Within the skincare community, the typical Western men’s approach to skincare is a running joke. Go on any social media platform and you’ll find endless content poking fun of men’s skincare routines. Boyfriends who wash their faces with the same 9-in-1 shampoo/conditioner/body wash/dish detergent product that they use on their hair and bodies (and their dishes). Husbands who don’t know the difference between a sun stick and a Chapstick. The list goes on.
But things are changing. Go on those same social media platforms and you’ll also find men trying skincare for the first time. You’ll also find an increasing number of male skincare influencers doing their part to normalize men taking care of their skin. And on forums like Reddit, men ask every day how to start a skincare routine.
Well, listen up, gentlemen! Here’s a simple skincare routine for men to get you started, and a couple of extra tips at the end.
Image: Cottonbro Studios
5-Minute Men’s Skincare Routine
When you’re starting from zero, it’s best to stick to the basic, foundational elements of a skincare routine. Cleanse, moisturize, and protect. We’ll keep this inexpensive and we’ll make it quick.
Throughout the day, your skin collects dirt, pollutants, and microbes from your environment. Your skin also produces oil and sheds dead skin cells. All of this debris can clog pores and cause pimples and irritation. You should cleanse once to twice a day to remove the debris. However, because facial skin tends to be thinner and more delicate than body skin, you should use a dedicated facial cleanser. Overcleansing with too-harsh products leads to skin problems as well.
Look for a foaming cleanser marketed as “pH balanced” or, ideally, “low pH.” We recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, which you can find at Target and other big box stores and drugstore chains.
Image: CeraVe
After cleansing, moisturize to add more hydration to skin and help it retain more of its own natural moisture. Hydrated skin looks smoother and functions better. If you’ve always struggled with oily skin, you may even find that moisturizing your skin helps to balance the oiliness. This is because taking care of your skin barrier with an appropriate cleanser and moisturizer can reduce the amount of lipids leaking out from a damaged barrier.
If your skin is oily, try Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. If you suspect your skin may need more moisture, try CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, which also contains ingredients beneficial to the skin barrier.
Image: Neutrogena
Finally, you need to protect from sun damage. Skin cancer can disfigure or kill. If you’re concerned about skin aging, know that sun damage also causes premature skin aging. Using sunscreen in generous amounts every day goes a long way towards preventing that leathery look.
In the interest of keeping our recommendations easy to find at mass market stores, we suggest you try Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Sunscreen Lotion. This is one of the more lightweight and invisible sunscreens we’ve seen at US retailers. That’s important, because in order to receive the full protection of the sunscreen, you need to apply it generously. Try this without moisturizer in the mornings first. If you feel your skin gets too dry throughout the day, use it over moisturizer.
Image: Neutrogena
If you’re ready to be a bit more brave, we strongly recommend a Japanese sunscreen! You’ll get far more complete protection in far lighter and more pleasant formulas. Try the Biore UV Aqua Rich Aqua Protection Lotion for an invisible and nearly weightless finish.
Image: Biore
Men’s skincare tips
Finally, we’ll leave you with two quick tips.
One: You don’t need to look for skincare marketed for men. While men’s skin tends to be slightly thicker and oilier than women’s skin overall, the difference isn’t enough to require differently formulated products. Simply use what feels best for your skin.
And two: Be consistent! Men who are new to skincare often feel overwhelmed by the idea of adding a whole “skincare routine” to their day. Think of it as part of your normal morning and evening hygiene routines. Washing your face and using moisturizer or sunscreen should be just as automatic as brushing your teeth. Your face will thank you. And by the way? Ladies love a man who takes care of his skin.
