Men's Skincare for Beginners: Start Here, Not With Ten Bottles
Short version: if you have never had a skincare routine, do not start with a shelf of products. Start with three: wash, serum, moisturise, every morning. Once that is automatic, add the three night steps. That is the whole beginner's guide. The rest of this page explains why.
You are not behind
Most men start looking after their skin somewhere between 28 and 45, usually after a photo they did not like or a mate who said "you look knackered". There is no wrong age to start. There is only the routine you will actually keep.
The three mistakes beginners make
1. Buying too much
Ten products is a hobby, not a routine. You will use them for a fortnight. Three products you use every day beat ten you use on Sundays.
2. Using the wrong thing to wash
Shower gel, bar soap and hand wash are made for skin that is thicker and oilier than your face. They strip it and leave it tight. A face wash is not vanity, it is the right tool.
3. Skipping moisturiser because "my skin is oily"
Oily skin is often skin that is dehydrated and over producing oil to compensate. A light moisturiser with no shine helps, it does not make it worse.
Your first routine: 1, 2, 3 in the morning
- Wash. Warm water, a small amount of cleanser, massage, rinse. 20 seconds. No.1 Day Cleanser.
- Serum. Two or three pumps pressed into damp skin. This is the step that does the work. No.2 Day Serum.
- Moisturise. Face and neck. It should vanish in seconds. No.3 Day Moisturiser.
That is about a minute. Get it as the AM Routine Set for £50 and do it every morning for two weeks before you add anything.
Then the night routine: 4, 5, 6
- Wash the day off. Dirt, oil, sweat, SPF, pollution. No.4 Night Cleanser.
- Eye cream. A small amount on your ring finger, patted around each eye. No.5 Eye Cream.
- Night oil. Two or three drops, pressed in. Absorbed before you are asleep. No.6 Night Oil.
Or skip the two week wait and get all six as the Full Routine Set for £49.99 (was £89). It is what most people buy, and it is the cheapest way to own all six.
Beginner questions, answered
How much product? Less than you think. A pea of cleanser, two or three pumps of serum, a pea of moisturiser, a grain of rice of eye cream, two or three drops of oil.
Morning or night first? Morning. It is easier to build a habit around something you already do every day, like brushing your teeth.
What if my skin is sensitive? All six are dermatologist tested. No.5 Eye Cream and No.6 Night Oil have no added fragrance; the others are lightly scented with natural essential oils, and the full ingredient list is on every product page. Patch test on the inside of your wrist if you are cautious.
Do I need SPF? In the sun, yes. Any facial SPF over your moisturiser. We do not make one.
When will I see a difference? Feel it day one. See it after a few weeks of doing it every day. Doing it every day is the point.
The one rule
Follow the numbers. 1, 2, 3 in the morning. 4, 5, 6 at night. If you do that, you have a better skincare routine than most men in Britain.
Next: the full 6 step routine explained, or how long it actually takes.