Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Skincare for Men: 6 Steps Every Man Needs to Add to His Grooming Regimen

If your daily skincare routine is limited to washing your face, then you may be a bit worse for wear. You don’t even follow up with a moisturizer? You’re missing out on a vital step that can drastically change the state of your skin. You don’t need to dive into a labor intensive routine to achieve optimal skincare for men, but adding two or three of these targeted options will make a visible difference — and make the extra time spent in the bathroom worth it.

Kiehl’s Age Defender Cleanser, $28

Kiehl’s Age Defender Cleanser
Image used with permission by copyright holder

To add an exfoliating step without actually adding a step, you can substitute your regular cleanser for one with skin-sloughing ingredients, like this dual-purpose option that uses clay to purge pores of dirt and oil while clearing away dead skin.

Recommended Videos

Lab Series Solid Water Essence, $47

Lab Series Solid Water Essence
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is an upgraded version of the toners you may have used in your youth. Instead of angering and drying out skin, this gel-to-liquid essence, which you use post-cleansing and pre-serum, boosts hydration and energizes skin in an instant.

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum, $46

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Serums are potent treatments targeting specific skin concerns, so they’ll provide results faster than a moisturizer. This one is packed with tiger grass to quickly soothe skin irritated by shaving, blemishes, or the sun.

Ursa Major Bright and Easy Flash Mask, $44

 Ursa Major Bright and Easy Flash Mask

Don’t fear the mask. This enzymatic option works in a … well, a flash to dissolve dead skin cells, increase firmness, and clarify pores so you don’t have to sit around looking ridiculous.

Jack Black Eye Balm De-Puffing and Cooling Gel, $25

 Jack Black Eye Balm De-Puffing and Cooling Gel

Because the first place on your face that shows aging, exhaustion, and over-indulgence is your eyes, you should give them special attention. This gel uses not only contains de-puffing ingredients, but also features a special stainless-steel applicator to massage the baggage away.

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream, $82

 Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream

Pretty much every derm will recommend incorporating retinol into your routine to address aging or acne. The easiest and quickest way is to use a night cream packed with a powerful Vitamin A derivative.

Katie Dickens
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Katie Dickens is a Manhattan-based beauty and grooming writer. She has held staff positions at Glamour, In Style, People…
Sleep tape from Dream Recovery is the ultimate men’s skincare shortcut
This sleep tape is infused with proven skincare ingredients
Dream Tape PLUS

When it comes to their skincare routines, some guys get a little lazy every now and then. (Sheepishly raises hand.) We’re always looking for shortcuts, and sometimes, our search takes us to potential men’s skincare hacks.
Time-saving options tend to be in short supply, though, so it’s always a pleasant surprise when we find one that works. That’s especially the case with Dream Mouth Tape Plus, which actually allows men to do skin care in their sleep.

Skincare while you sleep

Read more
LUMIBRONZE adds ‘tanning’ to the sunscreen equation
SOL LABS claims its new sunscreen and anti-aging face serum is a game changer
SOL LABS LUMIBRONZE

If there was one product in the men’s skincare market that seemed stable and mature, it was sunscreen. Produce a quality product with an SPF of 30+, get the formulation right, and buyers will go for it, as long as the marketing is solid and the sunscreen isn't too greasy.
But now, there's a new kid on the block in the sunscreen world. It's called LUMIBRONZE SPF 30 Mineral Anti-Aging Bronzing Serum, and it's from SOL LABS. The company is calling it a category game-changer, and it's easy to see why.

At first glance, this sunscreen looks familiar

Read more
Eyelash trimming: Why experts are calling out this dangerous men’s grooming trend
Eyelash trimming can be risky and dangerous
Man plucking eyebrows with tweezers

Skincare trends come and go, but for many men, assessing these different trends puts them in uncharted territory. The explosive growth of men’s skincare products and the concomitant advertising pitches, combined with the available array of social media platforms, has made it especially difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Few of these trends are genuinely dangerous, but there are exceptions to the rule. One is the ongoing skincare trend that has younger men shaving their eyelashes to appear more masculine. Eyelash trimming is truly bewildering in a variety of ways, so we decided to do a deeper dive into how it started, what the risks are, and how different experts feel about it.
Why young men are shaving their eyelashes
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZPwWEK-yT40

Read more