New men’s grooming brands launch all the time, but who has the bandwidth to decipher buzzwords and newfangled ingredients to find the soaps, creams and scents that are actually worth adding to your routine? We do, which is why we’ve put together this column, The Best Grooming Brands to Know Now. In this edition: Oak Bishop, a new brand with a streamlined lineup and rock-and-roll ethos.
I love an indie-leaning grooming brand: niche, curated and elevated, with formulas that back up the vibes. Oak Bishop, launched in 2025, has that energy — the kind of brand you’d expect to find tucked into an apothecary corner at a cool vintage shop between the retro tees and artisanal candles. Except you can also buy it at Amazon, Nordstrom and Ulta, which is no small feat for a brand this new.
Here’s why I was primed to notice. I’m a Velvet Underground fan. When founder Tony Diodore hit me up about his line and I learned he’d spent years as a touring guitarist and violinist for Lou Reed, I was intrigued. But Diodore also spent years as a graphic designer for major cosmetics companies, and somewhere between the music and skincare worlds, Oak Bishop started to take shape. He’d used skincare on the road — touring takes a toll on your face, I can attest — but never loved what was out there for guys. So he made his own.
That creative sensibility runs through the brand: family-owned, American-made, cruelty-free, with a hip-dude aesthetic that skips any stark packaging clichés. I love the mod orange look and the name. (Oak Bishop — a tree and a chess piece. It just works. Checkmate.)
We throw around the word “streamlined” a lot here, but Oak Bishop might take the curated cake, at least until they eventually expand, which I’m sure they will. A pared-back lineup is the brand’s whole MO, with a focus solely on the face. Here are the three products: one of the best exfoliating cleansers I’ve ever used, a very chic multipurpose moisturizer and a potent, approachable serum. (For reference, serums have become the new moisturizer: most guys use the latter, but many are realizing the benefits of the former, too.) That’s it.
But rather than feeling incomplete, the lineup feels concentrated on getting things right. All three are effective and packed with tried-and-true ingredients alongside potent naturals. They also smell fantastic, without a synthetic in sight. This is skincare for the plugged-in guy willing to pay a little more for better, elevated formulas that are still approachable, from a brand with insider cred baked in. If this is one facet where men’s grooming is headed, we are all for it.
This is a unique exfoliator because it doesn’t really feel like an exfoliator — more like a rich cleansing cream. The Icelandic volcanic sand is ground so fine that this is easily one of the gentlest physical exfoliators I’ve used, and one of the rare ones I’d feel comfortable using daily. You know the particles are in there because after cleansing, you can see the tiny specks gather at the bottom of the sink.
It still gives you that deep-cleaned, smooth texture you want from an exfoliator, but unlike so many scrubs, it left my skin feeling surprisingly soft and hydrated, thanks in part to shea butter. Kaolin clay helps soak up excess oil without leaving skin feeling stripped, while bergamot, lavender and ginger root give it the same subtly botanical, damn this smells good quality that runs through the line. I hesitate to call anything the hero product because the streamlined range is all killer, but this cleanser has been my favorite. And that’s with my Iceland bias duly acknowledged.
This is one of the most universally appealing hydrators I’ve used in a minute. It’s not too thick, not too light, mattifying and incredibly soothing, with a gel-meets-cream texture that feels great going on. Even better is the scent: slightly herbal notes of patchouli and neroli, courtesy of natural botanicals, give it a subtly earthy quality. The cool orange twist-off tub fits the vibe perfectly, and you get a generous amount of moisturizer without weighing down your Dopp kit.
Inside, it’s packed with tried-and-true heavy hitters like hyaluronic acid and squalane, plus caffeine, which you typically see in eye creams and serums, to wake up tired skin. There’s also mineral-rich sea kelp and a hefty dose of vitamin C to help protect and soothe. It’s a moisturizer that delivers the luxe good stuff but still feels effortless to use.
Serums used to feel like the extra-credit step in a skincare routine. Now, they’re increasingly standard issue, which is why I think it speaks volumes that Oak Bishop included one in its extremely curated lineup. As the brand rather smartly puts it, a serum is “the highest ROI in skincare.” Unlike a moisturizer, which primarily hydrates and supports the skin barrier, a serum is designed to deliver a more concentrated dose of actives to target specific concerns. And the Completist covers a lot of ground: blemishes, uneven texture, fine lines and hydration.
Niacinamide helps refine pores, even tone and support the skin barrier, while two peptides target firmness and overall skin health. Hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom pile on hydration and help give skin that plumper, smoother look. And it smells subtly fantastic, with pink grapefruit and sandalwood bringing a bright yet warm vibe. If you’ve been serum curious, this is a compelling argument for adding one. Still hesitant or not ready to add a serum to your routine just yet? Start with the basic Man of Few Words Set: a fab face wash and moisturizer. If you want the whole setup, snag the face wash, serum and moisturizer in one streamlined routine with the Power Trio.
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