Give Dad The Gift of Great Skin with Our Top-Tested Men’s Skin Care Picks For Father’s Day

Dads, like moms, are tired, and sometimes it shows. Enter: this eye cream. Ingredients like niacinamide (an antioxidant B3 which brightens and strengthens the skin), yeast and rice extracts (which nourish and firm the skin), and caffeine (maybe you’ve heard of it?), work together to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, plus brighten and depuff the under-eye area. Good morning.

Pretty Boy was created by guys, for guys. The brand is focused on multifunctional, simple, and lightweight products for all skin types, and this one is a signature. Made with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, and squalene, it’s designed to hydrate, plus help with redness and even soothe razor burn and beard itch. It’s also notable for being the first male-focused brand to get the coveted Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.

If you’re looking for an upscale gift for a man with very dry skin, look no further. This cream uses shea butter and macadamia oil to moisturize, and mirabilis jalapa plant extract to soothe redness and irritation. Editor Lili Ladaga, who tested this product, said that it has a super thick consistency, almost like cake icing. She found that it felt great going on, and left her skin moisturized and soft. Even better, it’s long-lasting; that refreshed post-moisturizing feeling stuck around for a good long time.

At least that’s what editor, Katie Tuttle thought. She found that it absorbed quickly, and made her skin feel smooth — almost as if the exfoliant allowed the moisturizer to better penetrate her skin. Smooth, check, moisturized, check. What else could your dude ask for?

If the dad in your life has seen you using red light therapy and looked curious, it might be time to get him this gift. This hair-growth cap uses red and blue light to reactivate follicles and extend the growth phase. It’s easy to use — just wear it for ten minutes every day — it even comes with a journal to track your progress. 

Hirschlag’s husband tested this cap out and was impressed by how well it blends in, saying that it looks like a regular hat to the untrained eye. Most importantly, he reported feeling (and seeing) a definite difference in his hair growth after he began using it. 

Skin on the head can be just as sensitive as skin on the body. In those cases, a shampoo like this one — which is free from potential irritants like phthalates, sulfates, dyes, parabens, and fragrance — can be just the thing. Ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid team up to produce a clean, hydrated scalp and soft, volumized hair. The formula is also pH-balanced and developed with dermatologists, which never hurts.

Michael Striker, a group VP at Everyday Health, tried this one out and found it made his hair feel smooth, soft, and light. “I would definitely recommend this product to someone looking to add a little more volume to their hair,” he said.

Listen, dandruff happens. But if you’ve got a dad in your life who deals with it, we’re willing to bet he’d do anything for a solid solution (and has already tried Head & Shoulders).

My husband is one such dad, and he tested Flakes, a newer brand in the dandruff space. The big reveal? He says it really works — he’s seen a significant reduction in his dandruff since he swapped it into his routine. It’s also free from sulfates and harsh ingredients, smells forest-y, and keeps his beard flake-free, too. You can buy your guy a bundle, or follow my husband’s lead and set it to auto-renew so he never runs out.

For the dad with an old, ever-withering bar of soap languishing on the shelf in the shower, pick this up. Made of beeswax, coconut, and shea butter, it’s a bar that softens with body heat and functions almost as a moisturizer.

Writer Jessica Migala took advantage of its solid texture and simply rubbed the bar straight into her skin — and found that she had less visibly dry skin after using it. She also noted that while it’s fragrance-free, it does have a very light, but very pleasant, scent.

Gifting a guy who’s on the go? This comes in a pocket-sized tin, too.