Men's Grooming Routine That Takes Eight Minutes and Actually Works
The men's grooming industry is currently in what its more enthusiastic commentators describe as a golden age, and what sceptics might call an elaborate way of selling skincare products to people who previously bought a bar of soap and called it done. The truth is somewhere between those two positions. The market for men's skincare in the UK was valued at over one billion pounds in 2023, according to Mintel, and it continues to grow. Some of that growth reflects genuine increased awareness. Some of it is noise.
What the evidence actually supports is a short ro\utine using a small number of effective ingredients. Not the ten-step system. Not the serums, essences, and mists. A cleanser, an SPF moisturiser, and possibly a retinol. That is it. Most consultant dermatologists, when asked what they actually use themselves, describe something approximately this brief. The rest is marketing.
SPF is the one product with more supporting evidence behind it than anything else in skincare. It is also the one most men skip.
What the evidence actually supports is a short ro\utine using a small number of effective ingredients. Not the ten-step system. Not the serums, essences, and mists. A cleanser, an SPF moisturiser, and possibly a retinol. That is it. Most consultant dermatologists, when asked what they actually use themselves, describe something approximately this brief. The rest is marketing.
SPF is the one product with more supporting evidence behind it than anything else in skincare. It is also the one most men skip.
Morning. Wash your face with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser, one that does not leave your skin feeling tight or dry afterwards. Apply an SPF moisturiser. Not a separate moisturiser and then a separate SPF applied on top. A product that does both, applied generously to your face, the back of your neck, and the tops of your ears, which age faster than most areas and are routinely ignored. That is roughly three minutes. You are done until evening.
Evening. Cleanse again. If you are using a retinol, which increases cellular turnover and is the most evidence-supported anti-ageing ingredient available without a prescription, apply it to dry skin, wait two minutes, and then apply a plain moisturiser over the top. The waiting period matters: applying moisturiser immediately after retinol dilutes its penetration. Start with two nights a week and build gradually to nightly use over six to eight weeks. It is normal for skin to flake slightly in the first three to four weeks. This is the process working, not a sign something is wrong.
Evening. Cleanse again. If you are using a retinol, which increases cellular turnover and is the most evidence-supported anti-ageing ingredient available without a prescription, apply it to dry skin, wait two minutes, and then apply a plain moisturiser over the top. The waiting period matters: applying moisturiser immediately after retinol dilutes its penetration. Start with two nights a week and build gradually to nightly use over six to eight weeks. It is normal for skin to flake slightly in the first three to four weeks. This is the process working, not a sign something is wrong.
SPF is the single product with more supporting clinical evidence behind it than anything else in skincare. It prevents photoageing, which accounts for up to ninety percent of visible skin ageing according to research published in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, and it reduces the risk of skin cancer, which is now the fifth most common cancer in the UK. It is also the product most men consistently skip, often because they associate it with beach holidays rather than daily use. The sun does not take days off. Neither should the SPF.
A word on shaving. The direction matters more than the product. Always shave with the grain on the first pass. Against the grain only on a second pass if necessary, and only if the first pass has been insufficient. Tugging and pressing cause ingrown hairs
A word on shaving. The direction matters more than the product. Always shave with the grain on the first pass. Against the grain only on a second pass if necessary, and only if the first pass has been insufficient. Tugging and pressing cause ingrown hairs
and razor burn that no serum will fix. A clean blade, changed every five to seven shaves, costs considerably less than the skin problems caused by using a blade too long.
Members have access to discounts on grooming and skincare brands through the benefits hub. The products that actually work are not always the most expensive ones. Log in to your benefits hub to find them at a better price.
GROOMING AND SKINCARE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
Members save on leading grooming, skincare and personal care brands. Log in to your benefits hub to browse beauty and grooming offers
Members have access to discounts on grooming and skincare brands through the benefits hub. The products that actually work are not always the most expensive ones. Log in to your benefits hub to find them at a better price.
GROOMING AND SKINCARE DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
Members save on leading grooming, skincare and personal care brands. Log in to your benefits hub to browse beauty and grooming offers
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