Inside The Grooming Kits Of Today's Style-Conscious Men

Fani Mari
·10 min read
From left: Matthew Zorpas, Ryan Clark and Leo Chan.
From left: Matthew Zorpas, Ryan Clark and Leo Chan. Georgios Motitis/courtesy of Ryan Clark/courtesy of Leo Chan

Have you ever wondered what products style-conscious men use for their daily skin care and grooming routines? The market is oversaturated, and picking the right product can be overwhelming — so we’re here to get a little voyeuristic and give you some answers.

HuffPost spoke to five men, all of whom have big social followings and elaborate beauty regimens, to find out what products they love and how they use them within their daily routines.

If you prefer a more simplified approach, also check out our story on the ideal skin care routine for men who want to do the bare minimum.

Matthew Zorpas (@matthewzorpas) 

Matthew Zorpas is an entrepreneur with more than 170,000 Instagram followers. He is known for his elegant and sleek looks, street style and photos from unique travel destinations.

Zorpas told HuffPost that he has simplified his skin care routine over the years. He started using skin care in his early 20s, when there was a boom in products and information.

“The rise of barbershops and men’s treatments, especially in metropolitan cities, made it necessary to adopt a skin care routine. Living in such environments, it became essential to protect my skin from pollution, bacteria and the stresses of a demanding lifestyle,” Zorpas said.

“A consistent routine helps my skin stay resilient against these external factors, keeping it healthy and balanced,” he added.

At age 37, he said his skin has become more sensitive and reactive. “In my early years, I experimented with every treatment, serum and moisturizer available, resulting in an extensive 10-step ritual,” he said. “However, I now avoid harsh ingredients and limit myself to only the essentials. My current routine consists of four key products: a water-based cleanser, a serum, a moisturizer and SPF.”

Skin Care

“Every morning, I start by cleansing my face to create a clean base,” Zorpas said. “I then apply a morning serum to strengthen my skin, followed by a moisturizer to lock in hydration. Before leaving the house, I apply sunscreen with SPF 50 to protect my skin from UV damage. In the evenings, I use the cleanser again and follow up with a night cream to nourish my skin overnight. I’ve been consistent with this routine for the past five years. Additionally, I use a hydrating face mask once a week to revive my complexion, especially after traveling.”

Morning

Evening 

Once A Week 

Grooming

“I have maintained a healthy, full beard for the last 20 years, and my grooming routine focuses on keeping it looking sharp,” Zorpas said. “Every day, I use a beard trimmer to line and edge my cheeks and neckline, ensuring a fresh appearance. To keep my beard conditioned and smooth, I apply beard oil.

“As for my hair, my style changes with the seasons. Currently, I’m in my ‘wet look’ phase, where I pull my hair back and use a forming cream to hold the style, washing it out every night. I finish my grooming routine with my signature scent, opting for spicy fragrances in the winter and lighter, citrus-based notes in the summer.”

Daily 

For Zorpas, maintaining this routine is important. “It’s crucial for several reasons: prevention, maintenance, regulation and improvement of skin health,” he said.

Ryan Clark (@ryanstylesnyc)

Ryan Clark is a content creator based in New York City, with more than 190,000 Instagram followers. His style is elegant, with a touch of colorful design, and he’s a big fan of tailoring with a modern twist.

Skin Care

Clark said his skin care routine in his teens was more basic and targeted breakouts, but it slowly expanded to a full routine as he learned more about his skin’s needs. Finding a great dermatologist is also important, Clark noted.

Morning


Evening

Grooming

“I shower, with a soothing and cleansing body soap,” Clark said. “I shave using products designed to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hair, and use a soothing and hydrating aftershave. I do my hair with a styling cream that moisturizes and defines curls, and then do my skin care.”


For Clark, it’s important to maintain this routine for various reasons. “A great routine keeps my skin healthy, boosts confidence and addresses specific concerns like hyperpigmentation and ingrown hairs, which are common skin issues for men of color,” he said. “It’s a preventive measure for the future.”

Leo Chan (@levitatestyle)

Leo Chan is an actor and fashion and lifestyle influencer based between New York City and Los Angeles, with more than 100,000 Instagram followers. On his page, he showcases red-carpet moments, his personal style and his travels.

Chan first got into skin care and grooming after college, while he initially worked in the corporate world.

“In the past five years, I have really prioritized having a skin care routine to take care of my face as I get older,” Chan said. “I always look to my partner, Alicia, to help me develop and update my routine to keep my skin healthy.”

Skin Care

“I try to take good care of my skin with a consistent daily morning and evening skin care routine. I try to keep it as simple and as easy as possible with the basic steps of cleanser, serum and moisturizer. For the daytime, I never skip sunscreen,” Chan noted. “In the summer months, I try to wear hats more often to protect my face in sunnier afternoons.”

Morning

Evening

Grooming

“Every day I make sure I smell good and apply deodorant as well as a fragrance that matches my outfit and the occasion,” Chan said. “I typically get a haircut every four weeks and groom my facial hair about once a week.”

For Chan, skin care and grooming routines are forms of self-care. “By investing in myself now, I’m investing in my future,” he said. “Having a good skin care routine can help me look and feel younger for longer, and having a solid grooming routine makes sure I always feel confident and well presented.”

Alex Costa, left, and Marcel Floruss.
Alex Costa, left, and Marcel Floruss. Rodrigo Da Cunha/Melissa Cassandra Olguin

Alex Costa (@alexcosta)

Alex Costa is an entrepreneur and social media influencer with more than 7 million followers across various platforms, where he showcases his daily fashion and luxury lifestyle.

In terms of his skin care routine, he started with the basics and has since added more targeted treatment products, like retinol.

Nowadays it’s relatively easy to have a full routine, but this wasn’t always the case for Costa. “When I was younger, men’s grooming wasn’t really a part of the conversation, so I started pretty late into my 20s,” he said. “I definitely wish I started earlier.”

He recommended beginning with a proper skin and grooming routine now if you haven’t already. Remember, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Skin Care

“I started with the basics: face wash, moisturizer and exfoliant,” Costa said. “But over the years, I dialed up my routine and added a few important steps: sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, eye serum and retinol at nighttime. I make an effort to not be in the sun for too long and keep my diet clean, which is a key part of my overall routine.”

Grooming

“My hair is my favorite part of my daily grooming routine, and to style it I use an oil that completely changed how healthy my hair looked,” Costa said. “It was really dull before I started using that oil daily. I lock in my signature hairstyle with clay. For my beard, I keep it simple and trim it evenly around 7 millimeters.”

Maintaining this daily routine is important for Costa. “Your image says a lot about who you are, what your habits are like, and whether or not you’re disciplined, so I always make an effort to look good and present well,” he said. “Research shows that people treat you differently when you present yourself well, so this is a no-brainer for me.”

Marcel Floruss (@marcelfloruss)

Marcel Floruss is a creator based in New York who has been featured on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and has more than 1.5 million followers across various platforms.

Floruss has a relatively simple and straightforward routine that covers all the basics needed for his skin, from face cleansing to moisturizing and sunscreen. He has been consistent with this skin care routine since he turned 30.

Skin Care

“My skin care routine is fairly minimal, consisting of washing my face and moisturizing twice a day, zinc sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer and exfoliator two to three times a week,” Floruss said. “At times I give my skin extra treatment with hydrating masks, serums and creams.”

For photo shoots and events, Floruss uses a tinted cream from a men’s makeup brand to smooth out spots on the skin.


Grooming

“Grooming has always been an important part of my personal style, something I started enjoying around the age of 13,” Floruss said. “I trim my beard twice per week and get a fresh haircut twice per month. I also use Rogaine to keep the upper hand on my receding hairline!”

“Aesthetics matter to me, and as a style content creator, I put a lot of effort into looking my best so I can feel my best; the same thing goes for skin care,” Floruss told HuffPost. “I want to ensure I can feel confident and healthy even as I age, and taking care of your skin and protecting it from sun damage plays a huge role in that.”

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