Easy-to-Follow Skincare Routine For Men

If you’ve come to the conclusion that “actually I should take more care of my skin“, this skincare routine for men will show you how it can improve your skin’s condition, and give you some excellent products to use.

Generally speaking, most men don’t put a lot of effort into their skincare routine… or even have a skincare routine.

If you’re one of these men, don’t worry – I’m here to help guide you through this necessary journey to healthy, glowing skin.

As you can imagine, each person’s skincare routine and the products they use are very specific and unique to each individual.

Some people may have more sensitive skin; depending on your background, you might need different types or tones of creams and ointments based on the color and texture of your skin, and your environmental surroundings can also affect how and what type of skincare you use.

Men, generally, don’t put a lot of thought into a regular routine – usually reaching for the cheapest products on the shelf, and only using them when they absolutely need it.

We think of skincare as time-consuming, expensive, and often – not a manly thing to do!

The truth is, caring for your skin as a man, doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming.. and trust me, it doesn’t go unnoticed.

If you don’t care for your skin, it can age prematurely, and pretty soon, your skin tone and complexion will become uneven and tired-looking.

Have I convinced you that skincare is important yet? No? Alright – well keep reading and I promise by the end of this article you’ll have changed your mind.

To start, let’s answer an important question: why do men need to concern themselves with skincare?

Is Skin Care Necessary for Men?

We know that men produce more testosterone than women, and because of this our daily routines are different for everything we do – including skincare.

Here’s what that means:

• Men generally have larger and thicker hair follicles than women
• Testosterone leads to a higher production of natural skin oil (sebum)
• More elastin and collagen levels in men than females

On top of our genetic make-up, your daily habits and surroundings can affect your overall internal and external health.

For instance, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, you’re more exposed and prone to harsh conditions and sunlight, meaning you need to provide your skin with proper protection on a daily basis.

Adapting a simple skincare routine will ensure your skin is protected from various chemicals found in everyday products, plus numerous other “punishments” the skin is exposed to on a daily basis.

Wrinkles, rashes, sores, dark-spots, acne, and other skin problems affect us all differently and you should address each issue based on your needs.

Neglecting your skin will result in even bigger problems both in the short-term and long-term.

Day Time Skincare Routine

Waking up, and following a specific skincare routine sets you up for the day.

1. Drink Plenty Of Water

The most neglected, and yet the easiest and cheapest way you can keep your skin looking fresh and youthful, is to drink more water.

It won’t matter what products you use, if you are dehydrated your skin will suffer..badly.

As soon as you get out of bed pour yourself a large glass of water and drink it all.

Once you’ve drunk that, fill your glass up again and drink some more while you’re getting ready.

After a night’s sleep, your body is dehydrated, and you need to replenish the lost fluids. It is estimated we lose approx. 1 liter of water each night.

That’s a lot of fluid loss that our body needs to function properly.

Our skin is our body’s largest organ, and it suffers badly from a lack of water. It becomes dry and will age much quicker without us being fully hydrated.

Only when you’ve drunk at least 2 glasses of water should you reach for your coffee!

Starting your day hydrated, not only improves the look of your skin, but your internal organs such as your liver and kidneys benefit as well.

You will also find you have more energy in the morning, rather than a lethargic (dehydrated) version of yourself.

2. Use A Face Wash

Whether you jump straight into the shower or not, it is a good idea to use a face cleanser to rid your face of the sweat and oil build-up from the night before and to clean out your skin’s facial pores.

Don’t use harsh, skin-stripping soaps or a cheap body/face wash.

Depending on your skin type, choose a gentle face wash that won’t strip your face or leave it dry.

If you have normal or slightly dry skin, this foaming facial cleanser from CeraVe cleans and removes oil without stripping your skin or drying it out.

It claims to lock in moisture and helps to rebuild your skin’s protective barrier.

CeraVe facial wash is the most popular and recommended product on the market right now.

It has been developed by dermatologists and is certified by the National Eczema Association.

For normal to oily skin, Brickell’s Men’s Clarifying Gel Face Wash is an ideal face wash that contains organic products. So no harmful chemicals or unwanted extras.

Its delicate fragrance, along with natural vitamins, will leave your skin feeling fresh and hydrated.

The reviews it gets from men and women on Amazon can only suggest it does a great job.

Gently pad yourself dry with a clean towel. Do Not vigorously rub your face dry, as this can damage your skin and strip it of its natural oils.

3. Use A Face Scrub

If you’re prone to oily skin, you should use a face scrub 2 or 3 times a week.

A face scrub can be used on your skin after you’ve used a face wash, or instead of a face wash.

Gently scrubbing/exfoliating your face is a great way to unblock clogged pores and remove dead skin cells.

It is especially beneficial if you have oily or combination skin, or if you get spots and/or acne.

An exfoliating cleanser is particularly helpful if you regularly shave your face.

Shaving, especially with a razor, can cause burns and breaks in your skin.

This is where the smoothing effect of an exfoliator, in combination with a good moisturizer helps to keep your skin feeling and looking fresh.

Again, gently pad yourself dry with a clean towel once you’ve finished.

I love this face scrub by Brickell.

As with all Brickell products, the ingredients are mostly natural and organic.

This face scrub contains aloe vera, avocado butter, vitamin E, pumice, and jojoba beads.. It smells great!

You don’t need to use much of it, so even the small jar goes a long way.

4. Moisturize Your Face

Once you’ve washed and/or scrubbed your face, now’s the time to shave or trim your beard or stubble. You may even decide to leave ‘as is’ for the day.

Whatever you decide, your next step should now be to use a quality moisturizer.

Moisturizing your face helps your skin retain more water, keeping it hydrated for longer.

Use a good quality moisturizer like this RUGGED & DAPPER Face Moisturizer for Men.

It’s the nuts! 

It is designed for most skin types and has no scent, so can be used in combination with any of your other scented products.

It absorbs into the skin very quickly, leaves a nice matte finish, and locks in that moisture.

A cheaper alternative, but also highly recommended is the Age Defense Moisturizer by Bulldog.

Not only does it go on extremely well, it has natural, antioxidant ingredients to help keep your skin young-looking.

I love this moisturizer and apply it to my face most mornings.

Not sure if it keeps me young-looking, but it feels great on my face and is quite thick in consistency.

There’s no ‘shiny face’ syndrome either.

Moisturizer With Sun Protection 

Depending on where you live and your lifestyle, you might want to consider separate sun cream, or use a moisturizer with an SPF included.

JACK BLACK Double-Duty Face Moisturizer is an awesome product that not only protects against the sun’s harmful rays, it also protects against UV light, blue light, and everyday pollutants.

Ingredients include; Blue Algae Extract, Sea Parsley, Vitamins A, and E, and Phospholipids. All intended to keep your skin hydrated and improve the overall appearance.

Jack Black’s Double-Duty Face Moisturizer is a part of the PureScience collection. All PureScience products are fragrance-free, paraben-free, colorant-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

Another moisturizer-sunscreen combo is THRIVE Natural Face Moisturizer with Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30.

Again this will help protect against harmful suns rays and has an SPF of 30.

Thrive is a very ethical brand that only uses natural, cruelty-free ingredients and safe packaging.

They are establishing an excellent reputation for their products and are receiving a lot of excellent reviews.

5. Apply Eye Balm/Cream

Applying eye cream under your eyes is one aspect of a daily skincare routine that most men tend to forget or avoid altogether.

Yet it’s one thing that can really make a difference in how you look.

A good quality eye cream applied morning and night can reduce dark spots, bags, and age-lines under your eyes, giving your whole complexion a fresher, more vitalized look.

Don’t believe me?

Give it a try for a few weeks and see for yourself.

The chances are, people around you will notice.

Brickell has come up trumps again with their Men’s Restoring Eye Cream.

Brickell claim this men’s eye cream reduces wrinkles, bags, puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles around the eyes.

Although it’s quite expensive, it lasts a long time. And hey, if it helps to prevent that ‘tired eyes’ look, it is worth every penny in my book!

Another firmly established favorite is Clinique Anti-age Eye Cream for Men.

Here’s a recent review from one happy user..

“Actually works! I’m a 37-year-old male. Have NEVER used an eye cream before. I’ve been using this for several days now, morning and evening. The dark spots below my eyes are slowly going away, and I’m ecstatic.”

Clinique’s anti-age eye cream is designed to soothe the eyes and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Plus it’s oil-free.

6. Apply Lip Balm

Most of the time lip balm is a ‘take it or leave it’ type of product for me.

The problem occurs when I get particularly dry lips and I end up scrambling around, looking for anything to relieve the soreness.

Dry, sore lips are NOT nice.

For this reason, I recommend you to have a lip balm to hand when you need it most.

They are nice and small, so you can easily fit them in your pocket and apply as-and-when you need to.

You’re putting a product on your lips that ultimately you may swallow (albeit in tiny quantities). So make sure you buy a lip balm that is organic and contains natural products.

RUGGED & DAPPER Organic Lip Balm comes in a pack of 4 which will last you for ages.

A hugely popular brand is Burt’s Bees

Their 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Balm is a best seller and another option that works as it should.

Evening Skin Care Routine

1. Use A Face Wash

Washing your face before bed is a good idea because you’ve spent all day out and about, doing your regular activities, which means your face has been exposed to a lot of environmental debris – even if you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there!

Ensure you use a good-quality face wash, such as a mild foaming cleanser, to remove dirt from your face before retiring for the day.

The face wash you use in the morning is probably going to be the one you use at night. I don’t buy a separate day and night face wash.

2. Apply Moisturizer or Anti Aging Cream

Before you retire for the night you have the luxury of applying a richer, thicker moisturizing cream, which will work its magic overnight.

However, if you’re going to apply a moisturizer, you may as well use an anti-aging cream.

These creams contain collagen or retinol, or ingredients that work in a similar way, and are designed to firm and tighten the delicate skin under and around your eyes.

I would always try and pick a product that contains organic, natural ingredients and has a lot of positive reviews/recommendations.

It should come as no surprise that Brickell has an anti-aging cream for men that fits the bill.

Another great choice is Men Collagen + Retinol Face Moisturizer from Neubeutics.

This anti-aging cream comes packed with natural ingredients designed to combat wrinkles and age-related marks.

It’s made in the USA and is fast becoming a firm favorite. 

Revamp Your Skin From The Effects of Oxidative Stress

Remember how I mentioned that our environmental conditions, such as spending time outdoors, can have a detrimental effect on our skin?

Well, all those hours under the scorching sun or other harsh conditions, expose our skin to potentially harmful stuff that can damage skin cells.

Continuous exposure to ultraviolet rays, cigarette smoke, air pollution, and industrial chemicals can lead to oxidative stress.

These conditions can wear down the skin over time and cause premature aging. Thankfully, you can revamp or repair your skin by applying a vitamin C antioxidant serum.

This extremely popular product by TruSkin is designed to target the most common signs of aging such as saggy skin, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and sunspots.

Ideally, you should apply this after shaving in the morning and before applying a moisturizer.

Summary

A skincare routine for men is not a complicated process, nor does it need to be time-consuming.

Even if you don’t have the time and patience to look for eye creams, toners, and the likes, these basic steps are sufficient to keep your skin in good condition.

To make things clearer, here is a summary of the routine:

1. Drink plenty of water as soon as you wake up (ideally 2 large glasses)
2. Clean your face with warm water and a mild facial cleanser
3. Use a face scrub once or twice a week (more so if you have oily skin)
4. Shave (if you need to)
5. Follow that with a moisturizer (possibly with sun protection)
6. Apply eye balm
7. Apply, or at least have a lip balm to hand
8. Wash your face with a mild face wash and moisturize, or use an anti-aging cream before bed

Pretty straightforward, right?

Still looking for more?

Here’s a skincare routine video by a male model..

Here’s a link to the PC4 Men products he uses.

Now, let’s take a quick look at a more challenging aspect of the skincare routine for men, and that’s how to choose the right products to suit your skin.

Choosing the Right Products

Having a skin routine is great, but choosing the best and most suitable products can be quite challenging, considering the plethora of men-specific skincare products out there.

Here are a few things to consider before buying any skincare product.

What’s Your Skin Type?

Despite being a man, all of our skin types differ. But you probably already know this – or do you?

• Sensitive skin – prone to stinging or burning sensation after using a product
• Normal skin – well, normal!
• Dry skin – can be itchy, flaky, or rough
• Oily skin – is shiny and greasy to touch
• Combination skin – basically 1 or more of the above in different areas of your face!

Read product labels for the ingredients, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Read reviews and comments when making a purchase.

The Difference Between Cheap & Superior Skincare Products

I admit to being a little tight with my money. I hate not getting a great deal, and I do not buy products just because it’s a brand or has fancy packaging.

However, I don’t mind spending my money on products that are worth it and have a proven track record with good reviews.

Skincare products that help you look and feel better are worth spending a little more money on.

Here’s the thing..

You are putting products on your face which get absorbed into your system.

Why would you not be concerned about this?

Cheap products invariably contain cheap, manufactured ingredients.

Don’t put that shit on your face!

Choose products that are derived from natural, organic ingredients.

The more rare and difficult it is to obtain these natural ingredients, usually, the more expensive the product will be.

Makes sense right?

So always read what goes into the product you intend to apply to your face.

Having good quality skin products in your bathroom or bedroom, shows you care about how you look, and how you want to look to others.

Layer Up For Best Results

By applying more than one product to your face, you may end up smelling of different fragrances.

Ideally, you should stick with one brand for each of your applications. Or at least choose an unscented brand so you don’t mix n’ match your scents.

Here’s a table of brands that have excellent skincare products for each or various steps of your skincare routine..

Conclusion

As a man, your skin takes a lot more punishment than you may realize. And the frightening part is that this happens almost daily.

The least you can do for your skin is to care for and nurture it properly. For this reason, it is crucial to have an effective skincare routine.

Doing so only when it is convenient (usually once in a blue moon) won’t produce the desired results.

Make sure to stay consistent (at least 3-4 weeks) while you adjust to the skincare suggestions offered in this post – that’s if results really matter to you. Which I’m assuming it does or else you wouldn’t have read this far!

So, go ahead and set your plans into motion. Choose the best skincare products for your skin type, and apply this easy-to-follow skincare routine for men.

Peter