Men Need Skin Care Too

Let’s have a conversation about skincare, why men need it, and why taking care of your face does not require surrendering your masculinity or turning your bathroom into a beauty department.

I believe men have been conditioned to treat skincare as something designed for women. Many of us grew up washing our faces with whatever bar of soap happened to be in the shower, dragging a razor across the skin, splashing on something that burned like hell, and calling the job finished. If our faces felt tight afterward, we assumed that meant they were clean. If the aftershave made our eyes water, we assumed that meant it was working. We know better now, or at least we should.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body, although I am not going to turn this into an anatomy lesson. I simply believe that if you are willing to maintain your hair, beard, clothing, jewelry, and body, it makes no sense to neglect the face presenting all of it to the world.

At 75 years of age, I have spent many, many decades examining this face in the mirror. I have tried enough soaps, washes, creams, and so-called miracle products to know when something works for me and when it does not. I am not a dermatologist, and I am not pretending that what works for my skin must work for yours. I am telling you what I use, what I believe, and what I have found through a very long period of trial and error.

My morning routine is straightforward. I wash my face and neck with Forge Tallow face wash and a clean, ordinary washcloth. I apply Forge Tallow moisturizer, followed by Forge Tallow sunscreen. That is the foundation. There are no 14 mysterious bottles lined up in a ceremonial procession, and I do not need a spreadsheet to remember what goes on next.

Start With the Skin You Have

◄ View ► Normal Dry Oily Sensitive Before you buy anything, I believe you need to pay attention to the skin you actually have. Do not buy a product merely because it comes in a black bottle, includes the word “men,” and shows a square-jawed lumberjack staring into the wilderness.

Some men have naturally dry skin. Their faces may feel tight after washing, develop rough areas, or show visible flaking. Other men have oily skin that becomes shiny and may be more prone to clogged pores. Combination skin can be oily across the forehead and nose while remaining dry elsewhere. Sensitive skin may become red, irritated, or uncomfortable when exposed to fragrances or particular ingredients. Some men also remain prone to blemishes and acne long after adolescence has packed its bags and left.

Your skin can change over time. Age, weather, medications, hormones, health, shaving, and the products you use can all affect it. What worked beautifully when you were 30 may not be what your skin wants at 60 or 75. I believe the best way to begin is by noticing how your face feels and looks throughout the day. Does it become oily quickly? Does it feel dry after washing? Does a product leave it comfortable, or does it burn and turn red? Your skin will usually tell you when it dislikes something. The problem is that many men have spent years refusing to listen.

Wash Your Face Without Attacking It

I wash my face and neck every morning and evening with Forge Tallow face wash. I use warm water and an ordinary washcloth. I have found this gives me a thorough cleaning without leaving my skin feeling stripped, tight, or abused.

You do not need water hot enough to boil pasta. Very hot water may feel good temporarily, but I have found that warm or lukewarm water is much kinder to the skin. Apply your face wash gently and cover the forehead, nose, cheeks, chin, jawline, hairline, ears, and neck. The neck is attached to the face and ages right along with it, so I see no reason to stop at the jaw as though you have reached an international border.

I use a plain washcloth because it washes the skin while providing all the exfoliation I believe most men need. Exfoliation is simply removing accumulated dead skin from the surface. You do not need a rough sponge, a motorized brush, or something containing particles that feel like driveway gravel. A clean washcloth moved gently across the skin does the job for me. The important word is gently. You are washing your face, not sanding a table.

I also believe clean towels and washcloths matter more than most men realize. Do not keep using the same wet washcloth until it develops its own ecosystem. Rinse it thoroughly, allow it to dry, and replace it regularly with a clean one.

I never use fabric softener of any kind on towels or washcloths. I have found that softener coats the fibers and makes the material more resistant to water. That means a towel will not dry you as well, and a washcloth may become too soft to provide the gentle exfoliation I want. I wash them without softener and always use a double rinse to remove as much detergent residue as possible. A towel’s job is to absorb water. Making it smell like a meadow while preventing it from doing its job does not strike me as progress.

In the evening, washing removes the sunscreen, oil, dirt, and sweat that have accumulated during the day. Yes, sweat. We do not need to call it perspiration as though that makes it more refined. If I have had an unusually dirty or sweaty day, I may wash again, but twice daily is normally sufficient for me. More washing is not automatically better. If constant washing leaves your face dry and irritated, your skin is telling you to reconsider what you are doing.

Moisturizer Is Ordinary Maintenance

After washing, I apply Forge Tallow moisturizer to my face and neck. I believe moisturizer is one of those products many men reject because they imagine it will feel greasy, smell feminine, or leave them looking shiny. A good moisturizer should leave your skin comfortable and healthy, not basted.

Washing removes dirt, oil, sunscreen, and sweat, but it can also remove some of the skin’s natural protection. Moisturizer helps replace what the skin needs to remain comfortable and prevent excessive dryness. I apply it after washing, when my skin is clean and still slightly damp. Use enough to cover the face and neck without coating them heavily. Do not forget the jawline, the area around the ears, and the neck itself. If you have a bald or closely shaved head and the exposed scalp becomes dry, that skin may need attention too.

I chose products containing beef tallow after doing extensive research following my face and neck lift. Yes, I had a face and neck lift. I did not have a great number of facial wrinkles, but I had developed what I called a neck wattle. The surgery was primarily about correcting my neck and giving me the strong jawline I wanted.

Once I had gone through surgery to achieve that result, I was not going to neglect the skin covering it. I tried Forge Tallow face wash and moisturizer because the products sounded right for me. I have continued using them because I have not seen wrinkles reappear, I have no notable skin flaws, and my skin looks exceptionally healthy and glowing.

For me, tallow has worked best.

That does not mean I am promising it will prevent every wrinkle on every man. Nobody can honestly promise that. Your skin, health, history, and environment are different from mine. I am telling you that after 75 years and more products than I care to remember, this is what survived the audition.

If your skin is naturally oily, you may prefer a lighter moisturizer. If it is very dry, you may need something richer. Sensitive skin may respond better to a simpler formula with fewer fragrances and unnecessary ingredients. I believe the correct moisturizer is the one that makes your skin look and feel better without causing irritation. The price, packaging, and celebrity attached to it are secondary.

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Every morning, after washing and moisturizing, I apply Forge Tallow sunscreen. I believe sun protection is one of the simplest ways to protect the skin you already have and the effort you have invested in caring for it.

Sun exposure contributes to wrinkles, spots, uneven color, changes in texture, and loss of firmness. More importantly, it can contribute to skin cancer. This is one area where I believe a man should be practical rather than stubborn.

Apply sunscreen to the face, ears, neck, and back of the neck when they will be exposed. If your hair is thinning or your head is shaved, do not forget the scalp. A bald head can burn with remarkable efficiency, and once it does, you will be reminded of it every time it touches a pillow.

Sunscreen is not only for the beach or the middle of summer. Your skin is exposed while driving, walking, working outdoors, attending events, or sitting near a bright window. A hat provides additional protection, but I would not automatically treat it as a complete replacement for sunscreen. If you are outdoors for an extended period, swimming, or sweating heavily, follow the product’s directions regarding reapplication. One application at dawn is not a magical force field that remains intact until midnight.

I am not suggesting that you live underground, fear daylight, or surrender every trace of color in your skin. I am suggesting that you protect your face and body from unnecessary damage. There is nothing masculine about allowing your skin to burn.

What Skincare Can and Cannot Do

◄ View ► Skincare Surgery I believe honesty is essential when discussing aging. Good skincare can help the skin remain clean, hydrated, comfortable, smooth, and healthy-looking. It may improve dryness, dullness, texture, and the appearance of some fine lines. It can also help protect the skin from preventable damage. What it cannot do is duplicate a facelift or neck lift.

A cream cannot remove a neck wattle, reposition loose underlying tissue, or rebuild the structure of the face. If a jar claims it can provide the same result as surgery, I suggest holding tightly to your wallet. My surgery corrected structural issues. My skincare routine maintains the quality and appearance of my skin. Those are two different jobs, and I believe men deserve the truth about that distinction.

There is also nothing shameful about a man considering professional treatments or cosmetic surgery. You should research them carefully, understand the risks and limitations, choose properly qualified professionals, and make the decision for yourself. I did, and I am very pleased that I did.

The objective is not to pretend you have never aged. At 75, I am not attempting to convince anyone that I am 25. I simply have no intention of volunteering to look older than necessary.

Do You Need Serums, Acids, and a Chemistry Laboratory?

The skincare industry is very good at convincing people that one more bottle will finally complete the routine. Then another new ingredient appears, and apparently the routine that was complete last Tuesday is now hopelessly inadequate.

You may encounter retinoids, vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, exfoliating acids, eye creams, masks, peels, and countless other treatments. Some of them may provide genuine benefits for particular concerns. I am not dismissing them. I simply do not believe every man needs all of them.

For me, Forge Tallow face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen provide the results I want. I see no reason to complicate a routine that is working merely to prove that I can own more bottles.

If you want to add a treatment for acne, uneven color, fine lines, or another specific concern, do your research and introduce one product at a time. That allows you to see whether it helps or irritates your skin. If you begin using five new products on the same day and your face revolts, you will have no idea which one caused the uprising.

Stronger treatments should be approached carefully. Follow their instructions, begin gradually when appropriate, and do not combine powerful ingredients recklessly. Persistent burning, swelling, peeling, or significant irritation is not evidence that a product is working harder. It may be evidence that you need to stop using it.

I believe you should use a product because it solves a problem or improves your skin, not because a 22-year-old on social media announced that your life is incomplete without it.

Your Eyes, Lips, and Beard Still Have Skin

◄ View ► Eyes & Lips Beneath Beard The skin around the eyes is thinner and may show dryness, irritation, puffiness, and age sooner than other areas. I do not believe every man automatically requires a separate eye cream. A suitable moisturizer applied carefully may be enough. If a dedicated eye product gives you a noticeable benefit, use it. If it does nothing except arrive in a very small jar with a very large price, reconsider it.

Dark circles can involve genetics, allergies, sleep, medication, health, or the structure beneath the eyes. A cream may help some causes and do very little for others. Again, we need realistic expectations.

Lips also need attention. If they are dry or cracked, use a lip balm. If they will be exposed to strong sun, use one that provides sun protection. Healthy lips are not feminine. They are healthy lips.

If you wear a beard or moustache, remember that the skin beneath it still exists. Facial hair can trap oil, dead skin, sweat, food, and grooming products. Wash through the hair and down to the skin rather than cleaning only the surface of the beard. If the skin beneath it becomes dry or flaky, address the problem instead of allowing the flakes to decorate your shirt.

Shaving also affects the skin. A razor removes hair while passing directly over the skin’s surface, so poor technique can cause cuts, dryness, razor burn, irritation, and ingrown hairs. Clean the face before shaving and use products that allow the razor to move without scraping. We’ll discuss the entire process in Your Closest Shave. For now, I believe the important point is that shaving and skincare must work together rather than punish the same face in shifts.

Do Not Forget the Skin Below Your Neck

Men often think skincare stops at the collar. It does not. The chest, shoulders, back, arms, legs, hands, and feet can also become dry, irritated, blemished, or damaged by the sun.

For washing my body, I use Cremo body wash in every scent they manufacture. I believe it is the absolute best body wash I have ever experienced, and at 75 years of age, I have experienced quite a few. I am not making that statement after trying one bottle. My many, many decades of existence have given body wash a very long audition, and Cremo won.

I wash thoroughly and rinse completely. That includes areas where sweat, oil, and residue collect. If your body skin becomes dry or uncomfortable, use a moisturizer that works for you. My body does not require an elaborate collection of additional treatments, so I do not manufacture a problem where none exists.

If you develop blemishes on the chest, shoulders, or back, pay attention to what contacts the skin. Sweat, tight clothing, dirty workout clothes, oily hair products, and residue that was not rinsed away may contribute. Change out of damp clothing and shower after exercising when practical. Protect exposed areas from the sun as well. A well-maintained face sitting above a badly burned chest and shoulders is not a complete skincare program.

Price Does Not Determine What Works

I have seen more miracle products come and go than I care to count. Some promised eternal youth. Most could barely deliver until lunchtime.

An expensive product may be beautifully formulated and worth every penny. It may also be an ordinary product housed in an exceptional jar. An inexpensive product may work wonderfully. Price alone tells you very little about how your skin will respond.

I believe you should judge a product by what it does. Does it clean without leaving your skin uncomfortable? Does it moisturize without causing clogged pores or irritation? Does it protect your skin? Can you use it consistently? Do you like the way your skin looks and feels?

Do not assume you must purchase an entire product line because one item works well. Companies understandably want to sell you the face wash, toner, serum, eye treatment, day cream, night cream, mask, and perhaps a small ceremonial gong to announce the beginning of your routine. Buy what serves a purpose.

I was using Forge Tallow products before I ever contacted the company about a possible affiliate relationship. The recommendation came first because the results were genuine. If that relationship develops, it will not change why I use the products or what I have personally experienced. Readers deserve to know the difference between a genuine recommendation and a product inserted into an article because somebody wrote a check.

Your Habits Eventually Reach Your Face

No face wash or moisturizer can completely overcome the way you live. Sleep, smoking, alcohol, nutrition, stress, exercise, and general health can all affect the appearance of your skin.

Drinking water supports your health, but consuming heroic quantities will not magically erase wrinkles. Nutritious food supports the body, but no single berry, powder, or supplement guarantees flawless skin. Exercise benefits overall health and circulation, but allowing sweat and dirty workout clothing to remain against the skin for hours may create problems.

Smoking damages health and accelerates visible aging. Excessive alcohol may contribute to dehydration, redness, puffiness, and a generally tired appearance. Poor sleep also has a habit of introducing itself through your face the following morning.

Keep pillowcases, towels, washcloths, razors, and grooming tools clean. Avoid touching and picking at your face unnecessarily. I believe these ordinary habits matter because skincare does not begin and end with whatever comes out of a bottle.

Pay Attention When Something Changes

I believe every man should become familiar with his own skin. You do not need to inspect yourself under laboratory lighting every morning, but you should notice new or changing moles, spots that bleed or refuse to heal, unusual growths, persistent rashes, or significant changes in color, shape, size, or texture.

Check the ears, scalp, back of the neck, shoulders, and back. These are areas men may overlook because they are difficult to see. Ask someone you trust to help inspect places beyond your view, or have a medical professional examine them.

Skincare products do not replace medical care. A persistent or suspicious change does not need another moisturizer and six months of wishful thinking. It needs a qualified professional. That is one of the few areas where I will be firm. Healthy skepticism about exaggerated product claims is wise. Ignoring a potentially serious skin change is not.

Build a Routine You Will Actually Follow

I follow that same simple Forge routine every morning. In the evening, I wash away the sunscreen, oil, dirt, and sweat that collected during the day, then apply moisturizer again.

That is it.

I believe a simple routine followed every day will produce better results than an elaborate one performed enthusiastically twice and then abandoned. Keep the products where they are convenient. Make the routine part of brushing your teeth, shaving, or preparing for bed. It should become ordinary maintenance, not an event requiring advance planning.

Give a new product enough time to show whether it benefits your skin unless it causes irritation. Pay attention to the results rather than the promises. If your skin feels comfortable, looks healthy, and responds well, you may already have everything you need.

Take Care of the Face You Present to the World

Men need skincare for the same reason we need bathing, grooming, exercise, proper clothing, and routine health care. It preserves what we have, improves what can be improved, and helps us present ourselves at our best.

Taking care of your skin is not an attempt to deny your age. I have earned every one of my 75 years, but that does not mean I must invite wrinkles, dryness, sun damage, and neglect to pile on unnecessarily.

After many decades of examining this face in the mirror, I know when something is working. My skin is healthy, smooth, and glowing, and I intend to keep it that way. The routine requires only a few minutes in the morning and a few more at night. That seems like an exceptionally small investment in the face I present to myself and everyone else.

Wash it. Moisturize it. Protect it. Watch it. And stop pretending neglect is masculine.