Skincare products for men

What are the best skincare products for men?

The best choices match your skin's needs: gentle cleansing, enough moisture and reliable sun protection. A men's label is not a skin type, however emphatically the bottle announces it. Use the following features as your shopping list.2

Which skin type are you buying for?

• Dry skin feels rough, flaky or itchy.
• Oily skin looks shiny and feels greasy.
• Combination skin is oily in some places and dry in others.
• Sensitive skin can sting or burn after product use.
• Normal skin is clear and not sensitive.

For skin prone to acne, look for cleansers and moisturizers labeled "oil free" or "noncomedogenic," meaning formulated not to clog pores. For sensitive skin, choose mild products labeled "fragrance free." "Unscented" is different: a product can contain fragrance added to mask another smell. Skip cleanser microbeads, which can cause irritation and inflammation.367

How to use your products morning and night

1. 1Cleanse when you wake up, before bed and after sweating. Wet your face with lukewarm water, gently massage a mild cleanser with your fingertips, rinse completely and pat dry with a clean towel.
2. 2Apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. Use it morning and night, and after shaving. Moisturizer traps water in the skin; leaving some moisture after cleansing gives it water to retain.
3. 3Apply sunscreen in the morning before going outdoors. Cover all exposed skin, not just the center of your face. Reapply during outdoor exposure as directed on the package, usually at least every two hours, and after swimming or sweating.

Use gentle pressure rather than scrubbing, including after exercise or during an acne flare. Scrubbing irritates skin and can worsen acne. Traditional bar soap can strip away natural oils, so a mild facial cleanser is a better starting point. Hot water can also remove skin oils.12

What should you look for in sunscreen?

Broad spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB rays. SPF means sun protection factor and describes protection against UVB damage. Choose SPF 30 or higher with water resistance, even if swimming is not on the agenda. Apply generously 30 minutes before going outside, including in winter and on cloudy days.5

Cover your nose, ears, neck, hands and exposed scalp, and use a lip balm with sunscreen. Sunscreen does not replace shade, protective clothing or a wide brimmed hat. A baseball cap leaves your ears and the sides of your face exposed. Less expensive sunscreens with the same ingredients work as well as expensive ones, so price alone is not a useful way to choose.5

Which products help with shaving?

Shaving cream softens hair, moisturizes skin and adds a layer between the blade and skin. It is less irritating and more moisturizing than soap. Choose a gentle shaving cream or gel and finish with moisturizer. Alcohol based aftershave can dry and irritate skin; moisturizer is more helpful for most people.14

1. 1Wash the area with a moisturizing cleanser and warm water to soften the hair.
2. 2Apply shaving cream or gel and leave it for two to three minutes before shaving.
3. 3Shave in the direction of hair growth without stretching the skin tight. Aim for one pass rather than repeatedly shaving the same area.
4. 4Rinse the blade frequently to clear hair and shaving cream.
5. 5Rinse your skin with cool water, then apply moisturizer.

If you regularly get razor bumps, burns or ingrown hairs, try a razor with one or two blades rather than multiple blades. Replace a blade after five to seven shaves, or sooner if it becomes blunt or damaged. Avoid shaving irritated skin until the irritation has resolved. Shaving does not make hair grow back thicker; the cut end simply feels stiffer and looks thicker as it emerges.34

Do you need serums or exfoliants?

Serums and exfoliants are additions, not the starting requirements. Extra products should have a specific job, rather than simply giving the bathroom more tenants.1

• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help protect skin from free radicals, substances that damage cells. Apply a vitamin C serum after cleansing and before moisturizer in the morning.
• Retinol can help with fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and dark patches. It helps build collagen, a protein that gives skin structure. Use retinol at night because it increases sun sensitivity.
• Salicylic acid and glycolic acid remove dead cells through chemical exfoliation and are used in acne care. Salicylic acid also reaches into oil glands.

What should make you stop a product?

Stop using a product that causes burning, itching, swelling or a rash. A reaction can appear within minutes, but weaker irritants can take days or weeks to cause symptoms. Allergy can develop even after years of using the same product without trouble. Fragrance is the most common cause of cosmetic contact dermatitis, an irritated or allergic skin rash.6

Seek medical help for persistent or recurring reactions; cosmetic allergy can be investigated with patch testing. Trouble breathing or airway swelling needs emergency medical care. See a dermatologist if acne, eczema or rosacea is not improving with your routine. Arrange a skin check for a spot that changes, itches, bleeds or looks different from your other spots.126