Walk into any beauty store today and you’ll find shelves lined with products claiming to be the next essential. Some earn a permanent spot in your routine. Others lose their shine after a few uses. Separating the genuinely great from the merely well-marketed has never been easy.

That’s the thinking behind the Men’s Folio Grooming Awards 2026. Together with our panel of judges comprising Eros Erfe, Gajen Chandra, Keith Ong, Rachel Seok and Angel of DOLLA, we spotlighted the products that impressed where it matters most: in everyday use. Whether it was an enduring favourite that continues to set the benchmark or a new launch that earned its place, each winner stood out for its performance, thoughtful formulation and overall experience.

From hardworking skincare and makeup essentials to fragrances worthy of becoming your next signature scent, here are the products that came out on top.

Best Toner

Gote Goteskin Exfoliating Toner

Notice a yellowish residue on your cotton pad after cleansing? That’s what this toner helps remove. A gentle chemical exfoliant, it sloughs away dead skin cells, regulates sebum production and helps clear clogged pores without stripping the skin. It absorbs quickly when patted in, leaving behind nothing but a healthy, natural glow.

Glow Recipe Vitamin C Brightening Toner Pads

Perfect for city dwellers who never seem to get enough sleep, these cellulose-based toner pads are packed with five forms of Vitamin C, caffeine and niacinamide to depuff and brighten tired-looking skin. They can also help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation over time, while a stint in the fridge adds an extra cooling boost before application.

Best Serum

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

It is easy to understand why this remains one of Korea’s bestselling serums. Powered by fermented ginseng, it hydrates while helping target early signs of ageing. Applied immediately after cleansing, it also improves the absorption of the skincare products that follow, helping the rest of your routine work even harder.

Aesop Resolute Facial Concentrate

Retinol has long been celebrated for targeting signs of ageing, but it is not always the gentlest option. After a decade of research, Aesop’s Resolute Facial Concentrate introduces Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR), delivering similar benefits with less irritation. Even with its science-led formula, it remains unmistakably Aesop, finished with notes of frankincense, patchouli and Cedar Atlas.

Best Cleanser

Dior Beauty La Mousse OFF/ON Foaming Cleanser

This cleanser proves that clean skin doesn’t have to come at the expense of comfort. Its creamy formula transforms into a rich, airy foam that lifts away sunscreen, makeup residue and daily buildup while keeping the skin balanced and hydrated. Powered by water lily cryo-extract and niacinamide, it also helps soothe the skin and strengthen its barrier with every cleanse.

Best Moisturiser

Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream

PDRN, better known as salmon DNA, has quickly become one of skincare’s most talked-about ingredients, and this moisturiser shows why. The fragrance-free formula delivers lasting hydration while feeling surprisingly lightweight. It absorbs well, layers comfortably with the rest of your routine, and the dropper-style tip makes it easy to control how much product you use.

Best Sunscreen

Caudalie Vinosun Very High Protection Sun Water SPF50+

Half water, half oil, this lightweight hybrid formula protects the face, body and even hair against UVA and UVB rays without feeling heavy on the skin. Grapeseed oil-derived antioxidants help defend against blue light and infrared rays, while the invisible finish and subtle summery scent make reapplication feel far less like a chore.

Gote Goteskin Oil-Control Sunscreen

Finding a sunscreen that protects without leaving a white cast should be the minimum. Goteskin goes a step further with a lightweight chemical formula that feels virtually invisible on the skin while keeping shine under control. Infused with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, it helps keep skin hydrated while reducing the likelihood of clogged pores and breakouts.

Best Foundation

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

Twenty-six years after its debut, Luminous Silk continues to earn its cult status. The updated formula combines glycerin and niacinamide with its signature lightweight texture, delivering a naturally radiant finish while improving skin’s hydration and texture over time.

Best Setting Powder

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Pressed Powder

This pressed powder controls shine while adding a light veil of coverage, leaving skin smooth without looking heavy. Unlike loose powder, it’s compact enough to slip into your bag for quick touch-ups throughout the day.

Best Brow Filler

Anastasia Beverly Hills ArchiBrow Pencil

Inspired by the precision of microblading, the ultra-fine 0.5mm tip creates hair-like strokes that effortlessly fill sparse areas. The result is fuller, naturally defined brows without looking overly drawn on.

Best Concealer

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer

The latest addition to Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless line delivers full coverage with a soft-focus finish, while skincare ingredients help hydrate and smooth the skin over time. Its diamond-shaped applicator also makes blending remarkably easy.

Best Blush

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

A viral favourite for good reason, the Soft Pinch Liquid Blush delivers rich pigment with just a single dot, blending seamlessly over both liquid and powder makeup without disrupting what’s already underneath. Lightweight, buildable and impressively long-lasting, a little really does go a long way.

Best Lip Product

Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Lip Blush

Rather than relying on one universal shade, Soleil Lip Blush creates a personalised pink tint unique to each wearer. Infused with 24k gold flakes, it glides on as a sheer, hydrating balm before gradually transforming according to your lips’ natural pH.

Best Body Care

Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Vitamin-Infused Lotion

Built around the cult-favourite Cheirosa 62™ fragrance, this lightweight body lotion pairs 24-hour hydration with Brazilian Sugarcane, Brazil Nut Oil and seven forms of hyaluronic acid. It leaves skin feeling soft while the signature pistachio and salted caramel scent lingers long after application.

Best Mask

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

Designed for troubled and congested skin, this charcoal-and-clay mask uses salicylic acid to remove excess oil, unclog pores and smooth rough texture. Leave it on for 10 minutes and let the formula do the heavy lifting, revealing skin that feels clearer, softer and more refined.

Chuck’s Chuck It Purifying Kale Sheet Mask

You’ve heard the phrase “eat your skincare”. Chuck’s proves you can wear it too. This vitamin-rich sheet mask harnesses the goodness of kale to brighten, firm and help combat breakouts, while Witch Hazel, Peppermint Oil and Korean bamboo charcoal purify pores, clear congestion and soothe irritation. Consider it a refreshing reset for stressed-out skin in just 20 minutes.

Best Hair Product

OUAI Detox Shampoo

For days when your hair needs a proper reset, OUAI’s Detox Shampoo delivers exactly that. Powered by apple cider vinegar and hydrolysed keratin, it removes oil, styling product buildup and hard water residue without leaving hair feeling dry or stripped. The result is hair that feels lighter, fresher and noticeably cleaner after every wash.

Best Hair Tool

Dyson Supersonic r™ Hair Dryer

Smaller, lighter and more compact than the original Supersonic™, Dyson’s latest hair dryer makes styling noticeably easier. Its curved design sits naturally in the hand, while the Hyperdymium™ motor and intelligent heat control deliver powerful airflow without exposing hair to excessive heat. The result is smoother, shinier hair without exposing strands to unnecessary heat.

Best Floral Fragrance

YSL Beauty Muse Eau de Parfum

Inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s legendary muses, Muse Eau de Parfum captures that same spirit of creativity and individuality. Ink accords intertwine with powdery iris and rich bourbon vanilla, creating a floral fragrance that feels intimate, mysterious and quietly memorable.

Best Amber Fragrance

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Powerfully

Building on the line’s signature sugared chestnut accord, Stronger With You Powerfully delivers a rich amber scent that is warm, sweet and long-lasting. Cherry and mandarin open the fragrance before lavender, spices and a woody vanilla base round everything out.

Best Woody Fragrance

Penhaligon’s The Tragedy of Lord George Eau de Parfum

Inspired by the fictional Lord George, this woody fragrance blends the freshness of clean shaving soap with warm brandy and creamy tonka bean. Sophisticated yet comforting, it leaves behind a rich warmth that lingers throughout the day.

Best Musky Fragrance

Tom Ford Beauty White Suede Eau de Parfum

Among Tom Ford’s White Musk Collection, White Suede stands out for its soft, velvety interpretation of musk. Leather and suede are balanced by saffron, rose, lily of the valley and amber, creating a fragrance that feels smooth, powdery and effortlessly wearable.

Best Fresh Fragrance

Dior Sauvage Eau de Parfum

Since 2015, Dior Sauvage has become a benchmark for modern fresh fragrances. Opening with Calabrian bergamot and pepper before settling into Papua New Guinean vanilla, it strikes a balance between freshness, spice and warmth that continues to define the category.

Best Amber Fragrance: Editor’s Pick

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male Elixir opens with sweet vanilla before unfolding into tobacco and honey, eventually settling into the warmth of tonka bean and benzoin. Rich, magnetic and unmistakably sensual, it delivers the kind of strong projection and lasting impression that makes it an easy evening signature. It’s our Special Editor’s Pick for good reason.

Photography Lock Chee Wei 

Styling Liew Hui Ying 

Grooming Gan ChuFan  

Hair Keith Ong 

Photography Assistant David Ong 

Models Mohamed | Tham Casting; Sean Khor, Edric 

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