Skincare for men: a simple routine for everyday life, shaving, sport and sauna
Many men have exactly one product in the bathroom: a shower gel for hair, body and face. It works somehow, but at the latest after shaving, training or a sauna session the skin feels tight. Good skincare for men still doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. In this guide you get a simple routine with three basic steps that takes just a few minutes, plus tips for shaving, sport and sauna and an overview of which products you really need.
Contents10
- Does skincare for men need different products?
- Skincare for men: the basic routine in three steps
- Skincare for men at a glance: three levels
- Shaving: the trickiest moment of skincare for men
- Skincare for men after sport and sauna
- Skincare for men in the gym bag
- The most common mistakes in skincare for men
- As a set or individually?
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Does skincare for men need different products?
A little. On average, men's skin is somewhat thicker and often produces more sebum, which is why the T-zone gets shiny faster for many men. Then there is shaving: each time, the blade also takes off the top layer of skin, which puts strain on it. Still, what matters is the skin type, not gender. You don't necessarily need special "men's" products with dark packaging and a tangy scent. Good skincare for men therefore relies on the same basics as for women: gentle cleansing and a suitable cream.
Whether your skin is rather normal, dry or oily can be found out with a simple test: wash your face in the evening with water only, apply nothing and check how it feels after half an hour. If it feels tight, it is rather dry. If it is shiny on the forehead and nose, it is rather oily or combination skin.
Skincare for men: the basic routine in three steps
Three steps are enough to start with. Morning and evening together, it takes less than five minutes.
1. Cleanse instead of using shower gel on your face
Wash your face morning and evening with lukewarm water and a gentle cleansing foam. Shower gel is made for the body and is often too harsh on the face. For most men, the cleansing foam for normal skin with chamomile is a good fit. If your skin feels tight after washing, take the cleansing foam for dry skin with aloe vera. Both contain 200 ml and last a long time.
2. Apply cream
Right after drying, apply a cream to your face and neck. A pea-sized amount is enough. According to the product description, the VEGAN FOX face cream with almond and avocado oil, chamomile and panthenol is intended for morning and evening use. It has no sun protection factor – if you spend a lot of time outdoors, use a sunscreen as well.
3. Don't forget your hands and feet
Men's hands often take the most punishment: workshop, garden, cold, frequent washing. A hand cream in the evening is the simplest step with the biggest difference in how your skin feels. According to its description, the hand cream with mango butter and avocado oil is made for dry and stressed hands. If you often walk barefoot – in the sauna, changing room or on the beach – apply cream to your feet in the evening as well.
Skincare for men at a glance: three levels
Not everyone wants five products in the bathroom straight away. The table shows three levels – start with the first and only add more if you notice something is missing.
| Level | Morning | Evening | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimal | Water, cream | Cleansing foam, cream | approx. 3 min a day |
| Standard | Cleansing foam, cream | Cleansing foam, cream, hand cream | approx. 5 min a day |
| Plus | as standard, sunscreen if needed | as standard, foot cream; facial peel 1–2 × a week | approx. 7 min a day |
The times are rough guidelines. More important than the number of products is that you actually stick to the routine. Better two steps every day than five steps once a month.
Shaving: the trickiest moment of skincare for men
For many men, shaving is the moment when the skin goes through the most. A few habits help:
- Warm up first: Shave after showering or washing your face, when skin and beard hair are soft.
- Sharp blade: A blunt blade has to pass over the same spot more often and irritates the skin more.
- With the grain: Especially on the neck and chin, shave in the direction of hair growth.
- Apply cream afterwards: Rinse with cold water, pat dry and apply a gentle cream. Many men simply use their face cream instead of a separate aftershave.
- No peel on shaving day: A gel facial peel with 2.5 % lactic acid can give a smoother skin feel, but it doesn't belong on freshly shaved skin. Plan it for a day without shaving.
If your skin regularly burns, develops red bumps or becomes inflamed after shaving, please have it checked by a doctor.
Skincare for men after sport and sauna
After training or a sauna visit, the skin is warm and challenged by sweat and frequent showering. A simple routine looks like this:
- Shower: Lukewarm, not hot. A shower gel for the body, such as the VEGAN FOX shower gel in grapefruit, linden blossom or red grape.
- Cleanse your face: Wash off sweat and salt with the cleansing foam.
- Let it cool down: After the sauna, wait a few minutes until your skin has stopped sweating.
- Apply cream: Face cream, hand cream and foot cream if needed.
- Drink: Not skincare as such, but still important after sport and sauna.
Good to know: if you go to the sauna or train several times a week, you can easily end up washing your face three or four times a day. That is usually too much. After sport, lukewarm water is often enough if you cleanse morning and evening anyway. What else to pack in your sauna bag is in our sauna bag checklist.
Skincare for men in the gym bag
- Shower gel (200 ml fits in any bag)
- Cleansing foam or a small decanted amount of it
- Face cream (50 ml)
- Hand cream
- A light towel for drying off, for example a hammam towel – it takes up little space and dries quickly again
- Flip-flops for the shower and changing room
The most common mistakes in skincare for men
- Showering too hot: Hot water feels good but dries out the skin.
- Rubbing instead of patting: After showering, pat your face dry with the towel, don't rub it.
- Too much cream: A pea-sized amount is enough for the face. More doesn't absorb better.
- Only caring when there are problems: Skincare works best as a habit, not as an emergency measure.
- Forgetting lips and ears: Especially in winter and after a lot of sun, lips and ears can feel tight too.
As a set or individually?
If you want to start with everything at once, the Facial Care Set contains cleansing foam (200 ml), facial peel (50 ml) and face cream (50 ml) for €46.90. Bought individually, the three products cost €50.70. If you only want the essentials, cleansing foam and cream are enough. You can find all products in our skincare products. And if after the sauna you want to wrap up more than just your skin, have a look at our guide to bathrobes for men.
Related reading: Cleansing foam for dry skin or normal skin: which one suits you? · Foot care after the sauna: routine with schedule, calluses and cream · How much shower gel do you really need?
Conclusion
Skincare for men doesn't have to be complicated: cleansing instead of shower gel on the face, then a gentle cream and hand cream in the evening – that's the foundation. If you shave, train or go to the sauna regularly, also pay attention to lukewarm water, gentle patting and not washing your face too often. Start with two products and only add more once you notice something is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Do men need special men's cosmetics?
Not necessarily. What matters is the skin type. Gentle cleansing and a suitable cream work regardless of gender.
How often should a man wash his face?
Morning and evening is enough for most. After sport or sauna, lukewarm water is often sufficient so that the skin isn't cleansed too often.
Can I use the face cream after shaving?
Many men use their face cream instead of aftershave. If your skin burns or becomes inflamed after shaving, have it checked by a doctor.
Is shower gel fine for the face too?
Shower gel is made for the body and is often too harsh on the face. A dedicated cleansing foam is more comfortable and leaves the skin feeling less tight.
What is the easiest way to get started with skincare for men?
A cleansing foam and a face cream. If you work a lot with your hands, add a hand cream in the evening.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.