kit, featuring a cleanser and balm, hydrates the skin and invigorates the senses with its crisp citrus notes. The Costa Brazil Body Scrub, with its blend of green coffee and almond oils, exfoliates and hydrates, giving a spa-like experience. Ursa Major’s Hoppin’ Fresh Body Wash strikes a balance between natural ingredients and effective cleansing, using eucalyptus, cedar, and peppermint for a refreshing wash. In bar soaps, Malin + Goetz’s Mandelic Acid Exfoliating Bar combines physical and chemical exfoliants for soft, smooth skin, while Flamingo Estate’s Green Goddess Soap Brick offers a luxurious, aromatic cleansing experience. For sun protection, Freaks of Nature Peak Performance Sun Stick SPF50 provides portable, reef-safe mineral protection, and Avène’s Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50+ protects against UV, pollution, and blue light. EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is ideal for sensitive skin, and Vacation’s Super Spritz SPF 50 offers transparent, non-comedogenic protection with a pleasant scent. Deodorants include Church California’s Plastic-Free Natural Deodorant, a sustainable and effective option with a cedar, eucalyptus, and clary sage scent, and Degree’s Whole Body Deo, a versatile spray that offers quick refreshment and odor protection. For hand care, Wonder Valley’s Wild Garden Hand Wash, infused with olive oil, cleanses and softens, while Sans Savon’s Boreal Forest Blend hand soap offers a micellar formula with a refreshing forest aroma. Marin Soothing Hydration Cream, featuring marine glycoproteins, provides intense hydration for dry, sensitive skin, and Le Labo’s Rinse-Free Hand Gel keeps hands clean and fragrant with a basil-verbena scent. Lastly, for hair, Verb Density Peptide Shampoo tackles thinning hair with peptides and ginseng for fuller strands, and Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo offers a silicone-free formula for shine and softness. Act+Acre Daily Hydro Hydrating Shampoo, with hyaluronic acid, provides deep moisture for dry hair, and Sachajuan Clarifying Conditioner detangles and hydrates without stripping. Living Proof Full Conditioner adds volume without weight, while Bur Bur Growing Season Nourishing Conditioner strengthens hair with botanical extracts. Stylers include Church California Coastal Creme Pomade for volume and texture, and Firsthand Supply All-Purpose Pomade for a natural, long-lasting hold. For scalp care, Kiwabi Deep Sea Scalp Cleansing Treatment uses Japanese seaweed to remove buildup, and Ouai Scalp Serum, with hyaluronic acid and adaptogens, promotes hair growth and reduces shedding. For fragrances, Maison Crivelli Oud Stallion offers a unique amber-oud blend with spicy and floral notes, Dior Homme Parfum features iris, amber, and vetiver for a sensual scent, and Perfumehead 1272 combines citrus with woody undertones for a fresh, lasting impression. Louis Vuitton Sun Song presents a luminous citrus fragrance, while Tom Ford Bois Pacifique blends exotic spices with smooth woods for a refined, alluring aroma. Aesop Above Us Steorra is a rich yet airy amber and spice fragrance, and Horace Vetiver Primavera is a fresh, green vetiver scent. Home fragrances include Flamingo Estate Ancient Agrigento Olive Tree Candle for a delightful aroma, and Vyrao Verdant Incense creates a calm, harmonious atmosphere. Lastly, for beard care, Philips Norelco i9000 Prestige Ultra Shaver offers a close shave, and Braun Series 9 9440 is a versatile body groomer. Fur Shave Cream provides a protective layer for a smooth shave, and Gillette Labs Rapid Foaming Shave Gel offers a rich lather with hydrating benefits. Le Labo Beard Oil and Jack Black Beard Oil both soften and condition beards, promoting healthy growth and shine with their unique blends of natural oils and extracts.