Skincare for men: three steps, three minutes

In Korea, skincare for men is ordinary: not ten steps, three. Men's skin is thicker, oilier and gets scraped by a razor daily, so it needs fewer things, but the right things.

What to stop

• Bar soap on the face. pH 9–10 against the skin's 5.5; the face tightens, then the oil doubles.
• Rubbing the face dry, hot water.
• Paying extra for a "men's" label: same formula, higher price.

Step 1: cleanser (30 seconds)

A low-pH gel cleanser morning and night. Lots of oil and spots: a salicylic acid cleanser once a day. Wash after shaving, not before.

• COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser 150ml, COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser 150ml

Step 2: moisturiser (15 seconds)

"Why cream on oily skin": answered here. A light all-in-one gel-cream; after shaving it is the aftershave, so drop the alcohol one.

• COSRX Advance Snail 92 All In One Cream 100g

Step 3: sunscreen (30 seconds, morning)

For anyone who spends the day outdoors, 80% of marks, darkening and lines come from the sun. Matte, no white cast. A sun stick in the office bag: two seconds at midday.

• Anua Zero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen SPF 50 50ml, Beauty of Joseon Matte sun stick : Mugwort+Camelia 18g

Razor burn and ingrown hairs

• Shave after the shower, with the grain, a sharp blade.
• Cold water after, then cream. Redness that stays: a centella or heartleaf gel.
• Frequent ingrowns: a BHA toner two nights a week.

Marks and darkening

A "dark spot cream for men" is not a separate thing: the same niacinamide or vitamin C, the same sunscreen: marks guide.

A fourth step, if you want one

After a month, one serum: BHA for spots, niacinamide for marks. Nothing more is needed.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology (men's skin): gentle cleanser, daily moisturiser, sunscreen, correct shaving technique.
• The high pH of bar soap disrupts the skin barrier: published dermatology studies on cleanser pH.