For plenty of men, the concept of skincare has barely entered their vocabulary, let alone their bathroom cabinets. All too common is the grooming routine comprised solely of shower gel and body spray gift sets, picked from supermarket bargain bins as last minute Christmas gifts from distant aunties. Here at Mankind, we're committed to combating this approach to personal appearance wherever we find it. If cleansing and moisturising sound more like mystifying arcane arts than something you should be doing every day, then this article is here to convince you otherwise.
Everyone stands to gain from proper skincare, and reaping the benefits is surprisingly simple. In this article, we take you through a skincare routine for men that is both extremely straightforward, and extremely effective.
4 Step Daily Men's Skincare Routine
- Exfoliate (2-3x per week, 30 seconds)
- Cleanse (Daily, 30 seconds)
- Apply Serum (Daily, 10 seconds)
- Moisturise (Daily, 10 seconds)
Step 1. Exfoliate (2-3x per week, 30 seconds)
The first step, exfoliation, serves to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and sebum from the skin. The deep clean an exfoliating product offers also penetrates into the pores and unblocks deep lying impurities, stopping the blockages that contribute to problems like cystic spots and blackheads. For this reason, it is absolutely crucial to maintaining skin health and preventing breakouts.
An important thing to know is that there are two types of exfoliators:
- Chemical Exfoliators, such as the Clinique for Men Exfoliating Tonic
- Abrasive Exfoliators (or scrubs)
If you have sensitive skin which is easily irritated, using a chemical exfoliant rather than a scrub may be preferable for you. With a chemical exfoliant, massage into the skin in the shower or when washing your face and leave to absorb for 30 seconds before washing off. With a scrub, massage continually for approximately 30 seconds, focusing on problem areas, before washing away.
For most, exfoliating 2-3 times per week is ideal, but if your skin type is oily (read more aboutskin type if you're lost at this point) then you may benefit from exfoliating more frequently.
Step 2. Cleanse (Daily, 30 seconds)
Cleansing is the most important daily maintenance step in your skincare routine. Throughout the day, your skin is exposed to dirt, bacteria, and environmental impurities, as well as producing sebum which builds up on the surface. Cleansing removes this, helping to prevent breakouts and clogged pores.
Apply cleanser to damp skin first thing in the morning or after exfoliating, massage in, and wash away. The whole process should take no more than 30 seconds.
Step 3. Apply Serum (Daily, 10 seconds)
Typically lightweight and unobtrusive, serums are a small addition to a skincare routine which go an extremely long way. Designed to deliver intense benefits even in low doses, applying between cleansing and moisturising regularly will produce noticeable anti-ageing and anti-blemish effects.
Use between 1 and 3 drops and apply a light coverage to your whole face.
Step 4. Moisturise (Daily, 10 seconds)
Moisturising restores hydration to the skin, firming it, as well as replacing nutrients and moisture lost during the process of cleansing and exfoliating. As well as this, moisturiser forms a protective barrier over the skin, which helps to prevent dirt from clogging the pores, and guards against the bacteria responsible for outbreaks.
How much moisturiser you should use depends on the season and your skin type. If your skin is naturally oilier, you should use a small amount, making sure to work into the skin evenly. Using too much may exacerbate oiliness and breakouts. If your skin is drier naturally, you should use enough to ensure your skin feels thoroughly hydrated to the touch.
For all skin types, you can increase the amount you use during the colder months, as low temperatures slow the production of sebum, the natural oils produced by the skin.
Additional things to consider:
SPF & SPF Moisturiser
Many think that SPFis something to take on holiday, but isn't something you need concern yourself with in the UK. This isn't true, and in fact, you're at risk of suffering some level of skin damage any time you're exposed to natural light. This type of sun damage is one of the leading causes of skin ageing, as well as being a compounding factor in skin cancer in the longer term. For this reason, use an SPF or SPF moisturiser before leaving the house to ensure maximum protection.
Blemish Control
Everybody gets blindsided by the occasional blemish. There's nothing you can do to guarantee you won't be affected by them, but you can prepare for them. Use a blemish control treatment for a quick fix when you encounter one.
Beard Care
If you have a beard, then beardcare is skincare. Keeping your facial hair clean and hydrated with beard shampoo, beard balms and conditioners, and beard oil will help to keep your skin in better condition.
If you like this content, why not check out our 12 best face washes for men, read about the top eye creams, and check out the 10 best gift sets for men. As always, for more male grooming expertise, keep up to speed with the Mankind blog.
