No-nonsense, 10 minute skincare routine for men

Washing

The most obvious one of all. Wash your face using warm (but not hot) water and a facial cleaner before bed and first thing in the morning to remove dirt and grime. If you find that your skin normally has a “sheen” at the end of the day you might have oily skin and should consider a face wash designed specifically for oily skin, and you can also use tissues to remove excess oil before cleaning.  If you have dry skin there are products on the market for that too, and if you just have a normal skin type then a standard cleanser will do the job.

Pat (don’t rub) your face dry with a towel after washing and you’re good to go.

Regular washing helps to remove dirt, excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria, reducing your chances of getting spots or pimples. Don’t overdo it though- wash too often and you’ll remove too much of your skin’s natural oil and the skin will produce even more oil to compensate.

Moisturise

If you have skin, which you probably do, you should use moisturiser. Properly moisturised skin is generally healthier and both looks and feels better. And best of all- moisturising doesn’t have to be a drama or a big deal.

Simply apply some moisturiser after washing your face for best results, and gently rub it into your face and neck until it’s fully absorbed. If you apply too much and it stays on the surface of your skin, feel free to rub it into other dry areas like your elbows.

There are specially formulated moisturisers for oily or particularly dry skin, and you can also opt for a day cream and a night cream if you prefer. There are countless moisturisers on the market, but don’t spend time worrying about it- if a particular cream works for you, that’s all that matters. Whether it’s a specialist product or a store-brand cream you picked up at the supermarket, any moisturising is going to be better than none at all.

Exfoliating

Your skin is constantly shedding dead skin cells. Think of yourself as shedding your skin like a snake, except bit-by-bit, in extremely slow motion. Exfoliating once per week helps to remove any build up dead cells and keeps your skin fresh, while also reducing the risk of spots and other skin conditions.

Whether you use a scrub, a chemical formula, gloves or anything else, exfoliating doesn’t take long, and it only needs to be done once per week. Be careful not to scrub any particular area for too long, and be particularly cautious on areas like your nose, brow and jaw. If you feel like exfoliating twice per week that’s also okay, but don’t overdo it.

Keep in mind that a bit of redness after exfoliating is normal is some cases, but it should subside quickly afterwards, and prolonged redness is sign that you’re exfoliating too much or too often.

Protection

It might be a cloudy day outside, but the ultraviolet radiation from the sun laughs in the face of mere clouds. That means, whether it’s a sunny day or not, you should use SPF protection if you’re going to be outside for a prolonged period, because your skin can still be damaged by the invisible UV rays from the fiery inferno we call the sun.

You don’t have to bathe yourself in SPF-50 for the walk to your car, but incorporating some low-level SPF protection into your daily routine will help to prevent the premature aging and increased cancer risk that comes with exposure to the sun. You can even buy moisturisers that include SPF, so protecting your skin doesn’t have to be any extra work at all.

Conclusions

Four steps, ten minutes, better skin. There countless claims and counterclaims when it comes to skincare, and enough different products to fill a stadium. But you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the benefits of a proper skincare routine- just find products that you like and that work for you, put in those ten minutes per day, and enjoy having skin that looks and feels better.

While this routine is all about economising on time, don’t forget that there’s nothing wrong with taking an extra few minutes if and when you have them. If you want to try a face mask, then why not? If you want to apply anti-wrinkle cream around your eyes, then go for it. It’s the 21st century and masculinity no longer dissolves if it comes in contact with lip balm. Your skincare routine is nobody’s business but yours, so do what makes you feel great.