The Ultimate Skin Care Routine for Men

Be honest: How much attention to you really pay to your skin? When it comes to caring for your complexion, everyone’s skin could use some daily TLC! The good news is, a regular skin care routine doesn’t have to be 10 steps long and take what feels like hours to complete each morning and night. Luckily, you can keep things pretty simple. Not sure where to begin? Well, you’re in the right place! Consider this the ultimate guide to men’s skin care. Let’s get started!

1. Cleanse Your Face Morning and Night

So, you’ve been using a bar soap your entire life—that’s totally cool, right? Uh-uh. It’s time to ditch the bar soap and reach for a cleanser specifically designed for your facial skin instead. Whether you’ve got dry skin, oily skin, or anything in between, look for one that’s formulated for your specific skin type. Working out? Stash a bag of cleansing towelettes in your gym bag so that you can wipe your face in the locker room post-exercise.

Product pick: L'Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Hydra Energetic Extreme Cleanser Infused with Charcoal. Pollution, sweat, and impurities can build up on your skin, which can lead to clogged pores. This cleanser is formulated with charcoal to capture and get rid of all kinds of dirt. Plus, it addresses skin issues caused by daily city grime, including oily skin, dirt, dullness, and clogged pores. Apply the cleanser to wet skin twice daily, focusing on the forehead, nose, and chin, since these areas may be oilier than the rest of your face.

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Think you don’t need moisturizer if you’ve got oily skin? Think again! Every skin type could benefit from some hydration. The best time to apply moisturizer is when your skin is still damp (this can help lock in hydration)—so don’t completely dry off after you’re done cleansing.

Product pick: L'Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue 24 HR Moisturizer. Fatigue can do a number on your skin, leaving it feeling dry and looking dull. This moisturizer targets the five signs of skin fatigue: dryness, dullness, tightness, roughness, and loss of firmness. Morning and night, energetically massage the moisturizer over cleansed skin.

3. Don’t Skip the Broad-Spectrum SPF

Nope, SPF isn’t just a necessary skin care step when you’re spending the day at the beach. You can get burned even on cloudy days—and spending prolonged periods of time out in the sun without wearing protection can lead to visible signs of aging down the road (think dark spots and wrinkles). According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you should wear broad-spectrum (meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays) SPF of 15 or higher every day, but you should switch to broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher if you’re going to spending an extended amount of time out in the sun. You should apply your sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 15 minutes before you go outside and reapply it every two hours. (You should also consider wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses to help shield yourself from the sun, too). Now, we said we’d keep this skin care routine simple. If you’re short on time, cut one step out of your routine by using a moisturizer formulated with broad-spectrum SPF. (And FYI, this should be the last step in your skin care routine!)

Product pick: L'Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Vita Lift SPF 15 Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Moisturizer. This moisturizer is formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 15, has a non-greasy, non-sticky feel, and helps provide long-lasting hydration. Apply it to your face and neck in the morning—and bring it with you so that you can reapply every two hours.

4. Use a Gentle Hand While Shaving

You may not realize this, but some razors can be too harsh on your skin. Ouch! Make sure you’re being gentle while you shave as to avoid irritation. And once you’re done, use an after shave balm.

Product pick: L'Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Hydra Energetic After Shave Balm. This balm addresses the signs of post-shaving discomfort and helps provide long-lasting hydration. Simply apply it all over your face and neck after shaving.

5. Pay Attention to Your Eyes

Sometimes, your under-eye area just need a little extra love! Since the skin under your eyes is thinner, signs of aging—like dark circles and puffiness—can show up here a first. For a refreshing treat, try an eye serum with a cooling applicator.

Product pick: L'Oréal Paris Men Expert™ Hydra Energetic Ice Cold Eye Roller. This eye serum targets the five signs of tired eyes—dark circles, eye bags, puffiness, tiredness, and roughness—and it has a cooling applicator. Gently roll the serum under each eye, starting from the bridge of your nose and moving outward.