Kiehl's Men's Skincare: Brand Review and Best Products

As iconic as the blue New York Yankees cap, New York also has a legend in the skincare world—none other than Kiehl's. While the brand started from humble roots as an apothecary more than a century ago, it's risen meteorically over the past decade for its approachable and reliable skincare products. When you walk into a Kiehl's store, you'll find salespeople in white lab coats ready to analyze your skincare needs and help you choose products from a wide selection.

Over the years, Kiehl’s has reached iconic status thanks to products like its Creme de Corps, which we're told is one of its best sellers across the board. But while the brand truly has something for everyone, today we're taking a deep dive into its men's skincare line, which is full of products intended to foster healthy and balanced skin by addressing the needs this group is most likely to have. Keep reading to learn all about Kiehl's men's skincare, including the best products that you just may want to consider adding to your medicine cabinet for your daily regimen.

Kiehl’s was founded in New York’s East Village neighborhood over 170 years ago and continues to be a city mainstay to this day. According to the brand, its line of products is the result of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal, and medicinal knowledge, developed and advanced throughout the generations. Kiehl's creates products for everyday needs with minimal packaging and transparent ingredients. While many of the brand's products are unisex, including bestsellers like Creme de Corps and Ultra Facial Cream, you'll also find products specifically formulated for men in the Kiehl’s Age Defender and Facial Fuel lines.

Beyond packaging, men and women do have different skincare needs, as well as tastes in product scents and consistency. “Men and women’s skincare needs differ due to biological differences in skin composition and physical characteristics,” according to Nancy Ilaya, Ph.D., Kiehl’s scientific director. “Men’s skin requires special care in the beard area, as facial grooming can leave the area exposed to irritation from shaving and vulnerable to ingrown hairs,” she explains. “Men tend to have thicker and oilier skin and are less prone to dryness, driven by androgens (male hormones), whereas in women, estrogen has the opposite effect, decreasing sebum output and change cyclically. Because of these differences, they require products that address their skin’s unique needs.” 

And what about differences in preference around product packaging, composition, and scent? “When it comes to how a product looks and feels, texture and sensorial profiles differ,” Ilaya tells us. “Men’s skincare products tend to be more functional in terms of packaging, regimen, ingredients, and lighter weight in texture with more traditional formats—gels, gel creams, lotions; and masculine in terms of sensorial cues.” All that being said, while these products are marketed to men, they're great for anyone to try if you think they fit your skincare needs.

Ahead, discover the best Kiehl’s men's skincare products that should be mainstays in your bathroom cabinet.