You already take care of your face – probably. You wash it, right? Isn’t that enough? Maybe you even slap on a little moisturizer or sunscreen each morning.
A lot of men think that taking care of facial skin is difficult, or is time-consuming. But neither is true! It’s actually very simple and straightforward and a skin care routine only adds a few minutes to your daily routine.
Let’s look at the four simple steps you can take to care for your skin. Fight wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes with this easy routine.
SKIN CARE BASICS: KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE
The first thing you’re going to need to know is your skin type. Knowing whether your skin is dry, oily, normal or combination will help you choose the products that are right for your unique skin.
To find out your skin type, you’ll need blotting paper. You can find this in drug stores, or even online on Amazon.
The first thing you’ll do is wash your face. Use a mild facial cleanser to do this, then pat dry. Once your skin is dry, wait thirty minutes.
When 30 minutes is up, take your blotting paper in your hand, and blot it in different places on your face. After each “dab,” inspect your paper. Here’s what to look for:
- Little to no oil means you probably have dry skin.
- A little oil on your nose and forehead indicates normal skin.
- A lot of oil from your nose and forehead indicates combination skin.
- A lot of oil from all over, including your cheeks, chin and forehead, means you probably have oily skin.
Once you’ve determined your skin type, it’s easy to shop for the products that suit you!
SIMPLE 4 STEP SKIN CARE ROUTINE FOR MEN
You’ll find skincare guides for all skin types across this site. Those guides will help you choose the most suitable products for your face. Once you’ve got your arsenal built, it’s time to begin your simple men’s skincare routine.
CLEANSING FOR MEN
Daily skincare for men begins with a very simple first step – cleansing. And, men, that does not include letting shampoo from your hair run down your face.
Invest in a good face was that’s designed for your skin type. Then use it! Each morning and each night, gently wash your skin using just your hands or a soft, non-abrasive cloth.
There are ingredients in skincare products you should avoid. These include sodium lauryl sulfates (or any sulfates for that matter), parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde (yeah, that’s a thing) and synthetic colors and scents.
Opt for a natural cleaner, when possible. There are many great products out there which are organic and natural, and which contain nutrients that nourish your skin as you wash.
If you have oily skin, you may be tempted to purchase a drying facial cleanser. Don’t do it! Check out our guide for a men’s skincare routine -oily skin should be maintained, not dried. Check out our guide on how to pick out oily skin face washes for men.
MOISTURIZING FOR MEN
After you wash your face, you’ll need to moisturize it. Now, you really only need one lotion for your face. But some men choose two. Here’s why.
After you wash your face in the morning, you should apply sunscreen. We’ll get to that in a second. But at night, you don’t really need it.
During the day, a lotion with sunscreen is optimal. Choose something that’s got an SPF of at least 40. And, as always, natural products are best. Lotions that contain vitamins like C and E are great for the health of your skin and also help protect it from sun damage.
At night, there are oodles of lotions on the market for your men’s skincare routine. You can choose something with essential oils to relax, or something with vitamins to nourish.
Alternatively, you can use the same lotion both day and night. That’s fine, but remember – you’ll need a separate sunscreen product to use during the day. Which brings us to step three…
SUNSCREEN FOR MEN
As we mentioned, some lotions contain sunscreen. If you’ve chosen one that does, great! You can skip this step – kind of. It might be a good idea to keep a small tube of sunscreen with you during the day. That’s particularly true if you work outside, or if you spend a lot of time outdoors on the weekends.
If your lotion doesn’t have sunscreen, you’ll definitely need to put some on each morning before you head out the door. As with your lotion, choose a product that has an SPF of at least 40. Choose a non-greasy and light formula that’s designed for your face. The last thing you want to do is clog your pores!
We’ve created a guide to choosing sunscreen, no matter your skin type. Explore our guide for more info on the best of men’s sunscreen.
EXFOLIATION FOR MEN
The final step to great daily skincare for men is exfoliation. If you’re not familiar with exfoliation, it’s basically the process of removing dead skin cells from your face. There are physical exfoliates like oat and there are chemical exfoliates like fruit enzymes.
Stay away from harsh abrasives like peach pits and the like. These can cause tiny tears in your skin, and can even become infected. Instead, use gentle, natural ingredients to exfoliate. There’s even a technique called “dry brushing” you might like, but we do recommend that you find an exfoliating skin care product you like.
Do you need to exfoliate every day? Nope! Just two to three times each week is perfectly fine. Make sure you don’t skip it, though. When you remove those dead skin cells from your face, you’re doing your skin a big favor.
- You’re opening your pores, allowing nutrients from your lotion and facial wash to penetrate.
- You’re keeping your pores from being blocked, which reduces the likelihood of blemishes.
- You’re smoothing your skin, which reduces the occurrence of fine lines and wrinkles. In other words, you’ll look younger!
Exfoliation feels really nice, too. You’ll find that your skin will look better when you add exfoliation to your men’s skincare routine. Read our overview for more information on exfoliation, and the best products for men’s exfoliation.
OPTIONAL STEPS FOR MEN’S SKINCARE ROUTINES
There are a few luxuries you may choose to indulge in if you get the chance. One of those is a visit to a spa. At your spa, you’ll find a huge range of services ranging from facial massage (yup, that’s a thing too) to masks. There’s really very few ways you can go wrong at a spa.
You could also try a steam bath. To open your pores, just heat (don’t boil) a large pot of water. Place a towel over your head, and allow the steam to warm your face. Make sure your water’s not too hot, though. Boiling water isn’t safe, and you could do more harm than good.
Finally, you’ll want to be sure you’re eating right. There are vitamins and nutrients which are essential to great skin health. Vitamins A, D and C are a few. Vitamin E, omega fatty acids and Vitamin K are a few more. Always eat as clean and well-balanced as you can, and your skin will be all the healthier for it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Your men’s skincare routine isn’t difficult. It’s not time-consuming, and it’s not going to require a full cabinet full of products. Wash, moisturize, apply sunscreen and exfoliate. That’s it! Four steps to healthy skin that anyone can follow!
Once you determine your skin type, just buy the four products that are right for you and keep them on your bathroom counter. When you brush your teeth in the morning and at night, those tubes will be a reminder to spend just a few more minutes. You’ll be rewarded with younger looking skin that’s blemish-free!
