How to Build the Simplest Skin Care Routine for Men (2023)

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How to Build a Basic Skincare Routine For Men

I feel like these days even the guys that used to believe "men don't care about skincare", have or try to have some kind of skincare routine. And as many of the male celebrities and actors are promoting and even coming out with their own skin care brands, such as Barker Wellness by Travis Barker and Le Domaine by Brad pitt etc, not taking care of your skin isn't cool anymore.

Instagram/ Barkerwellness

And if you're one of the guys who has recently become interested in skincare for whatever reason and don't know where to start, know that you're definitely not alone and clicking on this blog was a step in the right direction.

I suppose most guys have a basic skincare routine that consists of a face wash but even if you're building a routine from the ground up, you can do so by following few necessary steps. Doing so would most important give you a self confidence boost.

First you have to understand that like many other things in life, seeing visible changes in your skin is not something that is going to happen as soon as you start using certain products. It's a daily routine that consists of eating healthy, staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep.

But even though your mom might say drinking   a lot of water is all you need to do for clear skin, that is also not true, there are certain products that are made for certain skin types. Effective skincare takes more than just drinking water and washing your face with soap. It will take some time but you should be able to see visible changes in a few weeks, and once you sure, I'm sure you won't ever want to go back to your old ways.

Below I have listed some basic products that should help you get a general idea of where to start. Keep in mind that the specific products I have mentioned below each step might not work for you, Mention these name of the step to your nearest cosmetic store and tell them you skin type, I'm sure they'd more than happy to help you 

Let's break this down in 4 simple steps

4 Step Daily Men’s Skincare Routine

Step 1: Cleanser:

It's very important to use a facial cleanser that works for your specific skin type. If you have dry skin, your cleanser should have moisturizing ingredients and if you have oily skin, use a gel based cleanser that has oil-controlling ingredients. For best results, use your cleanser twice a day, morning and night.

Congratulations on not using a bar soap to wash your face. I'm not gonna write a whole paragraph about why you should use lip balm because I suppose you at least already know that.

Step 2: Exfoliation:

If you've never used an exfoliator before, chances are you're going to love the way your skin feels after you've used it. This step is removes dead skin cells and leaves you with a smoother, softer and brighter complexion. But be warned that over-using this product will take away all the natural oils in your skin which can cause a lot of skin problems. So exfoliate as frequently as your chosen product suggests which is usually once or twice a week. You may choose between either a physical scrub or a chemical exfoliant for this task. But even though "chemical" sounds harsher for your skin, it is actually the opposite. Usually physical exfoliators tend to be harsher than the chemical ones.

Step 3: Eye Cream:

I Know you're asking yourself why can't you just use moisturizer for your eyes just like the rest of you face, what's so special about the skin under your eyes that you need an extra cream for it? But I'm here to tell you this is small one small product that can help with big changes in your face. And to answer the question why you need a cream specifically for your under eyes, it's because the skin around here is more sensitive than the rest of you face and this is where you see puffy bags and dark circles. So taking the extra step and using an eye cream twice a day (morning and night) will help you keep looking fresh.

Step 4: Moisturizer:

If you're very new to skincare, I suppose you don't use a separate sunscreen (even though you absolutely should). So look for a moisturizer that already has SPF in it, to shield your skin against skin-aging UV rays. Moisturize your skin twice a day, morning and night. Not wearing moisturizer (especially during summer) because it feels greasy is not an excuse, because there are many options on the market that feel like you're have nothing extra on your skin. Note that moisturizer is also important if you have oily skin, you just need to use one that has no oil in it.

Now, If feel like you are ready to build up your absolute beginner skin care routine and do the extra work, then let's learn about some more essential skincare steps that are well worth the extra time and money. you don’t need to introduce all of these products mentioned below, all at once. But you should at least have a clear understanding of each of them individually.

1. SPF:

 

This almost made it to the must have products because of it's importance, You know what, let's pretend it is. Because no matter your skin tone or type is, you should be wearing sunscreen every day. Well, if you don't mind looking like you're 45 when you're actually 30, then don't!

This one is not just for your face but your whole body (The areas that are exposed to the sun) as it protects the skin from UV rays of the sun, which is responsible for skin’s aging and can cause even more serious health problems like skin cancer. 

2. Serums: 

Now there are many types of serum out there on the market these days, So no matter what your skin concern is there is probably a serum for that. Getting a hydrating serum would be a great place to start. Serums are more effective than just your regular moisturizer. Use it before applying moisturizer and after using cleanser.

3. Night Cream:

Isn't having a separate moisturizer especially for night time just adding another useless step to your skincare routine? Well, not really. Having one moisturizer is fine, But when you’re sleeping, your skin regenerates and night creams are  help in the rebuilding process. 

 

4. Face Masks: 

There are many types of face masks just like serums and their main goal is to exfoliate and hydrate. As i mentioned earlier that exfoliators should be used often, same goes for face masks, they can be a very beneficial step when done once or twice a week. Clay mask is a great one to start with if your concern is deep cleansing and exfoliating. Hydrating masks are also another good option.

5. Toner:

I personally have combination skin type and it's  dry in some areas and oily in others, Toner helps to neutralize both of these textures by balancing the pH of the skin. And of course it also helps to remove excess oil and left over dirt. I recommend you look into it and give it a try for yourself, especially if you have oily skin. Toner should always be applied directly after using washing your face and before moisturizer or any other products just like serum. 

And This is not all, you can always add even more products and learn not just about the products you're using but also about the ingredients they have like retinol and vitamin c, go at your own pace...