The Ultimate Guide to Men’s Skincare Routines

A guide to men’s skincare routines focused on exfoliating and proper hydration through the use of moisturizers, cleansers, and our line of skincare products.

Soap and water alone is not a skin care routine.

Minimalism is wonderful when it comes to home furnishings and art, but a good skin care regimen should not begin with the thought that skin care is unnecessary and should be distilled into a single step: wash your face with whichever soap is closest to the sink.

Your face is front and center in your life, so you should be mindful of taking great care of your skin, even if you do so with simplicity. While many of us might recognize that skin care is important, the term for men can be considered somewhat nebulous in addition to feeling slightly frivolous. A proper regime needs to be neither of these.

While skincare needs are different and tailored routines vary for every man — we recommend practicing a few cardinal rules that will deliver your skin from several unsavory fates. If you’re new to skincare, don’t feel overwhelmed by the idea of a regime — you’re likely already practicing most of these without thinking twice, and together they are the foundation of skincare salvation.

For your introduction to building a skincare regime, we recommend Truefitt & Hill’s Authentic No.10. An excellent option for men looking to develop a good grooming routine — No.10 is a traditional Truefitt & Hill pick, enriched with Willow Bark and Borage Oil making it a gentle, but effective choice for skincare needs.

Begin with a good facial cleanser

While this seems intuitive, it’s a rule that many of us are guilty of breaking. Between hot showers and harsh soaps, you may notice your skin feeling dry and irritated.

The best face wash option for men involves two major capabilities: It’s important to pick a cleanser that hydrates while cleansing — eliminating the dry and tight feeling that comes with using everyday body wash or hand soap on your face. And it’s important to pick a cleanser that exfoliates to remove dead skin cells and excess oil buildup, revealing a brighter complexion and preventing breakouts.

Our suggestion: No.10 Cleansing Scrub. It helps to stimulate skin-cell renewal with gentle exfoliation; it is deep cleansing and toning—a great way to prepare the skin for a perfect shave.

Invest in a razor worth keeping

A quality razor can and should be an item that lasts a lifetime, so choosing your tool wisely is essential.

Several features contribute to making a razor a worthy tool — a pleasing exterior, satisfying weightiness, and above all else, the ability to deliver a close, clean shave in the least number of strokes possible. Repeat razor strokes, especially over thick facial hair, can lead to skin irritation, which leads to redness, bumps, ingrown hairs, and a host of other unwanted skin issues that generally come from cheap disposable razors. Between blade choices, safety razors, and straight razors — decision-making should be made based on personal needs and whether you’re interested in replacing blades over time.

The dual component of a good shave is a great shaving cream — preferably one with some nourishing and protective properties to get the most out of your shave. Shaving cream is the key to providing a barrier of protection while shaving, so it’s crucial to pick one that offers a thick lather, allowing for a silkier shave. In addition, we recommend that you shave immediately after showering, as your hair will be significantly softer from the warm water and steam.

Our suggestion: No.10 Sensitive Shave Gel: It helps to reduce inflammation, redness, and swelling as it calms, as well as soothes irritated skin. Its rich formulation reduces razor burn for a closer, yet more gentle, shave.

Aftershave shouldn’t be an afterthought

Your aftershave is responsible for soothing the skin post-shave, as well as sealing the shave and providing a barrier against the air now that you’re bare. As a rule, your aftershave should be alcohol-free because alcohol dries your skin, and dry skin means wrinkles. So why not avoid these while we still can and minimize what’s already happening to us?

We offer quite a selection of aftershave options each with it’s own unique characteristics and scent. Learn more about our aftershave options here.

Yes, you do need a moisturizer

After you cleanse and apply a pH-balancing toner, it’s time to infuse your skin with moisture to protect it from pollution, dryness, and the formation of blemishes.

Many of us assume that having naturally occurring oils on our face means that moisturizer isn’t necessary. We beg to differ.

Although it sounds counterintuitive to apply a moisturizer to normal-to-oily skin, it will help reduce sebum production and give skin a better texture with the proper use of certain oils. Our skin overproduces oil when it feels as though it’s too dry, so creating a moisturized environment will keep overproduction at bay and regulate oil production from our pores.

Moreover, moisturizing daily will give you softer skin that will help hair grow out more evenly and eliminate pesky, irritated skin from newly grown hair.

One of the first signs of aging for many people is the appearance of fine lines and dark circles under the eyes, so be sure to include a high-quality eye cream in your moisturizing repertoire.

Our suggestion: No.10 Optimum Moisturizer. This proactive moisturizer contains the anti-aging peptide Tego Pep 4-17, which will help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, smoothen the skin surface, increase skin elasticity, and boost collagen. In addition, it provides 24-hour moisturization and a non-greasy / matt finish.

Protect your skin from the sun

Dermatologists agree that one major contributing factor to dark spots, dryness, and fine lines is sun damage caused by UV ray exposure. Therefore, if your moisturizing lotion does not contain at least SPF 30, you’ll want to apply a high-quality sunscreen after you moisturize. Proper SPF protection will also help protect your skin from skin cancer, signs of aging, and other skin concerns related to sun damage.

Your skin type matters

When selecting products for each stage of your curated skincare routine, be sure to look for products appropriate for your unique skin type. For example, dry skin, acne-prone skin, normal skin, combination skin, and oily skin will all appreciate different approaches to cleansing, moisturizing, and shaving, so if you find your current regimen is not working, it may be time to evaluate your skin type and make changes accordingly.

Take the time

Set aside a small amount of time to complete the above steps, whether it’s every day or a few times each week. Think of it as a ritual for betterment, or at the very least, me time. We don’t think twice about twenty minutes of television, five minutes to grab a morning coffee, or an hour to hit the gym every day — we should pay our faces the same consideration as we do the rest of our bodies and minds.

Whether you’re new to skincare or elevating your daily routine to something more complete — we assure you that your face will thank you.