A good skin care routine for men takes about two minutes and three products: a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and sunscreen. That’s it. Most of what shows up in a 10-step routine is optional. Get those three right, use them every day, and then add one targeted product if you have a specific problem like acne, razor bumps or wrinkles.
Men’s skin isn’t fundamentally different from women’s, but there are a few practical differences. Men’s skin tends to be oilier, because testosterone drives the oil glands. Shaving scrapes off the outer layer of skin several times a week, which can leave it dry, irritated or bumpy. And men are less consistent about sunscreen, even though sun damage causes most visible aging and most skin cancers. A routine for men should handle oil without stripping the skin, be easy to stick with and protect from the sun.
The 3-Step Morning Routine
- Cleanse. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. If your skin is dry, a splash of water in the morning is fine; save the cleanser for night.
- Moisturize. Apply a lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. If you shave, this doubles as your aftershave.
- Sunscreen. Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on your face, ears and neck. The easiest option is a moisturizer that contains SPF, so steps 2 and 3 become one.
The 2-Step Night Routine
- Cleanse. Wash off sweat, oil, sunscreen and pollution from the day.
- Moisturize, with an optional treatment first. Night is when to use a retinoid for acne or wrinkles (more on that below).
What to Buy
You can do the whole routine with three inexpensive drugstore products, all fragrance-free and easy to find.
Best cleanser for normal to oily skin
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
A fragrance-free gel cleanser with ceramides and niacinamide that removes oil without stripping skin.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is a gel that lathers into a light foam. It takes off oil, sweat and sunscreen without leaving skin tight, and it’s fragrance-free. It works for normal to oily skin and doubles as a body wash after the gym. If your skin is dry or flaky, use the creamier CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser instead. Read our CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser review and best facial cleansers guide for more options.
Best morning moisturizer with SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
An oil-free daily moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30, ceramides and niacinamide.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 combines your moisturizer and sunscreen. It’s oil-free, non-comedogenic and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation for daily use. Its sunscreen combines zinc oxide with several chemical filters. If you’ll be outside for hours or sweating, use a dedicated water-resistant sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
Best night moisturizer
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
A light, oil-free night lotion with niacinamide, ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is light enough for oily skin and contains niacinamide, which helps calm redness and regulate oil. Use it at night and after shaving, or alone in the morning if you wear a separate sunscreen.
Adjust for Your Skin Type
- Oily skin: a foaming or gel cleanser twice a day, an oil-free lotion and a matte sunscreen. Don’t skip moisturizer. Stripped skin doesn’t produce less oil.
- Dry skin: a creamy cleanser once a day, at night. Use a richer cream, and apply it to damp skin. For very dry patches, a thin layer of petroleum jelly at night helps; see our Vaseline vs. Aquaphor guide.
- Combination skin (oily T-zone, dry cheeks): a gentle foaming cleanser and a light lotion everywhere, with extra moisturizer on dry areas.
- Sensitive skin: fragrance-free everything, with as few products as possible. Avoid scrubs, alcohol-based aftershaves and anything with menthol. Our Vanicream vs. CeraVe comparison covers two of the gentlest brands.
Add One Product for a Specific Problem
Once the basics are a habit, add a single targeted product. Add one at a time, and give it at least a month before judging it.
Acne or clogged pores: try adapalene 0.1% (Differin Gel), a prescription-strength retinoid you can buy over the counter. Apply a thin layer to the whole area where you break out, at night, starting a few nights a week. Expect it to take about 12 weeks to work. Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid washes are good alternatives. See a dermatologist for painful or scarring acne.
Best Add-On for acne
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%
A prescription-strength acne retinoid sold over the counter, in a fragrance-free, oil-free gel.
Fine lines and sun damage: add a retinoid at night. Retinol and retinal are gentler over-the-counter options, and tretinoin is the prescription standard. Our retinol vs. tretinoin explainer covers how to choose. A vitamin C serum in the morning, under sunscreen, also helps fade spots; see the best vitamin C serums.
Dark circles or puffy eyes: a caffeine eye serum can depuff for the day. See our best caffeine eye creams.
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs: these are especially common with curly or coarse hair. Change how you shave first (below). An exfoliant with salicylic or glycolic acid a few nights a week helps keep hairs from curling back into the skin.
How to Shave Without Wrecking Your Skin
Shaving is where most men’s skin problems start. The American Academy of Dermatology’s advice:
- Soften the hair first. Shave after a shower, or hold a warm, wet towel on your face for a minute.
- Use a shaving cream or gel, not soap. For sensitive skin, look for one labeled for sensitive skin.
- Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it. It’s less close but causes far fewer bumps and ingrown hairs.
- Rinse the blade after every swipe, and replace blades or disposable razors after five to seven shaves.
- Moisturize right after. Skip alcohol-based aftershaves, which sting and dry the skin.
A good razor helps. Our best manual razors guide covers safety razors and cartridges, including options for sensitive skin.
Don’t Forget Sunscreen
Sun damage causes most of what people think of as aging: wrinkles, rough texture, sun spots and broken blood vessels. It also causes most skin cancers. In a national survey of more than 31,000 US adults, only about a third said they regularly use sunscreen, and 34% had been sunburned in the past year (Holman et al., JAMA Dermatology, 2018). Men are less likely than women to use it.
Daily sunscreen on the face, ears and the back of the neck is the most effective anti-aging step there is, and it’s easy if it’s built into your moisturizer. Bald or shaved heads need it too, or a hat.
Common Questions
Do men need separate “men’s” products? No. Products marketed to men are often the same formulas with different packaging, sometimes with more fragrance. Pick by skin type, not by the label.
Should I use bar soap on my face? Most bar soaps are too harsh for the face and leave it tight and dry. A gentle facial cleanser is better. Body bars labeled for sensitive skin or syndet bars are an exception.
How long until a routine makes a difference? Moisturizer works right away. Acne treatments take 8 to 12 weeks, and retinoids and vitamin C take 3 to 6 months for lines and spots.
What about beards? Wash your beard with your face cleanser, and moisturize the skin underneath. A few drops of beard oil helps with itchiness and flaking.
For more grooming gear, see our best colognes for men and best manual razors guides.
