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AskMen’s Grooming Awards are back with the best product, treatment, and device recommendations for making sure you look your absolute best in 2022. Whether you’re looking for a hair trimmer that actually works, a new daily serum, or something to keep you smelling fresh, we’ve got you covered.
Grooming expert Joey Skladany combed through thousands of products from the past 12 months and handpicked those that deserved some time in the spotlight. Fragrance connoisseur Jason Nik selected this year’s winning colognes based on first hand experience and expert-panel advice. Everything is recommended and tested by beauty industry experts, dermatologists, and most importantly, consumers.
These are AskMen’s top picks for the best body care products in 2022.
There is a method to Method’s madness, and it’s in the form of awesome body washes that lather up quickly, and smell amazing to boot. We’re huge fans of this particular earthy and calming scent. Herbs aren’t just something you want on a pizza anymore!
ZitSticka’s Silkshake brings all the boys to the yard (or at least the boys who suffer from body breakouts). The pre-, post-, and probiotic blend balances your skin’s microbiome to keep “nice bacteria in and bad bacteria out,” as the brand explains. Follow it with Fizz Fountain to block future breakouts, thanks to a hybrid of chemical and physical exfoliants that scrubs deep into pores to rid your dermis of dirt and debris.
You have to exert a bit of extra effort when using bar soap in the shower, but Hawthorne makes this experience worthwhile with a slab that mixes oat, wheat, olive, and sunflower oil. It exfoliates, cleanses, and leaves behind the revitalizing scent of mint and eucalyptus.
Shea butter and argan oil lock in all-day moisture with Bevel’s skin-smoothing star. It’s one of the highest-rated products on the company’s site, making it a certifiable smash for anyone in need of a little extra hydration.
Not only does Oars + Alps’ body lotion provide excellent relief for dry skin, it’ll benefit you regardless of what your skin is like thanks to the inclusion of arnica and magnesium, which aid with muscle soreness. Now you have no excuse to not do that leg day.
Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition that produces scaly red bumps on the skin where there are hair follicles (typically the arm and shoulder area). Luckily, First Aid Beauty has released a scrub that helps to eliminate these rough patches, so that you never have to feel self-conscious when a prospective love interest strokes your arm and tells you how funny you are.
This lavender-scented, pudding-esque creation is the perfect lotion to apply before bed. Made entirely with Lush’s high-quality vegan ingredients to support sensitive skin, it won’t ward off the boogeyman — but it will surely keep the dry skin flakes at bay.
Suppress the itch with Gold Bond’s Ultimate Men’s Essentials Body Powder, which can be applied practically anywhere (including where the sun doesn't shine). It’s a bottle you’ll always want to have on hand to alleviate discomfort from shaving, bug bites, chafing, and more.
Sometimes you just need to treat your body like a human car wash and rid it of dirt, grime, and dead skin cells for a clearer complexion. A dynamic trio of walnut powder, glycolic acid and oastraw helped put this body scrub on the map as one of Brickell’s most coveted offerings, and we can’t get enough.
You don’t have to travel to sunny Curacao to try one of its best exports: skin-healing aloe vera. Curaloe’s 95% aloe formula isn’t just exceptional at treating sunburns, but also psoriasis, eczema, acne, aging skin, stretch marks, and scars — making it an all-around all-star.
It’s extremely difficult to find an all-natural, aluminum-free deodorant that actually neutralizes underarm odor, but Blu Atlas has managed to come up with a stick that accomplishes the seemingly impossible. Bonus? You can even apply it to your groin, neck, legs — or anywhere that’s prone to excess sweat accumulation.
Heavy sweaters will take comfort in Mitchum’s Advanced Control Antiperspirant, which more than delivers on its promise of two-day odor protection. It’s also formulated to leave no white residue, which means you can rock your favorite black T-shirt with confidence.
“Shantay, you spray,” - RuPaul, to this deodorant, probably. The ever-so-reliable Dove’s line of spray deodorants is a solid choice for anyone hoping to spritz away the smells of a long day with inspired scents like eucalyptus and birch.
Do not neglect your feet, gents. Instead, invest in a heel glaze like this honey-based callus-killer from FarmHouse. It may just replace the pedicure you get annually before taking that much-needed beach vacation.
Nair is the undisputed leader in hair remover creams, and the company’s men’s line is no exception. Just be sure to spot-treat the skin before any type of hair removal to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction. Otherwise, enjoy the result of silky, smooth skin that will show off all those hard-earned muscles.
COVID introduced us to an abundance of hand sanitizers, most of which are drying and overly fragrant. Not Lather — it masks its high alcohol content with green tea extract, witch hazel, and rose water to make germ-killing a surprisingly pleasant experience.
Cala’s Cooling Face & Body Wipes shouldn’t take the place of actual bathing, but they do a damn good job of giving your body a quick refresh throughout the day. They’re also great for the active man who wants a boost of eucalyptus, but may not have the time to pop into the nearest Equinox for one of their famous eucalyptus-scented towels.
We are firm believers in splurging on products that you use every day (like a mattress, coffee machine, or gym shoes) and hand soap is no exception. Aesop’s mild-prescription hand wash contains oils of orange, rosemary, and lavender to cleanse and nourish your palms and digits without drying them out. It also smells delicious, which is precisely what you’ll want after using the restroom.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — at least when it comes to Burt’s Bees’ affordable hand lotion, which has become a wintertime staple for dry, chapped hands. The beauty of this product is that you can use it a ton and never experience irritation, thanks to a paraben- and phthalate-free formula that works with the grooves of your fingers, not against them.
It’s no secret that most skincare products are bottled in plastics that can be detrimental to the environment. Uni Skincare is committed to curbing the negative byproducts of the grooming industry with refillable hand, body, and hair products made from non-toxic, sustainable, face-grade, and reef-safe ingredients designed to protect the planet.
Find out more at WeAreUni.com
As much as the classic “lying in the sun” method can be fun, it can also be a health hazard. St. Tropez, the inarguable leader in self-tanning products, has turned thousands of happy customers onto its Classic Bronzing Mousse that brings a bit of color without the burn.
Sometimes you really must have the real thing, though — in which case you need sun protection. Ultra-lightweight and strengthened by heat and water, Shiseido’s silky-smooth, ocean-friendly formula is ideal for anyone in need of a sunscreen that will stand up to extreme temperatures and the saltiness of the ocean at the same time.
Summer sports demand a sunscreen that can stand up to sweat, and Bare Republic’s Clearscreen takes on this challenge effortlessly. The SPF 50 body spray offers high-performance protection, but also antioxidant-rich raspberry and goji berry extracts to keep skin soft and luminous as you exercise — whatever form that takes.
New ink? No problem. Mad Rabbit is the gold standard of tattoo gels, with a product that alleviates the itchiness that comes with tattoo healing. Its soothing and cooling combo also creates a moisture barrier that helps the area heal quicker — which means you can book your next tattoo appointment that much quicker.
From the opening through the heart to the base, this intoxicating scent is an absolute masterpiece. A journey of sweet lavender flows through smoky woods, while grounding itself in alluring notes of myrrh, sandalwood, and frankincense. All of this unites in a magical concoction that conjures an experience of textured tobacco swimming in a cocktail of cognac and rum.
The sequel to the award-winning Perfect, Perfect Intense is a luminous banana fragrance made creamy with almond and vanilla, with the added confidence of a subtle, grainy vanilla.
The king is still king: and for good reason. Not only is Acqua di Gio one of the best-selling fragrances of all time, it has consistently hit the bestseller list year after year since its launch. Mediterranean ocean vibes blend effortlessly with citrusy bergamot, lemon and the creamy florals of jasmine and neroli to create the ideal island paradise experience.
Krigler’s Mont Suisse 67 features notes of Italian lemon and Spanish mandarin, sprinkled with a dash of spicy pink pepper and ginger, enhanced with a fresh lively musk that brings to mind clean mountain air.
Eunoia — which means “beautiful thinking” in Greek — boasts a peculiar herbaceous opening, which transforms into a glorious bright amber that is accentuated with a thick floral jasmine, sweet vanilla and creamy musks.
Imagine for a moment you’re about to monogram a leather bag as a gift for a friend. You take out your trusty calligraphy pen and inkwell, then — just as you’re about to start writing — you realize that it’s 2022 and there are definitely experts who do this kind of thing. Just as you begin to put away your supplies, you accidentally knock the inkwell over the bag and your new leather bag is now drenched in black ink. This scent smells kind of like that bag — leather drenched in ink. Somehow it works.
With notes of spicy tobacco, berries, cedar, rose, and vanilla soaked in liquor, whiskey, gin, and bourbon, The Golden Gai isn’t merely a boozy scent, but rather a full-scale boozy experience.
The sequel to 2021’s sensational Light Blue Forever sees the return of the most honest interpretation of grapefruit ever. This time, the bright juicy grapefruit is wrapped with Italian bergamot and green notes, developing into a sweeter and deeper experience.
Mint, basil, and mandarin blend for a smooth, fresh, spicy take on classical Italian colognes. Fedora lasts and lasts and lasts some more, without ever losing the essence that keeps it smelling clean.
A fresh, earthy, (non-skunky) cannabis note blended with sugar, cypress, smooth cashmere woods, and musk surrounds you in a scent cloud that you can’t help but want to inhale deeply.
A bright combination of grapefruit, bergamot, musk and cedar wood introduces a modern perspective on classic fresh-scent favorites. A scent this good is worth so much more than the price, making it the ideal fresh scent for your wardrobe.
A divine crisp floral scent highlighted by a just rained-on garden of white freesia. The watery notes keep the floral notes fresh, clean, and bright.
The top note of peach steals the show from open to drydown. Blood orange and cardamom add just the right amount of bitterness to keep the peach from turning too juicy, while the scenet’s injection of boozy rum and cognac invigorates the senses.
Dulce Diablo is a cornucopia of delectable treats: Dried apricots, chocolate, Madagascan vanilla, cognac, rum, and golden honey all come together to produce a deliciously sweet feast of a fragrance.
Celebrate a love for Earth with spicy mint and herbaceous sage embracing notes of floral neroli and sweet orange blossom.
Raw and luxury leather merge to compose a leather scent that smells like it has been passed down through generations like a family heirloom — something that doesn’t look new, but never looks old because it’s always been well taken care of. Perfumer Ethan Turner built a bold, robust, powerful leather that projects far and lasts long, like the best, most unforgettable memories.
Master Perfumer Claude Dir created a dichotomy of musk that is both fresh and animalic, as well as clean and dirty. It’s pure masculine musk that smells less than pure. Royale X is an artistically edgy expression of self, unlike any musky scent before it.
Just when you thought every facet of oud had already been explored, Gallup Perfume surprises with a unique take that goes where oud has never gone before. Here, it’s caressed by notes of violet, osmanthus absolute, and fruits for a sweet, fruity floral combination that is powerful without being overbearing. Soon the angora makes its presence known by hugging all the other notes, creating a soft, smooth fur-like scent texture that is one of the most comforting oud fragrances ever made.
Smoky, resinous mesquite woods are draped lightly with powdery Mexican vanilla beans and pink pepper. Pronounced textured woods confidently dominate this fragrance from top to bottom.
Fresh, light, and airy juniper berries and Mandarin oranges doused in sichuan pepper, cardamom, and tonka bean absolute make for a delightfully spicy experience.
A robust, sweet tobacco fragrance that’ll delight both long-time lovers of tobacco and those dipping their toes in its scent for the first time. Manunka honey. Tobacco. Dark-toned vanilla. Tobacco. Dried fruits. Tobacco. Red wine. And yes, more tobacco. A complex blend of almost 30 fragrance oils shares the stage with tobacco, with the star of the show never leaving the spotlight.
The airy floral notes of orchids, rose, and iris blended effortlessly alongside smooth sandalwood, while white musks emit a light, bright fluid scent that glows throughout the day.
Liquorous davana and apple greet you right at the top and linger all the way to the base. Rose, tonka bean, and vanilla absolute join the party for a deep, powerful scent that commands attention all night long.
A combination of refreshing orange mixed with woods and a sprinkling of ground black pepper creates a crisp, appealing scent that will keep you smelling good every hour of work, garnering the right kind of attention without being distracting to your coworkers.
Coconut and fresh lime combined with a smooth blend of ylang-ylang and Caribbean sugarcane rum bring Miami’s year-round vacation vibes to the palm of your hands with just a few sprays. It’s a lively tropical cocktail brought to life.
From $30 at CityRhythmFragrance.com
Sparkling lemon and smooth woods make for a lively scent that keeps the wearer smelling fresh through the entire workout.
With zesty lemon, energizing apple, sweet vanilla and a touch of incense, Phantom smells like a tropical cocktail that’s been coated with a candy-soaked chili. It’s the kind of scent that turns heads, exudes charm, and lasts all night long.
Lightly sweetened, clean leather and citrusy bergamot open this fragrance, before transforming into a deeper, mysteriously sensual musky leather accord. Romance is in the air with Ovation for Men.
With its opening bright burst of juicy fruits, the introduction of brown sugar to sweeten the fruits like candy, and a floral bouquet along with musks and sandalwood to warm the scent down and turn it creamy, Almaz is euphoria in a bottle. When the crowds get larger and the room starts heating up, Almaz gets brighter and juicier, turning all eyes — and noses — your way.
Notes of sage, amber and sandalwood mix together to create a crisp, airy, chilled woods accord.
After numerous Sauvage sequels, Elixir goes the spinoff route, opening with the slightest hint of the green citrus DNA of its predecessors before exploding with cinnamon and nutmeg, layered over a serenade of lavender. Sauvage Elixir is a beast of a scent that expertly balances being tamed and untamed all at once.
Customizable LED lights on the bottle are a game changer. Engravings are forever, but this can be changed whenever you want. Not only that, but the fresh cucumber, grass and sweet pine make for a desirably green fragrance experience.
The latest sequel to the legendary Aventus replaces the fruity pineapple note of the original with a fresh spicy mandarin that makes it even livelier.
This sophisticated blend of coffee and sweet yet bitter dark chocolate that has been soaked in rum, whisky and cognac is a daring, seductive mystery that pairs well with a suit.
A top note of crisp red apple over a heart of fresh geranium, grounded by subtle tobacco nuances and dark patchouli, make for a scent that shines in almost every situation.
The Latin word for “dream,” Somnium is a warm, inviting, quiet comfort. Here, dry patchouli, airy musk and creamy golden neroli are all wrapped with a thick layer of mesmerizing vanilla, coming together for a relaxing atmospheric accord. Somnium also contains a 60mg dose of Black Dahlia’s specially formulated broad-spectrum, hemp-derived CBD oil — for the possibility of extra relaxation.
Few luxury experiences compare to putting on a brand-new, ultra-luxurious leather jacket. Somehow, the smell will never be the same as when you first put it on. Thankfully, Ombré Leather Parfum is the scent of that brand-new ultra-luxurious leather jacket every single time you spray it on.
Sunsational opens with subtle black pepper sprinkled over honeysuckle and orange blossom, before introducing a warm, lightly sweet floral. Eventually, it settles down to a salty coconut and airy musk to complete the summer beach vibes.
Brilliant Sicilian bergamot and lemon shine over textured grapefruit blossom. Kashmir woods soften the citruses and bring forth a velvety musk accord. “Breathtaking” is an understatement for this springtime sensation.
Whether it’s actually fall or you’re simply in the mood for the season’s unmistakable aura, look no further than Autumn Vibes. Think strolling through the woods after the rain has stopped: crushed leaves and a subtle touch of maple. Maison Margiela has expertly captured fall in a bottle.
Share is part of The Liquors collection, with every note exuding ultra-luxury. Spicy cinnamon and an absolute Tonka blend together to offer an essence of opulent apple pie. Whether it’s holidays spent with your loved ones or sitting in your favorite chair by an open fire, cold weather with a bottle of Angels’ Share just makes sense.
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