The Ultimate Men's Skin Care Routine: Top Tips for a Better Complexion
Navigating the huge range of options to be considered for developing a men’s skin care routine might seem overwhelming.
Keep it simple with this step-by-step guide: there's tailored advice for each skin type and regimen recommendations that'll have you looking good for your age.
From choosing the right cleanser to essential sun protection tips, everything you need is right here .
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Understanding your skin type is important for effective skincare and may involve seasonal adjustment of products and routines.
- Your routine will also need to evolve as you age, so looking after your skin in your 30's may differ to what's needed in your 40's.
- Always begin with daily cleansing to remove dirt and excess oil, followed by regular exfoliation to eliminate dead skin cells and support skin cell renewal.
- Protect skin with an appropriate sunscreen. Night-time skincare aids in skin repair.
ESTABLISHING YOUR SKIN TYPE
Understanding your skin type paves the way for a skincare routine that's tailored to your unique needs. The four skin types are:
And although it's not considered a skin type separately, any of the above can also be classified as sensitive skin.
Each has its unique attributes and requires a specifically-targeted set of products and ingredients.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH SKIN TYPE
To help you understand the needs of your skin, here are the characteristics of each skin type:
- Oily skin: characterised by an excess production of sebum, (the skin's natural oils), giving it a shiny appearance and leading to issues like enlarged or clogged pores and blemishes.
- Dry skin: may appear dull, rough, or scaly, and often feels tight.
- Normal skin: maintains a balance, without either extreme oiliness or dryness.
- Combination skin: presents with both oily (often the T-zone of forehead, nose, chin) and dry areas (cheeks).
Sensitive skin often shows visible redness and may experience burning or itching sensations.
Understanding your skin type will help you choose the right skincare products and develop a suitable skincare routine.
SELECTING PRODUCTS FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE
Always select suitable skincare products for your skin type or to tackle specific issues. Here are some recommendations based on different skin types:
- For men with oily skin, lightweight, oil-free moisturisers are recommended to preserve natural moisture whilst preventing clogged pores.
- Men with dry skin benefit from richer creams or lotions that contain emollients and occlusives, designed to enhance moisture retention and skin moisture barrier function.
- Combination skin types require a balance between oil control and moisture retention.
- Sensitive skin calls for gentle, hypoallergenic ingredients.
ADJUSTING YOUR ROUTINE SEASONALLY
Adapting your skincare routine to suit the changes of the seasons might also be necessary to keep your skin optimised all year round.
In spring, you might need to use lighter weight products and choose soothing products to address allergies and irritations.
When autumn comes around, switching to richer moisturisers and serums containing hyaluronic acid are recommended to help prevent the skin dryness that often comes from colder weather.
And with all the indoor heating, winter calls for intense moisturisation and use of barrier creams or balms.
Consistent use of sunscreen is important throughout the year.
AGE-APPROPRIATE SKINCARE
As you age, your skincare regimen needs to evolve. Men in their teens and early 20's are most likely to struggle with acne-prone skin, blemishes and breakouts. And a man in his 40's is likely to have a greater focus on anti-ageing than when he was in his 30's. Because we men all think we're immortal in our 30's!
CLEANSING - THE FOUNDATION OF MEN'S SKIN CARE
Regardless of your age, cleansing is a fundamental step in any skincare regime. It removes dirt, oil, and environmental pollutants that can clog pores and cause skin problems.
If you've got oily skin, a salicylic acid-based or oil control cleanser is recommended as an effective face wash routine. Cleansing twice a day - morning and evening, is all you need. Over-washing can excessively dry your skin, causing skin to produce excess oil even more, and result in breakouts. Instead, consider a quick mid-day rinse with lukewarm water if you find your face is feeling oily during the day.
CHOICE OF CLEANSER
Selecting the appropriate cleanser goes a long way to helping maintain the healthy appearance and glow of your skin. A gentle hydrating cleanser will remove pollutants and grime without stripping the skin’s natural moisture.
Cleansers containing natural oils such as jojoba, coconut, and olive oil will hydrate and nourish the skin while providing cleansing benefits. And ingredients like aloe and olive oil help prevent post-wash dehydration, common when using harsh soaps.
EXFOLIATION: THE KEY TO REMOVING DEAD SKIN CELLS
Regular exfoliation is an important part of skincare, and often forms part of the cleansing step of a routine. It has a number of benefits, such as
- Removing dead skin cells
- Encouraging new skin cell generation
- Contributing to a smoother and improved skin texture
- A more consistent skin tone
- Improving your shaving experience by creating a smoother skin surface.
Depending on what you use, exfoliation can also help unclog pores, reduce the visible appearance of blackheads and fine lines, and control excess oil. Regular exfoliation can also help skincare products you’re using for other concerns work more effectively.
TYPES OF EXFOLIATION
There are several ways to exfoliate dead skin cells, with perhaps the simplest of all being the use of a facecloth when cleansing. Taking the next step usually involves using a specially formulated product containing exfoliating active ingredients. These fall into two main categories – physical and chemical – and may be used either on their own or in combination.
Physical exfoliants include buffers, cloths, dry brushes, loofahs, files etc, as well as skincare products formulated with ultra-fine granules. This method of exfoliation is appropriate for many skin types including dull, dry and oily skin, but can irritate sensitive skin and is generally not recommended for anyone with active blemishes.
It’s important to consider the specific ingredients being used to remove dead skin cells when selecting skincare products for physical exfoliation. The ideal physical exfoliants are particles with a smooth surface rather than jagged seed or shell fragments that might scratch or injure the skin.
Chemical exfoliants include alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or fruit enzymes to to dissolve and remove dead skin cells without physical scrubbing. This method is preferred for sensitive, acne-prone, or dry skin. BHAs (such as salicylic acid) are oil-soluble, which allow them to penetrate and decongest clogged pores. BHAs are especially beneficial for oily and blemish-prone skin types.
EXFOLIATION FREQUENCY
How often should you exfoliate? For most men, a routine that includes exfoliation two to three times a week is optimal. exfoliation are important to evade skin irritation and optimize benefits. Start out with once weekly sessions and keep an eye out for any signs of irritation or breakouts before increasing the frequency. This is especially true if using a chemical exfoliant.
MOISTURISING TO KEEP SKIN HYDRATED AND SOFT
Another important step in any skincare routine is moisturising. As the name suggests, it hydrates the skin, prevents dryness, and by plumping the skin can help minimise the appearance of skin ageing such as visible fine lines and wrinkles.
Moisturising is important regardless of skin type, and you should moisturise even if you have oily skin, where it helps regulate oil production.
Finding the Right Moisturiser
Picking the right moisturiser for your skin type is important for your complexion. If you've got oily skin, La Roche Posay recommends using an oil-free, lightweight, water-based moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated without adding extra oil.
And if you're a man with dry skin, you should go for a moisturiser that includes hydrating, soothing ingredients such as shea butter and aloe vera.
Application Tips
Proper application of a moisturiser can increase its effectiveness and prevent potential skin irritation. Here are some tips for applying moisturiser:
- Apply to cleansed, slightly damp skin using gentle upward strokes.
- A pea-sized amount is generally sufficient for your entire face.
- Apply using a patting motion to prevent skin stretching and avoid leaving residue or creating a shiny appearance.
NIGHT-TIME SKINCARE: REPAIR AND REGENERATE
Whilst you're asleep, the skin undergoes a repair and regenerative process to recover from everything it has faced during the previous day, including exposure to environmental pollutants. Your night-time skincare routine should enhance this.
A basic skincare routine for men at night might consist only of cleansing and moisturising, especially if you're in your 20's and 30's. As you get into your 40's, it's more likely to include targeted serums or specifically formulated repairing night serums for men - see section below. Your moisturiser is likely to be a rich cream instead of a lighter lotion such as used in the morning.
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CLEANSING BEFORE BED
You should cleanse your face before bed to remove the day’s accumulation of dirt, oil, and any makeup or other product residue. This prepares your skin for a fresh application of moisturiser, and any targeted products.
NIGHT CREAMS AND EYE CREAM
Night creams and eye creams are recommended for night-time use to enhance skin hydration and address visible signs of ageing. Night creams are formulated to be richer and provide more intense hydration than a lotion, to combat moisture loss that occurs overnight.
Eye creams should be applied at night to target and minimise visible signs of ageing around the sensitive eye area, such as dark circles and crow’s feet.
SUN PROTECTION: SHIELDING YOUR SKIN FROM HARMFUL UV RAYS
Sunscreen is an indispensable component of any daily skincare routine. It helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer, premature ageing, and is important for all skin phototypes. For effective sun protection, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher, every morning, and reapply every 2 hours, or as per the product directions.
If you've got oily skin, there are oil-free products that offer effective sun protection without provoking breakouts.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SPF
In Australia, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30 is recommended. Although many moisturisers contain sunscreen with SPF15, that doesn't mean you should skip additional sunscreen application, as this isn't considered enough for Australian conditions. Many sunscreens now feature an SPF value of 50+.
It's important to remember that SPF values are not additive; using an SPF15 moisturiser and topping off with an SPF30 sunscreen does not give you the benefit of SPF45. You're still only protected to SPF30.
Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays affect skin long-term and cause premature ageing, whilst UVB causes the more immediate sunburn.
UV rays can penetrate clouds and windows, so regardless of weather conditions or whether you're planning a day outside, you should get into the habit of applying sunscreen every morning.
REAPPLICATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Regular reapplication of sunscreen is required to maintain continuous sun protection. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied at least every two hours, and after swimming or sweating.
ADVANCED SKINCARE:
Here's where a skincare routine can get interesting!
TARGETED TREATMENTS FOR SPECIFIC CONCERNS
If you have specific skin issues to tackle, it's often done using a targeting serum. There are far too many of these to cover in this article, and you should read some of our other articles that deal with specific concerns, but serums can help with:
- Dark spots or other hyperpigmentation
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Blemishes
- Promoting collagen production
- Uneven skin tone.
MASKS AND PEELS
Including face masks and/or peels in your skincare routine can provide a boost your skin's condition. Here are some benefits:
- Hydrating the skin
- Brightening skin and evening out pigmentation
- Refining pore size
- Reducing the appearance of visible lines and wrinkles
If you've got oily skin, a mask can help with deep pore cleaning.
TYPES OF FACE MASKS
Several types of face masks cater to different skin needs. Here are some examples:
● Clay or mud masks: great as part of a routine for oily skin, as they can absorb excess oil and impurities.
● Activated charcoal masks: popular for their ability to detoxify by pulling out dirt, oil, and dead skin.
● Sheet masks: offer a concentrated dose of active ingredients and are useful for night-time hydration.
WHEN TO USE PEELS
Peels, especially those containing AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid, provide deeper exfoliation to improve skin texture. Choose peels that suit your skin type and address individual skin concerns.
Thoroughly cleanse your skin beforehand to ensure full penetration of the peel during treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good skincare routine for men over 30?
What makes a good men's skincare routine in 2024?
What are the three basic components of a men's skincare regimen?
Why is it important to understand my skin type?
How often should I cleanse my face?
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