It seems like every YouTuber, ‘influencer,’ or wannabe celebrity has a hair care or skin care line. Enter Horace skincare for men, a French line taking them all on.
I’ll be honest, dear reader. Skincare isn’t my thing. Sure, I realize now my mom was looking after me when she squawked at me to put on sunscreen before leaving for the beach. And yeah, those few times I went to the tanning booth as a high schooler probably weren’t great.
But, other than the occasional pore scrubbing, a diligent routine for my face isn’t something I obsess over. No ice packs or honey-almond body scrubs here. This makes me, your humble internet wordsmith, the perfect candidate for Horace.
For the last month, I’ve dabbed and scrubbed my mug with a host of Horace skincare products. But, just like any review on this website, just because we’re sent something doesn’t mean we’re obligated to say nice things about it.
Below, I’ll cover what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d recommend for the average guy.
About Horace
The global skin, hair, and cosmetics market for both women and men is dominated by relatively few behemoths. They hail mostly from Europe (L’Oreal, Unilever, and Beiersdorf-makers of NIVEA, Eucerin, and ultra-luxe La Prairie) and the United States (P&G, Johnson & Johnson and Estée Lauder).
But nearly half the consumption of the global $110B skincare, at least according to this surprisingly interesting market scan, takes place in Asia.
All this is to say chances of success for a smaller skincare brand are slim. But, Horace thinks they can give it a go.
Created by good friends Marc Briant-Terlet and Kim Mazelli, Horace was designed for men who don’t subscribe to an ideal. The action heroes and movie stars aren’t you or me. The ideal is, well, different. The brand’s ethos is appealing to regular guys.
It’s become a hit in France, where the company was founded and is still headquartered today. Everything from SPF lotion to shaving cream is still made in France. Success came organically, built on natural materials and word of mouth.
While they will send samples out to guys like us for honest reviews, there are no splashy media campaigns or press tours. Men just don’t respond to skincare ads like that.
While, of course, there is a significant e-commerce business, brick-and-mortar locations have popped up. At the time of this writing, there are 17 locations around France and one in London, England.
This strategy has started to pay off. By one estimate, they’ve got a fifth of the market for men’s skincare in France. So, subtle marketing and honest feedback. How does it stack up?
What I Tried
Horace Skincare sent over their Complete face kit (minus a face scrub), some eye patches, and their retinol serum. The face kit includes a daily moisturizer, a charcoal-based gel cleanser, some undereye cream, and a face mask tube.
Mattifying Face Moisturizer
Much like it says, this is a daily moisturizer for your face and neck. Major ingredients are prickly pear oil, shea butter, plum oil, and a vitamin B5 boost.
The texture is light, much more so than some others I’ve tried. It’s a standard white/off-white cream with a very light texture. A few rubs help it massage easily into my face.
I’m not sure of the active ingredient behind this phenomenon, but my skin isn’t shiny after use. Horace would call this a ‘mattifying’ effect, and I’d probably agree.
It’s a nice feeling. Far better than I’ve gotten with a few of the major drugstore brands I’ve tried. Perhaps it’s because of the lack of SPF. While it’s not a dealbreaker for me, it’s something to be aware of.
Use this morning and night. I put a few drops on my fingertip and then rub together. Horace suggests keeping it in the fridge for a cooling effect. But, as my bathroom is upstairs and my fridge is on the main level of my house, it’s a little too much work.
Retinol Serum
I’d always considered ‘serums’ something used by women over 40, not guys in their 30s like me. But, when they sent it, it was worth trying out.
Horace’s Bio-Retinol serum is a blend of peptides and collagens. It’s designed to tighten the skin, targeting dark spots, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and other bits we don’t like. In some cases, it’s used more as a preventative measure than a restorative.
The company recommends three drops from the included squeeze dropper twice a day and suggests results in about eight weeks.
Purifying Face Gel Cleanser Charcoal
Charcoal face cleansers are kind of the rage these days. A little gritty texture supposedly helps to fish out impurities from the skin and wash them away with water. It’s kind of cool, really.
Horace’s product is a little different. While some come in a tube or something a bit like a deodorant stick, this is a gel cleanser. Major ingredients are, of course, activated charcoal (Japanese Binchotan in this case), as well as cooling aloe vera, zinc, and some plant-based glycerin.
You can use it twice a day. It’s powerful, concentrated stuff. Squeeze only a drop or two into your hand and really rub together to make a good lather. Wash your face and neck, and then rinse off.
Face Mask
Moving into the luxe part of the setup, the clay face mask is a fascinating part of the lineup. Yes, indeed this mask is blue. Like, Mel Gibson as William Wallace in Braveheart blue.
The blue comes from “blue immortelle”, a supposed anti aging ingredient. It does have a paste-like texture, which will form to the face after about 15 minutes of use.
Horace suggests being rather liberal with the product, and that was my experience as well. Unlike the gel cleanser or the moisturizer, use a little more than you think to get the desired effect. Use one a week-twice, max-for best effect.
Moisturizing Eye Cream
Even in your mid-thirties, the stress of life can get to you. Intense jobs, long hours in front of a screen, or being a parent of two kids, can get to you. We carry stress in our faces in different ways.
Some signs are through crow’s feet, others through smile lines. And, others are under-eye ‘bags.’ It is, unfortunately, a natural part of aging. But, poor diet, a long night out, or lack of sleep (from all the above activities) are contributors.
Many under-eye creams are targeted at women, but they’re totally fine for guys, too. Horace’s Moisturizing Eye Cream is designed for daily use in the contours under and around the eye. A small dab is good here. Apply gently and then use the metal tip to massage into the skin.
It should disappear in a few seconds. If not, you’ve definitely put on too much. Aloe vera for cooling, hyaluronic acid (commonly used in conjunction with collagen products), and, yes, caffeine, are the key ingredients here.
Anti-Fatigue Eye Patches
And now, for the full spa treatment. Reinforcing the eye cream are the eye patches. But, unlike cucumber slices, these go under the eyes. They come in a five-pack and will stick right on. Perhaps it’s intentional, but they do look a little like baseball eye-black.
Ingredients, like just about everything Horace sells, are 97% of natural origin. The activators here are algae extracts, ice wine extract (Swiss, to be precise), and a polysaccharide. Under-eye puffiness from the stresses of life is reduced. Use whenever, and how often, you like. They come in a five-pack.
What I Like
I had about a month to work with. Some weeks, I followed the instructions religiously. Others, I didn’t. Some of it was on purpose, just to see what would happen or if I noticed a difference in how my face felt.
Horace has nearly universally positive reviews, and for good reason. I’ve been genuinely impressed with most of the products. This isn’t some clever marketing and fancy photography. But, some stood out for a few reasons.
The Gel Cleanser
I had the opportunity to test-drive another charcoal-based product a few years ago. It went on like a deodorant stick. If I were clean-shaven, it probably would have been better. But, the grit got caught in my closely-buzzed beard. It was annoying to get out. And, not just out of my face.
Try as I might, I couldn’t use it without leaving residue on my bath towels. Horace Skincare’s product, the gel makes for easy on, easy off. It foams up really well and doesn’t leave residue. And yes, my face feels fantastic. I only use it at night and that seems to work just fine.
The Serum
The serum is another winner. The brand says you should expect concrete results in about eight weeks. After two and a half, my wife made an unsolicited comment about how good the skin around my eyes and cheeks looked. She also asked if she could try it on herself. That’s a vote in my book.
Indeed, I’ve seen notable improvement around the appearance of crow’s feet and other lines. I used it generally as recommended, once in the morning and once at night. But, I’ve heard suggestions only two or three times a week is enough.
Now, it is worth noting this is the first peptide serum I’ve ever tried. So, they all could be like this. But, as this one is priced pretty well, I don’t see a reason to change for now.
The Eye Cream
The Eye Cream was a pleasant surprise. Again, as someone (perhaps like you) who’d never had much exposure to these kinds of products prior, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I used a similar one from Oars and Alps a few years back and wasn’t thrilled with it. It wasn’t so much the product as the ball-like applicator.
This one from Horace is much better. You can be exacting with how much or little product you want to use. The metal tipped application is more effective, in my personal opinion, than a ball.
What I Didn’t Like
Honestly? I liked everything I tried. But picking a few nits here. The daily moisturizer was fine, but nothing to write home about. My skin does feel soft, and I can, generally, tell when I’ve forgotten to put it on.
It is still very light and doesn’t cake up on you. I’ve sweated quite a bit and can’t feel it running down my face. But, again, I wouldn’t call it exceptional.
I could also go without the mask. It is a unique product. And, yes, my face does feel fantastic after using it. But, I don’t see the point of having the charcoal cleanser and this.
And, I found it difficult to get the residue out of my beard unless I really scrubbed. I found charcoal marks on my bath towels. For most guys, the charcoal cleanser will be just fine to start.
Additionally, the eye packs are nice, but probably not necessary for most dudes. At $25 for a five-pack, they’re also a little pricey for what is otherwise a reasonably-priced lineup.
The Bottom Line: Is Horace Skincare for Men Worth It?
Is Horace skincare worth it? Absolutely. Even though I believe you likely don’t need the face mask, the full face kit from Horace is great value. I’ve seen benefits in only a month’s use, and I think the trend will continue. I’d gladly pay for another round myself.
However, I think a starter pack is just fine, too.
If you’re younger, I’d consider starting with the moisturizer and the cleanser. But, if you’re my age (36) or over, consider adding the retinol and the eye creams. One month in, and I’m nearly a convert.
Thanks for reading.
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