The three steps
- Wash with a mild face cleanser and lukewarm water, morning and night. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests a face wash rather than bar soap, which can be drying.
- Moisturise daily, ideally while your skin is still a little damp after washing, which helps trap water in the skin.
- Sunscreen in the morning: broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher, on your face, ears and neck. Reapply every two hours outdoors, or after sweating.
That’s a complete routine. If you get spots, blackheads or dark marks, add one treatment at a time at night, a couple of weeks apart.
If you have a beard
The skin underneath is the part most men forget.
- Wash your face and beard every day, working the cleanser through to the skin, not just the hair.
- Pat dry with a clean towel and leave the skin a little damp.
- Match the product to your skin: beard oil for normal to dry skin, a beard conditioner if you’re prone to spots, or a fragrance-free moisturiser if your skin is sensitive. Work it through to the skin.
- Keep your hands off it through the day; stroking your beard moves dirt and oil onto your skin.
Flaking, itching or redness under the beard that doesn’t settle with this, or painful bumps, is worth showing a GP or dermatologist.
If you shave
- Shave after a shower, or after washing, when the hair is soft.
- Use a moisturising shaving cream or gel, and shave in the direction the hair grows.
- If you get razor bumps or ingrown hairs, the AAD suggests a single- or double-blade razor may suit you better than a multi-blade one.
- Change the blade every five to seven shaves, and moisturise straight after.
What you can skip
- Harsh scrubs and stripping cleansers, which irritate more than they clean.
- Starting several new products at the same time.
- Anything that stings or burns for more than a few minutes. Stop using it.
Not sure where to start?
Want to know which step matters most for your skin? FacialStack looks at three photos of your face (front, left and right), describes what’s visible and suggests a simple morning and night routine, with what each step is for. The report is free with a free sign-in, for adults 18+. It’s cosmetic guidance from what a photo shows, not a diagnosis. You can see an example report first.
More guides
- Which skincare products should I use?
- Large pores: why they look bigger and what actually helps
- Dark circles under your eyes: why you get them and what helps
- Skincare routine order, morning and night
- A simple skincare routine for oily skin
- Blackheads on your nose: what actually helps
- Dark marks after spots: why they stay and what fades them
- AI skin analysis from a photo: what it can and can’t tell you
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, “Skin care tips for men”, “A dermatologist’s top tips for a healthy beard” and “DIY treatment for common beard problems” (aad.org). General information only, not medical advice.