Hi folks. To all the men out there, what's your skincare routine? I am mid-30s and have never until the last 5 years bothered about skincare save for basic supermarket face cleansers. It's showing now…
Curious about how the guys out there look after your skin and what products (good value of course) you'd recommend?
Ta
What if I want tan
I find the more i use the more i break out.
Just use a simple moisturiser with SPF50+ works wonders
buy ice contour roller at kmart 8 dollars and freeze your face
Suss out the softest skin on (outside of) your body. There's your hint. Treat your body like you do that softest part
or> Use a scourer in the shower (cold)
The SS ones would certainly help with shedding weight.
Prefer my scourers green. One of the 'man made' things that is green and delivers what it promises
Scrote
https://www.olay.com/en-us/skin-care-products/complete-all-d…
Or
Biore Uv Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF50
for the face.
Cheap moisturiser with SPF 50 for the rest.
Moisturising is important. Not only sunscreen but wear a decent brimmed hat when out in the sun.
A lot of great suggestions above!
All you really NEED is to cleanse dirt/oil from the skin, and moisturise afterwards to replace any moisture lost from cleansing.
Plus sun protection.
Anything else is just extra, each product/ingredient (Retinol, vitamin c, etc) has varying efficacy and results.
I would continue on what others have said by suggesting a Cerave/QV/Cetaphil/Dermaveen face wash.
Depending on your skin type, if you have oilier skin use a foaming wash, if you have dry skin use a gel or cream wash.
Afterwards, use a moisturiser. The above brands all have good moisturisers, as well. Again depending on skin type - if you are oilier, don't use a heavy cream (anything in a tub is a big no for the face for oily skin).
Moisturizers barely seep into the skin, mostly staying at the surface. If i wanted to feel greasy I could just wash less and let the natural oils build up. Is there any actual non-biased evidence that moisturizers are anything more than a placebo for people with dry skin?
when you apply moisturiser, your skin no longer needs to produce as much oil, your pores do not need to be as large, and your skin structure retains itself longer into old age. This requires moisturiser to be applied regularly for a period of time (months) before you see results.
If your skin is too dry, it is under stress. The oil producing pores are enlarged. Cells under stress are more likely to produce deformed offspring = aging. There are less resources available for repair, the cell is devoting more resources to staying alive.
Moisturiser isn't only made by expensive beauty brands, the products recommended here are very cheap. Their success is not based on glossy ads in magazines
I have better skin then plenty of women I know that slather that "moistening" gunk on their skin every day, and my pores are normal sized. Any actual proof that moisturizers shrink pores and reduce oil production? Your post reads like an advert.
@ssfps: I'm not going to search for a clinical trial for you. If I have said something inaccurate feel free to point it out.
@greatlamp: Touche
When you apply moisturiser in a routine, you reduce the epidermal layers integrity and ability to self-regulate moisture content. Thus your skin becomes dependent on this external barrier. After an acclimation period, the skin structure retains itself as it otherwise would have into old age. When people apply moisturiser regularly for months, they are more prone to the placebo effect and feeling emotionally invested in the routine.
I'm not going to search a clinical trial for you, or provide any evidence. Feel free to point out if i've said something inaccurate.
@ssfps: Sure. I gave you free advice and you are being hostile. Go live your life the way you want to.
If moisturiser was useless there would be studies showing that. Why don't YOU waste your time googling that and post it here.
I have better skin then plenty of women I know that slather that "moistening" gunk on their skin every day
There is a very good explanation why your male skin is better than women's of the same age. I'll give you a clue, why don't men get cellulite?
If moisturiser was useless there would be studies showing that.
Yeah, who is paying for those studies? The billion dollar industry that profits from people not buying moisturiser?
I'll give you a clue, why don't men get cellulite?
Actually, they do.
Yeah, who is paying for those studies? The billion dollar industry that profits from people not buying moisturiser?
There are no universities in the entire world that aren't being paid off by a skincare company?
Actually, they do.
Do they? At the same rate as women?
You walked into this conversation with zero knowledge and assume everything is a conspiracy. Stop being a moron.
@ssfps: Women also wear makeup regularly! Which adds in a whole pile of ingredients that can clog the skin and require more cleansing to remove.
Also women have monthly hormonal cycles which change their whole bodies throughout, some women break out a week before their period.
Women are frequently excluded from scientific research because having a monthly cycle brings in too many variables. I wouldn't suggest comparing women's faces to yours is proof.
Even looking at celebrities, men often look younger than women for longer.
Men's skin is of different texture, so they're not comparable.
Also, you might have a naturally oilier textured skin, and all the females you have looked at to say you have 'better skin than' might have dry skin, you can't possibly compare!
@taradavey: I know women's skin is different, generally thinner. I still don't see any studies outside the cosmetics industry to back up any of these claims, it looks like a rationalization of a placebo. If you say there aren't any/enough because women are excluded, that doesn't prove your point, in fact its evidence of mine.
Shower everyday, keep clean and drink lots of water.
Wash every few days
shower daily - shaving I like to use a cheap can of homebrand Colesworth spray foam shaving cream which helps the blade glide and also seems to soften the skin whereas plain soap can make it feel dry and itchy.
if my finger cuticles get itchy from too much hand washing I might use sorbolene (like paraffin) to soften them and stop any itchiness.
Is paraffin like Vaseline?
Where are all the trolls who usually go on about snake oil and using bar of soap or dishwashing liquid to clean their goblin face.
Skin care a personal thing, what works for one may not work for you. Took a lot of trial and error to find what texture worked for me. Understand your skin and what finish you like. If you have oily skin, I would avoid rich creamy stuff.
using bar of soap or dishwashing liquid to clean their goblin face.
How is all that salty water treating the skin under your eyes?
I think it's worth the trip to the beach even though salt water has been scientifically proven to dehydrate your skin. Given that, it's almost like the things we apply to our skin can have an impact on the way it looks and feels
Has it been "scientifically proven" that salt water dehydrating your skin causes any lasting effect to the way it looks?
Also, my comment was more tongue in cheek, as the OP was being preemptively defensive by calling his boogeyman goblin-faced. "Anybody against cosmetics is ugly" is a pretty pathetic attitude.
@ssfps: I think that study would be impossible to perform as most scientists would hypothesise that yes, it does cause lasting damage (making it unethical to perform) and you can't have two identical people to compare and contrast your results (even with twin studies (might be possible with cloning but refer back to "unethical"))
There's this cool experiment you can do at home where you leave your feet submerged for 12 hours in regular water and when you pull them out your skin is wrecked to shit and about to slough off. Feel free to add salt and see what differences arise.
In fact, you could do one foot in regular water and the other in salt water and that gets around us not having identical samples to carry out our tests. Or even one foot in water and the other out. This would be a great test of whether water exposure has an impact on the skin long-term. You might even be able to categorise it as "scientifically proven"
I don't believe Ughhh was being pre-emptively defensive. I think they were trying to inject some humour in to their comment even if it came off as them being serious (tongue-in-cheek, if you will)
"Anybody against cosmetics is ugly" is a pretty pathetic attitude.
I never said such thing. Making crap up is a pretty pathetic attitude and a goblin thing to do.
Not sure wtf you're talking about re salty water.
Doesn't salt water have healing properties too
Any recommendations for dry and oily skin for the face?
Currently I simply use Sukin facial scrub and face wash then a tub of Cetaphil. From what I'm reading there are better products and it seems I may be doing things wrong.
Face still gets dry and shiney through the day so I keep a small tub of nivea moisturiser in the bag that I take to work.
If your face gets dry and shiny it means that it needs more hydration.
I'd say the scrub is stripping your skin too heavily, and the tub of cetaphil is definitely MOISTURE, but not hydrating deep enough into the skin (The thicker the product, the more superficially it absorbs into your skin layers)
The cetaphil provides moisture, but moisture and hydration are different things.
I would suggest adding a hydration element under the moisturiser. Whether this is a hydrating mist, a hydrating serum (hyaluronic acid + glycerin would be a good place to start).
And if you're open to it, change cleansers to something that is less physically abrasive and harsh (not a physical exfoliant). Something like a cerave or qv cleanser (foaming cerave is really nice, and doesn't dry the skin at all!) Get a better scrub, save the scrub to 1-2 times a week
OR preferably
implement a exfoliating serum (salicylic acid works best for most people) instead. You can get good ones from brands like cetaphil, cerave, or if you have a bit more money to spend, la roche posay. The ordinary is okay for a budget but not the best.
Nivea moisturiser would also be a thicker cream that doesn't sink into the skin deep enough.
Hope this helps, good luck!
Cetaphil is good, you just need to reapply it, once daily isn't enough for you.
Facial scrub isn't necessary if your skin is clear and dirt free, and it is abrasive.
Try wash with cetaphil wash, apply a toner (witchhazel) and let it dry for a minute, then apply cetaphil moisturiser.
I would not recommend heavier/thicker products for someone with oily skin, you will get pimples
Witch Hazel is astringent so it will only dry out your dry spots more! Would not recommend.
It will also shrink the pores. Then you apply a moisturiser on top.
Any recommendations for dry and oily skin for the face?
Make sure you're not running the shower water too hot.
Well finish up with a cold shower tooo
Dermapen/derma roller every few weeks
Retinoid twice a week
Hyaluronic acid + nianicin or whatever it's spelt daily coffee exfoliating scrub
Started using the $50 micro dermabrasion tool that was on sale last week.
Sounds like overkill but everyone assumes I'm under 25 despite being in my 30s.
I used to work in the sun and in a laborious job which made me look 30 when I was in my early 20s, so most of what I do is remedial in a sense. Either way, it works.
Good luck.
Thanks mate. Appreciate this. I used some retinol but it stinged before. Might try a couple more times.
I like the hydralounic acid. Seems to help a lot of people. Might get that one.
What brands do you use?
For retinol, it really depends on the brand and the quality and type of retinol in the product.
Retinol/retinoids are different, and if you buy a cheap one it's more likely to irritate.
But even the expensive ones can sting/irritate a bit upon first applications. Start with them every 3 days (for 2 weeks), then go to every 2 days (for 2 days) and then every night.
You must must must wear sunscreen with retinols, too. It makes your skin much more sensitive to the sun and if you go out in the sun while using retinols you are doing more damage than you are helping with the retinol.
As for hyaluronic acid, the aldi one "Lacura" is actually decent, it has 4 different types of hyaluronic which absorb into different layers of the skin. The ordinary is okay but tacky to the touch, La roche posay is really nice but more expesive.
I wouldn't rely on anybody's routine working for you. Somebody saying "This exact routine made me look 5 years younger" doesn't mean it will work for you - for example, wearing chemical sunscreen breaks me out within a day, 'natural' products give me a rash, if I used a physical exfoliant on my skin (a scrub) my whole face would be bright red for at least a week, and niancinamide made absolutely NO difference to my skin. And people have suggested all three of these in this set of comments.
Start slow, add in only ONE new product at a time (so if you react to something, you know what it is!) and pay attention to how your skin reacts. Just because somebody else swears by a particular product, doesn't mean it will work the same miracles on your skin!
Hope that helps!
All this advice is correct and good.
Add one product at a time, don't use it if you don't like it.
Use harsher products at night, avoid sunlight where you can.
I have skin that has a tendency to get quite oily and I'm prone to break out when I smash a packet of Oreos or something when I'm emotionally broken.
I've also found using a foil electric razor for my face and shaving every second or third day has done wonders for me..close shaving against the grain, even if I get no ingrown hairs has always left my skin feeling and looking trashed.
@Assburg: Pretty sure I've heard you're meant to shave with the grain and not against it. The reasoning was that going against the grain cuts the hair off flat (as if it were a log of wood) and going with the grain cuts it so it's more pointed (like a spike) which makes it easier for the hair to come out of the follicle
Could be wrong but I have heard that
Best advice is to get Tretinoin , not retinol. Most retinol products are a rip off. Tretinoin is prescription only, so chat to your doctor.
The starting dose (low dose) of tretinoin is .025% - and Stieva A 0.025% Cream 25g costs $23.99 from chemist warehouse.
Thanks for all of your advice throughout this thread!
retinol products are way overpriced because of the anti-aging hype they have. most don't even state their concentration so you don't know what you're getting. imo skip retinol, go to a dermatologist and get tretinoin, the prescription grade stuff that works a lot faster, is far more effective, and has all the studies to back it (retinol has next to no studies). or if you want to go rogue and skip getting a prescription (dermatolgist visits are pricey ngl) you can get tretinoin imported from alldaychemist without a prescription.
hyaluronic acid molecules are very large and sit on top of your skin for the most part. smaller hyaluronic acid molecules can penetrate the tip top layer of skin (the stratum corneum, the 1st layer of 7 total layers). that's as deep as it'll go when topically applied though. any product advertising "absorption into different layers of the skin" is marketing BS. that being said, it's a great moisturising agent.
This will sound ridiculous but I've bought a bunch of crap in the 1kg qty from Alibaba and am working on my own product as a hobby. The ingredients honestly seem as good as things by the brands below.
The truth is that as a consequence of our psychology, our perception of products is 95% packaging/fragrance/texture of the cream.
You trust the product/chemicals from alibaba?
Coffee scrub exfoliating is way way too harsh for most people's skin - adding a micro dermabrasion tool is another level of exfoliation, plus retinoid (depending on brand) is way too much exfoliation and puts you on the path towards destroying your skin barrier and inducing atopic dermatitis.
And then using a derma roller/pen which is causing micro skin wounds for your already exfoliated skin is a huge amount of trauma to the skin.
Skincare is individual but I would not ever exfoliate this much, over time it will destroy your skin. I know you probably wont believe me now, but when you start to see your skin get more sensitive please take a step back.
If by miracle it works for you in the long term that is great, but I'd never suggest anybody else does this - ever.
This routine probably helped bring your skin back to being fresher at first, but it will cause severe damage over time.
Yeah I'm a bit of a weirdo in that I have incredibly thick skin. the derma rolling is just 0.3mm but when I've got a long weekend or some time off work I'll use the derma pen on spots prone to developing fine lines at 0.7mm, it's red for the following few days but always comes back firmer and smoother.
I have used the derma pen at this length to reduce some scarring on my arms from a bicycle accident many many years ago too. Moderation is key.
They are great to help with scars! Especially the pens! I find that the roller gets blunt on me quickly and i don't want to cause micro tears haha.
Yours so far is the most evidence/science-backed comment here. Yet got the most downvotes.
Pure water from Lake Titicaca.
Daytime
Nightime
1. Cleanser - SUKIN OIL BALANCING PLUS CHARCOAL PURIFYING GEL CLEANSER
2. Olay retinol 24 night moisturizer
The key is the Olay SPF30. Sunscrean keeps you from aging
I'm mid 30's and I get asked for ID every now and then whenever I buy alcohol from Dan Murphys and Liquorland
I've been doing skincare routine since I was 15
Step 1: be young
Step 2: be Asian
If the above are not attainable, step 3: sunscreen and retinol
step 2 has a lot to do with step 3 I say. The East have always been aware of avoiding sun damage and keeping skin nourished.
Not so sure that works because when someone says an Asian chick is hot, someone else says, "Meet at her mother… that's what she'll look like."
When I want to look younger.. I shave..
Other than sunscreen and diet. Nothing improves skin or helps with aging. Fancy creams and moisturisers are cash makers for people who prey on the gullible.
Worth looking into Korean skincare, op. Really good value for very moisturising and anti-inflammatory products.
Other than that, consensus seems to be sunscreen, retinol, drinking water and eating nutritious food.
Thanks man. Will do! Great summary. Lots to take in… and time to plan a trip to procure some new products :)
Oh but you can get their products online for cheap, lots of local stockists around Syd/Melb with inventory ready to go. Or iHerb when you discount codes pop up on ozbargain. Otherwise Stylevana is like the aliexpress of K-beauty.
And if you have time, there's a plethora of insight and product reviews by professional dermatologists and product reviewers on youtube. Male skincare channels I recommend are @rajanimdskincare @doctorly, @MadAboutSkin
Sort videos by "most popular" and watch at 2x speed.
Korean skincare ftw. Look into the 3-steps. COSRX for example
What are the 3-steps I'm meant to look in to?
Collagen
Dermaveen soap free wash
Cerave hydrating cleanser
Hadauru balancing toner
Cosrx snail mucin
Cerave moisturising lotion
Natio daily defence spf50+
Plus the all important Tretinoin cream (prescription)
Wash my face in the morning and before bed, with AZclear (for preventing acne). WASH BEDSHEETS AND PILLOW COVERS ONCE A WEEK!!!
I always use a sunscreen on my face and neck before going out!!! Sun damage on the face is cumulative and a huge factor in aging early, just take a look a person who'd been working in the sun their whole life and notice how leathery and wrinkled their skin is.
I alternate between Olay Regenerist (with retinol) and Swisse Bio Retinol in the evenings before bed, because too much Retinol is actually bad for the skin and it balances cost - as Olay Regenerist is expensive.
If too much retinol is bad for your skin how come you alternate between two products that contain retinol?
The Swisse is not really Retinol, but a similar product (not certain exactly what's different) but it's still good.
Big fan of The Ordinary.
Step 1: Bioré Men's Facial Wash (Japanese)
Step 2: Multi-Peptide + HA Serum (Used to be called "Buffet")
Step 3: Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan (Basically just a moisturiser)
+1 for the ordinary.
I use a caffeine serum for under eyes, a HA serum and the HA moisturiser. But during November for 23% off
Have you tried their cleanser? I have yet to try that.
Yeah, I don't love it. Currently using a Mecca one that my wife got me as part of her order as she single handedly tries to increase the value of their company.
Mecca Max Foam-O
@Domingo: Ahh nice. I find the Japanese branded cleansers work really well without over-drying my face or cause pimples.
Good thing Daiso has been stocking them at reasonable enough prices. No more shopping at Sasa.
The only thing i've ever witnessed actually work was one girlfriend started taking large amounts of omega 3 supplements (~4-5g DHA+EPA per day) and started eating fresh fish every couple of days. It made an extremely obvious change to the quality of her skin, which reversed when she stopped taking the supplements. I've never ever seen a moisturizer or cleanser do anything for otherwise normal skin. For diseased skin, sterilizing and antibiotics seem to actually help for acne, but seem to have downsides too.
Anybody that has been around horses may have witnessed this effect too, their coats sometimes become glossier when supplemented with flax.
A few years ago I went through the same thing.
Now, its just a good cleanser (Cerave from Chemist Warehouse), a good moisturiser, making sure you put on some sunscreen when you are outside, then a weekly scrub and serum based on one thing you want to improve.
The simpler you keep it, the easier it is to keep going.
Kiehls facial fuel moisturiser x2 a day (when I remember)
Kiehls for face wash/cleanser wash too (although currently trying an innisfree face wash)
Innisfree eye cream
I also need to get better at sunscreen though
Sister in law is a dermatologist.
Cheap moisturiser with no stupid expensive additives, sunscreen.
Palmolive soap and well balanced diet. If you stop eating junk and exercise you won’t need products.
Good diet, blueberries, salmon, exercise and sunscreen
@Jimothy Wongingtons IS THIS YA BRUTHA FROM ANOTHER MUTHHA
I put Cetaphil cleanser on my face after I shower and before any other products. Does anyone know if this is a bad idea and if I should be applying it in the shower and washing it off instead?
Apply, massage and rinse away thoroughly.
Your use of bolding makes it hard to tell if you're serious
just so you didn't miss it, since you've been doing something foul for quite some time… ;)
I kind of suck at routines, but I’ll always use moisturiser after a shower, mostly because my face feels dry af if I don’t. I also regularly use sunscreen and other sun protection, though this is mainly because I’m a high skin cancer risk. I’ve also recently started trying an exfoliating face wash, but I’m not convinced that’s actually doing anything yet.
Bar of soap.
I began a very basic routine at 26. Moisturiser with SPF in the morning. Moisturiser without after a nightly shower. That's it. You don't need to get fancy, but consistency and sun protection are the most important factors.
Honestly, skincare for girls is the same for dudes, but the bare minimum is cleanse, exfoliate, moisturise and sunscreen. Try not to get a cleanser that has like, those apricot seeds or scrubs, cos that irritates the skin, just get a foam cleanser or something.
Exfoliation comes in two forms, either a scrub or a serum. I recommend Stridex pads for your first time, use it one or twice a week and see how it reacts to your skin. If you notice that your skin is getting red, do it less often or use a lower concentration. If you really want a serum, I use Paula's choice, its cheap, I use it once a day and have had no issues. For now, dont worry too much about AHA's, just use a BHA.
Moisturiser is just moisturiser. That's up to you, but I dont think you need an expensive one, just something from Cerave or cetaphil is fine.
Sunscreen though, 100%. When you exfoliate your skin is more vulnerable, and UV rays damage and accelerate age, so wear sunscreen. I wrote everything in this order cos this is realistically the order you should do this.
All in all, if you buy the products ive recommended, it'll last you maybe 2 months for 50$. Skin care doesnt need to be expensive. You can definitely add more steps, like for me I use a collagen toner in between cleanse and exfoliate, mostly cos i want an even skin tone. I also use a Hyaluronic acid after exfoliating to absorb my moisturiser easier.
This sort of routine has kept my skin pretty soft and bouncy, and I oftenly get told I look quite young. For what its worth, I am young though, 29 isnt particularly old, but my god i feel 40.
Really great comment!
29 isnt particularly old, but my god i feel 40.
I'm 48, get told I look about 35 but feel like 25. I just use a $2 bar of soap I wash my face and balls with.
Then you've lived a great and healthy life. And probably have some decent genetics. In my family we get wrinkles and grey quickly so we get old fast…
But how old do they say your balls look?
Ha ha, you're the first person that's ever asked.
QV ceramide cleanser _ morning, after arriving home and before sleep
Dermaveen sensitive moisturizer and sunscreen in morning and when needed outdoor
QV ceramide lotion when home
A lot of water
Olay total effects is pretty good as a moisturiser. Usually about $20 on special at Colesworth. Used to be cheaper but went up due to the "forced" price increases due to inflation that led to them making record profits…
Hat, sunglasses, long sleeves. Very important if going to be in direct sunlight.
If you are cleansing, you have to put the moisture back in by moisturising after.
A light lotion or serum works well. No need to scrub too much.