Check out Part 1: Diet, Sleep, and Getting Enough Water here.
First, learn your skin type
Your skin type determines the types of products you use. Most products will say which skin type they’re made for, simplifying the process. Just find your skin type below:
- Dry skin – Your skin feels tight and dry, and occasionally gets flaky.
- Sensitive skin - You have easily reactive skin, and frequently experience a stinging sensation when using products.
- Oily skin – Your skin is naturally shiny and you’re prone to breakouts.
- Combination skin – Your T-zone is oily while the rest of your face is normal or dry/sensitive.
- Normal skin – Your skin is well balanced. You rarely get breakouts and your skin doesn’t irritate easily.
The Routine
Wash your face (AM & PM)
Right when you wake up, wash your face with a facial cleanser to remove dead skin and other impurities that have built up overnight.
At night, wash your face to remove buildup from the day.
When washing:
- Rub the face gently in circles rather than pulling down vigorously – you’re washing facial skin, not wiping the counter.
- Wash with warm water and rinse with cool water to close your pores. The cool water step is especially beneficial if you have oily or combination skin, since it prevents bacteria from getting back into your skin.
- Don’t ever use bar soap. It strips your face (and beard) of natural oils that keep it strong and healthy.
Tip: On nights when you wash your beard, use beard shampoo and conditioner on your beard only. Resist the urge to save time by washing your face with beard shampoo, since beard shampoo is specifically formulated for beards and may be too harsh on skin.
Exfoliate regularly (AM or PM)
Exfoliate anywhere from 1 – 4X a week right after cleansing. Guys with sensitive or dry skin should start at 1X a week and increase frequency if skin tolerates it. Guys with normal, combination, or oily skin should start at 3X a week and adjust as necessary.
You get to pick whether you exfoliate in the morning or at night. For best results, exfoliate right before you shave/trim your beard. Exfoliation is the key to preventing ingrown hairs because it removes dead skin cells, allowing your facial hair to stand high above the skin (so there’s less chance of it growing back into the skin).
Focus on areas where dead skin and oil build up - usually your forehead and nose.
Tip: You can exfoliate your beard and the skin underneath! Gently rub the scrub into your beard and skin to prevent beard dandruff, dryness, and irritation.
Optional: Use a toner (PM)
Let’s be clear: Not all guys need to use a toner. A toner is designed to balance your skin’s pH after cleansing. Since your skin naturally returns to its normal pH, a toner isn’t vital - that is, unless you have oily skin or are prone to ingrown hairs. A toner will remove excess oil and dirt, and if you get one with salicylic acid or glycolic acid it’ll also remove dead skin to prevent ingrown hairs.
Moisturize (AM & PM)
Dousing your skin with aloe after a bad sunburn shouldn’t be the only time you apply moisture to skin. As you age and accumulate sun exposure, your skin starts to show wear and tear. Collagen production decreases, causing wrinkles to form.
Restore moisture to skin by using a moisturizer, concentrating on areas that get dry. Moisturize in the morning and at night after cleansing and exfoliating. At night your skin undergoes major R&R, so use an anti-aging moisturizer to make the most of this reparative time.
Tip: You can use any excess beard oil on your face for extra hydration. The opposite is also true: you can use any excess moisturizer on your beard. Just make sure the moisturizer isn’t too dense or you’ll risk weighing your beard down.
Don’t forget sunscreen (AM)
Sunscreen should become as second nature to you as brushing your teeth. UV radiation from the sun causes sunburns, wrinkling, leathering, and in some cases, skin cancer. Use SPF 15 or higher and reapply every 2 hours, as well as right after swimming or sweating a great deal.
Tip: Beards also need sunscreen. The sun can make your beard brittle and dry, especially during the summer when you’re outdoors for long periods of time. While there isn’t a sunscreen for beards just yet, there is a sunscreen for hair, which you can use on your beard.
