UrbanUpdate

Of all the New Year’s resolutions any guy can make, grooming resolutions are among the easiest to actually make happen. It might take but a few extra minutes with your morning or evening regimen. It might require an extra product or two. But it's nothing huge, and good grooming makes you feel better in your own skin. The return on investment is higher than, say, that personal trainer or Masterclass subscription.

Here are 23 ways you can step up your personal grooming in 2023 from day one. 

1. Audit your grooming toolbox

From electric razors and electric toothbrushes to beard trimmers and beard brushes, there are many grooming tools out there that every man should own—even if he isn’t using each of them on a weekly basis. Take an audit of your grooming toolbox, and bring in those missing devices and products that will finally round out your arsenal. Maybe you don’t need all 17 from our list, sure, but there’s definitely an item or two that can revolutionize your resolutions.

May we suggest we start with our favorite beard trimmer? 

Philips Norelco all-in-one groomer$88

Amazon

2. Do a foot peel

If you’ve got cracked heels or calloused soles, you’re one foot peel away from totally smooth, rejuvenated feet. It’s painless—though it's also a little unsightly as the dead skin falls away a week after application. You will find this gross, or fascinating, or both. Regardless, you’ll love how soft and smooth things end up. At the very least, try a callus remover.

3. Prioritize scalp care

A healthy scalp promotes healthy hair growth. This one is no head scratcher. Plus, no dandruff.

4. Find the serum(s) for you

There’s a serum for every person and every skin care concern, whether your goal is to stay firm, or hydrated, or blemish free, or all of it. Get a serum—or two or three. 

5. Experiment with a new facial hair style

Now’s the time to try out a beard or mustache—but not one that simply sprouts without any shaping or styling. So, let it grow, then mind its perimeter, then cut it, and let it grow again to try something new. Find something that suits the latest ‘you’.

6. Let it grow

Swap your barber for am honest-to-god stylist this year—and tell the barber you’ll be back, eventually. This is the year you grow your hair out (we love the medium-long styles, personally), if only to see how it all looks. And just like trying a new facial hair style, the longer hair might transform you into something new.

7. Figure out your every-day SPF 

You need to wear SPF daily, year round. Those UV rays can penetrate clouds and glass, and they significantly “age” your skin. So, even in January, you oughta be covering up—at least your face, which wears those signs of aging most prominently. Whether it’s moisturizer with SPF or facial sunscreen, figure out a product you like enough to wear every day. 

8. New year, new scent

Diversify your scent portfolio! Whether you choose a new signature scent or simply pick one that complements the seasons (summer scents are vastly different from winter fragrances). You can shop by note, too, from leather to green to floral. Starting from scratch? See our picks for the very best men’s fragrances.

9. Try a new way to shave 

If you’re been loyal to your chosen cartridge for years, it can be tempting to not fix what ain't broken. But there are lots of ways to skin this particular cat—like a safety razor shave, or even an electric shave—that you might like better. Maybe you end up back with cartridge razors. That’s fine; at least it’s from a more informed place! (And if you’re living with ingrowns or bumps, it's imperative you make a change.) 

10. Wash less, co-wash more

Using conditioner to rinse your hair is a common and reasonable alternative to shampoo. It’s not a permanent replacement, but—depending on your hair's texture and inherent moisture level—you can shampoo way less (1-2x weekly) if you introduce “co-washing” into your routine on the in-between days.

11. Bring in some color

Be it nail polish or a dye job, a little color can really liven things up. (Rules moving forward: If Bad Bunny and Harry Styles are doing it, then it’s “in season”.)

12. Brighten your smile, safely

There’s a right way and a wrong way to whiten your teeth at home: Check out our tips and picks for at-home whiteners.

13. Use a dedicated eye cream

Eye creams are often mistaken for tiny, expensive moisturizers, when in actuality they’re densely concentrated formulas that deliver firmness, brightness, and fullness to the delicate area around your eyes. Get one already.

14. Get better with face and body buffers

Exfoliation is one of the three core skincare steps, and doing so can prevent acne, dry skin, dullness, and more. On top of that, full-body buffing feels incredible. So, consider all your options, from scrubs to serums for the face, and similar options for the body, including exfoliation gloves.

15. Spare your undercarriage 

Life's too short to live with chafing. Stock up on anti-moisture + anti-rubbing remedies. This can be a life changer, guys.

16. Get past the retinol uglies 

The first week or two on retinol can be rough: there's sometimes some peeling and flaking that you've got to push through. But the vitamin A-derived ingredient is the best thing you can do for your skin by a mile. If you can get an Rx from your dermatologist (along with an overview of how to use it safely), do that, but you can also find smaller doses OTC. 

17. Mix up your hair product

This is the sort of thing most guys settle on in college when they make their first real attempt at hair care (and isn’t college the best time for experimenting?). It's probably time to take stock and find a product for your specific hair type and goals this year. 

18. Protect your pelt

No matter how long or short your hair may be, bid adieu to frizzy hair and dehydrated strands by shielding it all with a heat protectant. It shields your hair from all the most damaging things, like blow drying, UV exposure, and humidity.

19. Make a pimple plan 

Even if you’re not prone to acne, you’ll likely get a pesky, unsightly zit from time to time. Pimple patches can be an overnight miracle, in that they prevent those blemishes from turning real deep-seated and ugly, or they can help disappear the pimple fast after they get big. No popping necessary, and no months-long dark spots in their wake. Stock up now and have your pimple patches ready to deploy. 

20. Beef up your brows

There are some easy ways you can make these bushy brows look cared for, while still maximizing their fullness: Learn how to get great eyebrows.

21. Banish bad breath

It might take more than twice-daily brushing to keep things fresh. 

22. Get current on hair retention

There are now so many ways to keep your hair in place as you age. Hair transplants have gotten unbelievably good, at-home hair loss subscriptions are more accessible than ever. Read up on how to actually prevent hair loss, and put a plan into motion this year.

23. Take shorter, cooler showers

Hot water and long showers can significantly dehydrate your hair and skin. Turn down the temp, and try to make it quick. (It's also friendly to the environment!)

More Great Grooming Recommendations from GQ

The Best Beard Trimmers of 2024

The 10 Best Moisturizers for Every Type of Skin

The Best Men's Deodorant for Every Kind of Stink and Sweat

The Absolute Best Face Washes for Men

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Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQSkincare