It is no secret that taking care of your skin is important, regardless of your gender. In fact, more and more men are now starting to pay closer attention to their skincare routine and the products they use – and I'm so glad this happens!
It was quite a struggle to get my husband to cleanse his skin with anything other than a bar of soap, but it's a progress! :) Our skin is our biggest organ, and taking care of it is an important aspect of our overall health.
However, with so many different products on the market, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to building a men skincare routine. That's why I've put together this guide on the ultimate men skincare regime, as well as how to choose the best men skincare products for your individual skin type.
Spoiler alert: Don’t worry, things don’t have to be complicated when it comes to men skincare.
Contents
What are the essentials of men skincare?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best men skincare routine will vary depending on your individual skin type.
As a general rule, the best men skincare routine is one that is simple and effective. Women are inclined to spend more time doing their skincare steps every morning and evening. As a man, you don’t need to be overwhelmed by dozens of products and different steps to follow; instead, you can create your own minimalist men skincare set if you want – and I'm here to help.
The first step in any good skincare routine is cleansing. Start by cleansing your face with a face wash or a cleansing gel. This helps to remove dirt, oil and impurities from the surface of the skin. For men, I recommend using a face wash or a cleansing gel that is designed specifically for your skin type.
After cleansing, it's important to use a moisturizer to hydrate the skin. Again, there are different types of moisturizers for different skin types – and I’ll talk about all of them in the next sections of this article.
If you want to protect your skin from the sun (and I highly recommend you do), don't forget to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
In addition to cleansing and moisturizing, there are a few other men skincare products that can be helpful in achieving healthy, good-looking skin. For example, if you suffer from dark circles or puffy eyes, using an eye cream can help to reduce the appearance of these signs of fatigue. And if you're looking for an extra boost of hydration, consider using a face mask or a serum that is designed to deeply moisturize the skin.
Skincare in general is a process that requires a bit of patience and testing different products to find out what works best for you. If you’re just starting out with taking better care of your skin, read on to find out all about how to choose the right products for you and how to create a coherent skincare routine in no time!
How to create a simple and effective men skincare routine?
Let’s talk about the essentials (plus a couple of other optional items) that should be included in your men skincare set of products:
- Cleanser – this can be anything from a foaming face wash or a simple cleansing gel, specifically formulated for men or for a certain skin type. When it comes to cleansers, a little goes a long way: you can apply only a pea-sized amount of cleanser and thoroughly wash your face, rinsing it with plenty of water at the end
- Spot treatments. Apply a pimple patch whenever you feel like a zit is starting to form.
- Moisturizer – after cleaning your face, your skin might end up being drier than usual, which means we need to give back its natural hydration and glow. A moisturizer does just that!
- Sunscreen – sunscreen has become increasingly popular product in recent years, as people understood more and more just how harmful UV rays can be – and this applies to everyone, including men. Applying a thin layer of sunscreen at the end of your skincare routine is an excellent way to keep your skin healthy and prevent the signs of early aging. I recommend an SPF of at least 30, ideally 50.
- Eye Cream (optional) – if you want to take your skincare game to the next level, you can add an eye cream in the scheme as well. Eye creams are usually more hydrating than a regular moisturizer because the area around our eyes tends to be more sensitive and to dry out faster than the rest of our face. An eye cream can also help with reducing the wrinkles and fine lines that appear as we age.
- Face Mask or Serum (optional) – face masks and serums are bonus products that you can use once or twice per week or whenever you feel like your skin is drier than usual and needs a boost of hydration
In short, a simple yet effective men skincare routine has to consist of only 3 main products: cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. With these three, you’ll be seeing results in no time! You can also progressively add more products into your routine to test out different results and see what works best for you.
How to choose the best men skincare products?
When choosing the best men skincare products, it's important to consider your individual skin type. If you have dry or sensitive skin, look for products that are hydrating and gentle. For normal or combination skin, choose products that contain exfoliating beads to help remove dead skin cells. And for oily or acne-prone skin, look for products with salicylic acid to help control oil production.
Choosing the right men skincare products doesn't have to be complicated. Just start with the basics and then add in other products as needed to target your specific concerns. And don't forget to consult with a dermatologist if you have any questions about which products are right for you.
Use a microcrystal acne patch whenever you feel a deep zit forming under the skin. You can prevent it from developing after just one use.
Men’s skincare for oily skin
As mentioned before, even though men need a simple, minimalist skincare routine, it still needs to be created with products that address certain skin types. Here are some general rules to follow when choosing products for oily skin:
- If you have oily skin, it's important to choose men skincare products that can help control oil production.
- I recommend using a face wash or cleansing gel with salicylic acid if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Salicylic acid will help control oil production.
- You should also look for a gel-based moisturizer that will help to mattify your skin and reduce shine.
- In addition, I recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to protect your skin from UV rays.
Use a hydrocolloid acne patch on any whiteheads or surface zits. They will extract the puss overnight and by the next morning the zit will be flatter and less inflamed.
OMMA WOW PATCHES for acne-prone skin
In case you struggle with acne-prone skin or the occasional zits, here are some products you should check out:
Your go-to solution kit for clearing late-stage whiteheads overnight, 72pcs
Your zit-free emergency kit for reducing early-stage painful & deep pimples, 18pcs
Men’s skincare for dry skin
On the other hand, if you have dry skin, you’ll need lots of hydration and creamier products that will help your skin feel better. Here are some general tips to follow:
- If you have dry skin, you'll want to choose men skincare products that are hydrating and gentle.
- I recommend using an oil-based cleanser, or a face wash or cleansing gel that is designed for sensitive skin.
- You should also look for an oil-based moisturizer to help hydrate your skin.
- In addition, I recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on a daily basis.
If you skin is neither dry nor oily, you might have a normal or combination skin complex. In this case, things will be easier for you and I recommend following the following simple piece of advice:
- Face wash – if you have normal skin, choose a face wash that contains exfoliating beads to help remove dead skin cells.
- Moisturizer – a water-based moisturizer is needed, as it has a light-weight formula that won’t feel heavy or oily on your face
- Don’t forget about SPF as well, just like I mentioned before!
I know that creating an effective skincare routine yourself is a hard task and, if you’ve never used any skincare products before and you’ve only washed your face with soap, things can get even more complicated. This is why most men don’t have a skincare routine at all.
Hopefully, this complete guide was useful and it has proven to you that properly taking care of your skin isn’t impossible. You only need 3 main products – or our special men skincare kit that will save you a lot of time and research on different websites.
Hugs!
Adrienne | Co-founder of OMMA Cosmetics
Photo sources: Unsplash