Men’s Skincare Tips: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Skincare Routine

Looking after your skin is as important for your health as brushing your teeth, taking vitamins or any other daily regime that keeps you in top condition. But according to a YouGov survey, only 23% of British men say they have a skincare routine.

If you’re one of the 77% that doesn’t use skincare products daily, then you’ve come to the right place. Here we’ll take you through the basics of a skincare routine for men, what you need and when to apply it.

Rise & Shine with an SPF Moisturiser

If you make just one change to your skincare routine, make it this one! If you’re not already applying an SPF moisturiser, you can take your skincare to another level with one simple purchase.

SPF moisturisers – or day creams – should be ground zero for any skincare routine, no matter how many additional moisturisers, serums and scrubs you then go on to use. Applied in the morning, it will hydrate your skin to stop it drying out while providing protection against UV rays throughout the day.

And we’re not just talking about the 2 or 3 weeks in the year of UK sunshine! This is an everyday moisturiser, to be used come rain or shine, every day of the year.

Cleanse Before Bed

If you’re applying product every morning, then it makes sense that you’d need to remove it at the end of the day. Once those nashers have had a good brush and floss, the next step in your bedtime routine should focus on your skin. A cleanser or facial wash, like Simple Refreshing Facial Wash 150ml, is a great way to wash away the day – not just moisturiser but sweat, dirt and makeup.

For general cleaning, applying the product to a face flannel and washing is enough, but for a thorough clean after a particularly taxing day, you can include a second cleanse, this time using cotton pads.

B&M Top Tip: if you like to keep your facial hair in check (especially if you clean shave) a post-shave balm is a must-have for calming irritation and protecting your skin.

Exfoliate

If your head is already spinning with the extra steps added to your skincare routine, you can rest assured this step won’t be necessary every day!

Exfoliation is a great way to remove dead skin cells for a brighter, softer complexion. But because exfoliants contain active acids and enzymes, they can cause more harm than good when used too often.

It’s generally recommended to use an exfoliant once or twice a week (perhaps more depending on your skin type – always follow the product guidelines). But when you do exfoliate, make sure you do it in the evening: after cleansing, but before applying your nighttime moisturiser.

For Sweet Dreams, Use Night Cream

Yes, another moisturiser! You’ve come this far, you may as well see it through! The last thing you should do before turning in for the night is apply a nighttime moisturiser (or night cream).

This should be different to the one you applied in the morning, free of SPF. Whereas your morning moisturiser is intended to lightly hydrate and protect against harmful UV, your night cream will have a thicker texture and will deeply hydrate skin overnight.

Basic moisturisers like Nivea Crème 400ml or L'Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Comfort Max Moisturiser 150ml can work well enough, or something with anti-ageing ingredients which is more specialised — like L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Hydrating Night Cream 50ml — will elevate your skincare to the next level.

B&M Top Tip: if you need to treat specific skin issues, like acne or to improve your complexion, you may want to look into serums which together with moisturiser could really help.

Have you recently started your skincare routine? Perhaps you’re using a new product that’s changed the game for your skin! Share your hints and tips with the B&M Community on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.