Most men’s skincare routine consists of cleansing with soap and water followed by a quick shave with foaming shaving cream. Most also think that using a moisturizer is too high maintenance or will make them break out. And even using an SPF takes a backseat since the texture is seen as too thick and oily.  But with the increased awareness of fine lines, dark spots, discoloration and even dryness among men, most are looking to incorporate a skincare routine but don’t know where to start. A basic skincare routine for men should include:

·    A facial cleanser appropriate to skin type – choose a non-foaming gel-lotion for dry/normal types or a foaming gel for combination/oily skin. Regular bar and liquid soaps are too drying and disrupt the normal pH of skin.

·    Toner – made to remove oils and debris that the cleanser did not remove. Can be used both day and night after cleansing if skin is excessively oily or breakout prone but once a day (preferably at night) for dry/normal/combination skin to avoid overdrying.

·    Eye cream – use one appropriate for skin type both day and night since there are no oil glands in the eye area and the skin is three times thinner than on the face. Choose an eye cream with SPF if spending a large amount of time outdoors, such as for sports or working.

·    Daytime moisturizer with SPF – if working indoors, an SPF 15 is sufficient, but if spending the majority of the day outdoors, choose an oil-free SPF 30 sunblock or sunscreen.

·    Nighttime moisturizer – choose an oil-free formula for dry/normal skin but may be skipped if skin is combination, oily or breakout prone.  

·    Lip balm – crucial since there are no oil glands in the lips and is often an overlooked area. Use day and night, choose one with an SPF and look for ingredients such as shea butter (for moisturizing) and Vitamin E (for healing).

·    An exfoliator – most men think of this step as unnecessary but men have larger pores and more acid in their skin. Use one to two times per week after cleansing to remove dead skin cell build-up, minimize the appearance of pores and maintain even skintone and texture.

Even though this looks like a long, complicated risk, men only need to devote about 5 minutes per day to maintain healthy skin and help minimize or prevent future skincare concerns or extensive treatment.

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