If you don’t already have one, you’re missing out!

The good news is, you’re never too old or too young to start one. And today, we’re gonna outline a solid skin care routine that’s super easy to follow.

We designed this one specifically for men. We’re trying to keep it simple so you stick with it. And there’s nothing vain or feminine about it—a guy with a solid, energized face gets noticed.

Take the complexity out of skin care with this guide to skin types, the best products to use, and exactly when and how to use the specific skin care products.

Stick around til the end; there’s a handy infographic at the bottom you can use and save as a reference guide.

A DAILY SKIN CARE ROUTINE WILL PREVENT FUTURE ISSUES

A lot of guys think skin care is only necessary when they have a specific issue—acne, redness, wrinkles, or other typical skin care concerns. While certain men’s skin care products can help with isolated issues, a daily skin care routine will prevent them in the first place.

Your skin is your largest organ; like any other part of your body, it needs daily preventative measures to keep it healthy. This is no different than weight lifting, cardio, and eating right to keep your body in shape.

A daily skin care routine will benefit you now by keeping skin firm, clear, and bright. Things just get better years from now, when everyone else is starting to wrinkle and you’re not.

LEARN YOUR SKIN TYPE

Most guys don’t know their skin type. Frankly, many guys don’t even realize skin has “types”. Learning your skin type is the first step in taking care of your skin (and is pretty easy too).

WHICH OF THESE FIVE BASIC SKIN TYPES MOST RESEMBLES YOU?

• Normal: Your skin stays oil free most of the day and doesn’t get irritated or dry easily. Acne is rarely an issue.
• Oily Skin: Your skin has oily patches and a natural shine to it. You often get acne or build up.
• Dry/Sensitive Skin: Your skin gets easily irritated all over and frequently feels tight or dry.
• Combination: Imagine your face has a “T” on it. The horizontal bar goes across your forehead – the vertical bar runs down to the tip of your nose. This is called the T zone. Guys who have combination skin have an oily T zone but dry/sensitive skin on the rest of their face (primarily the cheeks).
• Aging Skin: Your skin looks weathered, is wrinkled, and has age spots. You have spent many years not taking care of your skin.

Once you know your skin type, things get a lot easier. Use men’s skin care products that match your skin type as you follow the skin care routine detailed below. Most product packaging indicates the skin type it’s been made for.

1. CLEANSE YOUR SKIN

WHEN SHOULD I WASH MY FACE?

Short answer: both morning and night.

Before you go to bed, wash your face to prevent oil and other pore-clogging bacteria from sitting on your face all night.

HOW SHOULD I WASH MY FACE?

Wash your face in the shower or splash warm water over your face before washing. This opens up the pores and helps remove any deep-down impurities.

As you apply the face wash, gently rub in circles. Don’t rub vigorously – facial skin is very sensitive.

When you’re done, rinse with cool water to close the pores and then pat dry. Never rub your face dry – stretching the skin can introduce premature wrinkles.

After washing, your face should feel clean, but not too clean or tight. Tightness is a sign of excessively dry skin – which can cause irritation, acne, premature wrinkles, and excess oil production.

Never wash your face with bar soap. No matter what type of soap you use, natural or generic, the ingredients are too harsh for the face.

You wouldn’t put diesel in a gasoline fuel tank, would you? So why use the wrong product and cause undue harm to one of your biggest assets, your face?

Washing your face more than twice a day is completely unnecessary. We’re talking to you, guys with oily skin. Over-washing sets your sebum glands (the skin’s oil glands) go into overdrive, creating excess oil.