Look, you’re not any less of a man if you use skincare products. In fact, looking good will just make you feel good. Welcome to Beauty Insider’s guide to the having a solid skin care routine, where we’re here to simplify your grooming journey. If you’re totally clueless about what you should use and in what order, don’t worry! We’ll break it down into really easy steps, and why you need to use these products. The best skin care products in Malaysia are those that take Malaysia’s heat and climate into consideration, so get ready to man up with the best skin care products for men in Malaysia.

What Skin Type Do You Have?

To really get down to the nitty gritty of skin care, it’s important to know what your skin type is. Once you understand your skin type, then you can get products that are specifically made for that skin type, and will work better for your skin type and skin concern.

Oily Skin

Oily skin tend to easily accumulate oil on the skin, causing the skin to look shiny and greasy. Those with oily skin also are more prone to getting acne, blackheads, or whiteheads compared to other skin types. It’s easy to tell if you have oily skin. Just get a thin and small piece of tissue, and stick it to your face. If it doesn’t fall off, and especially if you can see the oil being absorbed into the tissue, then you most likely have oily skin.

Dry Skin

Dry skin often feels tight and elastic, or in more severe cases, even rough, flaky, or even scaly. It’s also normal for dry skin to feel itchy or irritated. Those with dry skin tend to have fine lines or wrinkles due to dehydration, which is why it’s important to not only drink lots of water, but to also use products that are hydrating and moisturising.

Combination Skin

It’s totally possible to have a combination of both dry and oily skin. Typically, those with combination skin tend to have an oily T-zone, which is the forehead and your nose (makes the shape of a T, right?), an oily chin, but dry cheeks. The simplest way to combat this is to use products that are suitable for all skin types.

Sensitive skin

Sensitive skin is different from reactive skin, which is when your skin easily becomes red, such as when you wash your face. It’s totally possible to have dry, oily, or combination skin, AND sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin will typically have reactions in the form of acne or itchiness when you use products with certain ingredients. In any case, it’s always best to use one new product at a time, just in case your skin reacts badly to it, so then you’ll know which of your products is causing you to breakout.

Normal Skin

Alas, not a lot of us are born with normal skin. Those with the coveted normal skin are blessed with neither dry nor oily skin – they have the perfect balance of water and oil in their skin. Normal skin tends to have very few acne, and blemishes, as well as have pores that are not very visible.

Best Skin Care Products for Men to Build a Basic Skin Care Routine

Now that you understand what skin type you have, let’s take things slow and not jump into bed straight away. You may have heard of things like serums or essences, but it’s easy to get lost in the sauce. Products like these are just bells and whistles to really elevate your skin care game. Plus, the products you use don’t need to be expensive, either! A good skin care routine requires just a few things, and you can start to use more products as you go along your skin care journey. Do these few steps in the morning and at night, and your skin will be happy and healthy in no time.

Just FYI, just to answer the question of “can men use women’s skin care products”, no, you don’t need to exclusively use skin care products that are specifically for me; skin is skin.

Best Cleanser for Men

Cleansers remove impurities like dirt or grime, which is why it’s always the first step of any skin care routine. While your face may look clean, your skin may have some sort of grime stuck to it as you walk around throughout the day. It’s also important to use cleansers as a method of removing excess oil and sebum, as these can get trapped in the pores and cause acne.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

Ask anybody what they think is a good, basic cleanser, and they’ll probably say this one. The Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is an amazing cleanser for men, as it just does a good job at, well, cleansing. It’s suitable for all skin types, which is great if you’re not too sure as to what your skin type is, and it’s super gentle, so it’s great for those with even the most sensitive skin. This cleanser won’t really lather, but don’t worry as it’ll still cleanse your face.

To use, just make sure your face is a little bit wet, add a little of the cleanser in your hand, just rub it gently on your skin, and rinse off. Make sure to get a little in the hairline and in the beard too, oil really accumulates there. You can do this step in the shower, too!

Why we love it:

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Free from fragrance and lanolin
  • Dermatologist-recommended and won’t clog pores

Price: RM35.48

Where to buy: Shopee

Best Moisturiser for Men

Beauty Of Joseon Dynasty Cream

The one thing a moisturiser needs to do? Moisturise. It doesn’t matter if you have dry, oily skin, or normal skin, using a moisturiser is insanely helpful. Not only can it reduce fine lines and wrinkles as it hydrates your skin cells, it also softens and soothes the skin, as well as reduce and prevent acne. The science behind that is the drier your skin is, the more sebum it creates, and the more acne you will have. Using a good, no-fuss moisturiser like the Dynasty Cream by Beauty of Joseon will not only make your skin feel baby soft, it’ll also make your skin clearer in the long run.

Why we love it:

  • Balances oil and water levels in the skin
  • Hydrates the skin for long periods of time
  • Absorbs easily into the skin

Price: RM 62.50

Where to buy: Threebs

Best Sunscreen for Men

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream

If anybody ever told you that sunscreen isn’t important, they’re lying and they absolutely do not care about you; stay away from them. It doesn’t matter if you’re dark-skinned or fair-skinned, the best skin care products in men includes SPF, hands down. Sunscreen, or sunblock, protects you from UVA and UVB rays, which prevents sunburn, skin cancer, premature ageing, acne, and dark spots.

And yes, you need to wear sunscreen even when it’s raining out and you’re indoors, because sun rays can still penetrate through windows. Sunscreen all day, everyday. The Aloe Soothing Sun Cream is an amazing sunscreen that doesn’t smell like sunscreen at all, doesn’t leave a greasy feeling, and has SPF50+ with PA+++. We know that that’s a lot of symbols, but all that’s important is that it’s a good sunscreen.

Why we love it:

  • Doesn’t have a sunscreen-y smell
  • Doesn’t leave a greasy residue
  • Soothes irritated or burnt skin

Price: RM 51.52

Where to buy: Watsons

There you have it! The best skin care products for men boils down to just three things; cleansers, moisturisers, and sun protection. You can absolutely include other things like toners, essences, serums, and masks into your skin care routine, but don’t miss out on these three products, and you’re set.

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