Men’s Skincare Routine: Best Products and Tips by Dermatologists

Best Skincare Routine for Men – A Dermatologist’s Guide to Healthy Skin

Whether you’re 15 or 55, having the right skincare routine is essential for healthy, clear, youthful-looking skin.

As a dermatologist, I often tell my male patients: the earlier you start caring for your skin, the better the results you’ll see long-term.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to build a customized skincare routine for men—based on your Baumann Skin Type®, age, and specific skin concerns like acne, oiliness, redness,

razor irritation, wrinkles, or hyperpigmentation.

🧬 Why Men Need a Personalized Skincare Routine

Most off-the-shelf products don’t account for your unique skin biology. Men’s skin is typically thicker, oilier, and more prone to irritation from shaving—but that doesn’t mean all men need the same products.

The key is knowing your Baumann Skin Type. There are 16 scientifically validated types, and each one requires different ingredients and formulations.

Take the Baumann Skin Type® Quiz to get personalized product recommendations based on your skin’s hydration, sensitivity, oil levels, and pigmentation risk.

🧼 Basic Skincare Routine for Men: CPR Method

If you want a simple, effective skincare routine, start with the CPR method:

Cleanse, Protect, Repair

These are the three non-negotiable steps in any effective skincare routine—whether you’re a beginner or already skincare-savvy.

1. Cleanse

Your cleanser sets the tone for your routine. It removes oil, dirt, and pollution while prepping your skin for treatment products.

Choose your cleanser based on your skin type:

Foaming cleanser – for oily, acne-prone skin

Creamy or oil-based cleanser – for dry, sensitive, or mature skin

Low-pH or soothing cleanser – for redness, stinging, or inflammation

Learn more:

Why You Might Need 2 Different Cleansers

What’s the Best Water Temperature to Wash Your Face?

2. Protect

The most important product in your morning routine is sunscreen. UV exposure accelerates aging, worsens dark spots, and triggers inflammation—even on cloudy days.

🧴 For a low-maintenance routine, use a moisturizer with built-in SPF. It hydrates and protects in one step.

3. Repair

This step targets your specific skin problems—like acne, oiliness, redness, or aging.

Use treatment serums and moisturizers with proven ingredients such as:

Retinoids (for aging, acne)

Niacinamide (for oil and redness)

Peptides (for wrinkles)

Azelaic acid (for acne and pigmentation)

🧖‍♂️ Complete Skincare Routine for Men (Advanced)

If you’re serious about improving your skin, a comprehensive regimen will give you faster, more visible results.

➕ Full AM Routine for Men:

Cleanser

Shave (if applicable), Cleanse again, Eye cream, Treatment serum, Moisturizer, Sunscreen

🌙 Full PM Routine for Men:

Cleanser, Eye cream, Treatment serum (e.g., retinol), Moisturizer

💡 Tip: If you’re using products with actives (like retinol or peptides), the order of application matters. Some ingredients can cancel each other out if layered incorrectly.

👦 Skincare for Men Ages 15–30

At this age, the biggest concerns tend to be acne, oiliness, and sun damage. But many young men also experience sensitive skin, dehydration, or post-shave irritation.

Cleansers for Young Men

Oily/Acne-Prone Skin: Look for salicylic acid to help unclog pores.

Dry/Sensitive Skin: Avoid foaming cleansers. Use a hydrating creamy cleanser or cleansing oil.

Moisturizers for Young Men

Oily Skin: Lightweight, oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizers.

Dry Skin: Rich barrier-repair moisturizers with lipids and ceramides.

Sunscreen for Young Men

Choose a lightweight, noncomedogenic SPF that you’ll actually wear daily.

Popular untinted mineral SPFs for men:

Even if you’re acne-prone or oily, skipping sunscreen will make breakouts worse and speed up aging.

👨‍🦳 Skincare for Older Men (30+)

From age 30 on, men start to experience collagen loss, deeper wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. If you’ve had significant sun exposure, now’s the time to start using anti-aging ingredients.

Best Anti-Aging Ingredients for Men:

Retinoids – Boost cell turnover, reduce wrinkles and acne

Peptides – Help firm and smooth skin

Niacinamide – Reduces inflammation and discoloration

Vitamin C – Brightens skin and protects from free radicals

⚠️ Not all older men have the same skin issues. There are 8 wrinkle-prone skin types in the Baumann system. Take the quiz to match the right ingredients to your type.

Beginner-Friendly Retinoids for Men:

Start using retinol 2–3 times per week at night, and always combine with a moisturizer to prevent dryness.

👨‍⚕️ Common Skin Concerns in Men and How to Treat Them

Here’s how your skincare routine can target multiple issues:

Concern Ingredients to Look For

Acne Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids

Oiliness Niacinamide, zinc, oil-free moisturizers

Dryness/Dehydration Ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid

Shaving irritation Panthenol, allantoin, chamomile extract

Redness/Rosacea Azelaic acid, metronidazole, probiotics

Wrinkles & sagging Retinoids, peptides, antioxidants

Hyperpigmentation Vitamin C, retinoids, azelaic acid

You can’t treat everything in a basic 2-step routine. That’s why it’s important to prioritize based on your skin type—and add more steps gradually as your skin adjusts.

💡 Bonus Tips for Men’s Skincare

Shaving & Skincare: Shave after cleansing, but rinse again to remove shaving cream residue. Use a soothing aftershave balm if you’re prone to irritation.

Order matters: Apply treatment serums before moisturizers. Sunscreen is always last in your AM routine.

Don’t guess your skin type: Studies show over 50% of people guess wrong. Take the quiz for accurate product matching.

Be consistent: It takes 4–8 weeks to see results from most active ingredients like retinol or niacinamide.

🧪 Build Your Personalized Skincare Routine for Men

The best men’s skincare routine is the one tailored to your skin’s biology. Our skin type quiz helps you:

Identify your skin type

Get a personalized skincare plan

Choose the right ingredients

Avoid wasting money on the wrong products

Thousands of doctors around the world trust the Baumann Skin Type System®—now you can, too.

🚀 Ready to Get Started?

👉 Take the Baumann Skin Type Quiz to discover your exact skin type

🧴 Build your personalized regimen based on your results

📩 Get dermatologist-backed advice sent straight to your inbox

Investing in your skin pays off at every age. Whether you want to prevent aging, reduce breakouts, or just look more polished—let’s build a skincare routine that works for you.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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