SKIN CONCERNS
All About Skincare for Men
Our comprehensive guide to men’s skincare, from topicals to treatments.
At Skin Laundry we know that all skin can benefit from a proper skincare routine to prevent and treat common skincare concerns, such as acne, wrinkles and sun damage. But, according to a 2024 YouGov survey, 39% of men in the US do not have a consistent skincare routine, while 36% of men do not have a skincare routine at all.
At Skin Laundry, our clients include men of all ages. Our medical-grade treatments and dermatologist-approved skincare line are effective at helping teenage and adult men alike build strong, resilient, healthy, glowing skin.
Ahead, Skin Laundry’s Director of Clinical Development Mina Chun and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Roberta Del Campo reveal how men’s skin differs from women's, the most common skincare concerns men face and share their tips on how men can best care for their skin, from topical products for home use to the best treatment protocols at Skin Laundry clinics.
How Is Men’s Skin Different From Women’s Skin?
Although men and women have similar skincare concerns—including acne, fine lines and wrinkles, sunspots and more—there are physiological differences between men’s skin and women’s skin. Adult men typically produce about 10 times more testosterone than women. “Due to those higher testosterone levels, men typically have thicker skin-- it can be up to 25 percent thicker than women's skin,” Chun says. “Men's skin also tends to have a higher collagen density, which can contribute to a firmer appearance. Additionally, men generally have more active sebaceous glands, leading to oilier skin and larger pores. These differences mean that men's skin may require different skincare approaches, particularly when it comes to hydration and oil control.”
39% of men in the US do not have a consistent skincare routine.
Why Do Men Need a Skincare Routine?
Men of any age can benefit from a thoughtful skincare regime. Similar to how a body can benefit from regular exercise, building healthy skincare habits will help keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
From adolescence onwards, protecting your skin from sun damage is key. It’s never too early to protect the skin from the sun as establishing a solid suncare routine can ward off the eventual onset of hyperpigmentation, premature aging and skin cancer. Regular cleansing and maintaining hydration are also key to overall skin health (and health in general) starting at an early age.
The teenage years are typically marked by a surge of hormones that can lead to breakouts (adolescent acne affects 81 to 95 percent of boys, as compared to 79 to 82 percent of young women). Men in their 20s and 30s also face a host of common skincare concerns, including shaving irritation such as razor burn, redness and ingrown hairs. Fine lines and wrinkles, which can be formed from repetitive motions such as laughing or frowning, can appear in men as early as their mid-20s, though they become more noticeable over time as collagen decreases.
In addition to wrinkles and sun damage, men in their 40s and above commonly notice a change in skin texture. Due to a natural decrease in cell renewal and accumulated sun damage, skin can start to feel dry and rough. In older age, dark circles and dark spots can also start to appear.
The good news: You can start a skincare routine that will lessen the effects of all these skin conditions at any age. In fact, the sooner you start, the better. No matter your age, skin type, tone, or concern, every skincare routine should include these three steps: Cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection. From there, you can add steps such as toning, exfoliation, serums and treatments depending on your skin’s needs.
Similar to how a body can benefit from regular exercise, building healthy skincare habits will help keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
Which Skincare Products Should Men Use?
When picking products to suit your unique skincare needs, it’s essential to determine your skin type. Why? Knowing your skin type will help guide your product choices, as skincare products are formulated with different ingredients suited for dry, oily, combination, normal and sensitive skin types.
Unsure of your skin type? Here are some telltale signs:
- Dry skin is flaky, scaly or rough. It can also itch or feel tight.
- Oily skin appears shiny, is greasy to the touch and may have large pores.
- Combination skin is dry in some spots, such as the cheeks, and oily in other places, such as the forehead and chin.
- Sensitive skin may sting, burn or itch. It’s also prone to redness and dryness, and may break out in rashes or hives.
- Normal skin has an even color and is soft and supple to the touch. It has smaller, less noticeable pores and isn’t overly sensitive to skincare products.
The ideal skincare regime for men includes a cleanser, a targeted treatment serum, a moisturizer and a daily SPF.
The ideal skincare regime for men includes cleanser, a targeted treatment serum, a moisturizer and a daily SPF. Retinol is also a good option for some skin types.
Keep reading for an overview of which skincare products men should use regularly and how to incorporate them into an everyday skincare routine.
Cleanser: Any solid skincare regime, whether it’s for men or women, includes cleansing. Cleansing the skin helps rid the skin of dirt, excess oil and other impurities—including dust and environmental pollution—that are detrimental to overall skin health.
Serum: Serums have a lightweight formulation and a high concentration of active ingredients, which allows them to sink into the skin where their hero ingredients deliver benefits ranging from brightening to hydrating and increased cellular turnover.
Vitamin A Serum: Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a hero ingredient for men looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, regulate oil production and improve hyperpigmentation and other signs of sun damage. Read more about Vitamin A here
Just like women, men should consider using a retinol,” Del Campo says. “Retinol is the gold standard for anti-aging to help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improve collagen stimulation. For men specifically, it can help to decrease the sebum. This makes the skin less oily, which will help its overall appearance by cleaning out the pores and brightening the skin as well.” Vitamin A serum should be used at night as it may increase sun sensitivity in the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid Serum: Due to shaving and environmental stressors including sun exposure, men’s skin can be prone to dryness. Hyaluronic Acid is a powerful humectant that can attract more than 1,000 times its weight in water, which helps skin stay hydrated and plump. Hyaluronic Acid can be used day and night. Read more about Hyaluronic Acid here.
Moisturizer: Hydration is crucial to healthy skin. As noted above, anything from sun exposure to shaving can make men’s facial skin prone to dryness; some types of hormone replacement therapy, including testosterone, can also cause dryness in men’s skin. To keep skin hydration locked in, men need to include a moisturizer in their skincare regimen. It can be applied morning and night.
SPF: By using an SPF every day, and consistently reapplying it, men can protect their skin from damage caused by UV rays, which ranges from sunspots to fine lines, wrinkles and skin cancer.
Dermatologists recommend using a broad-spectrum formulation with an SPF of at least 30. Read more about sunscreen here.
Men have a steady loss of collagen each year leading to slackness and wrinkles – a Laser Facial is a way to boost collagen.
Which Skin Laundry Treatments Should Men Get?
In addition to following a topical skincare regime at home, men can supplement their skincare with regular Skin Laundry treatments. “It's important for men to understand that they have a steady loss of collagen each year leading to slackness and wrinkles – a laser facial is a way to boost collagen with no downtime,” Del Campo says.
Signature Laser Facial
Our hero treatment delivers high-energy, infrared light beneath the skin’s surface to precisely and painlessly correct and prevent breakouts, calm redness and rosacea, break up hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production for clearer, firmer and healthier skin. Safe for all skin tones, the Signature Laser Facial offers benefits that are both immediate and cumulative.
“The Signature Laser Facial can help minimize the appearance of pores and improve signs of sun damage,” Del Campo says. “But I think the most important thing for men is to boost the collagen that they are losing on an annual basis.”
Chun adds: “Laser facials address a variety of skin concerns such as uneven skin tone, sun damage, acne scars, and signs of aging. For men, who often deal with issues like razor bumps, excessive oil production, and larger pores, laser facials can help improve skin texture, reduce oiliness, and promote a clearer, smoother complexion. Moreover, laser facials can enhance the overall appearance of the skin, giving men a more youthful and refreshed look.”
Resurfacing Facial
Our Resurfacing Facial uses fractional technology to improve skin texture, stimulate collagen production, increase skin cell turnover, and create microchannels that enable greater absorption of products, like serums, resulting in brighter, firmer, smoother and healthier skin. Safe for all skin tones, the Resurfacing Facial has benefits that are both immediate and cumulative.
“As they age, men tend to develop rougher skin,” Del Campo says. “The Resurfacing Facial will help to smooth out texture and abnormalities. It can also help reduce the appearance of pores, even more dramatically than the Signature Laser Facial.”
A Resurfacing Facial can be highly beneficial for men as it targets skin issues such as rough texture, acne scars, and fine lines.
A Resurfacing Facial can be highly beneficial for men because it targets and improves common skin issues such as rough texture, acne scars, and fine lines, Chun adds. “This treatment works by removing dead skin cells and stimulating collagen production, which can help smooth the skin's surface and reduce the appearance of imperfections,” she notes.
Doctor’s Note
Retinol is a powerful ingredient that promotes cell turnover and boosts collagen production, which can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. For men, retinol can also help to manage oil production and prevent acne, making it a versatile addition to their skincare regimen.
Additional Reading
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