A Solid Skincare Routine Can Make a Huge Difference

If your ideas about skincare come from Reddit, you might think it’s a dark rabbit hole of science akin to astrophysics or neurology. If your opinion comes exclusively from the men’s personal care aisle of your local big box store, you probably think one multi-use product can do everything (as long as it contains charcoal). But the reality of skincare lies somewhere in between.

Thanks to the sheer volume of product options, skincare can be daunting at best and confusing at worst. Maybe that’s why many guys have no skincare routine to speak of—they don’t want to put in the effort to figure it out. Or maybe they just don’t care. Well they, and you, should care. Good skincare is one of the most powerful tools we have against most of the common issues men face on their faces: acne, wrinkles, even sun damage. And in both the short and long term, it could mean the difference between someone saying, “Wow, you look great!” as opposed to, “Oh, have you been getting enough sleep?”

Effective skincare takes more than just washing your face with whatever soap you have lying around and hoping for the best. It’s like anything worthwhile: it takes commitment, consistency, and care, not to mention a healthy amount of experimentation till you find the right products for you. That’s why I’m here; this is a safe space and no one here is expecting you to know the difference between hyaluronic acid and niacinamide overnight.

And anyways, building a skincare routine from ground zero takes only a few simple steps, and you’d be surprised by how much of a difference you’ll see after just a few weeks of following them. I’m going to lay it all out—from beginner to advanced—because chances are, once you see your face after a few weeks of moisturizer, you won’t ever want to go back.

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You’ve never washed your face with anything other than hand soap and never used, much less bought, a moisturizer.

Step 1: Facial Cleanser

When we think of clean skin, we’re conditioned to expect a dry, squeaky-clean feeling, but that’s actually a sign that you’ve over-cleansed and that is a bad thing. It means your skin’s protective barrier is disrupted and you’ve stripped away good oils that keep it moisturized. Instead, use a specific facial cleanser that’s designed for your skin type. If you have dry skin, look for a cleanser with moisturizing ingredients and if you have oily skin, use a gel cleanser with oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid. Use your cleanser morning and night for best results.

For Sensitive Skin

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

For Oily Skin

Aesop In Two Minds Facial Cleanser

Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser

For Sensitive Skin

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Step 2: Eye Cream

Eye cream is like the Swiss army knife of a man’s skin care routine: it’s a simple tool that can fix a whole lot of problems. Dark circles? It can help get rid of them. Puffy bags from a rager late night? It can send those packing. Starting to see wrinkles and fine lines? Eye cream can keep you looking fresh. Eye skin is thinner than on the rest of your face, so it needs more concentrated ingredients, and tends to lose moisture quickly and easily. Start using an eye cream morning and night after cleansing, even if you don’t do anything else (but you should do other stuff too, so keep reading).

For Wrinkles

The INKEY List Retinol Eye Cream

Youth to the People Superfood Peptide Eye Cream

For Bags

Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel

For Dark Circles

Lumin Dark Circle Defense

Now 32% Off

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

Step 3: Moisturizer

The biggest reason I hear guys say they don’t wear moisturizer is that they don’t like how it feels on their faces. I get that. Who likes to feel like you have glop all over your mug all day? But finding a moisturizer you can tolerate is easy (there are more lightweight formulas coming out every day) and wearing one will, at the very least, keep your skin from feeling dry, and at the most, help it maintain moisture that will keep it looking good for years to come. Look for words like “lotion” or “gel” instead of “cream” on the label if you’re a beginner. Slap it on after your eye cream to lock in moisture.

For Dry Skin

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Moisturizer

For Oily Skin

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Oil-Free Mattifying Moisturizer

La Mer The Hydrating Infused Emulsion

For Anti-Aging

Lab Series Skincare for Men Age Rescue Face Lotion

La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream

Step 4: SPF

The final step is most important: no matter your skin tone, you need to be wearing sunscreen every day. Seriously. UV rays from the sun, which we all encounter every day unless we are shut-ins or vampires, not only cause skin cancer, but are also the biggest factor in our skin’s aging. Daily sunscreen is the most effective anti-aging product we have. But most guys don’t wear it for the same reason as moisturizer (“I don’t like how it feels” *crying face emoji*). That’s no longer an excuse. Instead of using a moisturizer that has a tiny amount of SPF, look for a sunscreen that has skin-hydrating ingredients. That way you can wear it over your moisturizer (more hydration never hurt anyone), or on its own occasionally, like when it’s hot.

For Every Day

Paula’s Choice Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50

Jaxon Lane Rain or Shine Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen

For Extra Protection

Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Face Serum SPF 60+

For Dark Skin

Mele Dew the Most Sheer Moisturizer SPF 30

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Congrats: you’ve learned how to wash your face like an adult and you even found a moisturizing sunscreen you don’t mind wearing every day. It’s time to graduate to the next level.

Step 1: Chemical Exfoliation

Regular exfoliation is important because it gets rid of dead skin cells that stick around on the surface of our face where they can clog your pores, keep products like moisturizers from working their best, and make your skin look dull. But before everyone comes at me saying that exfoliation should be in the beginner section, hear this: men exfoliate every time they shave. That means some of us exfoliate every single day without realizing it. If you are going to exfoliate on purpose (which most of us should do about once a week), don’t use scrub, which can be too harsh. Instead look for an exfoliator containing alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid, which will slough away dead cells more gently. Use your chemical exfoliator once or twice a week after cleansing, but before applying your other products.

For Dull Skin

REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner

Skinfix Resurface+ AHA/BHA Niacinamide Exfoliating Pads

For Oily Skin

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx Acne Eliminating Pads

For Sensitive Skin

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

Step 2: Serum

If your skincare routine were a smoothie, serum would be the wheatgrass shot (or whatever booster you want, I don’t know your life). Serums are more potent than your daily moisturizer, and are meant to impart active ingredients and nutrients more quickly and effectively. The good news is that no matter your skin concern, there is a serum for that. The bad news is that it can be hard to know what you need. If you’re new to the serum game, look for one that addresses a variety of issues: They’ll usually contain hydrating and skin-building ingredients that all skin can benefit from. Use it twice a day, after your cleanser and before your moisturizer.

For Everything

Venn Age-Reversing All-In-One Concentrate

Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum

Now 11% Off

For Skin Protection

Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Serum

Ursa Major Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum

For Hydration

Versed Hydration Station Booster Facial Treatment

Now 17% Off

Step 3: Mask

There are hundreds of different kinds of masks, and what they all have in common is that they’re meant to supplement our core skincare routines. They’re like serums, in that they deliver more concentrated ingredients and target specific skin concerns. The best kind of mask for men, especially beginners, is a clay mask. These masks use ingredients like clay and mud to cleanse deep into your pores (deeper than your twice-daily cleanser can go) and remove built-up dirt, oil and debris. But, also like serums, you can find masks that do almost anything – like exfoliate and hydrate – so no matter what you’re trying to target, there’s a mask for that. Most masks should be used once or twice a week.

For Deep Cleansing

Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Minimizing Cleansing Clay Mask

For Hydration

The Wolf Project Hydrating Sheet Masks

Malin + Goetz Detox Face Mask

For Exfoliation

Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque

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There’s not a dead skin cell in sight and your pores are clean AF. Maybe you even have multiple serums. Welcome to the big leagues.

Step 1: Retinol

Some people confuse retinol with an exfoliator, but it’s actually a form of Vitamin A that helps cell turnover (growing new skin cells and getting rid of old ones) and attacks signs of aging. The reason it’s an advanced move is because it can be harsh on sensitive skin and if you wear it, you absolutely must wear sunscreen every day (it can make skin more sensitive to light). It can also make skin flaky, especially at the beginning, so look for a gentle version that also contains moisturizing ingredients. Apply your retinol at night right after you wash your face and before putting on any other products.

If You Want a Serum

The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane

If You Want Pads

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel

If You Want a Cream

Fig. 1 Retinol Night Cream No. 1

If You Want a Bundle

Eau Thermale Avène Anti-Aging Essentials

Step 2: Toner

Lots of people think of toner as a second cleanser and, sure, sometimes it can help remove dirt and oil left over from your cleansing step. But the real purpose is to balance the pH of your skin after cleansing. If you have oily skin or struggle with acne, toner can be an invaluable step in keeping your skin clear and shine free; if you have dry skin, it can help restore much-needed moisture. Use a cotton pad to swipe some of it over your face after cleansing or if you’re not a cotton pad man, use one in a gel form after washing.

For Dry Skin

Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Toner

Belif Problem Solution Toner

For Oily Skin

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner

If You Want a Gel

Boy de Chanel Anti-Shine Toning Lotion

Thayers Witch Hazel Facial Toner

Step 3: Night Cream

Wearing a special moisturizer at night may seem crazy at first, but while you’re resting, your skin is trying to rebuild itself. Night creams are typically very, very hydrating and contain specific active ingredients like peptides to help this regenerating process. For added value, try a night cream that contains anti-aging retinol or gentle exfoliating acids that work overnight. Wearing the same moisturizer during the day and night is fine, but having a separate cream at night is the real pro move.

For Gentle Exfoliation

Ole Henriksen Goodnight Glow Bakuchiol Sleeping Crème

Harry’s Hydrating Night Lotion

For Anti-Aging

Clarins Multi-Active Night Cream

For Deep Hydration

Naturium Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream

Elemis Pro-Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream

Garrett Munce writes about men’s style and grooming. He’s written for Esquire, New York Magazine, Spotlyte, and Very Good Light and held staff positions at GQ and W. Follow his skincare obsession on Instagram at @garrettmunce.

Barry Samaha is the former style commerce editor at Esquire, where he covered all things fashion and grooming. Previously, he was an editor at Harper’s Bazaar, Surface, and WWD, along with overseeing editorial content at Tod’s Group. He has also written for The Daily Beast, Coveteur, Departures, Paper, Bustle Group, Forbes, and many more. He is based in New York City and can’t seem to find enough closet space for all his shoes. 

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