How do men know what skincare to use?

How can you tell your skin type?

Wash your face, dry it gently and notice how it looks and feels about 30 minutes later. Blotting papers can help show where oil collects, but you do not need equipment to notice shine, tightness or flaky patches. Treat this as a useful observation, not a definitive test: there is no single universal skin type test.2

• Dry skin feels tight or looks dull, flaky or scaly.
• Oily skin looks shiny or greasy and can have blackheads or pimples.
• Combination skin has oily and dry areas. The forehead, nose and chin are often oilier than the cheeks, but the reverse also counts.
• Normal skin feels neither tight nor oily and is not sensitive.
• Sensitive skin reacts with redness, itching, burning or stinging. Sensitivity can coexist with dry, oily or combination skin.

Reassess if products stop feeling suitable. Skin type can change with age, seasons, hormones, stress and medications. With combination skin, different areas can need different care rather than the same treatment across your whole face.2

What should you look for on the label?

Hyaluronic acid draws water into skin; ceramides help replenish the skin's protective barrier. These are useful moisturizer ingredients, not a requirement to buy a separate serum. For sensitive skin, distinguish fragrance free from unscented: an unscented product can contain fragrance added to hide other smells.13

Cleanser prices vary widely, which gives the shopping aisle more variety than your routine needs. Focus on mildness and how your skin responds. Cleansing removes oil, dirt and sunscreen, but excessive washing can leave skin dry and irritated.4

How do you use the basics?

1. 1Cleanse when you wake up, before bed and after sweating. Wet your face with lukewarm water, apply a mild cleanser with your fingertips and use gentle circular movements. Rinse completely and pat dry with a clean towel.
2. 2Apply moisturizer morning and evening while your skin is still slightly damp. Moisturizer helps retain water; apply it after shaving or showering too.
3. 3Apply sunscreen every morning before going outdoors. Choose broad spectrum protection, which covers UVA and UVB rays, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistance.

Cover exposed skin, including your ears, neck, scalp and lips. Reapply sunscreen every two hours outdoors and immediately after swimming or sweating. Use shade and protective clothing as well. Darker skin still needs sun protection, and clouds are not a reason to skip it: UVA rays can pass through clouds and glass.236

Mineral and chemical sunscreens both protect mainly by absorbing ultraviolet radiation. SPF primarily describes protection against UVB, the rays responsible for sunburn, so check broad spectrum protection as well as the number. No sunscreen blocks all ultraviolet radiation.6

What changes if you shave?

1. 1Wet your skin and hair before shaving to soften them.
2. 2Use a moisturizing shaving cream and shave in the direction of hair growth.
3. 3If you regularly get razor bumps, razor burn or ingrown hairs, try a razor with one or two blades rather than a closer shaving razor. Do not stretch your skin taut.
4. 4Rinse the razor after each swipe and replace the blade after five to seven shaves.
5. 5Finish with a gentle moisturizer. Avoid alcohol based aftershaves, which can dry and irritate skin.

When should you add a treatment?

For oily skin with clogged pores or acne, a cleanser containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is an option. Sensitive skin needs more caution with both. If you already use an acne treatment that stays on your skin, adding a medicated cleanser can cause excessive dryness and irritation. Avoid scrubbing: it can irritate skin and worsen acne.245

For a more advanced routine, vitamin C serum can help protect against free radicals, substances that damage cells. Apply it after cleansing and before moisturizer in the morning. Retinol can help with fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and uneven pigmentation. Use retinol at night because it increases sun sensitivity. Neither product replaces sunscreen.1

How long should you give the routine?

Hydration can improve quickly, while acne, pigmentation and visible ageing concerns often take four to eight weeks of consistent care. That is a general timeframe, not a reason to keep using something that irritates your skin. Establish the basics before adding extras, and judge a treatment against the concern you bought it for.7

Putting your products beside your toothbrush can help you remember them, without giving skincare its own calendar invitation. Link the routine to brushing your teeth or shaving, and keep products visible. A short routine followed daily is more useful than a complicated one followed occasionally.7

When should you stop or get help?

Stop using a product that causes persistent burning, itching, redness or a rash rather than adding more treatments. Cleansers can cause irritation or allergic reactions, and fragrance reactions can appear after a delay. Get help if symptoms persist or you cannot work out which products suit your skin.124

See a dermatologist for acne, rosacea or eczema that does not improve with your routine; a prescription treatment can be more appropriate than another cosmetic product. Check your skin regularly and arrange an appointment for a spot that differs from others, changes, itches or bleeds.125