How to Build An Effortlessly Effective Men’s Skincare Routine

The concept of skincare has recently begun to enter the collective consciousness of contemporary men. Gone are the days when the average men’s skincare routine consisted of a 2-in-1 body and face wash and potentially a bar of soap, with more men than ever concerned about the health and appearance of their skin. If you’re still a little unsure of how to formulate the most effective men’s skincare routine for your needs, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know.

You’ll also enjoy:
Get Younger, Brighter, More Radiant Skin with These Facial Serums for Men
The Best Beard Oils to Keep Your Facial Hair Healthy and Hydrated
How To Keep Your Skin Nourished, Hydrated and Happy This Winter

Skincare, should men care?

Skincare isn’t a gender exclusive thing; your skin is your body’s largest organ, so not only does a quality skincare routine keep your skin looking aesthetically pleasing, it helps prevent the contraction of diseases and infections. Having an optimum men’s skincare routine is one of the most effective methods of defence against the common skin problems men experience, including acne, sun damage, premature ageing, wrinkles, and inflammatory skin conditions.

What’s the difference between men’s skin and women’s skin?

While it can be tempting to slap on some of your girlfriend’s moisturiser and call it a day, that won’t do you much good. Though men don’t necessarily handle criticism better than women, they do have thicker skin. Differing hormone levels mean men’s skin is oilier, contains more collagen, and is around 20-25% thicker than women’s skin, causing men to experience different skincare concerns than women. 

Men are less likely to develop superficial fine lines than women, but are more prone to deep wrinkles caused by repetitive facial expressions over a prolonged period of time, like nasolabial folds (or smile lines), horizontal forehead lines (from raised eyebrows), frown lines. Higher sebum (oil) levels in men’s skin can cause clogged pores, making men more prone to acne than women.

Men’s skin types

Identifying your skin type allows you to create a men’s skincare routine targeted towards your skin’s specific needs. The main skin types are normal, sensitive, oily, dry, and combination, though these aren’t entirely cut and dry – your skin could be a mixture of these or change during the year based on factors like the weather, your overall health, and sun exposure, so these should just be used as general guidelines. 

Sensitive skin 

If your skin is easily irritated by everything from a new cleanser to sun exposure, you likely have sensitive skin. The signs of sensitive skin can vary, though they often manifest as visible redness and dryness, or feelings of tight, uncomfortable skin. To manage sensitive skin, opt for fragrance-free products and avoid over-exfoliating as this can aggravate sensitive skin (stick to two to three times a week).

Normal skin

Much like the popular Australian peanut butter, some people are blessed with skin that’s never oily and never dry. While those with normal skin may still experience skincare issues like mild acne, overall normal skin is naturally balanced and produces the right amount of sebum to maintain supple, hydrated skin without appearing overly oily or shiny. Normal skin will typically feel firm without being dry or tight. 

Dry skin 

Different from dehydrated skin (which any skin type can have), dry skin often feels flaky, red, tight, and (obviously) dry, with primary triggers including indoor air conditioning and environmental factors like sun exposure and harsh winds. 

Oily skin 

Essentially what it sounds like, oily skin occurs when your skin produces too much sebum. People with oily skin tend to have a visible glossy sheen on their skin and are more prone to developing clogged pores, acne, and blackheads. It’s not all bad though; in the long run, men with oily skin are less likely to develop wrinkles and other signs of ageing than their normal or dry skin counterparts.

The best men’s skincare routine

The best men’s skincare routine is one that works for you, your skin type, and your goals. That being said, there are some pretty standard skincare steps that all guys should be doing. Without further ado, here’s a guide to the most effective skincare routine for men.

1. Cleanse

A skincare non-negotiable, cleansing your face morning and night is the bare minimum. Washing your face helps you remove the dirt, debris, and excess oil on your face, preventing clogged pores, breakouts, and reducing the sheen those with oily skin experience. Plus, if you don’t cleanse properly, you pretty much render the rest of your products ineffective; start off with a blank canvas (i.e. your clean face) to ensure the rest of your products are able to do their jobs. 

AR recommends 

Grown Alchemist Hydra+ Oil-Gel Facial Cleanser

Aesop Amazing Face Cleanser

2. Exfoliate

While physical exfoliants such as scrubs with walnut shells, coffee grounds, sugar, or microbeads may feel like they’re removing dead skin, they can be abrasive, harsh on the skin, and don’t penetrate deep into your skin. Instead, look for chemical exfoliants with AHAs like lactic and glycolic acid or BHAs like salicylic acid, which work to remove dead skin cells and have long term benefits on the skin. Exfoliating before you shave has the added benefit of loosening up your hair follicles, allowing for a closer shave and preventing ingrown hairs. When used over a prolonged period of time, chemical exfoliants serve to brighten the complexion and even out skin tone, as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin firmness and elasticity. 

Depending on the type of exfoliant, you should aim to exfoliate three to four times a week to reap the benefits. 

AR recommends

Grown Alchemist Enzyme Exfoliant

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

3. Shave (optional)

If you choose to shave your facial hair, using a good shaving cream or gel is a must. A high-quality shaving gel prepares the hair follicles for shaving, ensuring a smooth, pain-free shave. If you opt to sport facial hair, apply a good beard oil to keep your facial hair hydrated and happy. 

AR recommends

Grown Alchemist Shaving Gel

Baxter Of California Beard Grooming Oil

4. Tone

An essential for men with oily or acne-prone skin (and still great for those with neither), using a good facial toner aids in restoring the skin’s pH balance, moderating oil production, soothing the skin, tightening and cleansing your pores, and prepares your face for the rest of your skincare routine. To apply toner, spray it over your face or transfer to a cotton pad and dab it on.

Avoid toners with harsh ingredients like alcohol and focus on products with witch hazel, AHAs, and BHAs.

AR recommends

YORA Refresh Face Mist

Baxter Of California Herbal Mint Toner

5. Serum

A serum is one of the most important tools you can have in your skincare arsenal. Often brushed aside in favour of a three step cleanse-tone-moisturise skincare routine, serums are designed to deliver targeted corrective action to the skin. Formulated with a smaller molecule size, serums are able to penetrate deeper into the skin than moisturiser alone.

Dull complexion, uneven skin tone, fine lines, hyperpigmentation? No matter what your skincare concern is, there’s a serum for it.

AR recommends

Grown Alchemist Brightening Serum

Paulas Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

6. Moisturise

Essential for hydrating and protecting the skin, moisturiser soothes and nourishes the skin, while sealing in any serums you’ve used. During the day, moisturising creates a barrier to shield your skin from potential environmental pollutants, while at night time it helps your skin cells repair and regenerate. 

AR recommends

Tony & Munro Renew Nourishing BB Cream

YORA Revitalise Face Moisturiser

Grown Alchemist Detox Night Cream

Skin Physics Ultra Plumping Night Cream

7. SPF

Ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure from the sun is one of the biggest threats to skin health and is a common cause of premature ageing. Protecting yourself from the sun all year round – yes, even in winter – is one of the most effective ways to keep your skin looking youthful and healthy. Look for an SPF with 30+ coverage and wear it during the day.

AR recommends

Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF 50+ Luminising Sun Serum

8. Mask

A good face mask complements the rest of your men’s skincare routine and is a surefire way to up your skincare game quickly, with face masks available for pretty much every skincare concern out there. Whether your skin is dry, ageing, congested, acne-prone, dull, or is just in need of a little luxury, there’s a face mask for you. For best results, use a face mask twice to three times a week.

AR recommends

Skin Physics Vitamin C Brightening Sleep Mask

Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask

---

Words by John Deckard