The Patrick Bateman Skincare Routine: Create a Wall Street-Worthy Morning Ritual
When American Psycho hit cinemas, it introduced audiences to one of pop culture’s most infamous anti-heroes: Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale).
A Wall Street banker with an immaculate apartment, an expensive business card, and a love of ‘80s soft rock, Bateman’s habits extended far beyond power lunches and mergers. Yet, while his violent impulses are best confined to the screen, there is one ritual of his that, a quarter of a century on, is still worth revisiting: the Patrick Bateman skincare routine.
Like Bateman, Kiehl’s was born in New York City – but instead of skyscrapers and serial confessions, our heritage is grounded in honest, best-selling skincare formulas. So, if you’ve ever been curious about recreating the American Psycho beauty routine, we can help.
Below, we’re breaking down each step of Bateman’s legendary regimen – from cleansing and exfoliating to masking, shaving, and moisturising – and how to recreate it with Kiehl’s.
1. Lather with a body cleanser
“I begin with a deep pore cleanser...”
Despite the name, the iconic Patrick Bateman skincare routine actually starts with body care – a body cleanse, to be exact – to remove excess oil, sweat, and impurities that build up on the skin. We suggest starting with the Body Fuel Wash, an all-over body cleanser that delivers an invigorating blend of caffeine, menthol, vitamin E, vitamin C, and zinc to the skin.
While showering, apply onto damp skin – working into a lather, before rinsing thoroughly. Not sure what body care is all about? Explore our guide to what body care is – and the many benefits of a body care routine – for the full take.
2. Clear impurities with a facial cleanser
“… then, in the shower, follow with a water-activated cleanser...”
Although he could never cleanse his mind of impurities, Patrick Bateman’s skin was squeaky clean. As the foundation of the Patrick Bateman skincare routine, then, a facial cleanser helps clear debris from the skin and prep the complexion for the steps that follow.
Remove dirt, oil, and impurities with the Ultra Facial Barrier-Hydrating Cleanser. This hydrating cream-to-foam cleanser uses amino acid surfactants to gently cleanse without robbing the skin of moisture – making it particularly effective for dry and sensitive skin. To apply, simply wet your face, work the cleanser into a lather, and rinse well.
3. Scrub with an exfoliant
“… and, on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub.”
Dead skin cells are the first casualty in the Patrick Bateman skincare routine.
Men’s skin can be especially prone to excess oil and clogged pores, but exfoliation can help slough surface dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. Enriched with apricot kernels, caffeine, vitamin E, and citrus extracts, our Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub helps remove debris, promote a smoother skin surface, and soften tough facial hair for a more comfortable shave.
To exfoliate your face, start with wet skin and gently massage the product all over. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.
4. Target with a face mask
“… After that, I apply a facial mask, which I leave on for 10 minutes.”
In American Psycho, Patrick Bateman wears a metaphorical mask – one that hides his darker impulses beneath a polished Wall Street exterior.
Fittingly, then, his skincare routine also includes a literal mask: a face mask.
Blemishes aren’t one of Patrick Bateman’s usual targets, but he makes an exception in the name of clear, smooth skin.
Every few days, you can substitute your exfoliating step in the American Psycho beauty routine with the Rare Earth Pore-Minimizing Clay Mask. Formulated with fairly traded Amazonian White Clay, this purifying, pore-refining mask helps draw impurities from the skin, reduce excess oil, and leave skin looking visibly smoother. Apply a thin layer to cleansed skin: leaving on for 10 minutes, before removing with a warm, wet towel. Then, pat the skin dry.
5. Prep for a close shave
“Then, I apply a shaving cream … preferably with a brush, which softens the beard as it lifts the whiskers.”
Although it didn’t make the cut for the film, fans of Bret Easton Ellis’s original novel will appreciate the attention to detail of this shaving step in the Patrick Bateman skincare routine.
This level of precision reflects Bateman’s meticulous approach to grooming, with every step calculated and considered – from his choice of cream to the tools he uses. We advocate for a similarly selective approach, which is why we formulated the Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream Blue Eagle to allow for a smooth, close shave without the use of a brush. (Although a shaving brush, as Bateman suggests, does help soften the beard and lift the hairs.)
Apply your shaving cream over the face and neck after rinsing (or, if you’re Bateman in that iconic scene from the film, peeling) off your face mask.
Want to dive deeper into this key step in any men’s skincare routine? Explore our top shaving tips for men to master your technique.
6. Rebalance with toner
“Next, one should use an alcohol-free, anti-bacterial toner...”
We take umbrage with the majority of Patrick Bateman’s opinions, but credit where credit’s due – he understood the importance of toner in skincare.
Toner helps remove trace impurities missed in the cleansing steps, rebalance the skin’s pH levels, and enhance product absorption.
Infused with the comforting benefits of calendula, the Calendula Herbal Extract Toner is ideal for normal, oily skin, and sensitive skin types. This alcohol-free formula helps unify skin tone and improve signs of distressed skin – like excess oil and visible redness. To apply, simply moisten a clean cotton pad and smooth over the skin, avoiding the eye area.
7. Hydrate with moisturiser
“... while applying moisturiser is the final step. Use an emollient lotion to soften the skin and seal in the moisture…”
While we don’t endorse Bateman’s unsavoury proclivities, we can’t help but admire his unwavering commitment to skin hydration.
Moisturiser is an essential component of any skincare routine: it locks in hydration at the skin surface, keeps the skin soft, diminishes the appearance of fine lines, and helps create a protective barrier between the skin and external stressors.
Like Kiehl’s, Patrick Bateman is a fan of emollients, and we can think of no better ingredient than squalane to get the job done. For lightweight yet lasting hydration, apply the Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane to the face and neck in this penultimate step of the Patrick Bateman skincare routine.
8. Target with eye cream
“… then apply an anti-ageing eye balm to finish.”
Like a thriller with one last twist, this American Psycho skincare routine wouldn’t be complete without one more step: under-eye cream.
Under-eye creams work by delivering targeted ingredients to the eye contour area – one of the first areas to show visible signs of ageing, such as crow’s feet and puffiness.
Formulated with replenishing bilberry seed extract and collagen peptide, the Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment helps visibly refine skin texture, smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce puffiness. Simply apply half a pea-sized amount to the brow bone, eyelid, under-eye, and outer eye corner.
If Patrick Bateman’s skincare routine existed in the 2020s, we’re certain that it would have included the pinnacle of anti-ageing ingredients – retinol. So, explore our tips on how to use retinol for beginners, next.
Shop this article
Ultra Facial Cleanser
A foaming facial cleanser suitable for all skin types, including dry and sensitive. Gently removes excess oil, dirt and debris without drying or stripping the skin.
Ultra Facial Toner
A gentle, alcohol-free facial toner for all skin types.
Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil
A nighttime anti-ageing face oil that visibly restores skin while you sleep.
Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Our #1 squalane moisturiser delivers ultra-lightweight, 24-hour hydration and promotes barrier repair for softer, healthier skin.
