Men’s Grooming Products Development

The science

The skin and hair biology of men’s grooming.

Male skin tends to be oilier, and daily shaving stresses its barrier. We design around three areas.

Shave comfort

A closer shave, a calmer face.

Shaving removes hair and part of the skin’s surface each time. Good shave preparations lift and soften hair, add glide and leave the barrier intact; after-shave care calms redness and helps prevent ingrown hairs, especially for coarse, curly beard hair.

Ingredients CSL scientists work with

Glide polymersGlycerinAllantoinPanthenolNiacinamideLow-level salicylic acidCooling agents

How CSL proves it works

Redness imagingColour or near-infrared imaging after shaving
TEWLBarrier recovery after a shave
Razor-bump countsPapules and ingrown hairs over 4–12 weeks
Glide and latherInstrumental friction and panel scores

Published evidenceDaniel 2013 · shaving routine Boodoo 2024 · razor design

CSL oil and shine control science: man washing his face with foam, with clays, silica and salicylic acid and a magnified pore being cleared

Oil & shine control

Less shine, clearer-looking skin.

Higher sebum output means shine, visible pores and blemishes for many men. Oil-control face washes and matte moisturisers reduce shine without stripping, and gentle actives help blemish-prone skin.

Ingredients CSL scientists work with

NiacinamideSalicylic acidZinc PCAClays & silicaTea treeMattifying powders

How CSL proves it works

SebumeterSurface sebum at set hours after application
Shine imagingStandardised photography
Blemish countsDermatologist grading over 4–8 weeks

Published evidenceDraelos 2006 · niacinamide Santos-Caetano 2019 · tolerance

CSL beard care science: man combing his beard, with argan and jojoba oils, plant butters and a magnified hair follicle being conditioned

Beard & hair

A softer beard, healthy skin beneath.

Beard hair is coarser than scalp hair and the skin under it is prone to itch and flaking. Beard oils, balms and washes soften the hair and care for the skin in one step.

Ingredients CSL scientists work with

Jojoba & argan oilsSqualanePlant buttersConditioning polymersZinc PCALight fragrance

How CSL proves it works

Softness testingInstrumental and panel softness of beard hair
Itch and flake scoresSelf-assessed and expert-graded
Combing forceDetangling on beard-type hair

Clinical evidence

What the published trials show.

Published human studies on shaving, oil control and cleansing. Some are method examples rather than product trials, and we label them that way.

Randomised controlled trialOil control · niacinamide

2% niacinamide vs placebo

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled · 100 adults · 4 weeks (plus a 30-person split-face study)

Sebum excretion fell significantly vs placebo at 2 and 4 weeks; casual sebum also fell in the split-face study.

Draelos ZD et al. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2006;8(2):96–101 · PMID 16766489

Randomised controlled trialRazor bumps · shaving routine

Shaving frequency and an advanced shave regimen vs standard daily shaving

Randomised, three parallel groups · 90 men with razor bumps · 12 weeks

The advanced daily regimen improved itching (P=.002) and perceived results; shaving less often reduced ingrown hairs.

Daniel A et al. J Drugs Dermatol 2013;12(4):410–418 · PMID 23652888

Published studyShaving irritation · razor design

Single-blade vs three-blade cartridge razor

Within-subject comparison with near-infrared imaging · 59 men

Redness right after shaving was lower with the single-blade razor (40% vs 58%), showing how imaging can quantify shave comfort.

Not randomised; shown as a method example.

Boodoo et al. Skin Res Technol 2024;30:e13598 · PMID 38279588

Randomised controlled trialAcne face wash · tolerance

Reformulated 4% and 10% benzoyl peroxide washes vs an older wash

Randomised, evaluator-blind · 133 adults with acne · 21 days

The new washes were as well tolerated as the reference, with no meaningful change in irritation scores.

Benzoyl peroxide acne washes are OTC drugs in the US and medicines in the EU.

Santos-Caetano JP, Cargill MR. J Drugs Dermatol 2019;18(4):350–356

These are published studies on ingredients, methods and routines, not on products we have made. A finished product needs its own testing before a claim goes on pack, and we design that study with you. See the full evidence library

Sensorial experience

Products men stick with.

Men’s routines are short, so each product has to feel good immediately.

Fast absorption

Light gels and fluids that absorb in seconds with no shine.

Sensory panels

Cooling and fresh

Cooling agents and clean scents for a wake-up feel after shaving.

CoolingFragrance

Signature scent

Scents developed with fragrance-house partners, or fragrance-free for sensitive skin.

IFRA

Clear shave gels

Transparent gels for precise edging and beard shaping.

ClarityGlide

Concept spotlight

Ideas we can take from bench to shelf.

Example concepts to show the range. Every project starts from your own brief, and the finished formula belongs to you.

Multi-use · Mild

3-in-1 hair, face and body wash

A mild wash that cleanses hair, face and body without drying, in one bottle.

Shave · Soothing

Post-shave calming serum

A fast-absorbing serum that calms redness and helps prevent ingrown hairs.

Oil control · SPF

Matte daily moisturiser SPF

A shine-control moisturiser with daily SPF for oily skin.

Responsible beauty

Better for skin, lighter on the planet.

More shoppers weigh where ingredients come from and what happens to the pack. We build those choices in from the start, and make sure every environmental claim can be backed up.

Our supplier directory

Natural-origin, measured properly

Natural and natural-origin content calculated under ISO 16128, so percentages on your pack are defensible.

ISO 16128

Certification-ready formulas

For COSMOS, vegan or similar standards we screen every raw material and prepare the file your certifier needs.

COSMOSVegan

Responsibly sourced ingredients

Traceable raw materials, including upcycled and biotech actives, sourced through our supplier directory.

Supplier directory

Lighter packaging

Refills, mono-material packs and recycled plastics, tested for compatibility with your formula.

Pack compatibility

Honest green claims

Environmental wording reviewed against green-claims guidance in each target market.

Claims review

Cosmetic or drug?

Shaving, cleansing and “helps reduce the look of shine or redness” are cosmetic claims. Treating acne, razor bumps or folliculitis is a medicine claim, and benzoyl peroxide is a drug active in the US and restricted in EU cosmetics.

From trend to brief

Start with insight, not guesswork.

Before formulation begins, we can map your market so the product lands with a clear point of difference.

Market and shelf scanWhat competitors in your channel and price point already claim, and where the gaps are

Ingredient watchActives gaining evidence, and those facing new restrictions in your target markets

Claim feasibilityWhich claims your budget and timeline can support, and the study each one needs

Brief you can build onA one-page product brief with formats, actives, claims and target markets

Formats

What we develop in men's grooming.

Beard oils & balmsShave creams & gelsAfter-shave balmsFace washesMoisturisers2-in-1 & 3-in-1 washes

Testing & compliance

The evidence men's grooming needs.

Shave panelsIn-use comfort and irritation

Skin safetyPatch test, in-use

Oil controlSebumeter

Applications

Common men's grooming goals.

Services

How we help.

Market insights from Guires CSL scientists

Stay ahead in men's grooming with regulation updates, the latest research, ingredient spotlights, recalls and market trends, written by the Guires CSL formulation, testing, clinical and regulatory teams.

Explore market insights

Guires CSL scientists reviewing cosmetic market research and regulatory updates

FAQ

Men's grooming questions.

Is men’s skin really different?

On average it produces more sebum and is stressed by daily shaving. We test on male panels so the results reflect the men who will use the product.

Can you develop products for razor bumps in coarse or curly beards?

Yes. We combine shave preparations, gentle exfoliants and calming actives, and test on panels with the relevant hair types.

Can one product be a wash, shampoo and body wash?

Yes. We design mild multi-use washes and test them on hair and skin.

Who owns the formula?

You do. We sign an NDA first, and the formula and technical file are handed over at the end.

Guires CSL quality, compliance and safety

Every men's grooming project at Guires CSL runs inside an ISO 9001 certified quality system, with documented methods, calibrated instruments, traceable raw materials and reviewed reports, so the results behind your product can be checked and defended.

Guires CSL quality & accreditations

Guires CSL analyst checking cosmetic samples under a microscope

In their words

What clients say.

“Designed around a simple daily routine, our grooming range absorbs quickly and leaves a clean sensory profile.”

Ryan CooperNPD Director · UK

“Evaluating a range of oils and conditioning ingredients helped us balance effective beard conditioning with a non-greasy finish.”

Ethan BrooksFounder · USA

“Our men’s scalp-care product was developed with active selection, formulation performance and testing requirements connected from start to finish.”

Vikram ShahProduct Development Manager · India

Insights

Men’s Grooming Products from Guires CSL

The skin and hair biology of men’s grooming.

A closer shave, a calmer face.

Ingredients CSL scientists work with

How CSL proves it works

Less shine, clearer-looking skin.

Ingredients CSL scientists work with

How CSL proves it works

A softer beard, healthy skin beneath.

Ingredients CSL scientists work with

How CSL proves it works

Have a men's grooming idea? Book a 30-minute brief review.

What the published trials show.

2% niacinamide vs placebo

Shaving frequency and an advanced shave regimen vs standard daily shaving

Single-blade vs three-blade cartridge razor

Reformulated 4% and 10% benzoyl peroxide washes vs an older wash

Products men stick with.

Fast absorption

Cooling and fresh

Signature scent

Clear shave gels

Ideas we can take from bench to shelf.

3-in-1 hair, face and body wash

Post-shave calming serum

Matte daily moisturiser SPF

Better for skin, lighter on the planet.

Natural-origin, measured properly

Certification-ready formulas

Responsibly sourced ingredients

Lighter packaging

Honest green claims

Start with insight, not guesswork.

What we develop in men's grooming.

The evidence men's grooming needs.

Common men's grooming goals.

How we help.

Market insights from Guires CSL scientists

Men's grooming questions.

Guires CSL quality, compliance and safety

What clients say.

Related reading.

Recall: hand sanitiser pulled from US shelves over hidden methanol

MoCRA for brands outside the US: what you need before you ship

“Dermatologically tested”: what the claim needs behind it

Create your next product with CSL.