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Hims Skincare Review – Does it Work for Acne and Anti-Aging?

About the Author

Alex Goldberg

Alex worked at three early-stage startups before starting Fin vs Fin. Covering the rise of direct-to-consumer health, his mission is to help patients access better treatments online. He's also a husband, father, and UC Berkeley grad who enjoys golf, podcasts, live music, cooking, and home improvement.

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Medically reviewed by:
Dr. Steve Kim, MD

About Dr. Steve Kim, MD

Physician Advisor

Dr. Kim received his BA in Human Biology at Stanford University, before receiving his M.D. degree (Primary Care Track) from UC Davis School of Medicine. He completed his Internship & Residency in Family Practice from Glendale Adventist Hospital and is Board-Certified in Family Medicine via the American Board of Family Medicine. He has held faculty appointments at Stanford & UCSF medical schools and has championed telemedicine for decades. He is also a decorated, retired Flight Surgeon from the US Air Force Reserves.

In this Article

In this Article

Alex Goldberg

In this article, we’ll review Hims’ skincare and anti-acne line of products built for men.

 

Women aren’t the only ones who get pimples, wrinkles, and other signs of acne or aging. And it’s not like men don’t want to look good. So why have relatively few men added anything more sophisticated than a squirt of moisturizer to their daily routine? With so many digital-first brands catering to men these days, arguably there’s fewer excuses for dudes not to invest in more flawless skin.

 

Regardless of how invested you are in your face’s “glow,” Hims new skin care line is a potential win. Best known for their cheeky marketing for embarrassing or otherwise socially-taboo issues like hair loss and erectile dysfunction meds, Hims is a popular D2C wellness brand that’s just now expanding into skin care, likely for all the same reasons. Skin care for too many men feels effeminate or somehow unmanly – but Hims is on a mission to change that with the launch of their new line of skin topicals and Rx medication just for men.

 

While Hims now offers treatments for a variety of skin needs  — everything from an everyday moisturizer to Rx rash creams — today we’ll focus just on their acne and anti-aging solutions. In this review of the Hims’ skincare for men, we’ll explore what they offer, how much it costs, and most importantly, if the products actually work.

 

 

How does getting skincare from Hims work?

 

Hims strives to give men easier access to products, prescriptions, and advice related to health topics they may feel uncomfortable about. They make it easier to treat embarrassing ailments with affordable and convenient medicine. Men’s skincare is just one of their focuses, along with sexual health, hair loss, primary care, mental health, COVID-19 testing, and nutrition supplements.

 

Hims acne and anti-aging creams for men are customized prescription products. That means you’ll first complete an online consultation with a Hims’ doctor. Don’t worry, these are painless — just a series of simple questions done entirely online; in most states you don’t actually have to have a live call with one of their physicians. If the doctor determines that you’re eligible, they’ll prescribe you treatment. You’ll have access to a licensed doctor after the initial consultation as well to answer follow-up questions, discuss potential side effects, or otherwise adjust your course of treatment.

 

While most of Hims Rx skincare is sold as a recurring subscription that ships at your desired frequency, their morning serum and night cream are sold a la carte. Both are sold over the counter and don’t require a virtual doctor visit. In fact, you can now buy all off Hims over the counter skin care products at Target, as well.

 

 

Hims skincare for men: What skin products does Hims offer for dudes?

 

Just as Hers provides for women, Hims has prescription-strength products for acne and anti-aging. Let’s take a look at the specific drugs Hims prescribes and learn how they work.

 

 

 

Review of Hims Acne Cream

 

acne

Source: Hims

 

For acne, Hims has an Rx cream men can apply to their skin. You use one to two pumps of the cream and apply it directly to any acne. You’ll follow your Hims’ doctor’s recommendation for use, which may be to only use this cream every third night and then gradually use it more often until you’re applying it nightly.

 

This topical treatment includes prescription-strength retinoids and antibiotics, with the ingredient list including clindamycin, niacinamide, and tretinoin. The formula is designed to eliminate bacteria that contribute to acne, reduce acne inflammation in the skin, and improve your skin’s cellular turnover to help it heal and rejuvenate itself. That said, Hims says that your treatment is customized, so you get the perfect product strength and frequency to work for your specific case of acne.

 

 

Review of Hims Anti-Aging Cream

 

Source: Hims

 

Hims offers three anti-aging products to review. These include:

 

 

For best results, the company suggests that you use the whole set within your skincare routine. This would include cleansing your skin, applying the anti-aging cream and night cream before going to bed, and then applying the morning serum as part of your get-ready-for-the-day routine.

 

 

What’s inside Hims anti-aging cream?

 

Hims has a dermatologist-formulated cream you apply to your skin for anti-aging effects. You use it at night, generally applying it two to three nights per week at first until your skin gets used to using it nightly. But your Hims doctor will provide a customized recommendation just for you when you start the service. You may not notice results for three to six months, so you should keep using it even if you’re not seeing any changes at first.

 

The main active ingredient is tretinoin (retin-A), which is included for its ability to renew the skin and boost the collagen that counteracts sagging and improves skin firmness. It also acts to speed up the skin cell cycle, by replacing dead cells at a faster rate than normal. Tretinoin has been highly researched for its anti-aging properties. These studies have shown it to be effective when used for just a few months – but in the studies where it was used for over 12 months, many of the patients’ skin actually saw increased skin thickness and collagen (those are good things). It is a legit medication, and if you experience side effects like redness or blistering you need to stop and consult your Hims doctor.

 

 

 

How do you use Hims’ Night Cream?

 

Source: Hims

 

Hims’ skin care products include a night cream for fighting wrinkles. You use it after you cleanse your skin and use any other skincare products that are part of your nightly routine. Then, you smooth on a thin layer of this cream. It’s meant as an addition to the use of a prescription tretinoin solution like Hims’ anti-aging cream.

 

This cream is extra moisturizing to the skin, and it uses caffeine and hyaluronic acid as its key ingredients.

 

 

What’s the active ingredient in Hims’ Morning Serum?

 

Source: Hims

 

Hims also offers a morning serum designed to help with dark spots and discoloration, working to achieve a clearer and more even look to your skin. First you cleanse your skin in the morning, then you apply this serum and then you add a moisturizer or sunscreen within your routine.

 

This serum provides its benefits through vitamin C’s antioxidant power used topically.

 

 

Review of Hims skincare products for men

 

Just to quickly recap: here’s a chart reviewing Hims’ skincare line for men.

 

Hims Skincare Products for Men

Acne Cream

Anti-Aging Cream

Night Cream

Vitamin C Morning Serum

Issues targeted Acne, inflammation Fine lines, sagging Wrinkles Dark spots
Key Ingredients Clindamycin, niacinamide, tretinoin Tretinoin Caffeine and hyaluronic acid Vitamin C
Price $34 $34, or $49 set with night cream $24, or $49 set with anti-aging cream $33
Processing $5 per order $5 per order $5 per order $5 per order
Deals 90-day money back guarantee First month free None None
Custom formulated?
Hims doctor visit needed?

 

As you can see, Hims offers a full routine of products for men’s skincare. They offer treatments for acne, inflammation, fine lines, sagging, wrinkles, and dark spots. Since each product is sold separately, you’re able to purchase a la carte based on your unique skin needs. So if you have acne but aren’t concerned about aging yet, you can just go with the acne cream. If you want to target signs of aging, you can pick from the three available products or go with all three. I really like the choose-your-own-journey aspect of him’s skincare offering.

 

Another thing I like: Hims products use science-backed key ingredients designed for their respective uses to fight acne and/or specific signs of aging. They didn’t cut corners and partnered with real dermatologists to formulate and prescribe quality treatment for common conditions. Thus Hims’ skin care products may not be the most innovative, and they may not work for the most complicated cases, but they contain trustworthy compounds that are FDA-approved, widely adopted, and broadly effective.

Best men’s skincare online: Hims vs Geologie vs Lumin

We compared the leading skincare lines for men that are available online for you to make the best decision before ordering new products.

Best Mens Skincare Online
Skincare conditions treatedSkin basics

Anti-aging

Acne
Acne

Dry skin

Oily skin

Anti-aging

Anti-fatigue

UV protection
Acne scars

Dry skin
Dull skin

Enlarged pores
Fine lines

Irritated skin

Oily skin

Sun burn

Sun damage

Uneven skin
Skincare product types TopicalTopicalTopical
Products offeredHigh Tide Cleanser

Everyday moisturizer

Vitamin C Serum

Multi-screen mineral sunscreen SPF 50+

Goodnight wrinkle cream

Custom acne cream

Custom anti-aging cream
Available a la carte OR as packaged routines:

Tone Control Face Cream with SPF 15

Oil Free Gel Moisturizer

Moisturizing Face Cream with SPF 15

Dark + Puffy Under Eye Cream

Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Eye Cream

SPF30 Face Sunscreen

Retinol Night Cream (.05, .2, & ,3%)

Salicylic Acid Face Wash
Charcoal Cleanser

Untri-Hudrating Moisturizing Balm

Exfoliating rub

UV-Defense Moisturizing Balm

Anti-Wrinkle Serum

Dark Circle Defense

Anti-Fatigue Eye Patch

Pore Strip

Intensive Reconditioning Face Mask

Skin-Purifying Toner

Cooling Aftershave

Soothing Beard Oil

After Hours Recovery Oil

Calming Shave Cream

Super Biome Gel Moisturizer

Charcoal Clay Mask
Online doctor/dermatologist visit?
Free messaging with dermatologist?
Video visits available?
Consultation overview Answer a few questions about yourself & your skincare goals

Connect with a licensed healthcare provider to find best prescription for you
Take a diagnostic quiz

Dermatologists will design a regimen for you
No consultation necessary, simply shop & create one-time purchases or subscriptions
Free delivery?❌ ($4.95)
Areas delivered to?All US states

Select products ship to UK
All US states

Some international
All US states

Some international
Website

The Verdict: Is Hims skincare legit?

Overall, Hims skincare for men seems worth trying. It’s specifically designed to work for men’s skin and for specific issues that you might be dealing with. Understanding you might feel uncomfortable spending a lot of time on things like acne and wrinkles, Hims makes it convenient and simple, all from the comfort of home.

 

As for price, Hims’ skin care is in-line with popular brands like Proactiv for acne ($30-$40 per month) and Kiehls’ anti-aging products sold in stores. You can save a few shekels ($9/month to be exact) by bundling the set of anti-aging cream PLUS night cream together. Hims offers the first month FREE of anti-aging cream, and they also offer a generous 90-day money back guarantee on their acne cream so you can try it risk free.

 

Overall, we like Hims because they tell you which products you need, so you’re not standing in front of a store shelf confused or doing online research for hours. If you need to visit a doctor for prescription treatment, Hims makes the process super easy through an online consultation. You’ll quickly talk to the physician virtually to determine what skincare products are best for you. With Hims’ 90-day money back guarantee on acne and skincare meds, you have nothing to lose. Sign up today to see how it works for you!

 

I love Hims skincare, especially this moisturizer and their anti-aging cream.

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About the Author

Alex Goldberg

Alex worked at three early-stage startups before starting Fin vs Fin. Covering the rise of direct-to-consumer health, his mission is to help patients access better treatments online. He's also a husband, father, and UC Berkeley grad who enjoys golf, podcasts, live music, cooking, and home improvement.

Learn more
Alex Goldberg

Alex Goldberg

Alex worked at three early-stage startups before starting Fin vs Fin. Covering the rise of direct-to-consumer health, his mission is to help patients access better treatments online. He's also a husband, father, and UC Berkeley grad who enjoys golf, podcasts, live music, cooking, and home improvement.

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