What Makes A Good Men's Skincare Routine? These 7 Grooming Steps!

If you are looking to level up in your face to face interactions, presenting yourself in the most, the positive light will go a long way whether you are trying to close a new business deal or in your dating life. The first part in that journey is your personal care especially your skin. Good skincare and hygiene can go a long way in boosting your appearance and self-confidence. 

And, there is no lack of information on grooming. A quick search leads to a boatload of advice that either is too confusing or not approachable and ultimately, makes us grab the tried and true ‘soap + water’. Yet, there is no better investment than in your skin. Once you have a good skincare routine down pat, adding it into your daily routine is easy.

7 Things A Man’s Skin Care Routine Must Have!

We get it. The grooming industry has you longing for choice that is simple and sustainable. Sifting through the shelves of your local drug store, Nordstrom’s, Sephora and hundreds of listings on Amazon to find what fits your skin is not simple. The whole process would be a lot easier if you just knew where to start in the process. 

That’s where we are happy to help, we present you the seven steps that should be part of your daily skincare routine. If it feels too overwhelming, remember by the end of part seven, you'll be an on your way to becoming skincare master and more importantly getting results.

The Cleanser

The fundamental of great skin is a great cleanser which makes it the first part of your routine. To completely eradicate those pore-clogging impurities, wash your face twice a day with it. It should be the first thing to touch your face in the morning, and it should be the first grooming product you reach for in the evening. The morning cleansing will rebalance the pH level and get your skin going. The evening wash will remove grime that has collected throughout the workday.

Pick either an oil-based or water-based cleanser. The first will deep clean and rinse away every speck of bad stuff that has drawn to the face. The second will get the same result but be exceptionally gentler on the skin. Both make for solid and premium skincare, but we would recommend starting with natural water-based cleanser; the difference lies in the type of skin that needs them. For a more sensitive face, a water-based cleanser is kinder. It doesn’t strip away essential moisture while doing wonders for the derma.

The popular belief that switching from freezing cold water with scalding hot opens pores is a myth. Don’t fall for it. The more likely outcome is irritation or blood vessels breaking. Always, we repeat, always use lukewarm water and wash your hands before applying your products. 

The greatest way to get your skin back to its prime is a cleanser because soaps are too alkaline and face washes are filled to the brim with salicylic acid, zinc sulfate and other astringent chemicals. Both dry out the skin and are too harsh on it. They may seem as reasonable steps to excellent grooming but aren’t. Think of them as paint strippers, best to be avoided.

The Toner

A quick fact: your skin’s pH is around 5.5 and water’s is approximately 7 to 8. Every time we cleanse our faces, it necessitates restoring the natural pH. That’s the job of the toner. It dials the notch down and brings it to acidic. What’s more, they detoxify skin and help smooth it out. Most top-end toners are infused with effective antioxidants. A single spritz is enough to take the face from zombie land to a ‘Blue Steel” moment.

The correct method to applying a toner is spraying it on a cotton pad or Muslin Cloth and then dabbing it on the face right after you’re finished with the cleanser.

The Exfoliant

Diligently cleansing and toning the face takes you to the finish line most days. But just like the body needs some R&R occasionally, the face requires revamping from the real disaster living life plays on it. Here enters the third grooming weapon – the exfoliator.

A Physical Exfoliant, or a scrub is one option. It clears away the congested dirt and dead skin with a single wash and improves the texture of the skin. If you’re looking for a gentle touch, start with an herbal formula. Massage the scrub immediately after cleansing and then rinse off to emerge with a refined feel with nary a damage to the skin.

A Chemical Exfoliant, or mask is the other choice. Those face-shaped papers replete with holes for eyes and lips that we see everywhere on social media draw out the last of impurities with high accuracy. They turn the skin as smooth as marble by providing the right balance of TLC. Packed with moisture, collagen, and other natural ingredients, masks rejuvenate the face right when it gets slightly dull.

Face scrub or any exfoliants should be used sparingly as cleansing solutions mixed with abrasive agents which mechanically peel away the outermost layers of the dermis. The best result of exfoliation arises with gentler and natural products. The ideal frequency should be one or two times a week that’s the limit.

Exfoliation aids in freeing ingrown hair which makes slicing them off easier. But using a scrub right before a shave is unwarranted as the almost daily ritual already gives the skin a severe exfoliation, just mechanical. Adding a step to it will irritate the face further. Scrubs or masks are best left for shave-free days.

The Moisturizer

Even a man who doesn’t groom at all cannot deny that arguably, knows the most important skincare product is a solid moisturizer. They are a necessity to keep the skin healthy, youthful and always in decent condition. Think of the skin as a plant that needs watering, once a day. The hydration, in this case, relies on “watering” the skin with moisturizers.

Effective cleansing (and exfoliating) scrapes away some of the skin’s nutrients. Moisturizing replenishes them, adequately and adds a bit of pick-me-up stuff that it really needs.

When not exfoliating, moisturize the skin directly after you’ve finished with cleansing and toning your face. The yardstick in moisturizers is one that matches your skin type and without toxic chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.   

Strictly speaking, the strident man would incorporate the next three steps to the daily skin care custom. But if you don’t have the time to expend energy on a 7-part regime every day, moisturizing can be the final step. Another advice here is to start simple if you’re just stepping up your grooming routine. The first four steps will help you figure out what works best for your face and reduce the risk of applying too many unknown products simultaneously.

For most fellas, grooming regimes are created out of constant trial and error. They are rarely, if ever, based on tested and proven regimen. This is not your fault; men are being pitched conflicting advice from companies and influencers as they are looking to sell you their latest product.  We promise if you go past the one step grooming routine of just soap and water you will see amazing results and boost in your confidence as well. 

The Serum

Too dry, too wrinkly, too oily, too dull – we all have something we don’t love about our skin. The one skincare action that can transform all of it is a serum. Chances are you’ve been moving through life without even realizing the need for it, but as we said, serums can fix more than just superficial problems. The kind of serum you will need depends on the issue that has to be addressed.

From soothing irritation to offering a clean complexion, from diminishing fine lines to reducing pores, a hyaluronic serum can give results in an instant. A potent serum comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s the triple effect of soothe, hydrate and repair are addictive and worth it.

Adding serum to the routine isn’t necessary, more so if you pick a mediocre product. But a premium choice takes a targeted approach and gives the face that extra something. The molecules of a serum are smaller than cream; therefore, they penetrate deeper and reach layers even a sophisticated moisturizer won't. A top-notch serum will prevent water loss, rehydrate in an intense burst and retain healthy cells.

A morning serum is not meant for sleep-time. To keep the skin healthy and young, sleep with an overnight product that has retinol it. Take a few drops of it on your palm and massage into your face. Application of serum is always after cleansing, not after moisturizing.

The Eye Cream

For every man, who has turned away from a tired looking reflection and eyes that tell the tale of advancing years, an eye cream is a mandatory part of skincare. The layer around the peepers is paper thin; it has no soft tissue or muscle. In other words, it loses elasticity, darkens and wrinkles faster than anywhere else.

A high-quality eye cream brings a dual effect: it slows down the clock on aging and illuminates the skin. Barring an eyelift, an eye cream is the only solution to ridding fine lines.

The SPF

There is more to a good skin regime than removing debris and hydrating. It includes protection which brings us to the last part of your care arsenal and often the most neglected. To safeguard the skin from the ravages of the sun, yes even during the winter months, SPF is essential. The sun is never the cure to your skin, despite when the temperatures are below zero.

Skin damage, aging prematurely and cancer are all effects of the sun hitting the skin directly. It is indeed the worst enemy. Pick a light sunscreen with a non-greasy touch that sinks into the derma super quickly. It will courteously do the shielding job for you.

As we said before, a slap of soap, a splash of water and a drug store body spray is not doing yourself justice you deserve to put yourself in the best light possible. If you don’t want to miss out on the anti-aging benefits of grooming, then take the extra step. If you are skipping the serum, then apply the SPF after the moisturizer daily. You only need to put it on once, a few minutes before you step out of the home.

A ‘Fail-safe’ Grooming Regime

A gentleman’s cleansing routine happens behind shut doors, as it should be. The pursuit is personal and varies from man to man. But the lack of good skincare habits can produce conflicting results. It can lead to bad habits like towel-drying the face before a shave, or it can create an ineffective regimen like exfoliating every day. To top it off, myths flourish, and half-baked recommendations all over the internet.

With these facts in mind, the above easy to follow skincare steps form a failsafe routine that will have you looking decidedly extra polished. To sum it up: cleanse (twice), tone, scrub (rarely), moisturize, hydrate and protect.

Once your skin becomes accustomed to the basics (cleanser, toner, scrub, moisturizer, and SPF), move on to serum and eye cream. Believe when we say that the added minute or two in front of the mirror every morning will leave you better prepared for whatever the day might bring.  

The key to feeling sharp and confident in your skin every day is consistency. Follow this skin care regimen and results of great skin and better hygiene will be achieved in no time.

For more tips and information go to Mallama.com