Skincare for men has been made to seem far more complicated than it is. Strip away the marketing and you are left with four steps that genuinely matter — and a great deal that does not.
You do not need a ten-product regimen. You need to do four simple things consistently. Here they are, in order.
1. Cleanse
Wash your face morning and night with a gentle cleanser suited to your skin type — not with bar soap, which strips the skin and leaves it tight. Cleansing removes the oil, sweat and grime of the day and prepares the skin for everything that follows.
2. Treat (optional but worthwhile)
If you have a specific concern — dullness, fine lines, the occasional breakout — a targeted serum is where you address it. A vitamin C serum in the morning brightens and protects; a retinol at night, used sparingly, is the single most evidence-backed anti-ageing ingredient there is. Introduce these slowly.
3. Moisturise
Every man, every skin type, needs to moisturise — yes, including oily skin, which often over-produces oil precisely because it is dehydrated. A light moisturiser keeps the skin barrier healthy and comfortable. Apply while the skin is still slightly damp.
4. Protect
Sunscreen is not optional and not just for holidays. Daily sun exposure is the leading cause of premature ageing and far more serious harm besides. A daily SPF of 30 or higher, worn every morning, does more for the long-term condition of your skin than every serum combined.
If you do only one new thing, wear sunscreen every day. Nothing else on this list comes close to its long-term effect.
What You Can Ignore
Toners, essences, exfoliating three times a day, and the endless parade of "must-have" products are, for most men, unnecessary. Consistency with the four steps above will do more than novelty ever will. Skincare rewards the tortoise, not the hare.
For the shaving side of your routine, see our guide to the traditional wet shave.