I’ve wanted to come up with a best skin care routine for men for a while now, since it can be overwhelming with all the different brands and products available these days. I have moderately dry skin, so I am pretty picky about what I use.
As I started to write down all the different skincare products I use each day, I was surprised how many of them there were. I was also not as surprised to discover how loyal I am to a product once I’m hooked. I think this goes for most men – once we have a deodorant or hair treatment we like, we never change. However, there are some other products that I’ve discovered recently and feel they’re worth sharing as well.
So, here’s a list of my favorite skincare products, from head to toe (actually if you have a good foot moisturizer recommendation, please let me know).
Recommended Products for the Best Skin Care Routine for Men
Table of Contents
Face
1. Cetaphil
I started using Cetaphil in middle school and high school when my dermatologist recommended it for bad acne. It’s super-gentle on your skin, which means it won’t leave your face dried out. I’ve tried other cleansers, and this definitely suits my dry skin the best.
2. Aesop Shave Serum
Let me just say that I am very partial to Aesop products. I pay full price for them and they are worth every penny. When I use a shave gel by itself, my skin gets really dried out the rest of the day, even when I put on an aftershave lotion. The shave serum both helps with lifting up the hairs on your face so the shave is smoother, plus it helps keep your skin a bit more hydrated throughout the day.
3. Aveeno Shave Gel
Gives me a great shave every time. Especially when paired with the Aesop shave serum – there is literally no irritation. No smell, no alcohol either. I am super-sensitive to shave gels – anything with alcohol in it just makes my face feel like a desert the rest of the day. I’m still on the lookout for a better shave gel, but have been loyal to Aveeno for over ten years now because it gets the job done.
4. Aesop Aftershave Lotion
For years, I enjoyed The Art of Shaving aftershave balm, but since I have become so loyal to Aesop recently, I decided to try out their lotion as well. As expected, it works extremely well. You can use it right after you shave, and on a daily basis on days you don’t shave either as a moisturizer on your face.
5. Thayers Facial Toner
This was a recent discovery that has worked wonders for my “T-Zone.” Just splash some on after you shower and you don’t need a moisturizer. Thanks to my wife for having this in our medicine cabinet. I used to use a facial moisturizer every day, but really don’t need it anymore after trying Thayers. It’s light and refreshing, and I find it tones and moisturizes my skin after taking a shower just as well as anything else.
Lips
1. Chapstick SPF 15
I’m pretty simple when it comes to lip balm, so I’ve used Chapstick SPF 15 for a long long time. It’s great to use all year round, especially in the dead of winter when your lips are all cracked and dried out, but also in the summer when your lips have the potential to get burned if you’re out in the sun all day.
Underarm
1. Ban Deodorant
Another one if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’ve been wearing Ban since I started using deodorant in middle school. I find most other deodorants smell too strong, or make my skin all dried out and flaky. I don’t know why it’s in the women’s section at Target, but I have no shame in grabbing them when I need deodorant.
Hands
1. Aesop Hand Balm
I love the scent and it works very well. When my hands are extra dry though, I go to
2. Neutrogena Hand Cream
Which I’ve been using for 30 years. When I was a kid growing up in the bitter cold, dry winters in New Jersey, I still spent plenty of time outside playing with my friends. I’d go to bed and my hands would be all red and cracked, which is when my mom introduced me to Neutrogena hand cream. That stuff worked wonders for me back then, and I’ve been using it every winter ever since. Whenever my hands are not as dry and cracked and I fee like mixing it up, I love using Aesop hand balm as well. It’s not as strong as Neutrogena, but it smells amazing and your hands will feel great.
3. Aesop Hand Soap
We leave a bottle of Aesop hand soap in our guest bathroom because it smells amazing and just gives the room a little more class. It’s too expensive to use on a daily basis, but it’s nice to use once in a while. The scent is amazing, and Aesop’s hand soap won’t dry your hands out like other brands.
Scalp/Hair
1. American Crew Fiber
Recommended by my favorite barber Mike in the West Village about 15 years ago. Not to stiff, not to light. Great for short and longer hair. The smell is not the best, but I’ve gotten used to it over the years.
2. Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo with Coconut Oil
I discovered this shampoo when I worked at Equinox. Smelled so good and hair felt great. I relive those memories every time I use it. It’s great for any hair type, and leaves your hair with a nice sheen. It’s really the best-smelling shampoo ever in my opinion.
Body
1. Dove Beauty Bar in the Winter, and Irish Spring in the Spring, Summer and Fall.
I am a bar soap guy – I don’t mess with body washes. The Dove soap is great when my skin gets all dry and flaky in the winter, and the Irish Spring just smells so good the rest of the year.
2. Aesop’s Hwyl but also love Marrakech
I’m not a big cologne guy, as I don’t like wearing any strong fragrances. I did discover Aesop’s fragrances about 5 years ago and have been hooked ever since. The obsession began with Marrakech, and I currently wear Hwyl. If you want to get really fancy, one of the sales associates recommended spraying both of them on your forearm at the same time for an even richer and more complex scent. It will cost you though, as a bottle is $130.
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