The Shape Up: The Best May Releases in Men's Grooming

Over the past few months, I’ve been flirting with the idea of growing my hair out, and it’s finally starting to get some length. This pomade from BLVD & CO (a new grooming brand that just launched in March) has quickly become a go-to of mine, as it holds my hair in place all day without being stiff. It’s perfect for slicking back medium-length hair.

Read More: Best Hair Styling Products for Men

We just gave this new conditioner a 2026 Men’s Health Grooming Award for its formula that combines alfalfa extract to help regulate excess oil, pro–vitamin B5 to smooth and soften strands, and mint to invigorate and refresh the scalp. It delivers lightweight hydration that nourishes naturally oily hair without weighing it down or leaving residue.

Two things I love are high-protein dairy and sun protection, and this SPF offers both. It’s a super milk mineral sunscreen that uses 10% zinc oxide to deliver broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection while niacinamide, ferulic acid, and astaxanthin help defend against photo-aging and reinforce the skin barrier. It also hydrates with actual Greek yoghurt to counter sun-induced dryness, while soothing sensitive skin with a lightweight, no–white-cast finish free from silicones or fragrance.

Rogaine, the biggest name in hair growth, recently entered the anti-dandruff game, and this 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner makes me wonder what took them so long. Its gel-like texture foams quickly, feels gentle on the scalp, doesn’t smell like chemicals, and, most importantly, effectively eliminates flakes and dryness.

Read More: Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

This night cream combines several mushrooms, including fermented chaga and reishi, with primrose extract to calm irritation, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce visible redness. Hyaluronic acid and peptides then deeply hydrate and smooth the look of fine lines, helping improve texture. The silky cream never feels heavy (like so many other night creams), and my skin looked smoother and healthier after only a couple of nights of use.

Read More: Best Night Creams for Men

The latest from K-beauty brand, Dr. Althea, is focused on one thing: clearer skin. Its formula achieves this with a trio of hero ingredients. There’s tranexamic acid that evens skin tone, niacinamide for hydration and to boost the skin barrier, and licorice root to soothe and brighten.

I love a woody cologne, and Bvlgari Man Wood Essence has been a favorite for years. Last month, the brand finally launched a parfum version of the scent. It’s got a similar deep, woody, scent with notes of cedarwood, cashmere, and patchouli in a more intense fragrance package. I give myself a couple of sprays with this stuff at 8 am, and I can still smell it by 6 pm.

Read More: Best Colognes

METHODIQ is a new brand that is reimagining how we approach skincare, understanding that it is both a holistic enterprise unique to each individual. To match this, it uses AI-powered skin analysis and dermatologist-backed formulas to create personalized treatment plans and deliver targeted products for conditions like acne and hyperpigmentation.

The brand’s latest offering, Neurexa, is a steroid-free eczema cream packed with soothing colloidal oatmeal, niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. It’s gentle, moisturizing, and calmed a recent eczema flare-up of mine in a matter of days.

As someone who leans towards woody, muskier colognes, it can be difficult to find a lighter, fresher scent for the spring and summer. This earthy, aquatic fragrance from John Varvatos is exactly the change of pace I need. Opening with bright citrus notes that are layered with marine aquacoral accord, akigalawood, and patchouli, it’s a fresh, Mediterranean-inspired scent with enough woodiness to keep my attention. It makes me smell like someone who could confidently sail across the Atlantic Ocean, rather than, what is more accurate, a man who gets seasick on the Staten Island ferry.

This has been my favorite mask released in 2026 so far. First, it has this silky texture that feels more like a lightweight moisturizer than a face mask, which never gets too stiff or feels clunky on my face. And the formula doesn’t disappoint. There’s immortelle extract to soothe tightness, strengthen the skin barrier, and reduce redness, while liquorice extract calms irritation, allantoin hydrates and supports barrier function, and red algae adds lasting hydration. The results are legit. I saw smoother skin and less redness after only one use.