Face Routine for Men You’ll Actually Follow

For years, skincare has been seen as something that only women do. As a result, men don’t really pay attention to the needs of their skin, often resulting in several skin conditions that could be easily avoided if they followed a skincare regimen.

Maybe you have some products in your bathroom, but do you actually use them? If you need some help figuring out how to protect your skin and give it the attention it needs, we’ve put together a guide to the best face routine for men.

What Should a Good Face Routine for Men Do?

While both men and women have the same basic needs when it comes to skincare, it’s important to take into account that hormones or activities like shaving totally change the game. For that reason, having a tailored face routine for men is important to ensure you are properly taking care of your skin.

The male skin tends to be about 20% thicker than the female skin. It also has more collagen, which is the reason why men don’t show aging signs in their faces as fast as women. Finally, male skin is also oilier than women’s skin, making it acne-prone and shinier.

Ideally, a face routine for men will control oil production, regulate acne, preserve the collagen in the skin, and protect the skin from the irritation caused by shaving. However, finding the right products for you might take some trial and error, so you must be open-minded and patient to get the best results.

Should My Skin Type Impact a Face Routine for Men?

Identifying your skin type will help you choose the right products. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, these are the five skin types:

• Oily skin: shiny, especially around the nose, forehead, and chin.
• Dry skin: rough and flaky.
• Normal skin: doesn’t have acne or any other skin condition.
• Combination skin: oily T-zone and dry cheeks.
• Sensitive skin: easily reacts to products.

Once you have identified your skin type, get the products meant to treat that skin type. For instance, gentle cleansers are commonly used for normal and combination skin. For dry skin, it’s best to get a thick moisturizer, and oily skin benefits from gel-based products.

Best Products for a Good Face Routine for Men

Contrary to common belief, the best skincare routine consists of very few products. As long as you have a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF, you have already given your skin a good protection barrier to face the day.

However, another important factor to add is shaving products when it comes to male skin. Make sure you get a gentle shaving cream and follow up with a lotion to soothe the irritation caused by the razor. Ideally, this lotion is fragrance and alcohol-free and contains moisturizing properties.

Men also deal with dark circles around the eyes, and while a good eye cream can easily solve the problem, you can amp up your results with a facial under eye massager machine. This device reduces the puffiness under your eyes and promotes blood circulation, improving the appearance of your under eye area.

10 Basic Pointers for a Great Face Routine for Men

Now that you know why it’s important to have a face routine for men, let’s dive a bit deeper into what products you should include in your regimen to have a radiant complexion.

Cleanser

During the day, we accumulate dirt on our faces without even knowing it. Next thing you know, you have fallen asleep with all that dirt on you. Over several days, it will start to accumulate, clog your pores, and produce acne and other conditions.

While the common bar soap and water might seem like the best pairing, you shouldn’t wash your face with a bar of body soap. The skin of your body isn’t the same as your face. The latter is thinner and requires more attention. 

The ingredients of common bar soap are often too harsh for your face’s skin. Switch to a cleanser formulated for your skin type and wash every morning and night with gentle motions.

Exfoliate

Remove the dead skin cells that have accumulated in your face with the help of a chemical exfoliator一that is, glycolic or lactic acid. Only do this step once or twice a week.

You can also choose face scrubs, which contain small particles that remove dead skin cells. However, these products can often be too harsh for your skin, which is why those with dry or sensitive skin should avoid them.

Moisturize

This is one of the most important steps of your skincare routine. Moisturizing hydrates the skin, giving it the moisture it needs to be healthy. Many people with oily skin tend to skip this step because they think it will make their skin greasier. However, that is a terrible misconception. Not hydrating your skin will make it produce even more sebum, producing more acne.

Use moisturizer day and night, preferably with a thicker consistency, if you have dry or sensitive skin.

SPF

We cannot stress this enough: SPF is key to healthy skin. Even if you live in a cloudy area, UV and UVA rays still affect your skin. To avoid skin cancer, make sure to apply SPF all over your face, ears, neck, and neckline. Reapply in case you sweat a lot, swim, or simply spend too much time outdoors.

Use the Right Shaving Technique

Shaving doesn’t have to be stressful and your skin isn’t to blame if you often develop razor burns and razor bumps. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of using the right shaving techniques.

Sterilize your razor blade after shaving and change the blades frequently. Shave with the grain or in the same direction your hair grows to produce less friction, and if possible, use a single razor blade instead of multiple blades. 

Cleanse Your Beard

Many men often overlook their beards, and, as a result, they develop fungus that can affect the people around them as well as their own skin. Your beard needs special care and grooming, so make sure you also cleanse it every time you wash your face.

Avoid Harsh Ingredients

Parabens, fragrances, and sodium lauryl sulfate are some of the ingredients you should avoid in your routine. They can easily irritate your skin and break the protective barrier that you try to build every day. Switch to more gentle options, especially if you shave, to make sure your skin is healthy and soft.

Stay Consistent

You won’t see results from your face routine if you only do it once or twice a week. Even if you need to set an alarm or wake up earlier, follow this routine every single day to get the best results.

Eat Clean

The food we eat greatly impacts our skin health. If you eat a lot of junk food, that will show in your skin, and even if you use the best products, your skin won’t be able to combat all the negative effects that a bad diet can have. Try to implement a healthy diet routine into your life to get better results.

Choose the Best Products

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to have the best skincare products on the market. Drugstore cleansers and moisturizers are just as good as luxury products.

Use products that perfectly complement each other. Try this Men’s Routine Set by Tiége Hanley if you have trouble deciding where to start. It includes a cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliating scrub, and a night moisturizer that makes for the perfect face routine for men.

Visit a dermatologist if you need to treat a specific skin condition. Skincare is very personal, and what works for someone else won’t probably work for you. Start slow and with safe products, and if you ever need help, always seek guidance from a professional to avoid giving your skin a hard time.

Creating a face routine takes time and effort, but the results are totally worth it. If you want to learn more about how to take care of your body, follow our simple body care routine to look after your skin.