You may be a skincare novice who’s routine includes nothing but a simple Nivea moisturiser, or perhaps you’re an expert with a shelf full of eye serums, acids, and age-defying creams, but either way, we’re sure you’ll find some helpful tips and tricks in this handy guide.
We caught up with Gregor Jaspers, founder of men’s grooming brand The Grey, to find out his top tips for men when it comes to building their skincare regime, and rounded up a selection of products to suit a range of skin types and budgets.
What are the key stages of a man’s daily skincare regime?
In general, it is all about cleansing, nourishing, and protecting. You can use special treatment products for specific skincare concerns but it always comes down to these three steps.
Depending on how seriously you take skincare, these three steps can be wrapped up in one or through multiple products, for example nourishing your skin can be a single moisturiser packed with lots of ingredients, or you can use a toner, several serums, a separate eye cream and a moisturiser.
What should be the order of your skincare routine?
First of all, you need to cleanse so your face is free of dirt to allow active ingredients in your products to do their work, then you apply your nourishing, anti-ageing and moisturising products.
An easy rule to remember is to start with the most fluid product, like toners and serums, and end with the creamiest ones, for example moisturisers and anti-ageing creams. The final step of your morning routine should always be SPF - come rain or shine.
Then, there are some products that you shoud apply two to three times a week, like face scrubs and chemical exfoliants containing AHAs and acids. These are great for your skin as long as you use them less frequently otherwise you risk over-exfoliation.
What are your top tips for men when choosing the right products for their skin?
I always say that the best skincare routine is a routine you can keep. If you don’t have the discipline to spend 15 minutes in front of the mirror, then don’t bother with single ingredient serums and creams and invest in products that have a combination of active ingredients to make your routine easier and more manageable.
Know your skin type and choose your products to match - if you have dry skin your needs are different than those with oily skin or sensitive skin.
How do you find out your skin type?
An easy way to test your skin is to wash your face with a mild face wash and wait for an hour without applying any other products. If your face feels tight 30 minutes to an hour after washing, you most likely have dry skin. If you notice shiny patches popping up all over your face - that’s oily skin. Combination skin will feel dry in some areas and oily in others, whilst normal skin won’t feel either oily or dry after washing your face.
What type of face wash should I use?
For oily skin try, look for something with a mild salicylic acid or glycolic acid that says “non-comedogenic”, meaning it won’t clog pores, whilst those with dry skin should be using a fragrance-free face wash. Wash with lukewarm water as hot water tends to dry out your skin. Tap your face and beard dry, leaving it damp, which will benefit the next step of moisturisng.
What’s the best way to treat the skin beneath facial hair?
Skin under your beard can feel dry, irritated, and can cause itchiness when not looked after. You should wash your beard every day to remove the dirt, oils, germs, pollution, and dead skin cells that build up, then you should always moisturise your beard as well as your face.
Look for beard conditioner if you’ve got acne prone skin, a beard oil works for normal to dry skin types, or a light moisturiser is great for sensitive skin. Make sure not to overdo it or else risk clogging your pores.
What’s the best way to slow down signs of ageing skin?
Take care of yourself inside and out. Always stick to your daily skincare routine. Having a good diet and feeding your skin with goodness from the inside is key. Try to avoid stress and build in some personal time to reset every now and then.
And last but certainly not least - avoid too much sun. Sun speeds up the aging process, so even if you do all of the above but don’t use SPF your skin will age, period.
What are the best ingredients men should be looking out for?
This depends on the skin but there are a few hero ingredients we all need. Charcoal for deep cleansing, anti-oxidants like vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and glycolic acid.
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Best face masks for men’s skincare 2022, from 111SKIN to Aesop
Cleansers
Aesop Fabulous Face Cleanser
A mild face wash for those with normal and combination skin, Aesop’s offering is olive-derived and infused with purifying and hydrating botanicals of bergamot, chamomile, and rosemary that will leave your pores cleansed and your skin fresh. As with most Aesop products, it smells divine, so you’ll look forward to using it on the daily. Bonus points for its apotecary-style aesthetics.
Buy now £35.00, Aesop
Votary Superseed Cleansing Oil
Known for its ability to harness the power of premium plant oils which provide age defying benefits, Votary’s cleanser is designed to balance your skin and deliver a healthy, radiant complexion. Packed with over 20 ‘super-seed’ oils, it will reduce inflammation, provide nourishment, and breathe new life into sensitive or dry skin that could do with a touch of reinvigoration.
Buy now £55.00, Cult Beauty
Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel
UK-based brand Oskia is a specialist in cellular nutrition, or in other words, the label knows what your skin needs. The cleanser, which starts as a pink balm and transforms into a milky oil, is packed full of vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients that repair sun damaged or dry skin, remove dead skin cells, and promote collagen production - all topped off with a soothing rose and chamomile fragrance. And it works for all skin types. What more could you want?
Buy now £36.00, lookfantastic
Moisturisers
The Grey 3 In 1 Face Cream
One for men who don’t have the time, or perhaps the patience, to spend time layering toners, serums, and moisturisers, The Grey’s three-in-one face cream nourishes, protects, and rejuvenates - all in one go. Brimming with goodness from retinol, peptides, blue sea kale and antioxidants, the cream helps bring a soft, radiant look to the skin while also helping revive its natural protective barrier.
Buy now £75.00, Farfetch
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men
Designed for all skin types, even sensitive skin, Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Moisturiser is like a wake up call for your face. Caffeine and vitamin-enriched and non-oily, not only will this light cream absorb quickly, but it will leave you feeling revitalised, re-energised, and ready for the day.
Buy now £25.00, Kiehl’s
Augustinus Bader The Light Cream
Well known for The Rich Cream, Augustinus Bader’s cult product loved by beauty editors and celebrities alike, The Light Cream is the brand’s latest skincare iteration that has the same actives yet a much lighter consistency making it ideal for men’s coarser skin.
It’s a moisturiser that hydrates, balances, renews, and protects, improving the complexion’s appearance whilst preventing shine. You can expect less visible pores, a supple complexion, and a matte finish even in the heat. An investment worth making.
Buy now £135.00, Augustinus Bader
Serums
Typology Eye Serum 5% Caffeine + 5% Niacinamide 15ml
Known for its no-nonsense formulas containing only the most essential ingredients, Typology’s products are considered and effective.
For those with dark circles and puffiness, the French brand’s serum will have your eyes looking light and bright in no time. Its winning cocktail of caffeine and niacinamide will improve blood circulation to the delicate area, as well as reduce water retention, so your peepers will feel ready for any early morning wake-up-call.
Buy now £13.20, Typology
Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum 30ml
Glow in a bottle. We swear by this serum from Murad for its megawatt radiance effect. The supercharged facial serum also works to counteract the effect of free radicals like pollution and UV light, reduce hyper-pigmentation and even out skin tone.
It uses a combination of Vitamin C with Glycolic Acid - the latter buffs away the dead skin to maximise the former to penetrate more deeply and maximise the brightening effects. The innovative housing has dual-chambers with an inner airless compartment to provide the exact dose and ensure the potency of the product.
Buy now £74.00, lookfantastic
Malin + Goetz Resurfacing Face Serum
For your skin to reach it’s maximum potential, look no further than Malin + Goetz’ resurfacing face serum. At once exfoliating, brightening, and protecting, it’s a blend of glycolic acid, lactic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, and phytic acid, which will reduce excess oil, strengthen your skin, and even your complexion. You can use it on a daily basis, even on sensitive skin.
Buy now £58.00, Space NK
SPFs
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Uvmune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ Sun Cream 50ml
Dermatologist-approved French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay is here to save your skin from the dreaded ageing effects of the sun. Known for the high quality, light, and affordable formula, the brand’s facial SPF offers ultra protection against harmful rays, including UVA, UVB, and Ultra Long UVA, and it won’t leave you looking greasy. Your skin has never been safer.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Beauty
Ultra Violette Queen Screen Luminising Sun Serum SPF 50+
As the clever name suggests, sun protection is this Aussie brand’s bread and butter. Referred to as ‘skinscreen’ by its adoring fans, the products combine suncare with a host of powerhouse ingredients that will delight skincare lovers. There are mineral, chemical and even an SPF lip balm to choose from.
For the Luminising Sun Serum, the formula contains a huge radiance boost from the vitamin C-rich kakadu plum that is found in the label’s native country and is said to have 50 times more of the glow-getting ingredient than an orange. The silky serum texture absorbs seamlessly into the skin and can be layered up with ease. It has broad spectrum and blue light protection with SPF50. Bonus points go to the very light rose aroma.
Buy now £36.00, Space NK
Dr Dennis Gross Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross knows a thing or two about skin ageing. While protecting against UV rays that can cause premature ageing, Sun Defense is also reversing signs of previous damage - it’s the total package.
Sunscreen and skincare in one, it has a broad spectrum high SPF50, while also treating skin to a combination of nourishing and hydrating ingredients. This includes three forms of vitamin C, vitamin E and melatonin complex that has anti-ageing benefits by giving your skin a boost of elasticity and brightening dark spots.
Buy now £44.00, Selfridges
Beard Moisturisers
Le Labo Beard Oil
From a perfumier known for their complex and handcrafted scents, Le Labo’s beard oil will leave you with silky smooth beard that smells great too. With extracts of protective sunflower, smoothing grapeseed and conditioning jojoba oil, all topped off with a heavenly scent of lavender, bergamot, violet and tonka bean, this multi-use formula will tame any strays and lend your hair a soft gloss for a well-kept look.
Buy now £48.00, Cult Beauty
Murdock London Beard Moisturiser
Murdock London’s offering will condition and soften your facial hair, as well as moisturising and protecting the skin underneath. If you’re in the market for a rescue remedy for your beard that makes it look healthier, feel more comfortable (for you and whoever comes near it...), and give it a healthy sheen, this product’s the one for you.
Buy now £24.00, Murdock London
Alfriston Beard & Hair Conditioner
One for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin, Alfriston’s Beard & Hair Conditioner is a lightweight treatment with a deliciously herbaceous fragrance that will renew softness and shine as well as moisturise without leaving residue. Extracts of coconut oil and sea buckthorn will leave your beard feeling nourished, hydrated, and protected.
Buy now £16.00, The Brighton Beard Company
