We’ve come a long way when it comes to the ‘’genitalia’’ essential skincare. While there’s still a minimal amount of men grooming products available in the market, it is safe to say that the beauty industry has rapidly progressed in creating the basic men’s skincare products. Gone are the days where the old soap-and-flannel routine was the only thing that served men in the bathroom—now, thanks to an era where the generations are pushing down the barrier that setting men and women apart—men aren’t shy away to level up their beauty games with incorporating moisturizers, serums, scrubs, and face masks into their weekly routine. 

And believe it or not, even though the basic asian skincare is tied heavily to the women’s side of the beauty regime, asian men and western men are slowly beginning to tumble into its formulas and rich and grandeur routines. Thanks to the K-Beauty aficionado. And the more I browse throughout the men’s related world of skincare integrity, the more I learned that fellow gentlemen are indeed easily bothered about their skin as much as their female counterparts. But the only trouble they’re facing is that they have a very nominal place to voice their concerns and they’re clueless on where to start. So, in short, they need a good place to start. 

And as a place where we did not execute biasness, Beauty Insider is here to help you gentleman to achieve the best complexion ever—with recommendation on which products worth investing in—so, without further ado, here’s an ultimate list to the grown man’s guide to skincare; for you to master your routine. Don’t worry, we’ll make it as simple as possible. 

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Guys, Know Your Skin Type

Alright dudes, we’re starting it off quick. First and foremost, before you storm out of the cosmetic store searching for good products to cure your skin problems, first, you need to know your skin type. You need to know, learn, and familiarize yourself with what your skin lacks, what it needs and how to properly treat them. With this, it’s easier for you to determine which products and ingredients will do justice to your skin. The five common skin problems are—normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. However, do bear in mind that you don’t have to stick around on one particular product or ingredient, you can test and try around, no big deal. Just make sure you practice cautiousness and treat your skin as a delicate fabric—you need to stray away from active elements that may or may not bring more damage to its surface. 

Read The Labels 

Okay, even though I said this is a safe place to discuss skincare aka no judgement involved, I might lie a little bit. Here’s a question, why do men never bother to read labels? Some even said reading labels are considered too much when it comes to finding the right product. Um, did you realize that studying the ingredients at the back of your skincare products are just as important in reading the ingredients on your food. You’re concerned about what you put in your body, so why does it have to be any different on what you put on your skin? Right. Anyhow, it is vital to learn the product shelf—it will tell you what the product has to offer, and if there’s any ingredients that might not be suitable to use on your skin. It might take a while to practice but once you get there the hang of it, you’ll understand. Do not just simply purchase an item. Read the labels, and see if they’re good enough to treat your skin concerns. 

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The 5 Steps Routine 

While K-Beauty skincare for women consists of 10 steps—some even believe it is actually more—for male counterparts, they usually come in minuscule steps. Please do note that asian skin and western skin have huge differences in details, texture and needs. This is due to Asians being more prone to exposure to humid weather more than caucasian people. In addition to that, Asians have more delicateness in their skin barrier as opposed to westerners. So, any skincare related videos or articles that you read online might not be suitable for us Asians, because most of them are leaning more towards the western skin types. But worry not, below are the 5 easy peasy skin routines that you can follow to master the art of beauty regime. 

1. Always Cleanse In The Morning 

This step shouldn’t be considered unusual. No matter your skin types, always always always, cleanse your face first thing in the morning after you wake up. As mentioned before, we need to treat our skin like a delicate canvas, so make sure you’re doing your best to keep the surface clean and clear before you go about your daily routine. A good cleanse will help you to get rid of all that trapped oil, dirt and leftovers from the previous night—hence, cleansing your face will eventually make you feel a lot fresher, nourished and hydrated. So do not ever skip these steps. 

2. Start Using Toner

Many people tend to skip this essential part, but eventually, toning can actually help you wipe away all those dirt and leftovers that resurfaced right after you cleanse your face. Here’s a simple way to understand; some facial cleansers are strong enough to pull out sebum that was stuck underneath your skin layers and barriers—in results, those unwanted dead skin cells may remerge on top of your skin surface, this is when toner came into play. Find a toner that is soft but strong enough to help wipe and clean those filthy texture. Your skin will feel a lot lighter than  before. 

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3. Serums 

Just like you should never skip cleansing, you should also never skip serum application. Serums are the arsenal when it comes to building blocks for greater looking skin. Especially if you’re facing dull skin, ageing concerns and uneven skin tones. Most serums are made with the highest skin concentration, they’re capable of restoring skin elastin, boosting hydration and preventing ageing. So you want a smoother complexion? Serum is the answer. Use it day and night and you’ll see a big difference. 

4. SPF Is The Key To Protect The Barrier 

Fellas, did you realize that every single day you are often exposed to evil UV rays, fouly environment, and angry blue and green lights coming out from your daily devices? All of these are the sole reason behind your skin becoming dehydrated, pigmentation, texturized, and worse, skin cancer. It doens;t matter if you spend your whole day inside, it is still as important to incorporate sun protection into your daily routine—your devices like smartphone, laptops and tv’s are all containing blue and green lights that can overall harm your skin just as much as the uv lights. So, please, we can’t stress this enough, layer a good amount of sunscreen to your face, neck and body. 

5. Face Mask-On!

For additional care, we suggest you use a face mask at least twice weekly. Doesn’t matter if it is a sheet mask, clay mask or even gel mask—a good face mask will further help your skin to achieve its best complexion and condition ever. Consider a face mask as your additional beauty bullet. Most face masks contain a good amount of water and few active ingredients to help bring back balance and restore the elastin and hydration that was lost once you’re out strutting under the sunlight or all those stressed from work. In short, pampering your face with a good face mask is never a bad idea.  

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5 Products Worth Investing For Men The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

1. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

This is a great facial cleanser for women and men alike that are often faced with uneven, lacksture skin tones. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is the solution you’ve been looking for. According to reviews, those who suffer from undesirable dark texture on their faces reported that this lotion completely changes their appearance in a way they had never seen before. 

Why we love it: 

  • Skin become one shade brighter
  • Fast and effective result
  • Sulphates and paraben-free

Price: $23.90

Where to buy: Skin Guru

2. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner

Gentleman, if you have never heard of Klair’s before, be prepared to be chame away with its greatness. This gem toner is jam packed with only natural ingredients like plant extracts, Wheat Amino Acids, EGF and Phyto Oligo. All of these skin nourishing elements will provide deep hydration, ease inflammation and restore pH balance. 

Why we love it: 

  • Contain skin vitamin 
  • Improve skin flexibility 
  • Hydrate your skin with pH balance

Price: $24.90

Where to buy: What He Wants

3. Clinique For Men Moisturizing Lotion

This is one of the most famous moisturizers made specifically for men. Not only does its texture is thick and rich in lotion, but the scents also smell heavenly. This moisturizer is suitable for all ages and all skin concerns, though, you fellas with dry skin are more suitable to use this moisturizer. You don’t have to worry about getting patch effects or greasiness from using this product because they’re totally oil-free. Perfect for your everyday use.

Why we love it: 

  • Suitable for dry, normal and combination skin
  • Smells amazing 
  • Non oily texture

Price: $56.00

Where to buy: Sephora

4. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

Let’s face it, everyone’s suffering from a large pores problem. Be it male or female. And the best way to decongest the appearance of your pores? Of course by fixing it with a charcoal mask. Just like this Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, which are suitable for all skin types—they will help to overall renew your skin texture, and clean out all the dirt that is trapped underneath your skin. Say hello to a smoother complexion!

Why we love it: 

  • Help to smooth the appearance of pores 
  • Skin feel smoother and lighter 
  • Restore elasticity

Price: $39.00

Where to buy: Sephora

5. Shiseido The Perfect Protector SPF 50+ PA++++

Lightweight and quickly-absorbed. This Shiseido tone-up sunscreen is perfect to wear under hot and humid weather,suitable for Asian men and women alike. You don’t have to worry about getting sweat all over your face as well because this sunscreen is straight up sweat resistant and non-oily. Definitely worth investing in. 

Why we love it: 

  • Sweatproof 
  • Non oily
  • Reduce the appearance of wrinkles

Price: $65.00

Where to buy: Sephora

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