A skin care routine for men is the foundation of good grooming. Start one, and you’ll immediately start seeing the difference. Your skin will look fresher, you will look healthier, and you’ll age more gracefully. It’s also a great way to de-stress and open or close your day. And after all, this, as you grow more confident and your natural good looks come through, you’ll start to feel, well, just good.
What is a good skin care routine for men?
If you don’t have a skin care routine yet, starting one from scratch can seem confusing. But really it just boils down to three basic steps:
- Cleanse: washing and refreshing
- Tone: balancing and preparing
- Moisturise: hydrating and softening
You can build other layers into your routine if you like, such as a serum for a burst of concentrated nutrients, an eye cream for targeting anti-ageing and puffiness, or a face mist for on-the-go revitalization. Many dermatologists also recommend the daily use of an SPF sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays.
But don’t worry. We’ll get to all of that. The main thing to remember is the three basic steps. Starting a facial regimen with those will make you look and feel great. While everyone can use these products, they’re specifically designed for men. Read our skin care routine for women and product guide here.
What is the best skin care routine for men:
Be realistic with yourself before you begin. Ask yourself how much time you have and what you want to focus on. The main thing is not to overburden yourself with plenty of new products you don’t understand. You won’t use them and will have wasted your money and time.
Speaking of time, you’ll have to give it. There’s no short-term solution. But with regular use, you’ll see results gradually over the medium-to-long term. But that means if you miss a day, you’ll look better for longer, too.
We added our products for the daily skin care routine for men, in the order, they should be used. For those starting, remember the essentials first, and build up as you become more confident or b egin working on your focus points.
Face Cleanser
Constantly the first and most essential step is just washing your face. Wash twice a day to avoid clogged pores, acne, and dullness. Any cleanser should work for you if you have ‘normal' or combination skin. If you have sensitive skin, look for labels with “gentle” or “cream”, if your skin is oily, look for “gel”.
Grown Alchemist’s Gentle Gel Cleanser
A gentle moisturizer with chamomile, bergamot and willow bark, cold press rose petals and aloe vera to moisturize, soothe, calm and cleanse. The blend is potent yet delicate, leaving your skin thoroughly refreshed and purified without that unwanted greasy feel.
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Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser
This gentle formula contains mild surfactants and makeup-dissolving emollients that rinse away without leaving any residue, leaving skin soft and clean. With no SLS, fragrance, or essential oils, BesteTM No. 9 is suitable for all skin types. It has a pH level of 5 for an ideal, non-stripping formula.
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Augustinus Bader’s The Cream Cleansing Gel
A lightly refreshing gel cleanser with rose flower water, cucumber extract and aloe leaf juice. Working at the cutting-edge of skin care research, Augustinus Bader’s formula will detoxify your skin without stripping it of its natural properties, ensuring it is properly prepped to absorb all the following products in your routine.
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Face Toner
Once you’ve cleaned, now it’s time to tone and prepare. Warm water opens your pores while toning restricts them, adding in an extra thin layer of nutrients as it does. It’s essential for those with acne, signs of ageing, or ingrown hairs. For acne and ingrown, pair soothing ingredients like aloe with lactic or salicylic acid; for anti-ageing, look for glycolic acid; vitamin C, olive and chamomile are great all-rounders.
Pestle & Mortar NMF Lactic Toner
In addition to exfoliating and hydrating the skin, NMF also lightens dark spots, lightens fine lines, and improves wrinkles.
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Grown Alchemist Balancing Toner
Olive and chamomile gently tighten and smooth, ginseng and aloe vera tone and soothe, while vitamin C fights free radicals. The holistic scientific approach of Grown Alchemist has proved a consistent bet for radiant results, and this refreshing toner is no exception.
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Aesop B & Tea Balancing Toner
With provitamin B5 and fortifying antioxidants, this gentle, alcohol-free blend enhances skin's natural moisture. Provides skin with hydration, balance, and refines pores.
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Face Serum
Serums are often overlooked, but they are a great way to add a concentrated dose of nutrients to areas you want to work on. You don’t have to use them every morning or evening; you can rotate different ones according to your needs. They come in little scientific-looking pump bottles; a pump or two will be all you require. For anti-ageing, try using a retinol-based serum at night and ones with antioxidant ingredients during the day; for dryness, look for hyaluronic acid.
Grown Alchemist’s AO+ Treatment Facial Oil
A certified organic serum that helps to restore elasticity reduces fine lines, firms, softens and smooths skin and boosts its hydration. With its promotion of collagen production (a secret ingredient for plump and youthful skin), this option is also great at combating premature ageing.
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Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Day Serum
The 15% vitamin C day serum is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fruit enzymes that enhance the skin's firmness, brightness, and anti-aging properties without causing irritation.
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Eye Cream
Another area that’s often forgotten is your eyes. But the skin underneath is the thinnest place on your face and is typically one of the first areas to be affected when you are tired or stressed. Fight puffiness, dark circles, and dryness with some of the most gentle but effective products in your skin care arsenal. Puffiness can be tackled with gels, while creams are great for anti-ageing.
Malin + Goetz Revitalizing Eye Gel
An all-rounder containing marine algae and peptides that help against fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness, diminishing firmness and loss of radiance. This highly nourishing combination from the iconic beauty line will care for your under-eye area needs.
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Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C
With 5% Vitamin C in a stable form that is easily absorbed, safe and gentle on the skin, the serum delivers a firm, radiant and even complexion. With an active ingredient complex that consists of oil-soluble Vitamin C THD, stabilized, synthetic Vitamin C in glucosidic form and fruit extract from Kakadu Plum, a significant source of fruit-based Vitamin C, THE GOOD C VITAMIN C SERUM is an effective way to boost your skin with Vitamin C.
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Face Moisturiser
Probably the most important step after cleansing. If you do nothing else: moisturize. The best options for oily skin are to lock in moisture with lighter gel-based solutions, and look for Witch Hazel to combat inflammation.
Tata Harper Water-Lock Moisturizer
With orange peptides, pomegranate spheres, and macro hyaluronic acid, this lightweight, silicone-free hydrator primes and smoothes the skin. With its water-locking technology, this moisturizer delivers sustained hydration.
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream Men
A great multitasking moisturiser specially formulated for men, this can even be used as a post-shave balm. Suitable for both morning and evening application, this no-fuss option by celebrity skin care expert Dr. Barbara Sturm is made to absorb quickly, leaving your skin visibly healthier and more radiant within seconds.
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Doers of London Hydrating Face Cream
It satisfies three skincare needs of most men: reduces skin redness and irritation caused by shaving and the environment; deeply hydrates and improves skin's natural protection; and contrasts the signs of ageing. Applying a little to the skin gives an immediate feeling of extra hydration, and quickly absorbs to leave the skin free of shine and residue.
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Lip Balm
Lip balms are a great way to replenish moisture and revitalize your lips during warmer seasons, while protecting your lips in colder ones. They also do wonders in office environments against brutal air-con systems.
Olio e Osso No.1 Balm
Suitable for use on all parts of the body, its emollient texture conditions cuticles, elbows, and dry patches as well as tames split ends, flyaway hair, stray eyebrows, and beards.
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Aesop’s Cedar Citrus Lip Salve
A simple, rich formula with cedar and citrus. By the brand known for its attention to detail, this cream covers all the bases, offering a supple solution, a matt appearance, and a subtle citrus-like fragrance.
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Face Mists
Face mists have recently entered the skin care sphere, and they are a great way to access instant refreshments on the go. Especially helpful during hotter seasons, in the air, or dry office environments, they’re packed with nutrients that reinforce your routine and re-alert your senses.
Dr. Barbara Sturm Hydrating Face Mist
Lemon, aloe, and broccoli refresh, prickly pear offers intense moisture, hyaluronic acid delivers potent hydration, while purslane antioxidants combat free radicals. A multi-talented and versatile addition for application in the morning or spontaneous spritzes throughout the day.
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Aesop In Two Minds Facial Toner
An infused classic that reinvigorates the senses and provides subtle hydration. This light toner is suitable for all skin types and ideal for every environment, instantly reinvigorating your skin with a soothing floral scent.
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Whether you’re looking to improve your skin care regimen or are just starting, these products will help you look good and feel great.
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Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by Editorial Team
