BEST Men’s Skincare Routine – Simple, Fast, Effective!
Any man I know with healthy-looking, fresh, and young skin follows a skincare routine.
At the same time, I know men that do not have a skincare routine, thinking that ‘face creams are for women only.’
Even worse, some men think skincare routines are just ‘a matter of good genes.’
Long story short, most men find skincare routines a waste of money, complicated, and time-consuming.
But in reality, skincare routines are critical for men wanting to avoid saggy skin, double chins, wrinkles, and eye bags.
In this article, I’ll introduce you to the BEST 3 skin care routines for men recommended by dermatologists.
The three basic steps to protect your body’s largest organ (the skin) are: cleanse, treat, and protect.
3 STEPS of Men’s Skincare Routine
1. CLEANSE
2. TREAT
3. PROTECT
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CLEANSE
Most men have their skin impacted by environmental pollutants, dust, dirt, toxic chemicals, and even makeup.
Of all skincare products, cleansers are vital in removing impurities and excess oils clogging pores.
WHEN
Men must clean their skin twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
HOW TO
Use a cotton pad gently, without stripping off healthy oils.
Men with dry or sensitive skin should be gentle, cleansing every other day.
On alternate days, rinse your face with cool water.
WHAT TO BUY
Morning Cleansers – Ideal morning cleansers for men have hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and salicylic acid.
Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser (5.07 oz)
ELEMIS Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser (6.8 oz)
Caudalie Vinoclean Micellar Cleansing Water (6.7 oz)
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Cleanser (2.6 oz)
Evening Cleanser – While you can use the same morning cleanser, it is recommended to use milder facial cleansers in the evening.
Best evening men’s cleansers containing botanical oils for the face and have skin nourishing and relaxing properties.
Able to retain the skin’s natural barrier, oil-based evening cleansers are also great for men of all ages and skin types.
Above all, men should avoid evening cleansers with chemical exfoliants or alcohol.
Soy pH-Balanced Hydrating Face Wash (5.0 oz)
CeraVe Acne Control Face Cleanser, 2% Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment (8.0 oz)
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser Conditioning Face Wash (6.0 oz)
Skin Regimen Cleansing Cream (5.07 oz)
Final Note – No matter how manly you think you are, please don’t use bar soap to clean your face.
Used in a daily skincare routine for men, bars of soap suppress oil glands and lead to premature aging.
2/3
TREAT
Comprised of 4 products, treating is a critical part of the skincare routine for men.
- Toner
- Serum
- Eye cream
- Moisturizer
All four products must be applied in the morning and evening as well.
Men elixirs are filled with concentrated doses of active ingredients designed to reduce dark spots, eye bags, dead skin cells, and wrinkles.
A) Toner
One of the most popular beauty trends for men right now, toners are water-based skincare liquids that must be applied right after the cleansing routine.
Toners deliver rich nutrients to the skin, help following products absorb better, and balance the overall complexion.
WHEN
Men must use toners twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, right after cleansing.
HOW TO
Apply with your fingers or a cotton ball.
WHAT TO BUY
Morning – Men should choose morning toners with complexion-purifying and skin boosting/brightening ingredients.
Think of your morning toner as a boost of supplements that hydrate and feed your skin while protecting the outer layer.
Savor Beauty Hydrating Toning Mist (4.0 oz)
Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum (5.0 oz)
Renée Rouleau Elderberry Soothing Toner (6.0 oz)
Avène Eau Thermale Gentle Toning Lotion (6.7 oz)
Evening – The best nighttime toners for men comprise alpha and beta hydroxy acids.
These ingredients gently remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, improve sun-damaged skin appearance, and minimize dullness.
Toners with hyaluronic acid are also great to boost hydration, seal in dewiness, plump skin, and treat fine lines.
Toners with rose water, green tea, and Vitamin E or C are ideal for calming irritation, reducing redness, and fighting daily exposure to free radicals that age men’s skin.
Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating and Brightening Toner (8.5 oz)
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toning Solution (8.0 oz)
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner (6.4 oz)
Kate Somerville Liquid ExfoliKate® Triple Acid Resurfacing Treatment (4.0 oz)
B) Serum
By delivering concentrated amounts of potent ingredients, serums for men tackle the formation of wrinkles, dark spots, and complexion issues.
WHEN
Serum treatment comes after toner twice, once in the morning and once in the evening.
HOW TO
Apply with your fingers or a cotton ball.
WHAT TO BUY
Morning – Men should choose morning serums with high antioxidants such as Vit C.
Vitamin C serums are excellent for minimizing pores, smoothing textures, and brightening skin.
Also found in acne patches, vitamin C is an excellent ingredient for spot treatment and acne treatment support.
Overall, men should include internal and external antioxidants as part of their skincare routine to prevent the formation of free radicals and lessen aging signs.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum (1.0 oz)
BeautyBio The Daily Vitamin C Day Serum with Antioxidant Complex (1.0 oz)
Paula’s Choice Clinical Discoloration Repair Serum (1.0 oz)
FaceGym Hydro-Bound Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide Serum (1.0 oz)
Evening – Best night serums for men containing alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid or retinol.
These serums are ideal for removing dead skin cells, stimulating cell turnover, sealing in hydration, and preventing moisture loss.
Men treating hyperpigmentation should alternate between hydroquinone (a spot-fading active ingredient) and a retinoid.
Able to stimulate collagen and elastin production, serums with retinol, vitamin B3, and peptides are also great for men’s skin.
Night serums also prevent the formation of thin lines and skin sagging by strengthening the skin’s top layer.
Finally, serums with colloidal sulfur and niacinamide are excellent night-time applications for men’s skin, given their redness calming and irritation-decreasing properties.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum (1.0 oz)
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (1.0 oz)
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% Exfoliating Serum (1.0 oz)
Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Serum Max (1.3 oz)
C) Eye Cream
Eye cream treatments for men are a must in combating fine lines, wrinkles, lack of firmness, dark circles, and undereye bags.
Formulated for the delicate area around the eye, eye creams for men are not to be confused with face creams.
That’s because the delicate area around the eye ages faster than the rest of the face, hence the need for special creams.
WHEN
Eye creams must be applied in the morning and at night, right before bedtime.
HOW TO
Apply by lightly tapping around the eye area with your ring finger (the weakest).
That’s to avoid tugging on delicate skin and causing damage.
WHAT TO BUY
Morning – Best morning eye creams for men contain niacinamide, vitamin C, or blends of plant sterols with caffeine.
Eye cream formulas with peptides and retinol are also great in the morning to prevent wrinkles and sag.
Men with dry skin can also use hyaluronic acid eye creams for extra hydration and, in case of dark undereye circles, eye creams with Vit K.
The Ordinary Caffeine 5% + ECGC Depuffing Eye Serum (1.0 oz)
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream (0.5 oz)
RoC Retinol Correxion Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream for Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes (0.5 oz)
Colorescience Total Eye™ 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 (0.23 oz)
Night – Night eye creams are a must for men seeking to prevent the formation of dark circles.
Dark circles are veins and capillaries that become visible around the eye, combined with skin discoloration.
Best night eye creams for dark circles contain brightening ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid, and niacinamide.
Men susceptible to eye irritations in the evening should avoid eye creams with retinol (stings and create redness).
Men with more specific concerns like hyperpigmentation, dryness, or puffiness — should use evening eye creams with collagen peptides.
Dermalogica BioLumin-C Eye Serum (0.5 oz)
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 MAX Night Eye Cream (0.5 oz)
Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex (x oz)
D) Moisturizer
As hydration is crucial to youthful and healthy skin, dermatologists insist men should use moisturizers all year-round.
However, men with oily (or acne-prone) skin should opt for lighter moisturizers during the daytime, such as a lotion or gel that soaks in quickly and won’t pill under makeup.
Men with dry skin and similar skin concerns should use thick moisturizers with a cream-like consistency.
Face moisturizers for men are a must if you want to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier while keeping it soft and hydrated.
WHEN
Eye creams are the last treatment and must be applied once in the morning and once at night, right before sleep.
HOW TO
Apply with your fingers or a cotton ball.
WHAT TO BUY
Daytime – The best day moisturizers for men contain ceramides and hyaluronic acid since these ingredients are ideal for retaining moisture in the skin.
Day moisturizers also create a protective barrier that seals in the skin’s natural hydration while stopping moisture loss.
Augustinus Bader The Cream Face Moisturizer (1.7 oz)
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer (1.7 oz)
Origins GinZing Oil-Free Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer (1.7 oz)
Origins GinZing Oil-Free Energy-Boosting Gel Moisturizer (1.69 oz)
Night – Designed to repair sun damage and eliminate dead cells, night moisturizers are not to be confused with the day ones.
Whereas day moisturizers create a natural moisture barrier, night moisturizers contain active ingredients that enhance and repair the skin.
Night moisturizers complement the natural, protective skin oils and other building blocks within the skin, such as ceramides.
As the skin loses the ability to retain moisture as we age, doctors recommend using nighttime moisturizing cream all year-round for all skin types.
EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer (1.7 oz)
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream (1.7 oz)
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Moisturiser for Dry Skin (1.7 oz)
Eve Lom Time Retreat Intensive Night Cream (1.6 oz)
3/3
PROTECT
The sun is the number one reason skin ages prematurely.
The damage is more than just cosmetic, as even people of color get skin cancer.
The best way to protect your skin during the day is with sunscreens.
Now, if you don’t want to wear sunscreen for whatever reason, you might also ignore all the other steps above.
Even those spending days indoors are impacted, as the UV rays can penetrate through the windows.
WHEN
To protect the skin, men must use sunscreen during the daytime whenever exposed to the sun.
HOW TO
Use a coin-sized dollop and apply with your fingers.
Cover your face, neck, and back of your hands 30 minutes before you head outside.
WHAT TO BUY
Daytime – The last step in a morning-to-day skincare routine for men is broad-spectrum SPF 30 (or even higher), ideal for the face.
The best sunscreens for men are the non-toxic ones, designed to work wonders for the entire skincare routine, makeup, and skin care products.
Supergoop Play 100% Mineral Lotion SPF 50 with Green Algae (x oz)
Murad Correct & Protect Serum Broad Spectrum SPF 45 (1.0 oz)
SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair Broad Spectrum SPF 34 (2.3 oz)
Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Day Lotion with SPF 30 (1.8 oz)
Bonus
GOOD SLEEP!
Daily stressors, pollution, sweat and grime, and UV rays – all play havoc on men’s skin.
While a good skincare routine helps, sleep is the only natural remedy that brings everything to baseline.
During asleep, the body produces growth hormones that repair acne and scars and ensure the skin is tight and bouncy.
QUICK FACTS
At night, the skin is five times more receptive to active ingredients and healthy products.
Also, while sleeping, the skin produces three times more collagen, a key ingredient to keep the skin plump and smooth.
Getting your beauty sleep is not a joke but honest, expert dermatologist advice.
The lack of sleep in men increases cortisol levels (the stress hormone), putting the skin in a pro-inflammatory state.
An inflammatory state means sullen-looking skin and puffiness around the eyes, compromising overall skin health.
Men must have at least eight hours of sleep per night to limit cortisol levels, prevent skin inflammation, and regenerate skin cells.
Sleep is also why most anti-aging products are applied at night – skin absorption triples at night.
ZIMASILK 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase for Skin Health
Saatva Weighted Silk Eye Mask
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Eye Treatment Mas
Conclusion
There you have it, the top 3 most straightforward skincare steps for men in 2022.
Sun, pollution, dryness, oils, and blue light are some elements to which men’s skin is exposed daily.
An antioxidant serum and a daily moisturizer are critical to keeping men’s skin hydrated and free from unexpected skin issues.
A daily routine focusing on achieving clean skin with warm water and a regular moisturizer is critical for men with inflamed skin.
Everyday cleansing reduces sweating, dark spots, dry patches, clogged pores, flaky skin, and UV damage.
A day and night skincare routine is critical to provide your skin with a clean, nutritious environment, safe against detrimental environmental factors.
In the long run, a well-implemented skincare routine for men will form a healthy skin barrier and keep your complexion in tip-top shape.
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Now it’s your turn…
Which one of these skincare routine steps are you going to try next and why?
Which essential men’s skin care routine steps do you think we’ve missed and should include in our next article update?
Please leave your comments below; we always appreciate your comments and use them to learn, improve, and update these articles.
At the forefront of science and clinical research in the area of skin beauty and nutrition, Paula Simpson is a sought-after expert and contributor to TV shows like E! News, Entertainment Tonight, MSNBC, Good Morning America, KTLA, ABC, and Fox News and magazines with Allure, The VOU, Huffington Post, InStyle, PopSugar, Readers Digest, Refinery 29, Rodale Organic Life, Alternative Medicine, and Mindbodygreen.
