Skincare can be overwhelming…
Where do you start? What products should you use?... in fact, why do you even need skincare?
Well, we’re here to help.
From the best way to clean and moisturise your skin - to how to avoid ingrown hairs and sensitivity…
Here’s your step by step beginner’s guide to healthy, glowing skin - and all in less than five minutes morning and evening.
(Because a little time spent taking care of your skin now, will keep you looking really good as you age!)
Every man should have a skin care routine that covers the basics – cleaning, exfoliating and moisturizing.
A skincare routine can be as simple, or as involved, as you’d like (10-step Korean routine, we’re looking at you!)
But we know you don’t want an elaborate routine that’s going to keep you in the bathroom for 30 minutes every morning.
You want to keep it simple.
And not have to mess around with lots of different products (especially when you’re not even sure what they do!)
But every man should have a routine that covers the basics – cleaning, exfoliating and moisturizing.
And here’s why…
Why do I need a skincare routine?
The reality is that skin care isn't a quick-fix.
It’s not something you can just do whenever you have a skin problem, or notice a wrinkle.
It's an ongoing process.
You need to follow a basic skin care routine that will clean, hydrate and maintain your skin every day.
That way you’ll keep it looking young, smooth, soft and clear.
The ideal skin goal!
And that’s what we’re aiming for here with this Beginner’s Guide.
The goal - smooth, clear, youthful skin!
The other thing to remember is…
It’s never too late to start!
Because whenever you begin looking after your skin, it’s going to improve - and start looking and feeling better.
Why you need skincare adapted to a man’s skin
The differences between a man’s and a woman’s skin are small, but they have a big impact on the best way to take care of your skin.
Men’s skin has a higher collagen density so it doesn’t show signs of aging so quickly.
BUT…
It does produce more oil, tends to be redder and is prone to environmental damage. Things like enlarged pores, acne and breakouts tend to be more common and last longer with guys.
And whether you shave or opt for a beard, both have an effect on the quality of your skin.
So you need to choose products that are adapted to a man’s skin and address these issues.
- Excess Oiliness and Acne
Choose a lightweight moisturiser that includes hyaluronic acid. This will help your skin stay hydrated and balanced - but without adding extra shine.
Ingredients to look for: Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate deeply, and Tea Tree Oil to reduce oil production.
- Uneven skin tone and redness
Gently exfoliating your skin regularly will accelerate cell renewal and stimulate your skin’s natural repair mechanism, smoothing out skin texture.
And again, using a lightweight moisturiser will hydrate your skin and help to reduce the appearance of any dark spots and make your skin tone look more even.
Ingredients to look for : Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil to moisturize and improve skin texture, along with a gentle Alpha Hydroxy Acid to exfoliate, and Tea Tree Oil and D-Panthenol to reduce and calm redness and inflammation.
- Ingrown hairs, razor bumps and problems with shaving
To avoid ingrown hairs altogether gently exfoliate regularly to keep your skin clear and free from the dead skin cells which build up and cause them.
At the same time adopt a good shaving technique (link).
And follow with a moisturizer to keep your skin, and beard, smooth and hydrated.
Ingredients to look for: A gentle Alpha Hydroxy Acid to exfoliate, Tea Tree Oil to purify, and Aloe Vera to soothe your skin. Along with Hyaluronic Acid to deeply hydrate.
AT OTIS, WE BELIEVE...
Skincare doesn't have to be complicated - in fact, the simpler, the better.
We believe that using fewer products, and better products, is the way
to keep you looking and feeling your very best.And all of our products feel great on your skin too!
Now let's put all that into action…
ACTION PLAN: A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Skincare Routine for Men
The answer is a simple daily skincare routine that’s easy to stick to.
With a few products that will hydrate and nourish, leaving your skin looking smooth and even with a healthy glow.
Just five minutes, and then you can get on with your day…
- CLEAN & EXFOLIATE your face gently - without drying out your skin
- SHAVE with care and look after your BEARD
- MOISTURIZE with anti aging ingredients
- PROTECT your skin from UV rays – even on cloudy days.
Now let’s break that down…
#1 CLEAN with a non-drying face wash
Your first step - morning and evening - should be washing your face.
This will keep your skin looking clear and healthy, as well as removing dirt and oil build up which can clog your pores and cause acne and blemishes.
But it’s important to avoid over cleaning.
You don’t want to strip away your skin’s natural oils, because this can compromise the protective barrier of your skin.
And just using a bar of soap will quickly cause skin irritation and leave your face feeling dry.
The answer is to use a face wash that will effectively clean your skin, and at the same time keep those natural oils in place.
A non-drying face wash like our Daily Face Wash is the best solution.
It includes soothing Aloe Vera and hydrating Glycerin to prevent any dryness.
And Tea Tree Oil to purify and regulate sebum production to keep oily skin in balance.
As you’ll see below, it gently exfoliates your skin too.
Giving you fresh, clean, healthy skin in one quick step!
Exfoliating Face Wash for Glowing Skin
#2 EXFOLIATE gently
Gently exfoliating regularly is one of the best things you can do for your skin.
Exfoliation 'unglues' dry dead skin cells that can make your face look dull, clog your pores and cause ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
It accelerates cell renewal and stimulates your skin’s natural repair mechanism too.
It also increases blood circulation to your face, bringing nutrients to the skin’s surface. Giving you a healthy, vibrant and glowing complexion.
We've got more on the benefits of exfoliation here: "A Man's Ultimate Guide to Exfoliation: FAQ's".
But…
Avoid using a facial scrub to exfoliate your face! They're too harsh for facial skin, damaging the surface and causing your skin to become dry and irritated.
The best solution: Gently exfoliate every day using our Daily Face Wash which contains a mild Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Lactic Acid.
It does a really thorough job of getting rid of dead skin cells - but without causing irritation. And it’s so gentle that you can use it every day.
#3 SHAVE with care and look after your beard
Shaving makes you prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. So special care is needed when you shave.
The answer is:
- prep your skin well
- use a nourishing, protective shaving cream
- adopt a good shaving technique
- and apply a moisturizer afterwards
A good nourishing shave cream will protect your skin, help reduce irritation and lubricate to allow the razor to glide more freely.
Our Protective Shave Cream includes Shea Butter and Glycerin to nourish and protect, as well as Apricot Stone Oil to lubricate and soften the hair for a smoother, easier shave.
And it leaves your skin beautifully hydrated.
Best Shave Cream for Men
Our Protective Shave Cream also contains Aloe Vera to soothe your skin, and purifying Tea Tree Oil to help reduce any redness and irritation.
Like all of our products, Protective Shave Cream is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and non-irritating.
It has also undergone and passed the rigorous European Cosmetic Regulations.
Plus it’s cruelty free.
Looking after your beard
No beard grows perfectly by itself. You need to take care of it. Most importantly you want to keep the hair follicles nice and clear to encourage strong, even, healthy growth.
That starts with washing your beard – to keep it looking (and smelling!) clean and fresh - and exfoliating away the dead skin cells. This will keep your hair follicles clear, discouraging beard dandruff and stopping ingrown hairs.
Comb your beard on a regular basis too, especially when it's short. This helps to prevent hairs from growing in on themselves.
#4 MOISTURIZE with a lightweight, mattifying moisturizer
Now it’s time to hydrate your skin with a moisturizer.
As man’s skin tends to be oilier which can lead to shine. So it’s best to choose a mattifying moisturizer on your face that keeps your skin hydrated while also combatting any oiliness.
We designed our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer to be incredibly hydrating, but it also absorbs really easily so it won't leave your face looking shiny.
Best Moisturizer for Smoother, Firmer Skin
It's also packed full of the best anti aging ingredients.
Because whatever your age, and whatever your skin type, using a moisturizer every day is a must if you want to keep your complexion looking smooth and youthful.
Our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer :
- hydrates and smooths your skin throughout the day, but with no shininess whatsoever
- evens out your skin tone
- and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, especially the fine lines around your eyes.
It’s packed with the moisturizing superstar Hyaluronic Acid to deeply hydrate your skin, smoothing out skin tone, and rich in anti-oxidants to keep it looking even.
Pay special attention to your eye area
Considering the eye area has virtually no oil glands and is the first to show signs of aging, it’s essential to keep the skin here well hydrated.
The best solution: you don’t need to buy a separate eye cream. Our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer is perfect for the delicate eye area as well.
It will hydrate and soften the skin and diminish the look of any wrinkles. And with anti aging peptides it improves circulation, stimulates collagen and protects the delicate under eye skin from free radical damage, reducing the bags under your eyes .
#5 PROTECT your skin from sun damage
Sun damage has been linked to a variety of skin issues, including skin cancer, and is the main culprit when it comes to premature aging.
So make it a priority to protect your skin from UV rays.
Find one that protects against UVA and UVB rays – and feels comfortable to wear.
Then apply it every morning and, if you can, reapply it during the day too.
We love SVR ‘Sun Secure Extreme SPF 50+’. It’s an excellent ultra-matte sunscreen in clear gel form. It’s very protective and leaves your skin looking completely matte, but it does have a heavy fragrance so it may not be for everybody!
Problems with acne
The high level of oil in your skin is great for keeping wrinkles at bay, but it can lead to issues like acne and breakouts.
So it’s really important to use a light moisturizer to keep your skin hydration levels balanced.
Don’t be tempted to use an astringent or toner to reduce oiliness, as that will just have the opposite effect. The astringent will dry out your skin, which makes it produce even more oil to compensate.
That said, acne responds really well to treatments containing salicylic acid - which unclogs pores - as well as benzyl peroxide – which reduces inflammation.
Just remember to only target the area where the breakout is happening, so you won’t dry out the surrounding skin.
Lifestyle elements that lead to better skin
Taking care of your skin isn’t just about the products that you put on your face.
There are other things that have a huge effect on how good you look too.
Sleep, diet, exercise and stress all influence the way your skin behaves.
So…
Get plenty of beauty sleep. Night-time is when your skin has a chance to regenerate and repair. So try to catch as much as you can.
If you're having problems getting to sleep we've got some great tips here – “Why you need your Beauty Sleep: and 14 ways to Sleep Better".
Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will keep your skin properly hydrated and looking smooth.
Eat healthily. The quality of the food you put into your body shows up in how healthy your skin looks.
Diet is often at the root of many skin problems.
So try to eat a healthy diet, with plenty of fresh foods full of vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fibre and antioxidants. These are the building blocks of healthy, younger looking skin.
And stay away from refined carbohydrates and sugar which can speed up the ageing process.
We’ve listed an ” A-Z of the 27 best anti aging superfoods" to guide you.
Along with: “Get Healthy, Glowing Skin With These 9 Plant Based Foods”.
Prioritize exercise. I’m sure you don’t need to be reminded but staying in great shape is one of the keys to looking good. Working out will build muscles, reduce body fat and improve your posture – as well as giving you a healthy glow, a smooth even-toned complexion and younger looking skin.
Just remember to wash your face post-workout to get rid of excess oil and any build up of sweat, both of which can have an ageing effect on your face.
Working out gives you a healthy glow, a smooth even-toned complexion and younger looking skin.
Always wear sunscreen. Even in winter, and even on cloudy days, UV rays are present, and damaging your skin. So always protect your skin from the sun.
And most importantly…
Take really good care of yourself. Healthy self-care is not only essential for your mental health, it’s also going to reflect well in how you look.
Stress hormones can contribute to premature ageing as well as causing your skin to breakout.
And in these unusually stressful times it’s more important than ever to take really good care of yourself.
Whether it’s meditation, reading or just going for a walk – try to schedule some self-care regularly into your day.
FAQ’s
How do I start a skincare routine for men?
A good skincare routine can be as simple, or as involved, as you’d like.
But every man should have one that covers the basics – cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing.
And you can cover all three with just 2 products - our Daily Face Wash cleans and gently exfoliates, and our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer hydrates your skin (including the eye area) and keeps you looking youthful.
Which face wash is best for men?
You want to choose one that will clean your skin and exfoliate away dead skin cells – but without drying our your skin.
This will keep your face looking clear, bright and healthy.
Our Daily Face Wash soothes your skin as it cleanses and will gently exfoliate and brighten even the most sensitive skin.
It contains a mild Alpha Hydroxy Acid (lactic acid) for the perfect balance of effective exfoliation but without any irritation.
And thanks to soothing Aloe Vera and hydrating Glycerin, there’s no dryness either.
Which moisturizer is best for a man’s skin?
Look for a lightweight mattifying moisturizer that includes Hyaluronic Acid. This will keep your skin well hydrated and balanced, but without causing any shininess.
Not only will this create the look of healthy, glowing skin, it also goes a step further to repair the skin barrier and lock in moisture.
Our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer stands out for its ability to brighten and smooth a dull complexion.
At the same time, it’s extremely light and absorbs instantly - leaving your face looking matt.
How can I avoid problems with shaving?
First, gently exfoliate your face every day to get rid of the dead skin cells that can cause ingrown hairs.
And make sure to adopt correct shaving technique, using a rich shave cream that softens hair, protects skin and prevents irritation.
Follow with a moisturizer to keep your skin smooth and hydrated.
Ingredients to look for are Shea Butter (to protect and nourish), Tea Tree Oil (to purify and stop irritation) and Apricot Stone Oil (to soften hair).
For more on the perfect shave check out: “SHAVE: 9 tips for a pain free shave”.
The Takeaway
Good skincare is the key to a beautiful, healthy complexion.
But it can be overwhelming at times – and it doesn’t need to be!
This daily skincare routine will give you healthy, glowing skin - all in less than five minutes morning and evening.
We keep it simple with products that do double duty - like our Daily Face Wash, which cleans and exfoliates in one step, and our Hydrating Daily Moisturiser, an anti aging moisturiser and the perfect eye cream all in one.
Action plan
- CLEAN & EXFOLIATE your face gently to keep your face looking clean and clear.
- MOISTURIZE with anti aging ingredients to stimulate collagen production, improve the appearance of wrinkles and even out your skin tone. And pay special attention to the skin around your eyes.
- PROTECT your skin from UV rays – even on cloudy days.
And to make sure you're one of those men that continues to improve with age we’ve got more great advice here: "Look Younger: Your complete anti aging plan".
SHOP THE ROUTINE.
All you need to keep looking handsome.
PRESTIGE SKINCARE FOR MEN. MADE IN FRANCE.
