Men's Skin Types: Why They Matter

Below, we’ll help you determine your skin type and then give you a regimen on how to best take care of your skin. Determining your skin type is not an exact science and you may identify with more than one type. If so, pick the type that seems to be your case most of the time. Your skin can also change types depending on the season, environment, medicine, or with age. Keep in mind, the skin type you have on your body might differ from your face.

Determine Your Skin Type

Normal Skin

Do you have a smooth, healthy complexion? Are your pores medium in size and perhaps, sometimes, women say they wish they had your complexion? If so, thank your parents for their genetics as you probably have normal type skin. This is the easiest type of skin to care for, but don’t get lazy, sticking to a solid men’s skin care regimen will keep it looking good for years to come. Get the Regimen

Cleanse: Wash your face 1-2x a day with a men’s face wash to keep it oil and dirt free. In the morning, after work/a workout, and before bed are good points. Using a face wash with or without a scent is fine as the scents probably will not irritate your face. Before washing, splash warm water on your face or even better, take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Use only a dime sized amount of face wash as the skin on your face is extremely delicate, it really needs very little to be cleansed. Lather up your face for 30 seconds with your face wash by lightly rubbing in a circular motion. Try not to pull down on the skin as you don’t want to help gravity and expedite the natural occurrence of wrinkles/loose skin. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Your face should feel clean, but not “too clean”. People have been programmed by cheap, drugstore face washes to think that your face should feel tight and dry after you wash it. This is actually bad for your face as it can increase oil production, cause breakouts, and drying out your face causes expedited aging. Scrub: You should exfoliate your face 1-2x a week to help prevent the buildup of dead skin cells. Using a face scrub before you shave adds an added benefit of allowing for a smoother shave. On days you exfoliate, the scrub should replace washing your face, as both washing your face and using a face scrub together can severely dry out your face, causing irritation, breakouts and redness. Like washing your face, prepare your face by splashing warm water on your face or even better; take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Apply a dime sized amount of men's face scrub to your face; any more is just a waste of your hard earned money. Gently rub the scrub over your face, especially the areas where your pores are the largest. If using scrub before a shave, make sure to concentrate on the areas of your face you plan on shaving. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Hydrate: Moisturize your skin with a men’s face moisturizer 1-2x a day after washing it. A simple routine is to do it after you shower in the morning and before you go to bed. Hydrating your face keeps it generally looking good, prevents aging and wrinkles, and prevents excess oil production. Using a scented product, if desired, should not irritate your face. If you’re worried about your forehead wrinkles and other fine lines, a small amount of anti-aging cream can help smooth them out and tighten your skin. Nothing can prevent wrinkles or fully make them go away, but you certainly can slow down the aging process and make them less noticeable. A good men’s eye cream can also tighten and rejuvenate the tired, wrinkly skin around your eyes. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time (over 30 minutes), apply SPF30 or higher designed for the face to protect the skin from sun damage.

Dry Skin

Does your skin flake or always seem dry? If so, you probably have dry skin. Dry skin requires special care and to really slather on face moisturizer. Fear not though, as it’s one of the easier types of skin to take care of. Get the Regimen

Cleanse: Cleanse your face no more than 1x a day to keep it oil and dirt free. Cleansing any more than 1x a day will cause excessive dryness. A good practice is to cleanse it at the end of your day, before bed. Use a face wash for men without any scents as they will irritate your face. Before washing, splash warm water on your face or even better, take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Use only a dime sized amount of face wash as the skin on your face is extremely delicate, it really needs very little to be cleansed. Lather up your face for 30 seconds with your face wash by lightly rubbing in a circular motion. Try not to pull down on the skin as you don’t want to help gravity and expedite the natural occurrence of wrinkles/loose skin. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Your face should feel clean, but not “too clean”. People have been programmed by cheap, drugstore face washes to think that your face should feel tight and dry after you wash it. This is actually bad for your face as it can increase oil production, cause breakouts, and drying out your face causes expedited aging. Scrub: We do not recommend exfoliating a dry skin type face more than once a month and preferably only before you shave. On days you exfoliate, the face scrub should replace washing your face, as both washing your face and using a face scrub together can severely dry out your face, causing irritation, breakouts and redness. Like washing your face, prepare your face by splashing warm water on your face or even better; take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Apply a dime sized amount of men's face scrub to your face; any more is just a waste of your hard earned money. Gently rub the scrub over your face, especially the areas where your pores are the largest. If using scrub before a shave, make sure to concentrate on the areas of your face you plan on shaving. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Hydrate: Use a men’s face moisturizer 2-3x a day, morning, mid-day and at night. With dry skin, you need to make sure your face stays hydrated at all times. Hydrating your face keeps it generally looking good, prevents aging and wrinkles, and prevents excess oil production. Avoid a scented product, it will probably irritate and dry out your skin further. A person with dry skin is more susceptible to aging, fine lines, and wrinkles, so a small amount of anti-aging cream can help smooth them out and tighten your skin. Nothing can prevent wrinkles or fully make them go away, but you certainly can slow down the aging process and make them less noticeable. A good men’s eye cream can also tighten and rejuvenate the tired, wrinkly skin around your eyes. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time (over 30 minutes), apply SPF30 or higher designed for the face to protect the skin from sun damage.

Sensitive Skin

Does your face seem to get irritated just by going outside sometimes? Or even thinking about washing or putting lotion on it creates patchiness, redness, or just outright irritation? If so, you probably have sensitive skin. This is one of the hardest types of skin to deal with, but with our solid routine, you’ll be able to achieve less irritated, healthy skin. Get the Regimen

Cleanse: Cleanse your face no more than 1x a day with a men's face wash to keep it oil and dirt free. Cleansing any more than 1x a day will cause excessive sensitivity and irritation. A good practice is to cleanse it at the end of your day, before bed. Use a face wash without any scents as they will irritate your face. Before washing, splash warm water on your face or even better, take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Use only a dime sized amount of face wash as the skin on your face is extremely delicate, it really needs very little to be cleansed. Lather up your face for 30 seconds with your face wash by lightly rubbing in a circular motion. Try not to pull down on the skin as you don’t want to help gravity and expedite the natural occurrence of wrinkles/loose skin. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Your face should feel clean, but not “too clean”. People have been programmed by cheap, drugstore face washes to think that your face should feel tight and dry after you wash it. This is actually bad for your face as it can increase oil production, cause breakouts, and drying out your face causes expedited aging. Scrub: We do not recommend exfoliating a sensitive skin type face more than once a month and preferably only before you shave. On days you exfoliate, the face scrub should replace washing your face, as both washing your face and using a face scrub together can severely dry out your face, causing irritation, breakouts and redness. Like washing your face, prepare your face by splashing warm water on your face or even better; take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Apply a dime sized amount of men's face scrub to your face; any more is just a waste of your hard earned money. Gently rub the scrub over your face, especially the areas where your pores are the largest. If using scrub before a shave, make sure to concentrate on the areas of your face you plan on shaving. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Hydrate: Moisturize your skin with a men’s face moisturizer 1-2x a day after wash it. A simple routine is to do it after you shower in the morning and before you go to bed. Hydrating your face keeps it generally looking good, prevents aging and wrinkles, and prevents excess oil production. Do not use a scented product, as it will irritate your skin. If you’re worried about your forehead wrinkles and other fine lines, a small amount of anti-aging cream can help smooth them out and tighten your skin. Nothing can prevent wrinkles or fully make them go away, but you certainly can slow down the aging process and make them less noticeable. A good men’s eye cream can also tighten and rejuvenate the tired, wrinkly skin around your eyes. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time (over 30 minutes), apply SPF30 or higher designed for the face to protect the skin from sun damage.

Oily Skin

Does your face look like it’s sweating, even if you’ve been doing nothing but watching sports all day? Do you have enlarged pores, and are prone to blackheads and breakouts easily? If so, you probably have oily skin. Get the Regimen

Cleanse: Cleanse your face 1-3x a day with a face wash for men to keep it oil and dirt free. A simple routine is in the morning, mid afternoon, and before you go to bed. It’s hard to “over wash” an oily face, but don’t go overboard as drying out your face can actually stimulate oil production. Using a face wash with a scent is fine as the scents probably will not irritate your face. Before washing, splash warm water on your face or even better, take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Use only a dime sized amount of face wash as the skin on your face is extremely delicate, it really needs very little to be cleansed. Lather up your face for 30 seconds with your face wash by lightly rubbing in a circular motion. Try not to pull down on the skin as you don’t want to help gravity and expedite the natural occurrence of wrinkles/loose skin. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Your face should feel clean, but not “too clean”. People have been programmed by cheap, drugstore face washes to think that your face should feel tight and dry after you wash it. This is actually bad for your face as it can increase oil production, cause breakouts, and drying out your face causes expedited aging. Scrub: You should exfoliate your face 1-3x a week to help prevent the build up of dead skin cells and to keep your large pores from clogging up. Using a face scrub before you shave also adds an added benefit of allowing for a smoother shave. On days you exfoliate, the scrub should replace washing your face, as both washing your face and using a face scrub together can severely dry out your face, causing irritation, breakouts and redness. Like washing your face, prepare your face by splashing warm water on your face or even better; take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Apply a dime sized amount of men's face scrub to your face; any more is just a waste of your hard earned money. Gently rub the scrub over your face, especially the areas where your pores are the largest. If using scrub before a shave, make sure to concentrate on the areas of your face you plan on shaving. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Hydrate: Use a men’s face moisturizer 1-2x a day. Hydrating your face keeps it generally looking good, prevents aging and wrinkles, and prevents excess oil production (yes, you heard that right). Using a scented product may actually help slow down oil production (a product scented with natural essential oils, not synthetic fragrance.) If you’re worried about your forehead wrinkles and other fine lines, a small amount of anti-aging cream can help smooth them out and tighten your skin. Nothing can prevent wrinkles or fully make them go away, but you certainly can slow down the aging process and make them less noticeable. A good men’s eye cream can also tighten and rejuvenate the tired, wrinkly skin around your eyes. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time (over 30 minutes), apply SPF30 or higher designed for the face to protect the skin from sun damage.

Combination Skin

Does your skin have patches of oiliness, yet other areas are dry? Perhaps your forehead and nose always seems oily, while your cheeks are always dry. If so, you probably have Combination Type Skin. This type of skin is tricky to manage, but our regimen below will let you tackle it with ease. Get the Regimen

Cleanse: Wash your face 1-2x a day with a men’s face wash to keep it oil and dirt free. In the morning and before bed are good points. Use a face wash without scent so as not to irritate the dry parts of your face. Before washing, splash warm water on your face or even better, take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Use only a dime sized amount of face wash as the skin on your face is extremely delicate, it really needs very little to be cleansed. Lather up your face for 30 seconds with your face wash by lightly rubbing in a circular motion, especially around the oily areas of your face. Try not to pull down on the skin as you don’t want to help gravity and expedite the natural occurrence of wrinkles/loose skin. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pours, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Your face should feel clean, but not “too clean”. People have been programmed by cheap, drugstore face washes to think that your face should feel tight and dry after you wash it. This is actually bad for your face as it can increase oil production, cause breakouts, and drying out your face causes expedited aging. Scrub: You should exfoliate your face 1-2x a week to help prevent the build up of dead skin cells. We suggest only exfoliating the oily parts of your face as using a face scrub on dry areas will only cause irritation and excessive dryness. Using a face scrub before you shave adds an added benefit of allowing for a smoother shave. On days you exfoliate, the face scrub should replace washing your face, as both washing your face and using a face scrub together can severely dry out your face, causing irritation, breakouts and redness. Like washing your face, prepare your face by splashing warm water on your face or even better; take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Apply a dime sized amount of men's face scrub to your face; any more is just a waste of your hard earned money. Gently rub the scrub over your face, especially the areas where your pores are the largest. If using scrub before a shave, make sure to concentrate on the areas of your face you plan on shaving. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Hydrate: Moisturize your skin with a men’s face moisturizer 1-2x a day after wash it. A simple routine is to do it after you shower in the morning and before you go to bed. Hydrating your face keeps it generally looking good, prevents aging and wrinkles, and prevents excess oil production. Use a non-scented product so as not to irritate the dry parts of your face. If you’re worried about your forehead wrinkles and other fine lines, a small amount of anti-aging cream can help smooth them out and tighten your skin. Nothing can prevent wrinkles or fully make them go away, but you certainly can slow down the aging process and make them less noticeable. A good men’s eye cream can also tighten and rejuvenate the tired, wrinkly skin around your eyes. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time (over 30 minutes), apply SPF30 or higher designed for the face to protect the skin from sun damage. 

Mature / Sun Worn Skin

Does your skin have many wrinkles, spotty patches, and look dull or tired? If so, you already know you have aged/sun worn skin. You can’t completely undo the current damage, but with help, you can noticeably revitalize your skin and prevent future damage. Get the Regimen

Cleanse: Wash your face 1-2x a day with a men’s face wash to keep it oil and dirt free. In the morning and before bed are good points. Use a face wash without any scent, as it could irritate your frail skin. Before washing, splash warm water on your face or even better, take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Use only a dime sized amount of face wash as the skin on your face is extremely delicate, it really needs very little to be cleansed. Lather up your face for 30 seconds with your face wash by lightly rubbing in a circular motion. Try not to pull down on the skin as you don’t want to help gravity and expedite the natural occurrence of wrinkles/loose skin. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Your face should feel clean, but not “too clean”. People have been programmed by cheap, drugstore face washes to think that your face should feel tight and dry after you wash it. This is actually bad for your face as it can increase oil production, cause breakouts, and drying out your face causes expedited aging. Scrub: You should exfoliate your face 1x a week to help prevent the buildup of dead skin cells and rejuvenate your aged skin. Using a face scrub before you shave adds an added benefit of allowing for a smoother shave. On days you exfoliate, the scrub should replace washing your face, as both washing your face and using a face scrub together can severely dry out your face, causing irritation, breakouts and redness. Like washing your face, prepare your face by splashing warm water on your face or even better; take a shower to open up your pores to allow dirt out. Apply a dime sized amount of men's face scrub to your face; any more is just a waste of your hard earned money. Gently rub the scrub over your face, especially the areas where your pores are the largest. If using scrub before a shave, make sure to concentrate on the areas of your face you plan on shaving. Rinse with cool water as this will shrink your pores, preventing new dirt and oil from entering. Pat your face dry as rubbing your face encourages premature wrinkling from stretching the skin. Hydrate: Moisturize your skin with a men’s face moisturizer 1-2x a day after washing it. A simple routine is to do it after you shower in the morning and before you go to bed. Hydrating your face will help prevent further aging and also revitalize your skin, making wrinkles and lines less noticeable. To further reduce wrinkles and tighten your skin, apply a small amount of anti-aging cream to your forehead and other wrinkly areas of the face. Nothing can prevent wrinkles or fully make them go away, but you certainly can slow down the aging process and make them less noticeable. A good men’s eye cream can also tighten and rejuvenate the tired, wrinkly skin around your eyes. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time (over 30 minutes), apply SPF30 or higher designed for the face to protect the skin from sun damage.