20 Effective Skincare Gift Sets That He'll Actually Use, According to a Grooming Expert (2024)

FOR ALL the good cheer and party vibes during the holidays, there is also an ever-growing list of parties to attend and gifts to get —stressful! Listen, we wholeheartedly endorse giving gifts, but we don’t want you to forget to take care of your number one—yourself. And this time of year, with all the holiday deals and “slashed” prices, is the ideal time. Why? Because of skincare sets.

Yes, these sets are designed to be given to someone else, but I’ve always said that if you are curious about getting into skincare or are looking to upgrade your skincare routine without crowding your bathroom and draining your bank account, this is the best time to do it. Skincare sets feature an edited collection of products (think: cleansers, serums, and moisturizers) that are designed to work together to create a near-full skincare routine. And since they’re usually priced way lower than these products would cost on their own, it’s the best low-risk time to give them a shot. So whether you’re thinking of trying retinol for the first time, trying to control breakouts better, attempting to delay the onset of wrinkles, or just hoping to find a sunscreen you actually like, take advantage of any of these sets to get your grooming routine to the next level.

Read more: Best Gifts for Men

Antioxidants are one of the most important ingredients in skincare because they help protect your skin from free radicals created by sunlight, pollution, stress and other environmental factors. Left unchecked, free radicals can weaken your skin barrier, speed up signs of aging and a host of other issues. The three products in this set are packed with Vitamin C, the king of antioxidants, to help keep your skin protected and looking its best.

If you’re not already using retinol, now is the time to start. Seriously, no matter what you want to improve about your skin, retinol is probably the answer (it does it all, literally). This 2-piece set contains everything you need for a smooth, clear complexion: a powerful and protective antioxidant serum to apply in the morning and a gentle, beginner-friendly retinol to slather on at night.

You heard it here first: that bar soap you’re using to wash your face is not going to do anything for fine lines, wrinkles, or other signs of aging. Consider this anti-aging focused set your ultimate upgrade. It’s packed with products specifically designed to target signs of aging from a gentle yet deep cleaning cleanser to a lightweight hydrating lotion to a richer, ultra-moisturizing cream. Use all three together or use the lotion during the day and the cream at night.

Okay, this set is all sunscreen but we’re including it here because we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: sunscreen is the most important skincare product you could use. If you don’t use anything else, you should wear sunscreen every day and this set features two different styles so you’re way more likely to find one you can tolerate. Both are non-greasy and won’t leave your face looking like a ghost, but we’re partial to the Unseen Sunscreen ourselves.

Once temperatures dip and humidity takes a nosedive (not to mention radiators and heaters turn on for the season, sucking even more moisture out of the air), everyone can use a little hydration. Whether you struggle with chronic dry skin or not, this incredibly moisturizing set of three full-size products is your winter skin savior. The serum, eye gel and moisturizer are packed with hyaluronic acid and other moisturizers to help keep your skin hydrated and happy.

Did you think skincare only applied to your face? Remember your skin is your largest organ and every inch of it deserves to be cared for properly. This complete body care set includes everything you need to take care of your skin from the neck down: an exfoliating bar to help remove flakes and dead skin cells, a gentle cleanser that won’t dry your skin and a quick-drying gel lotion to keep it hydrated.

All the products set are designed to reduce redness and nourish skin so it stays healthy. There’s a ceramide-rich moisturizer to help strengthen your skin barrier and reduce irritation, a color correcting cream that instantly nixes redness (and contains SPF) and a super hydrating sheet mask, not to mention a mini size redness reducing mask.

Go big or go home, right? If you’re willing to shell out some extra cash, this bountiful set is your best bet. It contains 10, yes 10, full sized products and seven samples that will completely overhaul every step of your routine. There’s everything from cleanser, moisturizer, multiple serums, exfoliators and basically anything else you could think of, all packed in a reusable cooler.

If you struggle with breakouts, this is your tool kit. These three blemish-targeting products are all you need to take care of zits in a flash and keep their scarring effects from lingering. There are pimple patches to help get rid of active zits quickly, a spot treatment to help fade dark spots and post-acne hyperpigmentation and a healing ointment to help popped blemishes heal without scarring.

Sure, you can use the same skincare morning and night, but having a specific nighttime skin routine sets your face up for success. Your skin enters its regeneration phase at night and using certain ingredients and products can help it along. This complete night-specific routine includes everything you need from a cleanser, retinol, multiple exfoliators, eye cream and moisturizer to ensure that you wake up with the best skin possible.

If we had our way, we’d keep a few of these at the ready to just pop in our carry-on no questions asked. There are five TSA-friendly products packed into the included dopp kit from a shaving cream, face cleanser, moisturizer, body wash and yes, even a deodorant, so you’ll never find yourself in an unknown city without an essential product.

One of the downfalls of many skincare sets is that the products are trial-sized, so even if you like them a lot, you’ll have to buy new ones pretty soon. This set, however, has a 90-day supply of four simple products so it’s everything you need to create a complete skincare routine - and stick with it. Two bottles of cleanser, a daytime moisturizer with SPF, a night cream and an eye cream round out the ideal routine for skincare beginners.

Just like your skincare routine shouldn’t stop at your neck, it also shouldn’t stop at your forehead—especially if you’re bald. This collection of Men’s Health Grooming Award-winning products is designed for bald guys in mind with a cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen all created to help keep your chrome dome as healthy as possible. There are even oil-absorbing sheets to use whenever your head is looking a little shiny.

This might be a slightly advanced set, but the products are still easy to use and can seriously upgrade your skin game. Built around the favorite Bro Mask (a sheet mask specifically designed for men) and eye gels (like sheet masks just for your eyes), this complete routine including a cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen can seriously change your skin.

This set might only contain two products, but they are powerful as hell thanks to the high level of active ingredients in the multi-tasking formulas. Use the anti-aging face wash that also helps control oil and shine, then follow it with the deeply-hydrating moisturizer packed with anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and antioxidant ingredients to keep your skin protected and moisturized.

Acne isn't just a teenage ailment—most men deal with it at some point. This acne-focused skincare set contains a gentle but effective cleanser and a moisturizer that won’t clog his pores leading to more breakouts. But the real stars are the, ahem, stars—pimple patches of various sizes that help zap zits quickly and gently without popping.

Winter is rough on everyone’s skin, even guys’, which makes this skincare-routine-in-a-bag ideal for literally anyone. The five travel-sized products are everything he needs to hydrate his skin and protect it from the frigid winter temperatures and dry inside air. Plus, the reusable travel pouch lasts long after the products run out.

Any guy who has tattoos knows the importance of aftercare, but he might not be as good at caring for his tattoos after they heal. This set includes a wash, lotion, and salve specially formulated to keep healed tattoos looking fresh and vibrant no matter how old they are. He’ll welcome to opportunity to show off his ink in a new light.