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Building a Skincare Routine for Men

Read our 101 guide on creating a men's skincare routine. Learn how to use the right skincare products for men through our comprehensive guide.

mens skincare routine

Building a skincare routine can be confusing for men not well versed in skincare, but the truth is all skin requires care and attention. If you take the time to tailor a routine to your skin’s individual needs, there are countless benefits to be found.

It’s important to note that the effectiveness of certain skincare products and ingredients is not limited by gender. However, many skincare products for men are formulated to suit the fact that some men have more oily skin, a thicker, tougher skin texture and facial hair. Read on to discover how to build a simple skincare routine that suits your needs.



Benefits of building a skincare routine


The best skincare routine for men is a combination of products chosen to suit your skin type and concerns. From dry, flaky skin to acne prone skin, each man has his own needs which can be effectively managed by sticking to a daily routine. By including the basic building blocks below while taking your individual concerns into account, you’ll be well on your way to your healthiest and happiest skin.


Step 1: Cleansing


Washing your face morning and night with a designated facial cleanser is the foundation of your skincare routine. While cleansing in the evening washes away dirt and pollution, cleansing in the morning is also important to remove excess sebum (oil) produced overnight, especially for men with an oily skin type.

A good face cleanser for men will leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed, but not dry or stripped. Our Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash has a gel formula enriched with invigorating caffeine, menthol and vitamin E to awaken the skin.  Massage the cleanser into a lather on wet skin (avoiding the eyes), before rinsing well.


Step 2: Exfoliating scrub


Facial scrubs are great to use before shaving to help deal with ingrown hairs or rough patches, allowing a closer shave.

Our Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub alleviates roughness by utilising apricot kernels to physically exfoliate the skin, while citrus extracts and caffeine revive your complexion. Kiehl’s recommends using your men’s face scrub two-three times a week in place of your regular cleanser to avoid over-exfoliating.


Step 3: Toning


Toners can act as a refreshing mist post-cleansing, but they can also serve a greater purpose for oily skin types. Mattifying toners like our Men’s Oil Eliminator Refreshing Shine Control Spray Toner can further deep clean pores and keep your face shine-free throughout the day.

Spray this easy to use toning mist on freshly cleansed skin or use anytime on the go to refresh your skin.


Step 4: Serum


Now your skin is clean and toned, it’s time for the skincare equivalent of taking your vitamins: face serums. There’s a serum for almost everything, from redness to pimples, dullness to dryness. You can think of serums as super-potent yet quick-absorbing formulas where only a few drops are needed to target specific skin concerns.

When it comes to skin concerns, the signs of ageing are one of the most common concerns men seek to minimise. Enter our Age Defender Power Serum, formulated with Adenosine and Cypress Extract to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while visibly firming the skin. Spread a few drops of this lightweight serum over your face and neck both AM and PM, after cleansing but before moisturiser.


Step 5: Eye care


While we all know that eight hours of sleep is the secret to banishing dark circles and puffiness, sometimes it’s simply not possible. Fortunately, the science of skincare has found was to minimise the appearance of a late night.

Try using an eye stick like our Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer each morning to cool and calm the under eye area. Glide the cooling formula gently onto the area and pat gently with your fingers to help the caffeine and Arctic Root de-puff your eyes without stressing the delicate surrounding skin.


Step 6: Moisturise


It’s time to seal in all your good work by smoothing on a well-formulated men’s face moisturiser. Ensuring your skin stays hydrated is a must because dry skin often looks dull and uneven, as well as feeling uncomfortable. It’s also worth noting that moisturised skin tends to appear more ‘plumped’, effectively minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The best moisturiser for you strongly depends on your skin type and concerns. Men with extra oily skin should opt for an oil-free formula like our Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, while those with normal skin would best suit our energising Facial Fuel moisturiser. No matter your skin type, we recommend moisturising morning and night, every single day.


Step 7: Apply Sun Protection


Congratulations, you’ve made it to the final (and most important) step of your new daily skincare routine: sun protection. UV exposure is the single biggest cause of accelerated signs of ageing, as well as increasing your risk of skin cancer over the lifetime. That’s why it’s incredibly important to always follow up with a sunscreen or ensure your moisturiser contains at least SPF30+.


Now that you’ve successfully built and implemented your men’s facial routine, it’s time to take things to the next level. Read our guide to face masks to learn how to target your skin concerns with a relaxing facial mask.


mens skincare routine

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