There are parts of your skin you can hide, and then parts you can’t hide. What we’re trying to say here is that everybody can see your face so keeping that face clean is probably the most important step in men’s skincare. To ensure your face stays problem-free, first determine which skin type you have (and be honest with yourself): normal, oily, dry, aged, or a combination of the above. Then seek out a facial cleanser that targets your specific type of skin. If you aren’t exactly sure which skin type you have or which cleanser to use then by all means go for a multi-action face wash instead. And to be clear, we’re talking about facial cleanser, not a bar of soap or a body wash.

Skin is a living organ (the body’s biggest in fact) with its own built-in regulating mechanism that produces dead skin cells on a cyclical basis. That means you should exfoliate twice a week to eliminate lingering dead skin cells, which can clog up pores, prevent healthy cells from getting to surface, and even affect overall male skin complexion. In other words, this step is crucial because it will keep the skin clean and healthy. It will also produce optimal conditions for a smooth shave. That said, you don’t want to overdo exfoliation because it can lead to dryness and irritation. Once or twice a week is plenty, and if you have extra-oily skin then consider going three times a week to prevent build-up.

Men’s skincare is about prevention, but it’s also about retaining vibrant, healthy skin. Hence, you should moisturise once in the morning and once at night before going to bed. Using a facial mosturiser will keep the skin hydrated and looking great, which in turn reduces the build-up of oils and also prevent wrinkles. Moisturising should always come at the end of the men’s facial cleansing routine, meaning after the facial cleanse or the exfoliation. Treat this product like lotion (which it is), meaning you don’t need to rinse it off after you’ve gently applied it. Along the same lines, our dermatologist, Dr Shreya Andric, emphasises the importance of regular use of an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen if you’ll be out in the sun all day or if the UV index is greater than 3 (hot tip: you can check the UV index on the weather app on your phone).

Proper men’s skincare might focus on the face, but covering the whole body is arguably as important. Likewise, the process is relatively similar to facial cleansing, but with less emphasis on exfoliation (which is going the extra mile–do it twice a week at most). You want to start by taking a nice warm or hot shower to open up those pores. Next, you should do the following:

For most, the men’s skincare regiment laid out above is more than enough to get you started on the right track toward healthy skin. But if you find yourself so enthralled in the whole men skincare process, then don’t let us stop you from scoping the following extras: