Best Mens Skincare routine by Carl Thompson.jpg

Caring for your skin is no longer a taboo subject for men and with the men’s grooming sector growing rapidly, we now have an incredible number of product choices available to us which can be quite daunting. Especially when the products on offer range so much in price. It’s confusing for the most knowledgable of us let alone to the average consumer. Today alongside Mr Porter, we’ve recommended a luxury 7-step skincare routine for men that will leave your skin feeling loved, nourished and protected.

It would be fair to say that there are early adopters to new men’s skincare products, such as myself but there are men out there (and I would say that’s the majority of men) who still just use one moisturiser and one eye cream that they probably brought from their local supermarket or given to them as Christmas present! I’m here you explain how you can up your daily skincare routine.

STEP 1: PREPARE THE SKIN USING A FACIAL CLEANSER

The first step of my skincare routine is to cleanse the face. This is just to prepare the skin for any additional treatments, it will remove dirt and grime that has settled on your face during the day, night or whilst asleep.

Aesop's 'Purifying Facial Cream Cleanser' gently washes away impurities without over-drying. This fatty acid-rich formula is blended with exfoliating white clay to remove dead skin cells, while lavender stem and chamomile bud soothe irritation. Use it every day for a softer, firmer complexion.

£25 for 100ml available at Mr Porter.

STEP 2: TACKLE THOSE DARK CIRCLES & FATIGUE

For me, eye care in my daily skincare routine is absolutely key and would personally pay more for decent eye products. I hate looking tired with dark circles under my eyes and these eye-masks are perfect in the fight against looking fatigued. Face or eye masks are a weekly treat for me, so this step doesn’t necessary have to be in your daily routine but you could add this step when you have a special occasion or when you’re feeling a little jaded. Personally I prefer these sort of eye-masks to the full paper face-masks as face-masks tend to just hang badly on my face and of course do not stick to my bearded area.

111SKIN's 'Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask' set is developed with the brand's Natriance™ formula - a potent blend of amino acids, peptides and proteins - and anti-inflammatory Colloidal Gold, it hydrates and brightens skin.

£74 for 8 eye-masks available at Mr Porter.

STEP 3: SUPER SERUMS FOR A REJUVENATED COMPLEXION

Serums always need to be applied before you moisturise because they penetrate and work at a deeper layer in your skin biology. If you do apply them after moisturising they will not be as effective because generally speaking a moisturiser will create a nourishing and protective layer on you skin working at the top layer therefore preventing the serum doing its magic. I would also wait a minute or two after applying the serum before moving on to step 4.

Dr. Dennis Gross created his latest 'B3 Adaptive SuperFoods™' range to tackle stressed-out skin. Specially formulated to fight the five visible signs of ageing, this silky-smooth serum is made with vitamin-rich Niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation, minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and lock in moisture. Potent adaptogen Ashwagandha is rich in antioxidants and has antibacterial properties, while superfood Goji brightens, tones and calms redness for a rejuvenated complexion.

£75 for 30ml available at Mr Porter.

STEP 4: UNDER YOUR EYES REQUIRES EXTRA ATTENTION

Targeting that under the eye section again is key with some eye gel. So if you’re feeling a little tired or have had a big night out, never miss this step. For me it is the most important step of all 7 shown today. I prefer eye gels rather than creams as I feel they apply better and have a cooling effect. I’ve also known people to keep their eye gel in the fridge, I’m not sure if this is a good thing for the molecular structure of the product BUT it does feel amazing. When applying any product under the eye, remember to dab the product in rather than the usual a massage or wipe technique used with serums or moisturisers.

Your eyes are the first giveaway to late nights and too much screen time, so investing in a solution is wise. EISENBERG PARIS' contour gel is enriched with a proprietary Trio-Molecular® formula to tone and firm the area, and features Evening Primrose, Jojoba and Borage oils that have nourishing and healing properties.

£71 for 30ml available at Mr Porter.

STEP 5: MOISTURISE FOR DAILY HYDRATION & NOURISHMENT

Moisturisers are the most common product in an everyday mans grooming skincare routine and often the only step. But alone they can only do so much, yet combined with other specialised products you’ll get much better results. There are a lot of moisturisers in the market tailoring for different skin types such as oily, dry, spot-prone etc, so it’s best to shop around to find the one that work best for you.

While Augustinus Bader developed 'The Cream' as a daily moisturiser for those with slightly oiler skin types, 'The Rich Cream' is recommended for those with a dryer complexion, and ideal for daily application. This fast-absorbing and weightless formula is fortified with nourishing Argon Oil, Avocado Oil and Evening Primrose Oil, and the patented TFC8® complex, which works at a cellular level to plump, smooth and bring back elasticity.

£125 for 30ml available at Mr Porter.

STEP 6: PROTECTION FROM THE SUN IS KEY

I can not stress this enough that a good SPF is essential for great skincare. You need to protect your face from harmful UVA and UVB rays and this isn’t just on sunny days. I’ve found it really hard to find an SPF to include in my daily routine because I found that a lot of them would feel oily/greasy on my skin and block my pores. However Sun Drops doesn’t. It is a light SPF that can be used on its own or mixed in with your skin cream in step 5 above.

Dr. Barbara Sturm's 'Sun Drops' is a light serum that offers SPF50 protection with a balanced combination of UVA and UVB filters. This innovative formula is packed with Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan and Vitamin E to protect against photo ageing and promote cell regeneration. Mix it with your everyday face cream or apply it alone.

£107 for 30ml available at Mr Porter.

STEP 7: USE A FACE ROLLER

To some this may seem a little excessive and that is your decision to make but for me this final step just galvanises everything we’ve done up to this point. Would you wash your car without waxing it after, yes sometimes. But if you want that flawless finish, you wax it right? That’s probably the best analogy I can think of for this. Using a face roller will reduce inflammation and smoothes out the appearance of wrinkles.

Think of Susanne Kaufmann's roller as a daily massage for your face. It works on the same principle of gliding across the skin to help drain excess fluids and reduce inflammation, making it particularly useful after a late night. Every part of this one is considered, from the obsidian that's been sourced and hand-cut in South Tyrol, Italy to the sturdy black steel forged by a specialist in Austria and the handle which is carefully shaped from fine nut wood.

£230 available at Mr Porter.