How To Build A Skin Care Routine For Men: 4-Step Routines For Morning & Night

If you're interested in making a foray into skin care (or updating your current lineup) but don't know where to start, well, consider this your entry point. Below, find what men should look for in a routine, with morning and evening regimens to follow. 

Perhaps this goes without saying, but it's important that men with facial hair care for their entire face, not just the regions of exposed skin. Just because your skin may be covered by facial hair doesn't mean it's safe from irritants or environmental aggressors. "A beard can often hide certain skin conditions or issues," says board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of Ava MD Dermatology, the SkinFive and The Box by Dr. Ava.

Men's skin also tends to run on the oily side: Not only can they have larger, more concentrated oil glands, says Zeichner, but they also typically have more testosterone, which can increase oil production. Finally, men generally have more terminal hairs (thick, strong hairs; opposite of vellus, peach-fuzz hairs) than women, which may require more targeted treatments for things like facial ingrowns and razor burns. 

Your specific order of operations can be as simple or robust as you please, but for the purposes of this guide, we'll stick to the basics: cleanse, treat, and moisturize (and protect). Follow along below:

Some sort of cleansing step is necessary before jumping into treatment serums and moisturizer. If you wake up feeling especially dry, a splash of water should suffice just fine, but considering men's skin can run a bit oilier, you might want to grab a face wash (see here for all of our favorites). 

Note: If you shave in the morning, do so after you cleanse (unless you use an electric razor, which works best on dry skin). On the days you shave, you might want to skip the actives and go straight to moisturizer—shaving exfoliates the skin, and freshly exfoliated skin can be more easily irritated.     

The texture depends on your individual skin type, and your preferences can fluctuate depending on the seasons, but you'll want to introduce ingredients that support and strengthen the skin barrier. Some noteworthy players include ceramides, glycerin, colloidal oat, and aloe. Not to mention, these hydrating, cooling ingredients can function as a soothing aftershave, too. 

Even if you choose to forgo the morning cleanser, you need a nighttime wash. Not only is a daily cleaning necessary to remove gunk, particulate matter, and daily grime from your skin, but other skin care ingredients won't be able to do their job without a clean canvas. "Impurities on the skin can prevent active ingredients from penetrating," board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann, M.D., says regarding skin care order. 

"[Men] may do better with an astringent for oily areas as well as a higher strength of a retinoid or an AHA," says Shamban. So while how often you should exfoliate ultimately differs from person to person, men may be able to get away with more exfoliation. Remember, though: If you shave, you're exfoliating the skin, so layering on another acid may not be necessary that night.

Again, you'll want to moisturize to keep hydration locked in. Find a specific texture that works for you, but you may want to opt for a denser cream at night. The skin is more permeable while you sleep2, which makes it easier for water to seep out. 

Another helpful tip from Zeichner: "Keep oils on the hair itself and try to avoid skin contact." While a conditioning beard oil can nourish the hairs and keep them soft, a heavy formula has the potential to clog pores and lead to breakouts. 

Men's skin does have some structural differences from women's, which may require a slightly tweaked routine. But no one's skin functions exactly the same, anyway, regardless of gender; it's all about finding the right ingredients and steps that work for you. Regard the above regimens as a starting point, and feel free to edit or level up as necessary.