Should guys have a skincare routine? Yes, the skin needs cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection whether you are a man or a woman. However, that does not mean you need ten different products or have to spend a lot of time on skincare every day.
For most men, a good start is a simple routine with cleanser, face cream, and sun protection. It only takes a few minutes, and you can always add more products later if you want.
Do men really need a skincare routine?
Yes, it is good to take care of your skin, but a skincare routine for men does not have to be complicated.
During the day, the skin is exposed to things like dirt, sweat, and sun. The skin can also become dry, oily, or feel tight, just like anyone else’s.
A basic skincare routine therefore has three simple tasks:
- Cleanse the skin
- Moisturize the skin
- Protect the skin from the sun
It is a good foundation whether you have never used skincare before or already use a few products.
Simple skincare routine for men in 3 steps
If you want to keep it as simple as possible, you really only need three products:
1. Face wash → 2. Face cream → 3. Sun protection
The sun protection is used in the morning and during the day. In the evening, it is therefore enough to use cleanser and face cream.
| Morning | Evening |
|---|---|
| 1. Cleanser | 1. Cleanser |
| 2. Face cream | 2. Face cream |
| 3. Sun protection | – |
Wash your face with a face wash
The first step is to cleanse your face.
Use a cleanser intended for the face instead of regular hand soap or body wash. A face wash is designed for the skin on the face, and there are different options depending on your skin type.
In the evening, cleansing helps remove things like dirt, excess sebum, and sun protection that remain on the skin after the day.
In the morning, you can use cleanser again if you want. If your skin tends to feel dry easily, for some people it may be enough to rinse the face with water in the morning and do the proper cleansing in the evening.
Use face cream
After cleansing, use a face cream to moisturize the skin.
This also applies if you have oily skin. In that case, you can choose a lighter face cream or gel cream that does not feel heavy on the skin.
If your skin often feels dry or tight, a slightly richer cream may be a better fit.
So you do not need to make it any more complicated than this:
Wash your face → apply face cream.
If you do this regularly, you have already established the foundation of a skincare routine.
Step 3: Finish with sun protection in the morning
In the morning, finish with sun protection . It is applied after the face cream and is the last step in the skincare routine.
The order is:
Cleansing → face cream → sunscreen
If you feel that the combination of face cream and sunscreen is too heavy, you can choose lighter products that work better together.
Sunscreen is not just something for the beach. The face is an area that is often exposed to the sun, which makes SPF an important part of the morning routine.
Do men need special skincare products?
No. You do not need to buy products labeled "for men".
Skincare should primarily be chosen based on skin type and what the skin needs, not on the gender stated on the packaging.
A man with dry skin may, for example, need a richer face cream, while a man with oily skin may prefer a light gel cream. The same principle applies to other skin types.
This also makes the selection significantly larger. You can choose the products that suit your skin instead of limiting yourself to a specific men's range.
What skin type do I have?
You do not need to do any advanced skin analysis to get started. Instead, think about how your skin usually feels during the day.
Dry skin: The skin often feels dry or tight. Feel free to choose a gentle cleanser and a more moisturizing face cream.
Oily skin: The skin easily becomes shiny and produces more sebum. Feel free to choose lighter products, but do not skip moisturizing.
Combination skin: Certain parts of the face, often the forehead, nose, and chin, become oilier while other areas may be drier.
Sensitive skin: The skin reacts easily to products. Keep the routine simple and introduce new products gradually.
You do not need to find a perfect label for your skin type. The main goal is to choose products that feel good on your skin and that you actually want to keep using.
Shaving and skincare routine
If you shave, you can do it after you have cleansed your face. Cleansing removes dirt and excess sebum, while lukewarm water helps soften the beard hairs before shaving.
After shaving, rinse your face and then continue with the rest of your skincare.
A simple morning routine can, for example, look like this:
Cleansing → shaving → face cream → sunscreen
Be extra careful with strong or exfoliating products directly in connection with shaving if your skin is easily irritated.
What do you do if you have a beard?
If you have a beard, you still need to take care of the skin underneath it.
Cleanse your face as usual and try to work the cleanser down to the skin under the beard as well. The same applies to moisturizing, especially if the skin under the beard tends to feel dry.
If you have a longer or thicker beard, you can supplement with products specifically intended for the beard itself. However, they do not necessarily replace skincare for the skin underneath.
When can you add a serum?
Once you have established the basic steps, you can add a serum if you want to make the routine a little more tailored to your skin.
Serum is used after cleansing but before face cream:
Cleansing → serum → face cream → sunscreen
Which serum you choose depends on what you want to get out of your skincare. It may, for example, be extra hydration or more radiance.
But serum is an extra, not something you have to use. If you are happy with cleanser, face cream, and sunscreen, there is no reason to make your routine more complicated just for the sake of it.
Skincare for men does not need to be complicated
The most important thing is not how many products are in the bathroom cabinet, but that you find a routine that is simple enough to actually use.
If you have never had a skincare routine before, you can start with:
Morning: cleanser → face cream → sunscreen
Evening: cleanser → face cream
Try that routine first. If you later want to do more, you can add serum or other products based on what your skin needs.
Common questions about skincare routines for men
Should guys have a skincare routine?
Yes. Men, just like women, can benefit from a basic skincare routine with cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen. The routine does not need to include many products to give the skin a good foundation.
What skincare does a guy need?
A good start is a face wash, face cream, and sunscreen. After that, you can add more products if you have a particular need or become more interested in skincare.
How do you start skincare as a guy?
Start simple. Wash your face with a face wash, use face cream afterward, and finish with sunscreen in the morning. Once that routine has become a habit, you can decide whether you need anything more.
Is skincare different for men and women?
There are some biological differences between men's and women's skin, but you do not need to choose skincare based solely on gender. Skin type, the properties of the product, and what your skin needs are more important when choosing products.
Can men use regular skincare?
Yes. Skincare products do not need to be labeled "for men." A man can use the same cleansers, serums, face creams, and sunscreens as others as long as the products suit his skin.
How often should men use skincare?
A simple routine can be done morning and evening. In the morning, you finish with sunscreen, and in the evening, you focus on cleansing and moisturizing the skin.
