Most men aren’t taught how to look after their skin growing up. Looking after yourself is seen as lame when you’re a teenager, so when you get to your 20s and realise that self care makes it easier to get jobs and especially dates, who do you turn to for skin care advice? You can turn to the women in your life, but if you're anything like me your mum or sisters might have a dozen different products each for the morning and evening. Marketing will tell you that you have to use specific products for every issue out there, creating confusion as to where to start.
The truth is, good skincare doesn't have to be complicated. A simple routine using the right products consistently can make a noticeable difference to the way your skin looks and feels. At Charles + Lee, we believe in keeping things no nonsense, so we’ve put together a simple beginner’s guide to skincare, focusing on the essentials only that you can build on as needed down the line.
WHY SKINCARE MATTERS FOR MEN
One thing to make clear. Skin care is not just a vanity project. Your skin is your largest organ, and it serves several key roles to keep you healthy. It helps regulate your body temperature, absorbs radiation from the sun so it doesn’t harm your internal muscles and organs, and protects you from pollution, dirt and bacteria. However, it is not invincible, and the more it protects you from all of these elements, the weaker it can get over time.
Add in all of the things we actively do to our skin on a daily basis, like shaving, or external factors like changing weather and dehydration into the mix, and it's easy to see why your skin needs a little attention. This is why I believe modern beauty standards have such a high regard for clear skin, as it shows that you care about the details.
DO MEN REALLY NEED A SKINCARE ROUTINE?
Depends on what you mean by routine. No, you don’t need a 10 step routine in the morning and a 12 step routine in the evening. However, for the majority of us out there, you really only need a super simple routine with 4-5 products to both protect and restore your skin. Consistency is the key with our routine recommendations, taking a few minutes each day to keep your skin clean, hydrated and looking its best. Complexity may provide a more focused approach, but can lead to early burnout. This is why we want to keep things easy to follow and allow you to build where needed, when needed.
THE FOUR ESSENTIAL MEN'S SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Face Wash
You wouldn’t wax a dirty car, or put a screen protector on a dirty screen. Your skin is the same, and having clean skin is the foundation of any skincare routine.
Throughout the day, your skin collects oil, sweat, dirt and pollution that ordinary water alone won't remove. Ideally, you should be washing your face morning and night to help keep your skin clean without stripping away your natural oils it needs to protect itself. If you only have time to do this once a day (or, if we’re honest, can only be bothered), then it is probably best to do this in the afternoon/evening so you aren’t sleeping in the days grime, but washing your skin in the morning is better than not washing it at all.
So what sort of face wash should you be using? You might be tempted to break out the bar of soap or just use your 4-in-1 body wash for your face. This would be a mistake. The skin on your face is more sensitive than the rest of your body, so you need to make sure you use a lighter cleanser. Using anything too strong will remove too much from your skin, leaving your skin dry and tight, which is not just uncomfortable, but also leads to wrinkles and other signs of aging. A dedicated cleanser like our Face Wash ensures you can remove all the nasties your skin doesn’t like, but retains the natural moisture it does.
Moisturiser
Now that you have cleaned your skin you need to protect it. Moisturiser replenishes your skin’s protective layer of moisture that can be lost through washing and shaving, or from environmental factors such as air conditioning and heating. Hydrated skin is healthy skin, so ensuring you lock in this moisture is ideal for long term healthy skin that feels smoother and more comfortable throughout the day.
If you naturally have oily skin you might be thinking you don’t have to worry too much about this, but this is not the case, and you should still invest in a quality moisturiser. If you are more concerned about having skin that looks too oily, there are also some amazing Oil Free Moisturisers that don’t leave your skin shiny but still protect your skins hydration levels.
Face Scrub
Face Wash and Moisturisers are your must do daily products, lets look at your must have’s that can be used every few days.
Dead skin cells naturally build up over time, which can leave your skin looking dull and feeling rough. Using a face scrub to exfoliate your skin two or three times a week gently removes this build-up, helping to reveal fresher, smoother skin underneath. Exfoliating can also help unclog pores and prepare your skin for a closer shave and less chance of knicks.
The key is moderation though. You should avoid using a scrub more than 2-3 times a week, as you will damage your skin’s natural moisture barriers, leaving you with drier skin in the long term. A quality Face Scrub used 2x a week after cleansing is a great way to improve your skins health and appearance.
SPF
If there's one skincare habit that dermatologists agree on, it's wearing sunscreen is a must for long term skincare. Daily exposure to UV rays is one of the biggest contributors to premature skin ageing and skin damage, even on cloudy days. After cleansing and moisturising each morning, finish your routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that's appropriate for your skin type. It's one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your skin for the long term. While using a high SPF sunscreen is ideal, especially during the summer, using a light Moisturiser/Sunscreen combo like our Moisturiser SPF15 is great for light coverage for less UV intense days.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS
We want to cover this in more detail in a future blog, but to keep it simple for now, not all skin is the same. If your skin often feels tight or flaky, you may have dry skin and benefit from extra hydration. If your face becomes shiny throughout the day, oily skin may be your main concern, and lightweight products may be a better choice. Sensitive skin often reacts to harsh ingredients, so gentler formulations are usually best. Many people also have combination skin, where some areas are oily while others are dry. If you're unsure where to start, keep your routine simple and pay attention to how your skin responds over time.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Looking after your skin doesn't have to be complicated. You don't need dozens of products or an hour in front of the mirror each morning. A simple routine built around cleansing, moisturising, gentle exfoliation and daily sun protection is enough to help most men maintain healthier skin. Start with the basics, stay consistent and let your routine evolve as your skin's needs change. Good skincare isn't about perfection. It's about taking care of your skin today so it looks and feels its best tomorrow.
by Joe Maher