5 essential products for men’s skincare

Men’s skincare isn’t talked about enough, but thankfully, that’s changing. If you’re a guy who’s just looking for the most effective skincare products, there is a lot of information out there… most of it geared toward women. 

While the simple truth is that everyone’s skin is different, it’s also true that men’s skin tends to behave a little differently. Facial hair and testosterone impacts our skin in unique ways, for starters. Your run-of-the-mill best skincare routine for women won’t take into account the broad general differences between male vs. female skin from a medical perspective. 

Why do I care? My name is Zack and I have been a physician assistant for over 11 years. I specialize in dermatology and have always had a major interest specifically in men’s skincare.  Thanks to Curology, I am able to give skincare-related medical advice to our patients via our telehealth platform, and with readers like you!

To make skincare for men really easy, here is a list of the 5 most essential products in skin routines for guys, based on my experience as a licensed medical provider with Curology. 

1. Cleanser and moisturizer 

While I realize these are technically two products, a cleanser/moisturizer duo is the staple of a basic skincare routine. Choose a simple, gentle cleanser and moisturizer to help keep your pores clear and your skin hydrated. 

I use the Curology cleanser for my face. Two nights a week, I exfoliate with KarmaCeuticals AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser. No matter which cleanser I use, I then use my Curology formula that contains tretinoin, azelaic acid, and niacinamide, followed by the Curology moisturizer. 

2. Electric razor

While it doesn’t give a super close shave, an electric razor can help you avoid irritation, especially if razor bumps or acne are a concern. For the rest of your beard care routine, avoid toners and aftershaves with alcohol, as they can dry out and irritate skin. A beard oil can soften skin and hair and may help prevent ingrowns—just make sure it doesn’t have pore-clogging ingredients, like coconut oil. 

3. Caffeine eye cream

I try but don’t always get enough sleep, so if I notice I have some dark circles I’ll reach for a caffeine eye cream. The caffeine constricts the blood vessels directly beneath the skin’s surface, which can help improve the appearance of dark eye bags. I use the Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream.

4. Body wash

Sweat can lead to breakouts on your back, chest, and shoulders—so showering right after a workout with a body wash containing salicylic acid can help unclog pores and prevent body acne. Curology’s acne body wash works great on body acne without drying out skin. 

If body breakouts aren’t a concern, a good body wash still matters! Every Man Jack Sandalwood Body Wash is popular with the guys in the provider office, and you can find it at places like Target. 

5. Sunscreen

Not up for debate. A daily sunscreen protects your skin against harmful UV rays and can help prevent photo-aging. For my face I use Origins A Perfect World SPF 40. For my body, I use the Sun Bum Premium Moisturizing Spray SPF 30.

Skincare can seem intimidating, but our best advice is to keep it simple. If you want to keep it really simple, you can take the guesswork out of skincare with a complete routine from Curology. Like I mentioned, we make a cleanser, moisturizer, acne body wash, and more. 

Your personalized skincare routine features a Custom Formula with a mix of active ingredients chosen specifically for your skin by a dermatology provider (like me)! Curology providers are licensed medical practitioners who have been specially trained in dermatology. Just upload a few selfies and take a quick skin quiz. A Curology dermatology provider will review your medical history and decide if Curology is right for you.

The best part is that your first month of Curology is free—just pay $4.95 to cover shipping and handling. So you can get a total skincare routine designed by dermatologists to fortify your skin for $0 more. No more trips to the drugstore or stealing your girlfriend’s expensive stuff. 

I highly recommend you go ahead and try it. See for yourself how Curology has helped thousands of patients save time and money on their journey to happier, healthier skin. 

We’re here to tell you what we know. That’s why our information is evidence-based and fact-checked by medical experts. Still, everyone’s skin is unique—the best way to get advice is to talk to your healthcare provider.

Empowering you with knowledge is our top priority. Our reviews of other brands’ products in this post are not paid endorsements—but they do meet our medically fact-checked standards for ingredients (at the time of publication).

Written by

Curology Team

Medically reviewed by

Nicole Hangsterfer, PA-C