What Makes a Good Skincare Routine for Men?

The truth is, a good skincare routine for a man is one that targets his specific skin type and concerns.

Skincare is for everyone, and your gender doesn’t limit you to what products you can try.

This being said, certain products and routines targeted towards men take into account that some men have thicker skin on their faces, higher collagen density, more sebum, tougher texture and facial hair.  

No matter how you identify, if these are characteristics of your skin then I have a really great basic skincare routine for you. It’s simple, effective and incredibly easy to stick to.

With minimal effort and time, you'll be able to cleanse, condition and protect your skin.

However, if your skin is particularly dry, sensitive or acne prone, I do recommend trying specific routines that cater to those needs. 

Tegan and Johnny show us a simple men's skincare routine in the YouTube video below...

Basic men’s skincare routine for A.M.

With only 3 products involved, your morning skincare routine couldn’t be easier. So, if you are a beginner, this is a great way to introduce yourself to some of the best men’s skincare in your morning routine.

Step 1: Gentle Cleanser

While cleansing in the morning is something you can certainly skip, if you do feel the need you can go in with a gentle cleanser to keep things clean and balanced. 

Our favourite products for a gentle morning cleanse include: 

• Aesop In Two Minds Facial Cleanser

• Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energising Face Wash

Step 2: Moisturiser

Some men’s skin might be more resilient to dehydration due to increased sebum production. However, even if your skin doesn’t dry out easily, there are plenty of good reasons to use a moisturiser. 

Everything that attacks skin daily—pollution, sunlight, and stress—uses up your skin's supply of antioxidants. Moisturisers don't just add moisture. They also replenish your skin's antioxidant supply.

We recommend one of our favourite moisturisers:

• Hunter Lab Daily Face Fuel 100ml

• Clinique For Men Moisturizing Lotion

Step 3: Sun Protection

If you have a moisturiser with adequate SPF, you can actually combine Step 2 and 3. However, if you don’t have an SPF of 30 in your routine already, you should because the benefits of sun protection are vast. It helps to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, damage that leads to blemishes and a whole host of other health risks.

We recommend applying moisturiser just after showering and shaving, and sun protection as the last step in your morning routine. Be sure to apply both products to all areas of exposed skin: typically the face, neck, and hands.

We recommend SPF 30 or higher for daily application, such as:

• Dermalogica Oil Free Matte SPF 30

• Skinstitut Age Defence SPF50+

Stripped-back men’s skincare routine for P.M.

An effective evening skincare routine removes pollutants, oils, and dead cells, allowing your complexion to repair itself through the night.

Step 1: Foaming Cleanser

Cleansing is extremely important. Our skin has its own barrier of compact dead cells and oil-based 'mortar'. This barrier is very effective at preventing moisture loss, but it can also prove sticky to microscopic pollutants and impurities. Dirt and impurities left on the skin can encourage hyperpigmentation, congestion, breakouts and promote premature ageing.

While it’s completely okay to stick with one of the gentle cleansers we suggested for your A.M. routine, we’ve suggested a few foaming cleansers below that pack a little more punch.

Make sure to cleanse effectively before bed with a cleanser such as:

• La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Gel

• LAB SERIES PRO LS All-In-One Face Cleansing Gel

Step 2: Exfoliation

You can incorporate exfoliation as needed—perhaps every 2 to 3 days. Exfoliating regularly helps to prevent ingrown hairs, promote even skin tone, reduce oiliness and eliminate spots and pimples.

There are several ways to exfoliate, the most popular being physical and chemical exfoliation. Physical scrubs are meant to be lightly massaged in, and then washed off, whereas chemical exfoliants are applied gently and left on. 

Choosing the right kind of exfoliator really comes down to your skin type and what sort of results you desire, so consider that when picking from the following exfoliators:

• Hunter Lab Cleansing Facial Scrub

• Clinique for Men Exfoliating Tonic

• Murad Blemish Control Rapid Relief Spot Treatment 15ml

Step 3: Night Cream

Moisturiser helps to reseal your skin's healthy barrier and replenish essential nutrients throughout the night. If your skin is fairly normal, you can use the same moisturiser you used in your A.M. routine. If your complexion could benefit from some additional moisturise, then use an enriched night formula such as:

• Aesop Elemental Facial Barrier Cream

• Cremorlab T.E.N. Cremor for Face Fresh Water Gel

Now you can see how simple this skincare regime can be, it’s time to incorporate it into your daily and nightly routine. We also have some great men’s skincare sets for those just getting started, or someone looking for skincare gifts for men. 

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