When we talk about skincare most people assume we’re talking about women, but there’s the whole other half of the population who need skincare. Male skin needs the same daily care, and men care just as much about their appearance, too.
In fact, a survey from Mintel found that nearly two-thirds of men use skincare products. Among those who are 18 to 44, this number goes up to 84%.
However, there are still plenty of myths surrounding male skincare, and that’s exactly what we’re going to cover. Here at Face Dr, our team of experts have decades of experience in the skincare world helping clients—both men and women—get the healthy, young and fresh skin they’re striving for.
Here the top five male skincare myths we’ll cover:
#1 Men don’t need skincare
#2 One product is enough
#3 The more products the better
#4 Male skin is the same as female skin
#5 You only need sunscreen on sunny days
Want to save time and get expert advice that’s tailored for your skin type? We offer free online consultations where you can speak with one of our skin experts. They’ll be able to answer any questions you’ve got about skincare and recommend the best products for you.
Interested in our other skincare advice? We’ve covered topics like how to care for ageing skin and sensitive skin.
#1 Men don’t need skincare
We’ve already covered just how many men are using skincare. But from a science perspective, this myth also doesn’t hold up. Just because the skin belongs to a man doesn’t mean it doesn’t need the same care as female skin. Male skin can suffer from all the same concerns—think acne, ageing and hyperpigmentation. Plus, getting into a good skincare routine can help with dryness, oiliness and simply keeping skin looking its best. Although male skin may vary due to different levels of hormones, high-grade medical skincare can work wonders for anyone, no matter the gender.
#2 One product is enough
There are some male skincare products out there that claim to be a “three-in-one” body, hair and face wash. And while a product like this can sound like a time-saving dream, it’s really not the best for your skin (or body and hair).
Each of those parts of the body needs different ingredients, so one product simply can’t tackle all three. Plus, the skin on our face is so much more sensitive than the skin on our body, and it needs completely different treatments—like an acne product for example.
So while it may be tempting to buy a “one and done” product, consider investing in some dedicated skincare products to take the best care of your face.
Face Dr top tip: Just because you need more than one product, doesn’t mean your skincare routine has to be difficult. If you want to keep things simple, invest in a good quality cleanser, serum or moisturising product and a sunscreen.
Face Dr top picks:
We recommend investing in medical-grade skincare products. That’s because they contain the highest percentage of active ingredients, so they can provide visible results and take the best care of your skin. For the basics, our favourites include:
Looking for something on the high street? You could also try:
- Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser
- Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment
- Aesop Protective Facial Lotion
#3 The more products the better
On the flip side, when you’re just getting started with a skincare routine, it can be easy to overwhelm your skin with products. It can also be tempting to want to try everything and tackle wrinkles, sun spots, a dull complexion and blackheads all at the same time. But while one product isn’t enough, too many products aren’t the answer either.
Overloading your skin with products can cause reactions, drying and flaking, or even simply ingredients cancelling each other out and not doing very much for the skin. Using too many harsh products at the same time can lead to reactions like itching, burning and redness.
Stick with the basic routine of a cleanser, moisturiser or serum and SPF, then you can add in extras such as a hydrating mask, exfoliating product or targeted treatment like an acid for hyperpigmentation or acne treatment if needed.
Not sure how to mix and match products? We offer free consultations with our skin experts who can pick out the best combinations for you.
#4 Male skin is the same as female skin
This one is a myth but not for the reason you’d think. While men do tend to have oilier skin than women due to higher amounts of testosterone, this isn’t true for everyone. In fact, skin type is much more important than sex when it comes to skincare.
Firstly, there’s no such thing as “male” and “female” products. Anyone can use anything. Of course, you’ve probably spotted the pink or blue bottles for men and women on the shelves. But this is simply for marketing. As long as the product inside is high quality and has powerful ingredients, it’ll work for anyone.
Just take ZO Skin Health and Obagi Medical, for example. We love these brands because they’re medical grade and packed with potent ingredients—something we believe is much more important than the colour of the packaging.
However, all skin is not the same. So while some people may need products that are hydrating and soothing as they’re prone to dryness and irritation, others may need to focus on oil control and banishing acne. So while you should feel free to use products that aren’t specifically labelled “for men,” you should also make sure you’re using the right products for your exact skin type. The best way to figure this out is by speaking with a professional.
#5 You only need sunscreen on sunny days
This myth doesn’t just apply to men, of course, but it’s always worth repeating. Many people believe that sunscreen is only needed when you’re going to be out in direct sunlight. But, unfortunately, that simply isn’t true. Not only can harmful rays get through cloud cover, but our skin can even be damaged by the blue light emitted by our devices. So sunscreen is not only useful whatever the weather, it’s actually useful even if you’re not going outside at all.
Luckily, a daily SPF is one of the easiest things to add to your routine. Opt for a broad spectrum product that protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays and go for one that’s at least SPF 30.
We recommend opting for a ZO Skin Health sunscreen, which are some of the most advanced on the market. Along with UVA and UVB rays, the products can protect the skin from IR-A rays and HEV light—the light that’s emitted from our computers and phones.
Apply every morning at the end of your skincare routine, and you’ll be protecting your skin from everything from wrinkles to sagging and sun spots to sunburn.
Face Dr top pick: ZO Broad Spectrum SPF 50. Not only is this the lowest priced ZO sunscreen and the largest bottle, it protects the skin from damaging rays and leaves a light finish, so it doesn’t weigh down the skin or feel uncomfortable.
Want expert advice?
There are plenty more myths out there when it comes to male skincare, and that’s not even mentioning the amount of skincare myths in general. So we know just how confusing the world of skincare can be. Here at Face Dr, we offer free skincare consultations to make it easy to get the right skincare products for your skin.
You can book a 30-minute video call with one of our skin experts who will be able to analyse your skin and ask about your concerns. Armed with this information, they’ll be able to recommend the right products for you. Whether you need help building a complete skincare routine from scratch or simply want one or two recommendations to tackle a certain issue, they’re on hand with free and friendly advice. Plus, they can explain exactly how and when you should be using each product.
We only ever recommend products and brands we know and trust, so you can be confident that you’re investing some of the best skincare out there that’s guaranteed to bring lasting, effective results.
