Some men go straight to bed without doing a thing to their face, while others might embrace a 10-step skin care routine. But for anyone who’s a bit less high-maintenance than the latter and still wants to do a little something, what’s the best bare minimum skin care routine?
There are some differences between men’s and women’s skin, which means there are a few guidelines to follow. HuffPost spoke to four board-certified dermatologists on the ideal skin care routine for men who want to give just a little TLC to their face.
First, let’s talk about men’s skin.
There are measurable differences between male and female skin regarding the skin’s thickness, sebum production and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
“Men’s skin is approximately 25% thicker than women’s due to higher collagen density. This can make men’s skin more resilient but also more prone to certain types of acne and oiliness,” said Dr. Hannah Kopelman, a board-certified dermatologist.
There are hormonal fluctuations for both, but women tend to be more affected by them. Acne, for example, is reduced post-puberty for most men. “Women tend to experience adult acne at a higher level compared to men; about 12-22% of adult U.S. women over 20 experience acne compared to 3% of adult U.S. men,” explained Dr. Anar Mikailov, a board-certified dermatologist.
“About 85% of adult acne patients are women, whereas about 15% are men,” added Dr. Omer Ibrahim, a board-certified dermatologist and co-director of research at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology.
Also, more men vs. women tend to shave their faces, which often leads to ingrown hairs that look like pimples along the beardline, said Ibrahim. This creates the need for a specific post-shave product to avoid irritation and ingrown hair.
However, despite these differences, men can experience the same conditions as women, from eczema to acne and skin sagging. These may happen at different rates, though; men tend to present wrinkles and a reduction in hydration and thickness in a more linear way, whereas women can notice more abrupt changes due to menopause, Ibrahim explained.
“For men who have more oily skin or are acne-prone, the skin care routine recommended would be the same as for women. That’s the same with sensitive, dry or normal skin,” Mikailov said.
What about the running joke that men can use dish soap on their face?
All experts agreed that this old adage is deeply rooted in sexism and gendered marketing.
“Women have been taught to concentrate on ‘looking good’ in outdated gender norms, thus often seeking extensive skin routines. Men are not taught to focus on this as much. This is all outdated,” said Dr. Mona A. Gohara, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
In reality, men have similar skin needs as women. She added, “Everyone should be cleansing, moisturizing and using suncreen at the minimum. Men have less of a tendency to engage in an elaborate skin routine because of outdated gender expectations around beauty and self-care.”
“In the U.S., young boys are less exposed to having a skin care routine compared to young girls,” Mikailov said. “We’re seeing girls as young as 10 and 11 mimic older women on social media with multi-step skin care routines. Men, unless they have specific skin issues where they’ve consulted a dermatologist, are usually not as educated.”
“Nowadays, more and more men, particularly younger men, are learning about hygiene and skin care from social media and realizing that simple, basic cleansers, moisturizers and SPFs can make the skin feel more comfortable,” agreed Ibrahim.
The best basic skin care routine for men, according to the experts.
Morning: SPF
“In the morning, unless the skin is very oily, most people will not need to do more than rinse with warm water to cleanse. Be careful not to use scalding hot water, as that can strip the skin,” Ibrahim said. For those with oily skin, a gentle cleanser can be used in the morning as the first step.
“The most crucial step in any skin care routine, regardless of gender, is daily sun protection,” Kopelman said. A moisturizer and a sunscreen, or a moisturizer with SPF 30-plus, is essential to protect the skin from harmful UV rays, skin aging and skin cancer. A two-in-one product is OK to use here, as long as the adequate amount of cream is applied to form a proper sunscreen film.
Moisturizing will help strengthen the skin barrier, Gohara said.To note, chemical sunscreens will likely work better, as they won’t leave a white cast and require less rubbing into the skin. But if your skin is sensitive, a physical (mineral) formula may be better.
SPF moisturizers recommended by the experts:
Night: Cleanser and moisturizer
When it comes to cleansing, men may prefer a foaming cleanser to be used once a day, but if the skin is rather dry, a hydrating cleanser is more suitable.
“Even if makeup is not worn, cleansing the skin from dust, dirt and other external pollutants helps the skin function better,” Ibrahim said.
At night, any basic moisturizer can be used, but for men who want to take their skin care a step further, they can opt for a moisturizer with retinol at night, which will help with collagen production.
The moisturizer should feel comfortable on the skin and lightweight, meaning you might want to look for gel or noncomedogenic textures.
“In general, I recommend products that are fragrance-free to limit any potential irritations,” Mikailov noted.
Cleansers recommended by the experts:
Nighttime moisturizers recommended by the experts:
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Still in the market for more? Check out these all-purpose cleansers and sunscreens below.
We Asked Men What Sunscreens They Tolerate, Or Even Better, Actually Like
Supergoop! Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50
Amazon
Sun Bum Daily Face SPF 50
My other brother declined to participate in this story — please respect my privacy during this difficult time.
Amazon
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair UV SPF 30
Ulta
Clinique For Men Broad Spectrum SPF 21 Moisturizer
Amazon
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer dry-touch sunscreen SPF 55
HuffPost reporter Ryan Grenoble is a self-proclaimed “Neutrogena stan.” He buys this highly-rated SPF in packs of three at Costco regularly. It’s also one of my dad’s favorites. He enjoys the finish and appreciates that it doesn’t feel greasy or leave behind a white cast and that it’s water-resistant. It is also in Miklausic’s regular rotation.
Amazon
Abib Quick Sunstick protection bar
HuffPost video editor Gabe Castaneda is all about K-sunscreens. “I prefer Korean sunscreen because I’ve noticed that American sunscreen tends to burn my eyes after a couple of hours of wear, while the Korean sunscreens don’t. I also prefer a stick sunscreen because I don’t have to touch my face every time I apply. It also makes reapplying a breeze.” One big reason why he’s a fan of this Abib hyaluronic acid-rich formulation is because it doesn’t leave a white cast. He added, “It’s a clear formula, which I’ve never seen before. I have combination skin but the Abib formula is very hydrating and the curved shape of the stick makes applying around my eyes and nose very easy.”
Onekind
Solardrops SPF 55 Daily Broad Spectrum serum
Jenkins and I agree that more men should be using a tinted moisturizer and SPF. With this Onekind multitasker, not only will your skin look even and smooth, but you’ll still get to enjoy the benefits of SPF and great skin care ingredients. Jenkins emphasized that “this one is so undetectable, giving you the perfect glow and wash of color.” He recommends it to everyone because of the price and its efficaciousness, and I have a feeling that once men get turned on to the texture of a serum, they’ll never look back.
Amazon
No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal day cream SPF 25
Sephora
Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50
A sunscreen stick can make life so much easier — you just swipe it on and go. This high-quality SPF stick from Shiseido gives you the convenience of a travel-friendly stick with the brand’s high-quality, trusted formulations. My sister-in-law recently noticed that the men in her extended family (including young nephews) were all extremely gung-ho about this effective, hydrating and essentially invisible sunscreen.
The Best All-Purpose Facial Cleansers, According To Dermatologists
Dry and sensitive skin
Amazon
A famed hydrating cream cleanser
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick claimed that this non-foaming, fragrance-free and milky cleanser effectively gets rid of dirt and buildup without leaving the skin feeling dry and without the use of any harsh surfactants.
“It contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin as well as ceramides [to] support and strengthen the skin barrier,” Garshick said.
Target
An ultra-gentle soap-free cleanser
“It’s gentle enough to be used every day and can remove makeup and excess oil, without drying the skin out,” she said.
Sephora
A skin-barrier-supporting oil cleanser
Amazon
A foaming cleansing oil
Shirazi noted the gentle and hydrating ingredients like shea butter, redness-reducing niacinamide and glycerin, a dermatologist-trusted humectant that draws moisture into the skin.
Normal and combination skin
Sephora
A non-drying antioxidant cleanser
Sephora
A gentle lathering jelly with cantaloupe extract
“Formulated with nourishing ingredients like cantaloupe extract, a gentle surfactant blend, glycerin, and virgin marula oils, [this] helps break up makeup and impurities while simultaneously hydrating and soothing the skin,” Shirazi said of this lightweight jelly cleanser by Drunk Elephant that can address skin concerns like redness and irregular skin texture. It’s also rich in fatty acids and antioxidants to help address signs of premature skin aging.
Amazon
A gentle jelly cleanser with ceramides
According to Garshick, Skincare Junkie’s delightful jelly cleanser contains a blend of ceramides to support a healthy skin barrier as well as soothing cucumber and niacinamide to help tackle everything from redness to skin dullness. She added that the fragrance-free, skin-softening and pH-balancing formula is good for all skin types.
Amazon
A purifying foam cleanser
Unlike the other La Roche-Posay cleanser on this list, this one works into a rich lathering foam while promising not to strip the skin of all its natural and essential oils.
Amazon
A foaming version of the classic hydrating cleanser
“Formulated with three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids, it works synergistically to cleanse and hydrate the skin effectively. Additionally, it is very cost-effective, making it an excellent choice for maintaining healthy skin without breaking the bank,” she said.
Oily and acne-prone skin
Amazon
A clarifying acne cream cleanser
“The gentle cream-to-lather [formula] uses salicylic acid to help clean out pores and reduce breakouts and oil, without drying out the skin,” she said.
Amazon
A maximum-strength benzoyl peroxide wash
Amazon
A glutamic acid cleansing foam
Already on sale at Amazon, you can save an extra 5% by clicking the coupon box on the product page and the additional discount will show up at checkout.
Amazon
A breakout-fighting cleanser that’s safe for sensitive skin
Cleansing balms
Amazon
A pro-collagen cleansing balm
Sephora
A melt-away cleansing balm
Amazon
A nourishing balm-to-milk cleanser
Amazon
An omega-rich cleansing balm