Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

West Skincare Is the Best New Grooming Product Line for Active Guys

The formula behind West Skincare is a simple one: Active pursuits for today’s modern gentleman mean that he needs skincare that promotes active recovery, preferably fueled by active ingredients. And to founder Matthew Ankeny, it also comes down to what he calls a “fewer, better products approach.” 

Whereas taking a spin down the aisle at your local drugstore can yield some less-than-optimal results in terms of quality, West Skincare is different — and we think you’ll see different end results, too. The

West Skincare lineup

is simple, straightforward and to-the-point, but certainly not in a bad way. Named after the beauty and diversity of the Western United States (Ankeny has lived in San Francisco and Seattle, among other locales), West Skincare is a fitting brand for those who pursue outdoor adventure, as well as those who simply want to amp up their skincare routine. 

West Skincare
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Featuring an excellent and lightweight moisturizer (prime for daily use) and a refreshing cleanser (made sustainably with lemon and passionflower for a clean finish), the collection also includes a Facial Scrub and a Facial Mask, plus our personal favorite. Drum roll, please: The West Skincare Recovery Cream is top-notch and just what you need to hydrate and restore your skin; it’s made with unique ingredients like sea whip extract to soothe, not irritate. 

Recommended Videos

The tailored lineup of products, each with a specific focus (use the Moisturizer after the Facial Scrub, for instance), works particularly well for someone who wants to care for their skin without going overboard. 

West Skincare
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“I think that’s what works, and for someone just starting to care for their skin, it’s much more approachable,” he said. West Skincare takes things a step further with handy guides like how to use a cleanser, among others. And with an emphasis on transparency (including sharing the pH details of each product on its product page), Ankeny believes West Skincare consumers are already getting a natural leg up when it comes to better skincare. 

For our money’s worth, you can’t go wrong with the Complete Collection, the full set of West Skincare products to help you hit the ground running. Try it just once and you might never go back to your drugstore products again.

Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…
Louis Vuitton reimagines luxury with Tambour Taiko Spin Time watches
Six new Louis Vuitton watches which are quite fascinating
Tambour Taiko Spin Time Automatic

While Tag Heuer and Zenith rolled out new watches during LVMH Watch Week, Louis Vuitton also unveiled a beautiful collection of watches featuring a new design—something that’s outside the conventional design box: the Louis Vuitton Tambour Taiko Spin Time collection.

This line of watches goes way back to 2009 but has been reimagined in the past few years to keep up with the changing times. Unlike watches that come with hour markers, this collection has small blocks that can turn to indicate the current time.

Read more
TAG Heuer’s purple Carrera: A striking new take on a classic chronograph
You'll love the purple Carrera Chronograph
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph

During the LVMH Watch Week, TAG Heuer captured everyone’s attention with their new watches. The purple Tag Heuer Carrera chronograph has a striking appearance that notably comes with a compelling purple dial — and there's also a limited edition tourbillon version.

The brand tested the waters in 2022 with a purple Monaco timepiece before it went all in. Well, it was quite successful, and that helped lead to Tag Heuer relaunching the Carrera in a new color.

Read more
The new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 comes in a smaller casing
Check out the new materials featured on the Big Bang Meca-10
Big Bang Meca 10 Collection

As a timepiece that dates back to 2016, Hublot MECA became popular due to its pioneering design. Now, the iconic brand has debuted a new version — and it's smaller than the original design. In keeping with the trend toward smaller watches that became prevalent in the past year, the original version had a 45 mm casing, while the 2025 edition comes with a 43 mm casing—a watch that can comfortably sit on a wrist.

Big Bang Meca 10 gold version Hublot / Hublot

Read more