It is never too late to start a skincare routine for men or to upgrade the existing one. By doing that you not only invest in your health but also can increase your self-confidence. But as far as I know, it is believed that finding the perfect skincare routine for men is an endless treasure hunt with a map that is impossible to decode.
But here’s the thing: There is no end goal or a benchmark. It is just like exercising every day, eating good food, and staying hydrated. One thing to remember here is that building a skincare routine, takes consistency and some good products.
Hopefully, I will be able to figure out the best skincare routine for you men out there.
Start Simple!
For a lot of guys, this topic of skincare routine for men might get too much on the nerves, so it is best that you start slow. A simple 3-step skincare routine is the best way to go. By starting here, you will be miles ahead of most guys. It’s a great place to begin with.
The Beginners Regimen – Cleanse, Exfoliate, Moisturize
The three core or major steps of any skincare regime include cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. Obviously, it is never a good idea to do all of these at once.
Here is how you do it:
- Cleanse twice a day: Use a face wash first thing in the morning to wash your face. Top dermatologists at PIMS Islamabad say that it helps in removing all the products that you wore last night. It is also great for removing all the bacteria and sweat accumulated on the face. As the first step of a skincare routine for men, cleanse your face again at night, to begin your bedtime regimen.
- Exfoliate twice a week: This step is necessary as it removes dead skin cells and makes the skin complexion softer, gives it a smoother look, and brightens the skin. Exfoliating also helps in preventing breakouts. For this part, you can use a chemical exfoliant. Try and stay away from scrubs as much as you can, as they are harsh to the skin.
It is best if you use an exfoliant that has salicylic acid in it. It helps in dealing with acne, and dead skin and also clears clogged pores. One more tip in the skincare routine for men is to exfoliate at night time after cleansing and before moisturizing. Otherwise, there are chances that you might wake up looking like a red tomato.
- Moisturize twice and add SPF: A moisturizer is always treated as a proactive product when it is actually less active about hydration. It is all about preserving the skin’s natural moisture levels and bouncing away any threats to the skin’s defensive barrier functions.
It is best to add SPF to the skin during day time as it can shield you against the UV rays that can cause skin aging. Try and wear a heavier moisturizer at night time and a lighter one in the morning as part of men skincare routine.
To read more about the best moisturizers, give it a read.
The Intermediate Regimen – Hydrating Serums, Eye Creams, Masks, and Spot Treatments
The intermediate skincare routine for men is a little advanced that involves the use of serums, eye creams, masks, and spot treatments. These play an important role in evolving skincare.
Let’s see how it’s done.
- Hydrating Serums: Out of all the serums on the market, the best one is the hydrating serum. And the most essential of them all is hyaluronic acid. You can apply this product after cleansing and before moisturizing. It is the same for all serums. Hyaluronic acid pulls out moisture from the skin 1000 times its own weight and keeps the skin nourished.
- Eye Creams: Eye Creams are the best example of big things in a small package. These are densely concentrated and target the most delicate part of the face where the skin is the thinnest. Eye creams when used as part of a skincare routine for men can help in making crow’s feet go away. They also help with dark circles and puffiness under the eyes.
It is applied mostly at night time as this contains peptides that can make your skin look more awake and less tired. Apply it twice a day if needed.
- Masks: There are a number of masks, but two general categories include deep nourishing and deep cleansing when it comes to men skincare routine. The deep-cleansing ones can be very harsh on the skin as they can have ingredients like charcoal. The nourishing ones contain hydrating masks to help revive the dull and dry complexion.
- Spot Treatments: Spot treatments are important for everyone who is prone to acne, hyperpigmentation, or in some cases both. These can help in treating pimples, and acne marks, and preventing breakouts when used in the skincare routine for men.
The Advanced Regimen – Retinol, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, AHA, and BHA
The advanced regimen includes ingredient-based treatments that work great for the skin. It includes retinol, vitamin C, Niacinamide, and AHA and BHA.
- Retinol: Retinol is a vitamin A derivative and is one of the best products that reverse signs of aging. It is however recommended by Dr.Mahvish Aftab Khan who is one of the top dermatologists and cosmetologists in Islamabad, that do not use retinol when you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant as it can cause deformities in babies.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is great to boost skin brightness and reduces decoloration and hyperpigmentation. It is a very volatile ingredient used in a skincare routine for men so it’s worth investing coin in a top-tier serum.
- Niacinamide: Niacinamide is great for shrinking enlarged pores. It also smoothens the skin and is one of the common moisturizers for a good reason.
- AHA and BHA: Exfoliating serums that have AHA and BHA are quite common these days. One of the most common AHA serums these days is the peeling one called mandelic acid. And when it comes to BHA, it exfoliates the skin by breaking down dead skin cells,
When to See a Doctor
If you think that, this skincare routine for men is not workable for you. Then, you need to get some of the skin tests done by getting them booked through Healthwire. Also, you can visit the best dermatologists near you, if you think your skin condition is worsening day by day.