Skincare Routine for Men: Day and Night Regimen

For many men, it’s natural to embrace rugged vibes. Dive into the rough-and-tumble. Get dirty and get it done. And yeah, that attitude can serve you well. But care and maintenance? They’re still crucial for the long haul—especially when it comes to your skin. 

In Guyland, skincare doesn’t get a lot of attention. But we’re here to change that. That’s because healthy skin forms the bedrock of confidence. 

So what skin regimen for men gets the job done? Ultimately, you want a routine that covers all the bases, adapts easily, and enables consistency.

The basics of men’s skin health.

Most men start searching for skincare solutions when faced with recurring problems. Any of these sound familiar?

• Dryness – Skin, like the rest of your organs, needs ample hydration to thrive. Without sufficient moisture, skin develops a rough, flaky texture. Sometimes, it itches or stings. Lines and wrinkles may also develop and deepen.

• Excess oil – Skin secretes an oily substance called sebum that holds moisture. While sebum is critical for skin health, excessive sebum production can clog pores and trigger acne breakouts. And sebum overproduction disproportionately affects men.

• Irritation – If your skin is often damp and compressed, an uncomfortable rash called “jock itch” can occur. Common in those who sweat often (like manual laborers and athletes), jock itch can majorly impact day-to-day confidence and focus.

• Sun damage – Sunlight plays a huge role in enhancing mood and triggering vitamin D production. But UV rays also take a heavy toll on the skin. Guys who embrace the outdoors can often develop dark patches and uneven skin tone.

• Acne – While it’s a bigger concern for teenagers, acne can still affect adults. When skin remains dirty and oily for extended periods, bacterial buildup can trigger unsightly reactions.

Oftentimes, these issues arise in tandem. And it’s tough to confidently tackle your day when wrestling with pimples, dryness, or irritation. 

Fortunately, this is where a solid skincare routine for men comes in clutch.

Core daily skincare routine for men.

So, what goes into a man's facial routine? A handful of key practices, performed in order, that give the skin what it needs without overloading on products (that spells trouble, too).

Here’s an easy, three-step skincare routine you can follow to help combat any skin issue: 

1. Cleanse – First off, you need to remove bacteria and grime from your face. This clears the way for more advanced work and helps prevent breakout. Use a targeted cleanser to eliminate buildup and serve up a clean slate.

2. Moisturize – The elements conspire to dry out our skin, producing fine lines and wrinkles. But a quality moisturizer works to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. This makes it more resistant to damage and reduces the prominence of creases.

3. Protect – Unfiltered sun exposure can really wreak havoc on skin tone by burning and baking in fine lines (not to mention raising skin cancer risk). Armoring up against UV rays, especially on a daily basis, goes a long way toward mitigating damage.

These simple yet crucial practices lay the foundation for a strong skincare regimen for men. Adopting this type of easy-to-follow routine paves the way for resilient skin that can withstand whatever life throws at you.

Morning skincare routine for men.

Now that you have the foundation, you need to build the structure—and that means knowing when to perform your skincare routine. 

Ultimately, you want to support your skin at two critical junctures: morning and night. 

A morning regimen guards your skin against the elements. Think of it as “suiting up” for the day ahead. To stay on target, hit your routine as soon as you wake up.

For best results, follow this rhythm:

• Cleanse first – Remove the sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells that accumulate overnight. Use a clean cloth to pat dry.

• Apply moisturizer – Now that you’re working with a blank canvas, add moisturizer to ward off daytime dryness.

• Finish with sunscreen – The final defensive layer, sunscreen shields your skin from UV rays. Opt for broad-spectrum protection, ideally SPF30 or higher.

In addition, some guys like to integrate anti-wrinkle serums and eye creams (both of which are especially helpful for counteracting signs of aging). 

While these help maintain a fresh, youthful appearance, they aren’t strictly necessary. Nevertheless, they make excellent additions to any sound baseline regimen.

Nighttime skincare routine for men.

After the day’s demands, your evening skincare approach should promote repair and recovery. When it comes to a nighttime skincare routine men can count on, clearing debris and accumulation takes top priority.

Before bed, make it a habit to:

• Cleanse again – Create a clean slate by flushing away buildup and products applied earlier.

• Exfoliate – Over time, skin cells die and new ones replace them. But these deceased cells can linger and dull your complexion. They also contribute to acne and irritation. Exfoliation, a more “scrubby” method of cleansing, sends these cells packing.

• Add targeted treatments (if needed) – Some guys swear by overnight serums, face masks, or retinol treatments (geared toward wrinkle reduction).

• Apply PM Moisturizer – Many moisturizers come tailored for day or night use. Nighttime formulas typically contain ingredients that promote skin healing.

Your skin naturally repairs itself overnight—your PM routine helps it do its job even more effectively. And, as with morning care, nighttime habits produce compounding results when practiced consistently. 

How to adapt your routine for skin type.

So far, we’ve covered the birds-eye-view perspective of men’s skincare. But skin types differ, and distinct varieties call for bespoke approaches. With that in mind, let’s talk about skin types and how to determine yours. 

Skin can generally be categorized into one of five varieties:

1. Normal – A term for skin that stays middle-of-the-road.. It’s not oily, not dry, and generally resilient. Normal skin holds up well under varying conditions.

2. Oily – Oily skin occurs when the body produces excessive sebum. It can manifest as a greasy complexion, inflamed pores, and frequent acne outbursts.

3. Dry – Sebum lubricates skin, so too little can also cause problems. In its absence, skin turns dry, flaky, dull, and wrinkled.

4. Combination – Sometimes, certain patches of skin wrestle with excessive oil, and others remain parched. Dermatologists term this the “combination” skin type.

5. Sensitive – This one takes less detective work—guys with sensitive skin deal with issues like eczema and contact irritation regularly. Ultimately, sensitive skin transcends “dry” or “oily” labels.

Once you’ve identified your skin type, it’s time to tailor your approach. The fundamentals remain, but tactics must shift. 

1. For Normal Skin – Stick to the basics. Cleanse, moisturize, exfoliate, and guard against excessive UV rays. Basically, consistently cover your basics, and you’ll be fine. If wrinkles or aging become a concern, add basic anti-aging products to your skincare regimen.

2. For Oily Skin – Stick to gentle cleansers, oil-free moisturizers, and non-greasy sunscreens. Products grounded in salicylic acid can also help rein in sebum buildup. Look for products formulated specifically for oily skin.

3. For Dry Skin – Here, you’ll want to invest in a hydrating cleanser and robust moisturizer. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and mineral oil, which can promote hydration. It’s also a good idea to avoid scented products, as fragrances can actually siphon away moisture.

4. For Combination Skin – With multiple factors to juggle, make balance the backbone of your regimen. Stick to gentle cleansers, go with softer moisturizing agents, and avoid intense interventions (like heavy retinol or aggressive anti-wrinkle treatments).

5. For Sensitive Skin – Sensitive skin calls for even more precision, but success remains well within reach. Look for hypoallergenic products across the board, prioritize soothing ingredients like aloe vera, and avoid tough-acting treatments.

Another thing to keep in mind? As the seasons turn, you’ll likely need to adapt your approach. Winter’s harsh, dry conditions often call for heavier moisturizing, especially with dry skin. Meanwhile, summer often calls for more sunscreen.

When building your skincare routine, remember to always patch test new products before using them on your entire face, especially if you have sensitive skin. Apply a small amount in a concealed area and wait 24-48 hours to ensure no negative reactions occur. 

Maintaining consistency and confidence.

A long-term, sustainable skin care routine for men begins with consistency. And consistency starts with products you can trust, tailored to your needs.

Consider the factors we’ve mentioned above and then seek out products that make skin maintenance a daily habit—a “set it and forget it” activity you can easily integrate into your day.

MANSCAPED® offers streamlined kits designed to make you “a skincare guy” in no time. For most guys, the SKIN ULTRA STARTER KIT forms the perfect foundation. It features core essentials like:

• Face Scrubber

• Face Wash

• Exfoliant

• Hydrating Cream

From there, you can easily supplement or adjust for your skin specifics.

Other guys love the extra tools found in the SKIN ULTRA ADVANCED KIT, which brings Face Brightening Serum into play. Grounded in Vitamin C Complex, it offers game-changing anti-aging support for all skin types.

MANSCAPED®: Elite full body grooming.

It can sometimes feel like skin exists simply to hold your body together. But your skin, especially the skin on your face, is what greets the world. It’s the cornerstone of confidence and charisma. 

That’s why MANSCAPED® offers everything you need to achieve resilient, confidence-boosting skin, without the hassle. Explore our roster of men’s skincare products today.

Sources: 

Mayo Clinic. Dry skin.  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20353885

Medical News Today. Oily skin: Causes and treatments. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321090 

National Library of Medicine. Male versus female skin: What dermatologists and cosmeticians should know. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6116811/ 

UCLA Health. Ask the Doctors - How much sunshine do I need for enough vitamin D? https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/ask-the-doctors-round-sun-exposure-vital-to-vitamin-d-production 

Healthline. What Does It Mean to Exfoliate? Plus Why You Should and How to Start. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/meaning-of-exfoliating 

Cleveland Clinic. What Is My Skin Type and Why Does It Matter? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-skin-types 

Healthline. Glycolic Acid vs. Salicylic Acid: Which One Is Right for You?https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/glycolic-acid-vs-salicylic-acid