From foundation to bronzers, eyebrow gels, and lip balms, makeup for men has evolved from a basic moisturizer to a full-blown made-up look. Beauty ideals have evolved over the years. Gone are the days that society conceived makeup as only for women. Today, we have come to terms with the fact that men, just like women, do care about their appearances, too!
Shopping for makeup shouldn’t be as daunting as it was before. There are a plethora of products and brands to choose from that are engineered for men’s skin. You just have to know where to look. Keep in mind that makeup for men is all about grooming and pampering. It’s about subtle makeup that highlights your best qualities. We’ve listed all the best makeup for men to help you achieve a natural makeup look.
1. Best Tinted Moisturizer For Men – War Paint Tinted Moisturizer
Image from War Paint.
Regardless of whether you are interested in wearing makeup, you should moisturize your skin daily. It’s one of the key components of healthy-looking skin. You wouldn’t want dry and flaky skin, would you? Because of this, every good skincare routine should include the best face moisturizer for men.
For those just starting out with makeup, a tinted moisturizer is all you need, but, what is a tinted moisturizer, exactly? A tinted moisturizer is ideal for those looking for natural makeup for men. It provides all the hydrating benefits of a moisturizer with some added pigment to it for a wash of color. It can help you cover up some slight blemishes and even out your skin tone. They can help you feel put together without weighing you down.
Our top pick for the best-tinted moisturizer for men is this one from War Paint. It comes in five diverse shades that complement fair to medium-deep skin tones. It’s the ideal option for beginners who are just experimenting with makeup. Its lightweight and oil-free formula make it easy to apply and blend, resulting in a natural and fresh look.
Get the War Paint Tinted Moisturizer on Amazon.
2. Best BB Cream for Men – Lab Series BB Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35
Image from Lab Series.
Short for beauty balm, BB creams exist between skincare and makeup. Often interchanged with tinted moisturizers, BB creams offer more skin benefits. While tinted moisturizers are moisturizers with pigment, BB creams on the other hand are all-in-one products. They offer light to medium coverage that’s perfect for those looking for natural makeup for men. BB Creams also provide sun protection properties, anti-aging ingredients, and skin-soothing benefits.
This one from the brand Lab Series is one of the first BB creams for men. In fact, Lab Series is one of the first men’s makeup brands that released skincare and cosmetics made specifically for men. Its BB cream comes in one universal shade that adjusts to different skin tones, thus proving light coverage with a natural finish. What’s more, the skincare benefits that it offers are mighty impressive. This BB cream can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, redness, pores, and dark spots. The SPF 35 is also great for UVA and UVB protection.
Get the Lab Series BB Tinted Moisturizer on Amazon.
3. Best Makeup Primer for Men – Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
Image from Smashbox.
If you are planning to use foundation, instead, apply a primer first. Primers create a barrier between your skin and the makeup products, allowing them to adhere better. Thus, making them last longer. Additionally, the best makeup primers also help reduce the appearance of pores and skin texture. Depending on your skin’s needs, a primer can mattify your face to remove shine or it can add a radiant glow if you have rather dry skin.
Our pick for the best primer for men is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. This primer has been around for years and has earned a cult following from both makeup professionals and enthusiasts alike. This clear primer has a gel-like consistency, is lightweight, and is easy to apply. It leaves your skin feeling velvety smooth while giving you a blurred, soft-focus look. The best part of this Smashbox primer is that it’s super lightweight too!
Get the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer on Amazon.
4. Best Makeup Foundation for Men – L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation
Image from L’Oréal Paris.
For more coverage, a foundation is a way to go. This liquid foundation from L’Oréal Paris offers medium coverage that won’t appear too thick or obvious. It’s a long-lasting foundation that claims to have a staying power of 24 hours. While we don’t recommend wearing makeup for that long, it’s still nice to have a foundation you can rely on. From business meetings in the morning to night out with friends, you will need a foundation for men that really lasts long.
It has a matte finish that won’t leave you looking flat. Despite its matte finish, though, it has an air-light texture that won’t highlight any dry patches on your skin. Additionally, thanks to its oil-free formula it’s great for people with normal to oily skin types. Another great thing about this L’Oréal foundation is its shade range! It comes with 28 shades to choose from, so won’t have a hard time finding the perfect match with your skin tone! However, what we truly love about this foundation is its price.
Get the L’Oréal Paris Liquid Foundation on Amazon
5. Best Makeup Concealer for Men – Tom Ford for Men Concealer
Image from Tom Ford.
Sometimes there will be a few stubborn spots that foundation alone can’t cover. When that happens, the quickest fix is a good concealer. Thicker than foundation, concealers target dark under-eye circles, acne spots, razor burns, and other small blemishes on the skin. Some of the best concealers can even cover up tattoos.
Our pick for the best concealer for men is the one from Tom Ford. This concealer is compact, and you can easily take it with you wherever you go. It comes in a sleek twist-up tube and is available in three shades. You can apply it using your fingers and it blends seamlessly over spots thanks to its creamy formula. It offers a buildable medium coverage with a natural finish.
Get the Tom Ford for Men Concealer on Amazon.
6. Best Makeup Bronzer for Men – Clinique Bronzer for Men
Image from Clinique.
If you want a tan on-demand, a bronzer is your go-to solution. Bronzers are perfect if you’re looking for a sun-kissed glow without having to go to the beach. It’s also great to add some color to your appearance during the winter months. They come in different formulas, from gels and cream to powders and liquid. And bronzers aren’t just limited to your face, there are some products that you can use all over your body for that perfect suntanned look.
The Clinique Bronzer for Men is definitely the best bronzer if you’re looking for a lightweight product that will easily absorb into the skin. Thus, you won’t have to worry about any streaks. Its oil-free formula also ensures that the product will glide on smoothly over the skin and won’t leave you feeling any stickiness. Worried about it staining your clothes? Don’t worry, it washes off easily with soap and water.
Get the Clinique Bronzer for Men on Amazon.
7. Best Setting Powder for Men – Formen Translucent Powder
Image from Formen.
After building the base of your subtle makeup look, you will need a good setting powder. Heat and humidity can ruin all the hard work you did while applying your foundation. As such, it’s important to set it with powder. There are a multitude of setting powders out in the market but this translucent pressed powder for men from Formen is our pick for the best. As one of the few men’s makeup brands that specifically target the male market, it surely knows what men want and need.
This translucent powder for men is excellent in setting your base makeup leaves a natural-looking finish on the skin, no matter the type. On top of that, it mattifies the face by remove any excess shine. It is also great for absorbing excess oil on the skin so your makeup can last longer. Additionally, it comes in a sleek and masculine packaging that is discreet enough to use in any location. It’s equipped with a handy mirror and application sponge so you can touch up on the go.
Get the Formen Translucent Powder on Amazon.
8. Best Clear Eyebrow Gel – Gentlehomme Men’s Eyebrow Gel
Image from GentleHomme.
Moving on to eyebrow makeup for men. If you have bushy and bulky eyebrows, a clear brow gel is a perfect way to tame and control the hair. Brow gels are also great for keeping your eyebrows in shape. It’s important to learn how to groom men’s eyebrows since this will give you a cleaner and neater look.
Gentlehomme is a brand that offers men’s makeup products. It offers a clear brow gel, which also doubles as a gel for your facial! The Gentlehomme Men’s Eyebrow Gel can shape and control unruly facial hairs while keeping them in place all throughout the day. Its lightweight formulation is also rich with ingredients that can help soften and moisturize your facial hair. What’s more, with this product, you’re not only defining your brows and grooming your beard but also adding shine to them.
It comes in an easy-to-use packaging with a soft spiral brush so you can apply the product evenly with no issues. Moreover, since it’s clear, you won’t have to worry about finding your shade, which makes it perfect for beginners. It’s foolproof eyebrow makeup for men who want a clean and polished look.
Get the Gentlehomme Men’s Eyebrow Gel on Amazon.
9. Best Tinted Eyebrow Gel – Tom Ford for Men Brow Gelcomb
Image from Tom Ford.
If you weren’t blessed with thick voluminous eyebrows, don’t worry, a tinted eyebrow gel is all you need to get such an appearance. And if you also want a fuller beard but even the best beard growth products just aren’t working fast enough, a tinted gel for your beard can also help fill in the gaps. These products can also conceal any gray hairs.
One of the most popular and straight-up best tinted gels available is the one from Tom Ford. It comes in a sleek twist-up applicator pen with a soft rubber applicator at the end. It comes in one universal shade that’s flattering to all hair colors, It’s lightweight formula allows the product to easily glides onto hair and on top of that, since it is also lightweight, you don’t have to worry about the product clumping up. You can use this product to create an illusion of a fuller-looking beard, more defined eyebrows, and hide any patchiness.
Get the Tom Ford for Men Brow Gelcomb on Amazon.
10. Best Lip Balm For Men – Brickell Men’s No Shine Lip Balm
Image from Brickell.
Intimidated by the boldness of lipstick for men? Maybe you’re just not ready for any tint of color on your lips. If that’s the case, a lip balm is your saving-grace. The best lip balms for guys give you hydration and nourishment that will leave your lips looking healthy and alive.
Founded in 2014, Brickell offers premium skincare and grooming products for men. Since then, the brand sky-rocketed and became one of the fastest growing skincare and grooming company in the world. One essential product that the brand offers is it’s Brickell Men’s No Shine Lip Balm for Men. This moisturizing lip balm softens and hydrates the lips. It’s enriched with nourishing ingredients like beeswax, olive oil, and vitamin E, that can repair chapped and cracked lips while evening out it’s texture. It’s clear, non-shiny formula results in a matte, natural-looking finish. On top of that, it’s also unscented, so it’s ideal for those sensitive to fragrance.
Get the Brickell Men’s No Shine Lip Balm on Amazon.
The Best Makeup for Men To Boost Confidence
Men wearing makeup isn’t anything new. There are records of ancient Egyptian men wearing eyeliner and dark eye makeup. The amount of cosmetics and accessories one had was even a reflection of their social ranking. In more recent times, male actors of both stage and screen also wore makeup.
However, it’s only in this decade we are seeing more and more men’s makeup brands release cosmetic products targeted towards men. And while it’s easy to say that makeup has no gender and it can be worn by anyone, by launching men’s makeup products, we are closer to creating a society that allows men to embrace and express themselves fully. Both of this, of course, can lead to building a more positive body image.
As we slowly reorient the established norms of masculinity, we hope this list was the perfect stepping stone to get you acquainted with all the best makeup for men.
