Skincare routine
for men
Pick your skin type and concerns. Get a morning and night routine in the right order, with nothing that clashes.
- 1Your skin
- 2Your day
- 3Your routine
Your dayFrom waking up to bed, in order
Ingredient types, not brands. Every active is checked against the others with our pair verdicts.
Everything in this tool, in full
Know your skin
Shave with the grain: in the direction your hair grows. To find it, pull the skin taut in a mirror and look. AAD 1AAD 2
Know your skin type
- Skin type matters more than being a man. Wash, wait 30 minutes: oily, tight, mixed or stinging tells you which one. Cleveland Clinic 7Cleveland Clinic 14
- Men’s skin tends to be thicker, and testosterone can make it oilier. AAD 2Cleveland Clinic 7
- Shaving is the big difference: razor bumps, burn and ingrown hairs are common. AAD 2
What to look for
- A mild facial cleanser and lukewarm water instead of bar soap. AAD 2Cleveland Clinic 7
- A moisturizing shave cream. Never dry shave. AAD 1AAD 20
- A moisturizer with hyaluronic acid or ceramides, put on while skin is damp. Cleveland Clinic 7AAD 2
- “Oil-free” or “non-comedogenic” if you break out; “fragrance-free” if your skin is sensitive. Check a label in the pore checker AAD 2
What to avoid
- Alcohol-based aftershaves: they dry and irritate. A moisturizer helps more. Cleveland Clinic 7
- Hot water, scrubbing and rubbing your face dry. Cleveland Clinic 7
- Dull blades. Change them every 5–7 shaves. AAD 2
- Stretching the skin while you shave, or plucking hairs out of bumps. AAD 20
Common mistakes
- Shaving against the grain. AAD 1
- Sunscreen on the face only: ears, neck, lips and a thinning scalp burn too. AAD 2
- Never checking your skin. Men over 50 have a higher melanoma risk; show a dermatologist any spot that changes. AAD 2
- Buying a whole kit. Cleanse, moisturize and protect covers the basics. AAD 13
Other skin types
One face scan. Your whole routine, sorted.
This page answered your question. MySkincare starts from your own skin, and the products you already use.
- 1Scan your face3 photos: front, left profile, right profile.
- 2See your skin scoreFree6 zones scored separately: forehead, eye area, T-zone, both cheeks, chin.
- 3Scan your productsIt reads each ingredient list and says: keep it, watch it or replace it.
- 4Follow your routineMorning and night, checked so your products work together. With reminders.
Questions people ask
What is a basic skincare routine for men?
Cleanse, moisturize, protect: a mild face wash morning and night, a moisturizer after washing or shaving, and a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every morning.
Do men need moisturizer?
Yes. The AAD says to moisturize daily, right after washing or shaving while skin is still damp. For most men it also does a better job than an alcohol aftershave.
How do I stop razor bumps?
Soften hair first, use a moisturizing shave cream, shave with the grain with a sharp single-blade or electric razor, and pass over each area no more than twice. Shaving daily, or at least every 2–3 days, helps; growing a beard clears most bumps in about 3 months.
What helps dark spots on a man’s face?
Daily sunscreen first. Ingredients the AAD lists for fading spots include azelaic acid, vitamin C and retinoids. Expect months, not weeks.
Sources
- Pair verdicts from our ingredient mixer (FDA labels, studies, or expert consensus where no study exists)
American Academy of Dermatologyaad.org
- 6 razor bump prevention tips (2022)
Shave daily, or at least every 2–3 days; shave softened hair with the grain; moisturizing shaving cream; cool washcloth after; replace blades after 5–7 shaves.
- Skin care tips for men
Know your skin type; mild facial cleanser instead of bar soap; moisturize after shaving; SPF 30+ on face, scalp, ears, neck and lips; new blades every 5–7 shaves.
- How to control oily skin (2024)
Wash up to twice a day and after sweating with a gentle foaming wash; oil-free, non-comedogenic products; still moisturize; blot, don’t rub; skip oil- and alcohol-based cleansers.
- Face washing 101
Gentle alcohol-free cleanser, lukewarm water, fingertips only, pat dry; twice a day and after sweating.
- How to pick the right moisturizer for your skin (2022)
Gel or none for oily skin, cream or ointment for dry skin; combination skin: moisturize the dry spots and skip the oily areas; fragrance-free for sensitive skin; ceramides and hyaluronic acid; no AHAs on dry skin.
- Sunscreen FAQs (2025)
Broad-spectrum SPF 30+; at least 1 teaspoon for the face; 15 minutes before going out; reapply every 2 hours; mineral sunscreen for sensitive skin.
- Acne, tips for managing (2022)
Gentle alcohol-free products; skip astringents, toners and scrubs; results take weeks to months; non-comedogenic SPF 30+.
- 10 skin care habits that can worsen acne
Give a product 6–8 weeks; spread treatment thinly over the whole area; wash twice a day, not all day; don’t sleep in makeup.
- Skin care on a budget (2026)
Three steps (cleanse, moisturize, protect); keep products few; water or a gentle cleanser in the morning; broad-spectrum SPF 30+; skip fragrance and drying alcohols.
- Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin (2026)
Short warm showers, moisturizer right after on damp skin, creams and ointments over lotions, fragrance-free; stop alcohol, fragrance and retinoids while skin is dry.
- 7 rosacea skin care tips dermatologists recommend (2024)
Ingredients that often irritate reactive skin; fragrance-free over “unscented”; creams over lotions and gels; mineral sunscreen; no scrubbing or exfoliating.
- Razor bump remedies for men with darker skin tones (2022)
Shave daily, or at least every 2 to 3 days; single-blade or electric razor; never dry shave; no more than two passes; aftershave made to reduce bumps; a beard clears most bumps in about 3 months.
- Retinoid or retinol? (2021)
Retinoids at night only, every other night to start, sun protection by day; people with dryness are probably not good candidates; start slowly, with moisturizer; lowest strength for sensitive skin; not in pregnancy.
- What can treat large facial pores?
Non-comedogenic, oil-free products; salicylic acid cleanser (if it dries, a mild cleanser in the morning and the salicylic acid one before bed); retinol at bedtime; daily SPF 30+; never scrub or squeeze.
- How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones (2025)
Tinted SPF 30+ with iron oxides; azelaic acid, glycolic acid, retinoids and vitamin C can fade spots; irritation can cause new ones; 6–12 months to fade.
Cleveland Clinicclevelandclinic.org
- Skin care for men (2022)
Testosterone can make skin oilier; skin type matters more than sex; pH-balanced cleanser, not bar soap; moisturizer instead of alcohol aftershave; vitamin C AM, retinol PM.
- How often should you wash your face? (2025)
Twice a day for oily and combination skin; water in the morning and cleanser at night for dry or sensitive skin; overwashing dries skin.
- What is my skin type and why does it matter? (2024)
The 30-minute test after washing; the T-zone; sensitive is about reactions; lower strengths for combination skin; avoid benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid on sensitive skin.
- 8 tips for getting rid of oily skin (2023)
Genetics, age, hormones, humidity and stress raise oil; harsh, drying products can increase it; blot, don’t rub.
- The correct order for skin care products (2025)
Thinnest to thickest; vitamin C serum in the morning under sunscreen (it doesn’t replace it); retinoid at night; sunscreen last.
Mayo Clinicmayoclinic.org
- Skin care, 5 tips for healthy skin (2024)
Short warm showers, mild cleansers, pat dry; shave after bathing, with the grain, with a clean sharp razor.
- Wrinkle creams, your guide to younger looking skin (2026)
Retinol, vitamin C and niacinamide may bring small improvements; daily SPF 30+ is the more reliable step; up to 6 weeks to see a change.
- Dry skin, symptoms and causes (2026)
Tightness, flaking, fine lines, cracks, ashy look on brown and Black skin; hot showers, harsh soaps, low humidity, age over 40; when to see a doctor.
- Nonprescription acne treatment, which products work best? (2024)
Benzoyl peroxide 2.5–10%: lower strengths work as well as higher ones, start at 2.5%; adapalene 0.1%, salicylic acid 0.5–2%, azelaic acid 10%; one product in the morning, a different one at night, to help prevent irritation; 2–3 months for full results.
DermNetdermnetnz.org
- Sensitive skin (2026)
About 60–70% of women and 50–60% of men report sensitive skin; soap-free cleansers; avoid exfoliants and fragrance; one new product at a time.
- Nicotinamide
A 2% niacinamide moisturizer reduced facial oil; niacinamide moisturizers improved the barrier and cut irritant reactions; studies on fine lines and blotchiness; well tolerated, often by people who can’t tolerate retinoids.
- Azelaic acid
Used for acne, rosacea and dark marks; start once a day, build to twice; may itch or burn; very sensitive skin may find it irritating.
NHSnhs.uk
- Emollients (2023)
Lotions, creams and ointments; ointments for very dry skin and at night; apply right after washing; keep emollients away from flames.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulationsecfr.gov
- FDA OTC acne monograph, 21 CFR 333 subpart D
Benzoyl peroxide 2.5–10% and salicylic acid 0.5–2%; start with one application daily; dryness and irritation more likely with another topical acne medicine at the same time; benzoyl peroxide: not for very sensitive skin, bleaches fabric.
DailyMed, US National Library of Medicinedailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA label (DailyMed): Differin Gel, adapalene 0.1%
Once a day, thin layer over the whole affected area; irritation most likely in the first weeks or with more than one topical acne medicine at a time; use sunscreen; a moisturizer may help.
US Food and Drug Administrationfda.gov
- Beta hydroxy acids
Use sun protection with salicylic acid products; test on a small area first.
Studies and other sources
- Al-Niaimi & Chiang, J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2017: Topical vitamin C and the skinjcadonline.com
L-ascorbic acid needs a pH below 3.5 to get into skin; useful products are 10–20%; stronger ones may irritate; it reduces pigmentation.
- Adv Ther, 2022: review of retinoids in topical anti-aging treatmentlink.springer.com
Retinol formulations from 0.075% to 0.5% were tested for anti-aging; 0.3% is the maximum recommended concentration in face creams and other cosmetics.