6-week update: After six weeks, I wouldn’t pretend this is a dramatic transformation, but my skin does look a bit fresher, more hydrated and slightly more even in tone. The biggest difference is that it looks better looked after rather than dramatically different.
Why I was curious
It feels fair to say that skincare is much more accepted as a normal part of daily life for younger men now. For men over 40, like me, we’ve probably reached this point a bit later – usually when life, age or an upcoming wedding gives us a nudge.
Beyond putting on suncream because I’m a pasty ginger, skincare has never exactly been an area of expertise. But with my wedding coming up, and the amount of riding I do in all weathers, it felt like a good time to give something like this a proper go.
Long rides, sweat, wind, sun, cold starts, general exposure to the elements – none of it exactly screams “thriving complexion”.
So when I was sent the GENT Skincare three-step system, it felt like a fairly timely moment to find out whether a simple skincare routine could actually make a noticeable difference.
First impressions
Aesthetically, this is a really good-looking product.
The packaging is clean, well designed and feels properly considered. It looks smart, feels well made, and doesn’t have that generic “copy and paste grooming brand” feel that some men’s products fall into.
It also genuinely looked like something designed with men in mind. Not in an overdone, “slap matte black on it and call it rugged” sort of way – just simple, clean and easy to understand.
In practical terms, it passed the very basic test of: would I actually leave this out in the bathroom and use it?
Yes, absolutely.
What’s in the routine?
The system is built around three products:
- Cleanser
- Serum
- Moisturiser
Out of the three, the cleanser was the easiest to incorporate straight away. That was basically effortless – use it in the shower, job done.
That matters, because if a routine feels awkward from the start, I know full well I’m unlikely to stick with it.
The brand also suggested not overdoing it with the cleanser – more of a “less is more” approach, around three times a week rather than constantly hammering it. I actually quite liked that, because it felt sensible and realistic for someone starting from scratch.
The moisturiser was probably the standout for me in terms of experience. It smells incredible – almost like an aftershave. In fact, my partner commented on it, and I had the rare pleasure of replying:
“Nope, just my moisturiser.”
The serum was the one I was least sure about at first, so I went and looked into it properly. In simple terms, this is the treatment step — the part aimed at calming redness, controlling oil, helping with blemishes and generally improving texture and tone. GENT Skincare describes it as the step for redness, oil control, enlarged pores and uneven texture, with ingredients including azelaic acid, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and pro-vitamin B5. That gave me more confidence about why it was there, even if it still felt like the least obvious part of the routine in day-to-day use.
How it fitted into real life
What I liked most about this system is that it didn’t feel intimidating.
That may sound like a strange compliment, but I think it matters. If you’ve never really had a skincare routine before, there’s always a risk that a multi-step system feels either too fussy or too complicated to bother with.
This didn’t.
The cleanser was easy to use in the shower, the moisturiser felt like an easy habit to build in, and overall the routine felt manageable rather than a chore.
That’s probably the biggest positive for me: it made skincare feel simple enough to actually do.
What I noticed
The main thing I noticed was that my skin felt cleaner and fresher, but importantly not dry, tight or squeaky.
That balance is probably what impressed me most.
It would have been easy for something like this to feel too harsh, especially with the amount I train and the amount of time I spend outdoors. But that wasn’t my experience at all. My skin just felt better looked after.
I’m deliberately not going to pretend I’ve undergone some dramatic transformation after a short trial. This isn’t a before-and-after miracle story.
But I did come away genuinely impressed, and probably more open to the idea of a skincare routine than I expected to be.
Which, in itself, is saying something.
Before and After (over 6 weeks)
Looking back at the before-and-after photos below, I wouldn’t pretend this is some dramatic transformation after six weeks. The lighting isn’t identical, so I’m cautious about over claiming it, but the later photo does show skin that looks more hydrated, fresher and slightly more even in tone. The biggest difference is subtle rather than spectacular: less of a dry, slightly flat look, and more of a clean, better-looked-after finish. Fine lines and natural texture are still very much there, which to me actually makes the result feel more honest.
What I liked
The best part of the experience was how straightforward it felt.
This wasn’t a product that made me feel like I needed a glossary, a consultant, and a 14-step evening ritual. It felt accessible.
I also really liked the overall design and presentation. It felt premium without being flashy.
And the moisturiser deserves another mention, because the scent alone made it more enjoyable to use. If a product smells good, feels good, and leaves your skin feeling fresh, you’re already halfway to building a habit.
For someone like me – a man over 40, lots of time outdoors, no real skincare routine to speak of – that’s probably exactly what I want from a product like this.
What I liked less
The main thing I’d still question is the serum.
Not because I disliked it, but because it took a bit more effort to understand what role it was playing in a tangible way. The cleanser and moisturiser both felt obvious in what they brought to the routine. The serum felt a little less visible, even after I’d looked into what it was designed to do.
That may be entirely normal for skincare people. I am very much not skincare people.
So I think that’s less of a criticism and more of an honest reflection from someone coming at this as a complete beginner.
If anything, it highlights the kind of person this review is useful for: men who are skincare-curious, but not skincare-literate.
Price and value
The full Skincare Set For Men is £45 on the GENT Skincare website, with the cleanser at £12.99, the serum at £18.99 and the moisturiser at £15.99 individually.
In context, that puts it above the kind of men’s skincare most people will pick up on the high street, but not completely out in the high end territory either. On the brand side, Bulldog Skincare bundles sit around £26 to £31.50 on its own site, while a travel-size starter option from Clinique sits around £18 to £20 at Boots.
I’d call it entry-premium: more expensive than high-street men’s skincare, but still a realistic step up if you want something a bit more considered and better presented.
Who I think it’s for
I think this is ideal for men who know they probably should have some sort of skincare routine, but haven’t quite got around to it.
Especially if, like me, you spend a lot of time outdoors, train regularly, or have reached the point where your face no longer seems entirely self-managing.
It also feels like a good option for men who want something simple, well designed and easy to leave on the bathroom shelf without feeling like they’ve suddenly become a full-time grooming content creator.
Final verdict
Overall, I came away genuinely impressed by the GENT Skincare three-step system.
It looks great, feels well made, smells excellent, and most importantly it made my skin feel cleaner and fresher without drying it out.
For someone who has never really had a skincare routine beyond suncream, that’s a pretty strong result.
The cleanser was easiest to slot into daily life, the moisturiser was the standout in terms of experience, and the serum is the one part I’m still figuring out.
Will i spend my own money on it and keep using it?
Yes, I definitely will be.
And perhaps more tellingly, it’s made me think that a proper skincare routine might actually be worth the effort after all.
If you’re a man over 40 who’s never really had a skincare routine, I can see this being a very good place to start. Find out more here – http://gentskincare.co.uk/
Read my previous review on the IM8 7 Day Variety Pack, the Ultimate Daily Nutrition – One scoop, 16 powerful benefits.
Guy Stapleford Ultra 