Many men think of skincare as being the realm of ladies. Women worry about skincare and wrinkles and sunblock. Men, on the other hand, have a three-in-one hair, face, and body wash that is the entirety of their skincare routine. It’s certainly better than nothing, but there’s room for improvement. In this blog, the Derm Skincare dermatology team is going to walk through some basic skincare routines for men as well as recommend some simple products that work for most skin types. Don’t forget you can always work directly with a dermatologist to find the best products.

The Ideal Skincare Routine for Every Man

In an ideal world, men would have a morning and evening skincare routine that included cleansing, exfoliating, toning, applying serums and products, moisturizing, and using sunscreen (we’ll outline this option). Unfortunately, most men see this list and want to stop reading. That’s okay because most men don’t need as much skincare time to keep their skin looking great. The vast majority of men have naturally thicker skin with higher collagen density, which means the signs of aging aren’t as obvious. The majority of men also produce greater amounts of oil, which means their skin is less likely to look dry and damaged.

Even though most men are pretty lucky in the skin department, that doesn’t mean they don’t need to make time to care for their skin. Below, we’re going to break down a few options for effective skincare routines that any man can make part of their day:

Basic

• • Cleanse (morning and evening)
• • Shave (optional/as needed)
• • Moisturize (morning and evening)
• • Sunscreen (morning and as needed)

Adequate

• • Cleanse (morning and evening)
• • Exfoliate (morning at least 3 times a week and before shaving)
• • Shave (optional/as needed)
• • Moisturize (morning and evening)
• • Sunscreen (morning and as needed)

Very Good

• • Cleanse (morning and evening)
• • Exfoliate (morning at least 3 times a week and before shaving)
• • Shave (optional/as needed)
• • Apply Eye Cream (morning and evening)
• • Moisturize (morning and evening)
• • Sunscreen (morning and as needed)

Ideal

• • Cleanse (morning and evening)
• • Exfoliate (morning at least 3 times a week and before shaving)
• • Shave (optional/as needed)
• • Add some Extras (serums and other products that are recommended for unique skincare goals)
• • Apply Eye Cream (morning and evening
• • Moisturize (morning and evening)
• • Sunscreen (morning and as needed)

Men’s Must-Have Skincare Products

As you can see based on the options above, a good skincare routine doesn’t have to take hours or be extremely complicated. With a few products, you’ll be able to keep your skin looking and feeling great, but you have to choose the right products. Specifically, every man should invest in a good cleanser, exfoliant, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen. In the remainder of the blog, we’ll review some of the top recommended skincare products for men from our knowledgeable dermatologists. All of these recommended products are available on Derm Skincare. Even better, you can set up auto-replenish when you purchase. That means you’ll get a discount on your purchases, and you don’t have to remember to reorder your products, making your new skincare regimen even easier.

Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser

Choosing the right facial cleanser can be a huge part of establishing the ideal skincare routine. So, first and foremost, you don’t have to throw out that three-in-one hair, face, and body wash, but maybe downgrade it to a two-in-one and leave your face out of it. Instead, we recommend the Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser. Because men have naturally oilier skin, they need a cleanser that can break down excess oils and all of the grime and environmental irritants that are likely to get stuck to oilier skin. Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser does just that. It gently dissolves all types of dirt and oil, but it doesn’t excessively dry or irritate the skin. Instead, the skin is clean and refreshed. To use, wet the face and neck. Then, gently massage over the skin. Finally, rinse with warm water and pat dry.

SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub

Exfoliants help to remove dead skin cells and reveal healthy, new skin below. Because men have naturally thicker skin, they may need to exfoliate more often to ensure skin cell turnover occurs at the right pace and avoid clogging pores. This step is especially important for men who shave their faces frequently. Exfoliating before shaving helps to reduce the risk of razor burn, ingrown hairs, and other negative effects of frequent shaving. The SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub is a great option. It is a physical exfoliant. That means it contains abrasive ingredients that mechanically exfoliate and polish skin. Because this is a micro-exfoliant, the abrasive ingredients are less likely to irritate or damage the skin. Instead, they gently buff away dead skin cells, leaving skin looking and feeling healthier. This product is safe and recommended for all skin types except for those with extremely sensitive skin. To use, wet the face and neck. Then, apply the exfoliant in gentle circles over the face and neck. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

Revision DEJ Eye Cream

The Revision DEJ Eye Cream offers a wide range of benefits. It protects skin from daily damage, increases hydration, diminishes signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, and promotes skin’s healthy, natural balance. It’s great for all skin types and keeps the sensitive skin around the eyes looking healthy. To use, simply place a small amount on the fingertip, and apply under the eye, on top of the cheekbone, and up to the outer corner of the eye under the brow.

EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer

Even though the majority of men naturally produce greater amounts of oil on their skin, that doesn’t mean they should skip moisturizing. A good moisturizer helps to keep the skin hydrated, prevents the overproduction of oil, and maintains an even skin tone and texture. A great, lightweight, effective moisturizer that works for most men is the EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer. This moisturizer uses hyaluronic acid to promote the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture, so it provides an immediate increase in hydration as well as a long-lasting boost. To use, simply place small dabs of the moisturizer onto the forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck. Then, gently massage the daytime moisturizer into your face and neck.

EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer

Most men can probably get away with using the same moisturizer in the morning and evening, but if they really want to boost their skincare routine, we do recommend using a different moisturizer in the evenings. The morning skincare routine should be focused on protecting skin from potential damage caused by the sun, pollutants, allergens, and other environmental stresses that the skin encounters during the day. The evening routine is all about healing and hydrating. The EltaMD PM Therapy Facial Moisturizer offers both. This product is specially formulated to repair, restore, and moisturize the skin as you sleep. To use, simply place small dabs of moisturizer onto the forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck. Then, gently massage the nighttime moisturizer into your face and neck.

Skinbetter Science Solo Hydrating Defense

Another excellent option is the Skinbetter Science Solo Hydrating Defense. This product is made specifically for men with an enhanced level of antioxidant protection against environmental stressors. This long-lasting formula is made to be used by men with all skin types, but it’s especially beneficial for those who have oily or easily irritated skin. Skinbetter Science Solo Hydrating Defense helps to reduce oiliness, improve the appearance of pores, hydrate, and calm skin. To use, apply liberally to a clean, dry face, jawline, and neck.

Elta MD UV Sport Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an essential element of skincare for everyone, and it’s important to find a sunscreen that is effective every day, offers broad-spectrum protection (shields skin from UVA and UVB rays), and won’t irritate or damage the skin.

Elta MD UV Sport is the go-to sun protection product for athletes and anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors. From a day on the golf course or in the pool to a day working outdoors, this water-resistant sunblock offers lasting protection even if you’re sweating or swimming. In addition to sun protection, Elta MD UV Sport offers antioxidant defense against free radical damage. Because this sunscreen is fragrance-free, oil-free, and paraben-free as well as non-comedogenic, it’s safe and effective for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. To use, apply a liberal amount to any skin that will be exposed to the sun about 15 minutes before going outside. Reapply as needed throughout the day, at least every two hours.

Talk to a Professional for Skincare Tips

If you have specific skin health concerns you want to address, struggle to find products that work for you, or just want to sit down one-on-one with a professional to get good skincare advice, we hope you’ll contact the knowledgeable dermatologists at U.S. Dermatology Partners to schedule a visit. All of the products on Derm Skincare have been chosen by skilled dermatologists in our U.S. Dermatology Partners locations, and they can help you understand the benefits of these skincare products for your daily routine. To get started working with a local U.S. Dermatology Partners practice, take a few moments to complete the online scheduling request form. This is a quick and easy way to schedule your first visit with our team.