Men's Style Tip: Men's guide to grooming and skincare

The importance of skincare for men is often overlooked. Following the summer months, there’s even more reason to think about your daily skincare regime and help reverse the added effects of sun, alcohol and standing over the BBQ. In this latest men’s style tips feature, the gentlemen’s guide to grooming and skincare, we share the skincare cheats and steps you need. We also share products that will help keep your skin and hair revitalised, fresh and looking good.

You may have a dedicated regime and already take great care of your skin, in which case we salute you. We have to admit that when we’ve been busy, it has been the last thing on our minds. Consider how our busy lives take their toll on our skin’s health. Everyday stresses and exposure to indoor and outdoor environments can become visible in the form of fine lines and wrinkles over time.

And before we go any further, if you’re worried about not having the time in the morning, think again. We timed each step ourselves and you can do this by adding just two minutes to your morning routine.

Fundamentally the key to ageing well is no real secret: eat a balanced healthy diet, exercise lots, drink plenty of water, don’t smoke and get a good eight hours sleep every night. However, for most of us, doing all of these religiously is a tough ask each and every day. So while this is no sure-fire cure for ageing, these steps will help you begin a simple regime to keep you looking and feeling your best.

STEP ONE – Morning Cleanser (30-40 seconds)

You wouldn’t start the day without a fresh pair of socks, so your skin deserves to get the same treatment. Don’t snooze on that morning facial cleanse. A clean face sets a solid foundation for your day and, importantly your overall skincare regime.

Get a good quality product and simply wash your face with your hands, as often cloths and cotton pads can be harsh on the skin. Be careful to be especially gentle around the delicate eye area.

We recommend: Neal’s Yard NYR Men Purifying Face Wash

Neal’s Yard Remedies Men is one of the few brands purpose-built for men that is certified organic, suitable for vegans and cruelty-free. This Purifying Face Wash gently foams and offers a deep cleanse for all skin types, it’s revitalising and thorough, without stripping away natural oils on the skin.

STEP TWO – Anti-Ageing Serum (5-10 seconds)

Even for the younger faces among us, anti-ageing is a no brainer. The sooner you start, the better. Using a serum is simple, shine-free and can take just five seconds to put on before you rush out the door in the morning. It’s important to find a good serum, which will penetrate the layers of your skin – and the deeper the treatment, the better the results.

According to the experts, a serum also acts as a defence against all the stresses your skin faces on a daily basis – and it helps repair existing damage. Make sure you apply your serum before your moisturiser, or you’ll prevent the serum from properly absorbing into your skin.

We recommend: Green People for Men Antioxidant Repair Serum

Green People’s Antioxidant Repair Serum is a power-packed age reversal formula for eyes, face and neck. It’s rich in antioxidants to protect against free radical damage – clinically proven to firm the skin and reduce your wrinkles. This British product was awarded a Natural Health Winner at the International Beauty Awards 2017 and goes highly recommended from those who have tried and tested.

STEP THREE – Eye Cream (30 seconds)

The skin around the eyes is the most delicate area (as the skin is thinner), so is more prone to irritation and visible ageing. Eye creams are formulated specifically to tackle this, they are milder than a moisturiser and tackle signs of fatigue – giving you that look of the extra three hours sleep that you probably didn’t get last night.

We recommend: Kiehl’s Eye Fuel

A men’s eye cream with caffeine and Vitamin B3 that helps to reduce the look of dark circles. When it comes to choosing your eye cream, look for products containing peptides, antioxidants and vitamins. The cream claims to reduce the appearance of dark circles, as well as leaving the eye area feeling cool and refreshed, thanks to its hydrating properties.

STEP FOUR – Daily Moisturiser (30 seconds)

If you want to tackle shine, have dry skin or are prone to redness – there is a moisturiser out there that is suited to your skin. Apply in the morning, after your cleanser, serums and eye creams – and re-apply before you go to bed.

We recommend:

Moisturiser for All Skin Types:

Bamford Grooming Department Moisturiser
A great all-rounder with extracts of ginger, black rice and quartz to help exfoliate and remove any daily grime and dry skin. Also, this is a great moisturiser for any post-holiday, to protect your tan.

Moisturiser For Tired Skin:

ManCave Original Moisturiser
ManCave is a British start-up company with a fresh and inspiring regime of grooming essentials for men. Their Original Moisturiser is enriched with bioactives and caffeine, which stimulates the skin and reduces the appearance of fatigue. It also protects your skin against damage with its UV Absorbers and Vitamin E.

ManCave is focused on providing affordable luxury products formulated with all-natural ingredients and tailored to the needs of the modern man.

Moisturiser For Sensitive Skin:

Bulldog Skincare Sensitive Moisturiser
Bulldog products are all designed for men from the ground up and contain amazing natural ingredients. Their Sensitive Skin moisturiser is rich with Baobab – a superfruit full of skin-boosting nutrients such as Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium. Great for sensitive skin, and to help reduce and reverse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Moisturiser For Anti-Shine (Oily Skin):

Kiehl’s Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine For Men
Skin experts and blogger alike swear by Kiehl’s Oil Eliminator to tackle oily skin. Their 24-hour Anti-Shine for Men instantly reduces the appearance of pores and shine and is oil-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free and dermatologist tested. This is a great product to keep in your gym bag – to avoid shiny skin post-workout.

For Pre- and Post-Shave:

Neville Smooth Shaving Cream
Shaving can take its toll on your skin, Neville’s Smooth Shaving Cream helps heal and soothe the irritations of shaving and rehydrates your skin cells. This non-greasy formulae also allows for a closer shave so you can stay dapper.

Bulldog Original After Shave Balm
After Shave Balm offers a cool and rejuvenating sensation and helps soothe any irritations of shaving as well as replenishing skin’s hydration. The Aloe Vera in Bulldog’s After Shave Balm minimises redness and comprises of great healing agents for your skin. A step we highly recommend all gents take after shaving.

STEP FIVE – Don’t Forget The Feet

We are on them for most of the day, so your feet deserve a bit of TLC. A simple, final step to general skin health is taking care of your soles. We tend to forget our feet, but did you know that 90% of professional male athletes get regular pedicures, to prevent future problems, exfoliate and preserve moisture. So go on, treat your toes every now and then! For a quicker fix – use a good foot scrub.

Big Green Tree Virtus Hand, Body & Feet Scrub for Men

Big Green Tree formulated its Virtus range for Men. Their Scrub is great for cleansing, exfoliating and polishing tired toes. The scrub is rich with shea butter which is deeply hydrating and cleans your pores and rids your feet of deep down locked in the dirt. The sea salt also has a natural healing effect on any cuts and scuffs your feet are suffering from.

STEP SIX – Haircare

Jamie Stevens has formulated haircare for men which are high performance, combing effective treatment and the best ingredients – but not breaking the bank. His range features thickening treatments, styling products and shampoos.

MR Jamie Fibre Wax
Style Wax by MR Jamie Stevens provides both control and definition and leaves your hair with a natural shine. It also helps thicken your locks as it’s complex formulae hosts active ingredients proven to enhance the density and reduce the rate of hair loss.