Shaving, beards, riding a bike, chapped lips and a simple routine.
For men in winter, a fragrance-free ceramide cream works best. Apply a pea-sized amount of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream For Normal To Dry Skin to damp skin after washing, morning and night. If it feels greasy, use less. Add sunscreen on top when you go out in the day. You do not need a men's label; buy for your skin type.
Oily skin needs a light, oil-free gel cream in winter; skip moisturiser and your skin often makes even more oil. Apply a pea-sized amount of Cerave Oil Control Moisturizing Gel Cream after washing, morning and night. If cheeks are dry and the nose and forehead oily, put a little more on the cheeks. Avoid heavy oils on the face.
No. Face wash alone does not fix winter dryness; without moisturiser afterwards your face gets tighter. The minimum routine is face wash, moisturiser and sunscreen by day. On a small budget, even a little Nivea Soft Light Moisturising Cream after washing makes a big difference. It takes one minute.
In winter men should swap harsh menthol or oil-control washes for a gentle cleanser. For normal to oily skin use CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser; for dry skin CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Normal to Dry. Massage one pump for 30 seconds and rinse with lukewarm water, once or twice a day.
Before shaving, soak your face in lukewarm water for two or three minutes to soften the beard, then leave shaving foam or gel on for a minute. Use a sharp blade and shave in the direction of hair growth. Washing first with a gentle cleanser such as CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Normal to Dry reduces irritation from dirt.
After shaving, rinse with cool water, pat dry and apply an alcohol-free soothing cream. Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream contains panthenol and helps calm stinging and dryness; use a pea-sized amount over the shaved area. Do not apply anything perfumed right away. If it burns every day, shave every other day.
Alcohol-based aftershave dries and stings the skin more in winter, so it is best avoided. A dedicated alcohol-free aftershave balm is not on our shelf right now; instead, apply a thin layer of Bring Green Aloe 97% Soothing Gel after shaving and moisturiser a minute later. If you want fragrance, spray it on clothes, not your face.
These are usually razor bumps: cut hairs curl back into the skin. Shave with the grain, not against it, replace blunt blades and do not stretch the skin. Two or three nights a week, a thin layer of CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin on the neck helps stop hairs getting trapped. See a doctor if bumps fill with pus or hurt.
If you get irritation, night shaving is better, because skin rests overnight with no wind or sun. Shaving after a bath keeps the beard soft. After a night shave, apply Purito Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream and sleep. If you shave in the morning, always add sunscreen after cream, since freshly shaved skin is more sensitive.
To soften a beard you really need to moisturise the skin underneath. After a bath, while the beard is damp, rub a little light lotion into the roots with your fingers; Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin is fragrance-free and light. Do not use harsh shampoo or soap on the beard daily; two or three times a week is enough.
Beard dandruff is usually dryness or the same yeast-related flaking as scalp dandruff. Wash the beard daily with a gentle cleanser and apply a light moisturiser to the roots; Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Normal To Dry & Sensitive Skin works on beards too. A medicated dandruff shampoo is not on our shelf right now. See a doctor if red, itchy, greasy scales do not settle in two weeks.
The skin under a beard itches in winter when it dries out and dirt and oil build up. At night wash right down to the roots with a gentle cleanser using your fingers, dry well and apply a light cream. A thin layer of Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream eases itching and redness. Do not scratch with your nails. See a doctor if sores or pus appear.
Two or three drops of coconut oil can soften beard hair, but on acne-prone skin it can clog pores and cause bumps. So put the oil on the beard hair, not the skin at the roots. Rub Ribana Organic Coconut Oil between your fingers at night and smooth it over the beard. If bumps appear, stop and switch to a light lotion.
Before you ride, apply a rich moisturiser, sunscreen on top and an SPF lip balm; keep the visor down and cover nose and cheeks with a muffler or mask. A thin layer of Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume on the cheeks and sides of the nose works as a wind shield. When you arrive, wash off the dust and moisturise again.
Yes. An open visor, chin, neck and the backs of your hands get sun all day, even in winter. Apply sunscreen to face, neck and hands before leaving and again at midday. With sweat and dust, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ stays dry-finish and does not feel sticky under a helmet. Wash it off properly at night.
Of course. A clear lip balm is barely visible; it just stops cracking and bleeding. In the day apply a thin layer of The Derma Co 1% Ceramide Complex Lip Balm SPF30 PA++, which leaves almost no shine. At night use a thick layer of Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter. Reapply after meals and before going out.
Smoking dries and darkens lips, so cutting down or quitting helps most. Wear SPF lip balm by day, since sun also darkens lips; apply Fix Derma Lip Shield SPF50 PA+++ several times a day. Use a thick balm at night. No balm will turn lips pink overnight. See a doctor about white patches or a sore that will not heal.
After work, wash your hands and apply a rich cream while they are slightly damp, and more at night. A dedicated hand cream is not on our shelf right now, but Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry Skin comes in a large tub and works well on hands without staying sticky. Wear gloves when handling cement, detergent or paint. See a doctor if cracks bleed or swell.
After wudu, pat dry with a towel and apply a little light lotion to hands, face and feet; too much feels sticky. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin absorbs quickly and fits in a pocket. Use lukewarm water for wudu when you can. Before bed, put a thick cream on your feet and wear socks.
Men do well with a light, fast-absorbing, low-fragrance lotion such as CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin. Apply it within three minutes of bathing to arms, legs, back and feet. If your shins look ashy and rough, use a bit more below the knees. Use a mild body wash instead of harsh soap all over.
At night, wash and dry your feet, apply a thick layer of rich cream to the heels and sleep in socks; in the day wear closed shoes and socks when you can. A dedicated foot cream is not on our shelf right now; Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra-Nourishing Cream works well on heels overnight. Never cut skin with a blade. If you have diabetes, see a doctor about any crack.
On a small budget three things are enough: a gentle face wash, a moisturiser and a lip balm; add sunscreen as the fourth if you can. Nivea Soft Light Moisturising Cream works on both face and hands, and Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter on the lips. Apply after washing, morning and night. You do not need expensive serums first.
Do not sit around in dried sweat after the gym; shower in lukewarm water, or at least wash your face, within 20 to 30 minutes. Use CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser on the face, then a light moisturiser, and lotion on the body. Even if you sweat less in winter, sweat in pores still causes breakouts. Wash gym towels and clothes after every session.
Shower promptly after exercise and leave a salicylic acid body wash on your back and chest for a minute before rinsing. CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough and Bumpy Skin once a day is enough, every other day if it feels dry. Wear loose cotton tops. See a doctor for large painful lumps or acne that leaves marks.
Yes. Winter sun still causes dark spots, uneven tone and ageing, so apply sunscreen before going out each morning. Men usually prefer a light gel; Fixderma Shadow SPF 50+ Gel PA+++ dries quickly with little white cast. Use two finger-lengths on face and neck, and reapply at midday if outdoors. Wash it off with face wash at night.
With a beard, choose a thin fluid or gel sunscreen instead of a thick cream, so it does not cling and turn white. Cover beard-free areas well: forehead, nose, upper cheeks and ears. Take Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Niacinamide on your fingers and press it gently into the beard roots. Skin under a thin beard still gets sun.
Morning: 1. gentle face wash, 2. moisturiser, 3. sunscreen. Night: the same, with lip balm instead of sunscreen. Use CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Normal to Dry, then a pea-sized amount of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream For Normal To Dry Skin, and two finger-lengths of sunscreen before going out. The whole thing takes two minutes.
No. Ordinary body soap is more alkaline and can leave your face tight, rough and red in winter. Use a separate gentle face cleanser. If you prefer a bar, Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar can be used on the face too, once or twice a day. Apply moisturiser within a minute of washing.
Yes. Under thick clothes and sweaters you sweat less but still smell, so apply deodorant to dry underarms after your daily bath. Spray Nivea Men Fresh Active 48h Long Lasting Freshness Deodorent from about 15 cm onto skin, not clothes. Do not apply it straight after shaving or on broken skin; it will sting.
In winter harsh face washes dry the skin so it makes more oil, and friction from beards, helmets and mufflers adds to breakouts. Wash gently twice a day, use a light gel moisturiser and dab a little spot treatment on pimples at night. Use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash a few times a week on oily areas. See a doctor for large painful acne.