How to Build a Skincare Routine for Men in 4 Steps
Most men find themselves without a skincare routine. While bar soap may have cut it in your teens, skin changes as you age. It becomes more sensitive and less firm, often resulting in premature signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and dull skin. To keep your skin healthy into your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, it’s essential to develop a personalized skincare routine that supports your unique skin type.
Ready to get started? Read on to learn everything you need to know about building a skincare routine for men, from identifying your skin type and must-have steps to choosing the best products.
- Identifying Your Skin Type
- Step-By-Step Skincare Routine for Men
- Extra Steps for a More Advanced Skincare Routine
- Skincare Tips for Men
- The Best Skincare Products for Your Routine
- Build a Skincare Routine That Works for You
Identifying Your Skin Type
When it comes to skincare, products are generally designed for specific types of skin. That means it’s important to identify your specific skin type before developing your men’s skincare routine.
You may find that you have:
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Oily skin. If you find that your skin is typically shiny, particularly in your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), you may have oily skin. This occurs when your skin overproduces sebum, the body’s natural moisturizer.
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Dry skin. If your skin often feels tight or is flaky, cracked, or rough, you may have dry skin. An underproduction of sebum causes dry skin.
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Combination skin. Some people have oily skin in certain areas, such as the T-zone, and dry skin in others, like around the cheeks and neck. This is known as combination skin.
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Sensitive skin. If your skin is easily irritated, whether by the products you use, extreme weather, or you have a skin condition like eczema or rosacea, you may have sensitive skin. This skin type calls for a gentle skincare routine.
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Normal skin. The lucky few who don’t suffer from any of the above concerns have a normal skin type. People with normal skin generally find that they can easily care for their skin.
Step-By-Step Skincare Routine for Men
Now that you know your skin type, it’s time to develop your personalized skincare routine. Don’t worry—it won’t be complex. This is a very basic, beginner-friendly skincare routine for men that anyone can master.
1. Cleanse your face twice a day
How often should you wash your face? Twice a day, once in the morning and at night. Wash your face in the morning to refresh and prepare yourself for the day. Cleanse at night to remove the grime and dirt that accumulate on your face throughout the day.
To cleanse your face, wet it with warm water. Apply a small dollop of face cleanser and rub it between your hands to create a lather. Then, gently scrub across your face. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean towel.
2. Use an exfoliant twice a week
Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. If you find that your skin often looks dull or flaky, it’s likely because of the buildup of dead skin cells on your face. These skin cells can also clog your pores, leading to breakouts.
After cleansing your face, apply a small amount of exfoliant to a cotton pad. Then, gently swipe onto your face in circular motions. Avoid your eye area; the skin there is very sensitive and may become irritated. Once you’re done exfoliating, rinse your face.
3. Apply moisturizer morning and night
Like cleansing, you should moisturize morning and night. While there are different moisturizers available for night and day, you can generally do fine with a single, lightweight moisturizer for both.
To moisturize your face, apply a quarter-sized amount of moisturizer to your fingertips and gently massage it all over your face. Allow to soak into your skin for a few minutes before moving to the next step.
4. Use sunscreen daily
The best men’s skincare routine should always include sunscreen. It’s important to wear sunscreen daily. Apply at least an SPF 30 sunscreen every morning, regardless of what your day has in store.
Even on days you don’t plan on going outside, sunscreen is still essential. Sun damages your skin through the windows of your home or car, so it’s a good idea to add it to your skincare routine.
Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to your fingertips, then gently rub to disperse it evenly. Be sure to apply sunscreen all over your face, neck, and ears.
Extra Steps for a More Advanced Skincare Routine
If you already have a basic skincare routine in place, consider adding a few extra steps to elevate it to the next level. Add the following steps to your routine to amp up your men’s skincare regimen:
Use toner
Toner helps tighten your pores to provide better protection from environmental stressors, such as pollution, blue light, infrared light, and free radicals. It also gives your skin an extra clean to remove dirt and grime.
Apply a small amount of toner to a cotton pad and gently swipe it all over your face after cleansing.
Dab on spot treatments
Target blemishes, such as acne, age spots, and discoloration, with spot treatments. Dab on a small amount according to treatment specifications before moisturizing.
Apply serum
Serums are concentrated skin treatments designed to address a range of common skin concerns. Add a few drops to your fingertips and gently massage into your skin before applying your moisturizer.
Use eye cream
The fine skin around your eyes is among the first areas to show visible signs of aging. Keep it hydrated and nourished and fight premature aging with a hydrating eye cream like Total Eye® Firm & Repair Cream.
To prevent further damage to your already delicate eye skin, apply a small amount of eye cream to your ring finger. Then, gently tap on to your eye area—never rub.
Incorporate peptides
Peptides are powerful ingredients that promote elastin and collagen production, resulting in firmer skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles. If you have mature skin, peptides can be a great addition to your skincare routine. Use a lightweight serum like Pep Up® Collagen Boost Face & Neck Serum to help you achieve healthy, youthful-looking skin.
Apply a mask
Like serums, masks help address various skin concerns. Find masks that provide deep hydration, fight acne, or brighten skin.
Skincare Tips for Men
In addition to your men’s skincare routine, don’t forget to follow these tips to keep your skin healthy:
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Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is as important for hydrating your skin as moisturizers and other topical treatments. Drink plenty to keep your skin plump and refreshed.
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Wash your face after working out. In addition to cleansing your face morning and night, it’s essential to wash it after working out or getting sweaty. Oil and sweat can clog your pores, leading to breakouts and other skin concerns.
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Reapply sunscreen regularly. If you’re spending time in the sun, your morning sunscreen application needs reinforcement. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
The Best Skincare Products for Your Routine
Ready to find the best skincare products for men? Shop our selection of dermatologist-tested products for a range of skin types.
Barrier Pro™ 1-Step Cleanser
The Barrier Pro™ 1-Step Cleanser is a daily cleanser suitable for all skin types. It removes the day’s dirt, grime, and mineral sunscreen for a refreshing morning and night. It also supports your skin’s microbiome, which includes the thousands of essential microorganisms that live on the surface of your skin.
Barrier Pro™ Essential Moisturizer
The Barrier Pro™ Essential Moisturizer supports skin barrier health in all skin types. Its patent-pending ingredient blend was developed in collaboration with skin health professionals to achieve a more plump, vibrant, healthy, and youthful appearance. You’ll love the light, velvety finish that’s breathable and won’t leave your skin feeling weighed down.
Total Protection® No-Show™ Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
The last step of every morning skincare routine should always be sunscreen. We recommend Total Protection® No-Show™ Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, an ultra-lightweight mineral sunscreen that provides UVA/UVB protection. It also shields your skin from blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation—stressors your skin comes into contact with daily—to prevent premature skin aging.
Build a Skincare Routine That Works for You
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to build a men’s skincare regimen that works for you. Be sure to get the essentials: cleanser, exfoliant, moisturizer, and mineral sunscreen, as well as any bonus items for more targeted treatments.
Armed with your skincare products and this essential information, you’ll be well on your way to reducing visible signs of aging and addressing your biggest skincare concerns for your best skin yet. Start building your skincare routine with Colorescience today.