Skincare for Men: How to Build a Simple Everyday Routine

By Your Health Magazine Contributor

Your Health Magazine Contributor

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Skincare for Men: How to Build a Simple Everyday Routine

A simple skincare routine for men starts with a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and daytime sun protection. Serums, toners, and eye products can wait. 

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) organizes its budget-friendly advice around cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting the skin. 

It also says the basic elements of an effective plan stay the same for men and women, despite differences in their skin.

Key takeaways

• Build your routine around cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection.
• Use label cues to match products to your skin.
• Save optional treatments for a specific concern, and introduce them one at a time.

Choose products that suit your skin

A few label cues can help you choose the essentials without studying a long ingredient list.

Gentle cleanser. Look for a cleanser that removes sweat, oil, and the day’s grime without leaving your skin feeling tight. 

If you get breakouts, the AAD suggests choosing cleansers and moisturizers labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic, which means they are formulated not to clog pores. 

If fragrance bothers your skin, choose products labeled fragrance-free. The AAD cautions that unscented products may still contain fragrance-related ingredients.

Moisturizer. A moisturizer helps hold water in the skin after washing. Oily skin still needs moisture; a lightweight formula may feel more comfortable. 

Apply the same label cues here: oil-free or non-comedogenic for acne-prone skin, and fragrance-free if fragrance irritates you.

Sunscreen. The AAD recommends sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher, broad-spectrum, and water resistant. Broad-spectrum means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. 

A moisturizer with sunscreen can cover both morning jobs if you apply and reapply it as directed. 

CeraVe’s AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 is one example, and it is marketed for both men and women. Check any combined product against the AAD’s sunscreen criteria. A moisturizer without SPF does not provide sun protection.

Serums, eye products, exfoliants, and retinol are optional. Consider them later if you have a specific goal, and add them one at a time. 

The AAD warns that using too many products, particularly more than one anti-aging product, can irritate the skin.

If you prefer shopping from one range, YCODE Skincare for Men offers individual products and bundled routines. Its Starter Kit pairs an eye serum with a moisturizer, and its Daily Essentials set combines a face serum with a moisturizer. 

Check each kit’s contents against what you already own. YCODE states that its current core products do not contain SPF, so you will need a cleanser and separate sunscreen to complete either routine.

Follow a short morning and evening routine

Use the same cleansing and moisturizing steps morning and evening, with sun protection added in the morning.

Morning. Wet your face with lukewarm water and apply cleanser with your fingertips, as the AAD recommends. 

Avoid scrubbing with a washcloth. Rinse, then pat gently with a clean towel. Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist-led guidance recommends applying moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp to help hold that water in. 

Apply sunscreen according to its label, covering your face, ears, and neck. If your moisturizer contains suitable sun protection, those last two steps can become one.

Outdoors, the AAD recommends reapplying sunscreen approximately every two hours and after swimming or sweating, following the directions on the bottle. Water resistant does not mean waterproof; the AAD notes that no sunscreen is waterproof. Shade, a hat, and long sleeves provide additional protection when you’re outdoors.

Evening. Wash to remove the day’s sunscreen, sweat, and grime, then moisturize. The AAD advises limiting washing to twice a day and after sweating rather than washing repeatedly throughout the day. 

You don’t need a separate night cream if your regular moisturizer has no SPF. If you add an optional treatment later, follow its label or your clinician’s directions for when to apply it.

On shaving days. Shave between cleansing and moisturizing. After washing, keep your skin and facial hair wet to soften them, as the AAD recommends. 

Apply shaving cream or gel, shave in the direction the hair grows, and rinse. Then moisturize, followed by sunscreen if it’s morning.

Make changes slowly and respond to irritation

Test a new product. Before applying an unfamiliar product to your whole face, the AAD recommends testing it on a small area twice daily for seven to 10 days. 

Follow the label’s instructions, including when to rinse it off. If the test area stays free of irritation, use the product more widely. Introduce one new product at a time so you can trace a reaction.

A home test may reveal irritation, but it doesn’t rule out every allergy or replace medical patch testing. Stop using a product that causes stinging, redness, or a rash. Burning is a warning sign, not evidence that a product is working.

Keep extras optional. A basic routine doesn’t need an exfoliation schedule or a serum. If you later want to try a serum, YCODE describes its Hydrating Face Serum as lightweight. Give it the same test period before adding another new product. For more guidance, see understanding your skin type.

Know when to get help. The AAD advises seeing a dermatologist if razor bumps persist after you change your shaving technique. 

Seek medical advice for irritation that persists or worsens, or for acne or other skin symptoms that don’t improve. If you notice a suspicious skin spot, make an appointment with a dermatologist.