Master your skincare routine. Expert tips for men of all ages on cleansing, moisturising, and SPF to maintain healthy, clear skin at every stage.
Men’s skincare routines contain a few golden rules that apply whatever your age (e.g. use a face wash daily) and whatever your skin type. Men's skincare is a specialised and growing field, and the best skincare routine for men is one that is simple, consistent, and uses suitable skincare products tailored to men's unique needs. However, there are specific products you should look out for according to your age. So if you’d like to grow old gracefully, keep reading…
The Golden Rules: Consistency is key—cleanse, exfoliate, moisturise, and apply sun protection daily to maintain skin health.
Know Your Skin Type: Tailor your products to whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive, or normal to ensure effective results.
The Teen Years: Focus on oil control and preventing breakouts with gentle cleansers and targeted treatments.
Your 20s & 30s: Introduce regular exfoliation to remove dead skin cells and switch to smarter shaving habits to protect a less taut skin barrier.
Mature Skin (40s+): Prioritise antioxidants and specialised eye care to combat fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles.
Sun Protection: Always apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 as the final step in your morning routine to prevent premature ageing and skin damage.
Establishing a skincare routine tailored to your needs is essential. Men's skin is generally thicker and oilier than women's skin due to higher testosterone levels, which can make it up to 25% thicker and lead to larger pores that produce more sebum. The higher levels of testosterone in men also result in denser hair follicles and oilier skin, which necessitates the use of skincare products specifically formulated for men's skin. Additionally, men's skin typically requires active ingredients in higher concentrations for effective absorption, as their skin is thicker and often more oily than women's skin. Maintaining the skin barrier and supporting overall skin health are key goals of any men's skincare routine.
Look, skincare isn't just some fancy grooming habit—it's absolutely vital for keeping yourself looking and feeling brilliant! For blokes, having a proper skincare routine is like having a good morning coffee—it just sets you up right for the day by clearing away all that dirt, excess oil, and dead skin that's been building up on your mug. This doesn't just keep you looking fresh (and who doesn't want that?), but it'll also help you dodge those annoying skin dramas like acne-prone skin, oily patches, and those pesky ingrown hairs that nobody wants to deal with.
By regularly getting rid of all that dead skin and excess oil, you're revealing the healthier, more vibrant skin underneath and reducing the risk of clogged pores and breakouts—result! Setting up a skincare routine that actually works for your skin type is absolutely key to getting that healthy-looking complexion, and it can help prevent premature ageing by keeping your skin cells functioning at their best (trust us on this one). Whether you're battling specific skin concerns or just want to maintain a clear complexion, investing in your skin now is like putting money in the bank—it'll pay off big time in the long run!
Knowing your skin type is like knowing your shirt size - absolutely essential if you want things to fit properly! Men's skin can generally be sorted into normal, oily, dry, or sensitive categories, and trust us, each one's got its own quirky needs.
Got oily skin? Your face is basically an oil factory working overtime, churning out excess sebum that'll leave you looking like a greased-up engine (not the look we're going for, mate!). You'll want lightweight, oil-free products that won't add to the shine. Dry skin, on the other hand, feels tighter than your jeans after Christmas dinner and often gets all flaky and temperamental - it's crying out for rich, hydrating moisturisers that'll lock in moisture like a proper security system.
Sensitive skin? Well, that's the diva of skin types, isn't it? It needs gentle, fragrance-free formulas because anything else will have it throwing a proper tantrum with irritation and redness. And if you've got normal skin - lucky you! - it's like having that mate who gets along with everyone, tolerating a wider range of products without any drama (though it still deserves a balanced routine, don't get cocky). Understanding your skin type isn't just skincare science - it's the difference between your mug looking fresh or like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards, ensuring your skin stays healthy, comfortable, and looking absolutely sorted.
Building a daily skincare routine is like putting together the perfect outfit – it doesn't have to be rocket science, but you've got to stick with it (and trust us, your face will thank you for it)! Start with a gentle face wash that actually suits your skin type – whether you're dealing with oily, dry, or sensitive skin – to get rid of all that surface grime and nasties morning and night.
After cleansing, why not treat your mug to a targeted serum packed with proper active ingredients like hyaluronic acid for hydration or salicylic acid to tackle those pesky breakouts and dark spots? These concentrated little heroes address specific skin concerns and can make a proper difference to how your skin looks (seriously, it's not just marketing waffle). Finish with a moisturiser to lock in all that hydration and shield your skin from whatever the environment throws at it.
Got facial hair? Don't even think about skipping the beard oil or balm – the skin underneath needs some love too to stay healthy and hydrated! By following this daily routine, you can keep your complexion balanced and sort out annoying issues like dull skin cells, uneven skin tone, and that tight, dry feeling. Simple as that!
Your teen years are when you typically start your men’s skincare regimen. Starting a grooming routine in your teens sets the foundation for lifelong skin health. Thanks to a surge of hormones, it’s common to suffer from breakouts. Skin tends to be oilier especially around the t-zone (nose, forehead and chin).
Our Oil Control range has been formulated to balance the skin instead of stripping it. Each product within the range contains witch hazel, willow bark and juniper. Wash your face AM and PM with an Oil Control Face Wash which has been designed to leave your skin feeling clean and clear without drying it out too much. Using a gentle facial cleanser instead of regular bar soap is recommended to avoid drying out the skin and causing excess oil production.
Regular cleansing helps achieve a deep clean by removing impurities, dirt, and excess sebum from the pores, which is essential for preventing breakouts. If you have had a breakout apply Oil Control Blemish Targeter directly on the area after cleansing; 82% of men in our consumer trial claimed that it calmed the skin after use. Its gel formula allows for targeted action, helps absorb fluid from whiteheads, accelerates healing, and prevents dryness. Just because your skin feels oily, this doesn’t mean that you should forgo moisturiser. Use a light formula which will still hydrate the skin and mattify your complexion at the same time. Oil Control Moisturiser will do just that.
This is the crucial age to ensure your skin remains in tip-top condition, so make sure you exfoliate away dead skin cells a couple of times a week and use moisturisers with nourishing ingredients. Chemical exfoliants and chemical exfoliators are effective options for removing dead skin cells from the skin's surface, improving skin texture, and preventing clogged pores. Exfoliating your skin will help to keep it looking bright (perfect after a late night) and will ensure you get a smooth shave by helping to bring ingrown hairs to the surface of the skin pre-shave.
Original Face Scrub will leave your skin feeling deeply cleansed by removing dead skin cells. Using a chemical exfoliant twice a week is recommended, as it helps remove dead cells and impurities from the skin's surface, leading to a smoother skin texture and helping to prevent breakouts. At night time, moisturising is often missed in a men’s face care routine. It’s important to moisturise at night too as this will ensure your skin has the essential hydration it needs whilst you sleep. Original 24 hour Moisturiser can be applied morning and night and contains aloe vera, camelina oil and green tea.
Shave smarter at this age. In your thirties, your skin isn’t as taut and firm as it was when you were in your early twenties so don’t be aggressive with your razor. Use a good lubricant that will reduce drag and an efficacious after shave balm. After shaving, it's important to maintain your skin barrier and support your skin's natural oils, as this helps lock in hydration and keeps your skin healthy.
The Original Shave Gel has been formulated specifically to help the razor glide over the skin, delivering a smooth and close shave. If you experience any sensitivities post shave use a fragrance free after shave balm like our Sensitive After Shave Balm to soothe the skin post-shave and leave it feeling moisturised.
You may have finessed a skincare routine for men at this age, but we recommend you start switching your products for ones with antioxidants made specifically for mature skin. Antioxidants help protect against skin damage caused by environmental stressors and support overall skin health, making them essential for maintaining a youthful appearance.
Our Age Defence Moisturiser has been proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after 4 weeks of use. It contains a potent blend of antioxidants including echinacea, vitamin E and rosemary. The first signs of skin ageing show around the eyes so keep the skin around there looking bright and firm. Age Defence Eye Roll On will help combat dark circles and puffiness.
The skin around your eyes? It's like tissue paper compared to the rest of your face – thinner, more delicate, and frankly, it shows everything! This makes it a prime target for dark circles, puffiness, and those pesky fine lines. Incorporating an eye cream or serum into your routine is like giving your peepers their own personal bodyguard against these concerns.
Hunt down products packed with hyaluronic acid to seriously boost hydration and plump up that delicate skin, or grab ingredients like caffeine and peptides to tackle the appearance of dark circles and that "I haven't slept in days" look. When it comes to applying your eye cream, here's the golden rule: use your ring finger to gently pat the product around the orbital bone – this ensures you don't tug or stretch that precious skin like it's a piece of old elastic!
No skincare routine is complete without proper sun protection. Daily exposure to UV rays causes sun damage, dark spots, premature ageing, and even bumps up your risk of skin cancer. That's exactly why you absolutely need to slap on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every single day, regardless of your skin type, and no matter if it's sunny or cloudy outside.
For blokes, a lightweight, non-greasy sunscreen or an SPF moisturiser is your best mate for daily use. Apply sunscreen as the final step in your morning routine, and don't forget to reapply every two hours if you're spending time outdoors, or straight after you've been swimming or sweating buckets.
No matter your age, the best skincare routine is one that is simple, consistent, and includes essential steps like cleansing, exfoliating, moisturising, and sun protection. There are some habits that are always good to get in to:
Wash your face in the morning and evening to keep the skin clear of dirt and debris.
Always follow with a moisturiser, day and night.
Don’t forget that your lifestyle choices make a massive impact on your skin and overall health.
Get enough sleep, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and stay active through exercise.
Do you have any age-related skincare tips? Tweet them to us @bulldogSkincare
