It began about five years ago. My husband, whose definition of skincare had been to quickly wash his face with soap in the shower (the soap he used on his body, naturally), one day suddenly asked me if I had any moisturizers he could use.
After picking up my jaw off the ground, I began the interrogation. What are you using now? What kind of skin do you have? What are your skin concerns? Are you sensitive to any ingredients?
Of course, he had no clue. But as any beauty obsessive knew, you couldn’t just give someone any moisturizer. There are so many varieties out there, each addressing a myriad of skin concerns, from fine lines to dehydration to breakouts.
Fortunately for my husband, I had an arsenal of beauty products to ply him with. First, I got him a gentle cleanser — it took a bit of arguing to get him to understand that squeaky clean, tight-feeling skin is not the goal of cleansing one’s face. Then I had him use a light gel moisturizer, something non-sticky and quickly absorbed so he didn’t feel like he had “something on his face.” He quickly ran off, though, when I started going into the importance of sunscreen.
Fast forward to today. My husband not only uses sunscreen every day, he’s incorporated a serum and a hydrating toner into his regimen. So when I asked him for his expertise in writing this story, he spewed out a list of do’s and don’ts without hesitation:
- Essentially, guys want to do two things: Wash their face and slap on a moisturizer.
- Scent is a big no-no. If it’s too flowery or “girly,” he won’t use it.
- Uncomplicated is key. A product has to be easy to use, without too many steps or a special method of application. A multi-tasker, like a moisturizer with sunscreen, is a big plus.
And as someone who got her husband to at least a three- to five-step skincare regimen, some tips I’ve learned about sharing skincare with your man:
- Introduce skincare in steps
Don’t bombard him with a 10-step regimen that will make his eyes glaze over the same way yours does when he tries to explain what a designated hitter is. A cleanser and moisturizer is a good start. Slowly move on to sunscreen and a hydrating toner after he acclimates. - Take the opportunity to swap out existing skincare
When my husband began blade shaving, he needed an aftershave. I convinced him to forgo the drying astringent and opt instead for a hydrating toner with witch hazel. - If your man is a skincare newbie, have his use light or gel textured product
As he becomes accustomed to having things on his face, he’ll be OK with heavier textures. - Skincare together
If you’re in the dating or honeymoon phase with your man, he’ll likely go along with a couple sheet masking session as you binge-watch a Korean drama on Netflix. (My husband once did, as well. No longer. Ah, you can’t win ’em all.) - Compliment him on his skin
If he thinks it’s working, he’ll likely stick to it.
Ready to get your man toned and plumped and hydrated? You can start with these man-friendly skincare products:
Cleanser
If you have to, trick your man into taking better care of his skin. He’ll appreciate the nice “whipped” foam lather of the acne-fighting LJH Tea Tree 30 Cleanser. You’ll appreciate that it doesn’t contain any skin-stripping sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates.
Hydrating Toner
Swap out your man’s aftershave with Blithe Vital Treatment Essence-Five Energy Roots, flush with nourishing root extracts. He’ll never be the wiser with its unobtrusive, minimalist look, and since guys are used to slapping on an astringent after a shave, he’ll even get some patting action into his regimen. If your man is really lazy, get him a hydrating mist, like LJH Tea Tree 70 Mist Toner, good for irritated skin, or Soyedodam Organic Ginseng Mist, an organic face mist formulated with Red Ginseng, Manuka Honey and Aloe Vera with a natural herbal scent.
Multi-tasking Moisturizer
The serum and moisturizer-in-one that is Blithe Crystal Iceplant Pressed Serum is the perfect introduction for the skincare-phobe. Its light gel texture cools and calms skin without oiliness or tackiness, and yet it’s packed with 63% Ice Plant extract, which deeply hydrates while minimizing pores. It’s got a light, herbal scent that’s definitely unisex.
Sheet Mask
Call it a “date night in,” and get your guy to do a sheet masking session with you. Try Whamisa Organic Sea Kelp Facial Sheet Mask, made with real fermented sea kelp. He may actually go for the “ick” factor, the scent of the ocean and the cool green shade. (Tell him Shark Tank’s resident athlete and sport fanatic Robert Herjavec really dug it.)
Because guys like to care for their skin, too. They just don’t want to admit it.
Anna M. Park is the editor of beauty and travel blog Styleunderpressure.com.
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10 Comments
Any tips for the bearded men out there? My handsome dude has had some skin problems ever since he started growing a beard, and besides that complains of dry skin over the rest of his face as well. What can I suggest for my bearded man to moisturize properly?
I loved this article! I used to work in a dermatology office so my husband understands the importance of SPF. However, he only cleanses his face in the morning and rarely (if that) does he put on moisturizer--- but then complains in the middle of the day about his dry skin. I'm going to see if I can convince him to try a pressed serum. :)
My husband definitely is fairly religious about his skin care routine now (cleanse — though I'm still convinced he uses just regular soap in the shower — toner, moisturizer, sunscreen). He doesn't complain about his skin anymore — I think just seeing how good his skin looks with moisturizer has made a big difference in his willingness to do it. Now when he asks me for a new moisturizer, he demands to know if it's got good actives in it — haha.
Yes! SPF is very important - it's great your husband is on board! Let us know how introducing him to a pressed serum goes... :)
Loved the article, and the tips especially! I'm at the talking about sunscreen phase right now with my fiance ? #progress
Haha that's amazing, you are almost at the final stage! - Christine
I find guys like the treatments we use. My husband gets blackheads around his T-Zone and when I began using Cosrx's Blackhead Power Liquid I suggested he try it. Now he uses it every day and loves the results. Still haven't got him sold on eye cream though
Eye cream is pretty advanced, but impressive that he's using that treatment everyday!
Funny. My partner did ask me once for moisturiser but I was too selfish to share mine! Well, we normally share finances but he doesn't want to pay 50% of my korean skincare because he couldn't afford it, so, I told him he can't have my skincare products then! He also recently asked me to order nose pore sticker remover thingy. I have stopped using those as I read that it actually makes your pores bigger. When I used my eye patches, he also wanted to try them out. Lol. When I feel generous, I do share :-)
Haha love it, the eye patches are a great start!