Men’s Skincare Routine: A Simple Daily Guide for Healthy Skin (Australia)

Most men don’t want a complicated skincare routine. Fair.

The best men’s skincare routine is the one that’s simple enough to do twice a day — and reliable enough that your skin stays clean, calm and balanced.

This guide covers:

• a simple AM + PM routine you can stick to
• why men’s skin is different (and what actually matters)
• shaving with less irritation
• when double cleansing is worth it (and how to use it)

The simple routine (AM + PM)

Here’s the routine in four straightforward steps. Do the same sequence morning and night.

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Why men’s skin needs a slightly different approach

Men’s skin is often:

• a bit thicker
• more oil-prone (more sebum production)
• dealing with facial hair + shaving, which adds daily stress

Sebum (your natural skin oil) isn’t “bad” — it supports the skin’s surface and helps keep things functioning normally. The issue is when excess oil mixes with dead skin cells, sweat, and grime. That can:

• clog pores (blackheads/whiteheads) and make pores appear larger
• feed surface bacteria too much
• trigger irritation, congestion, and breakouts

So, the goal isn’t to strip your skin. The goal is to clean thoroughly without stressing the skin barrier.

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Cleanse properly (the part most routines get wrong)

Most men either:

• wash too lightly (oil + buildup stays put), or
• wash too harshly (skin gets tight, irritated, then rebounds with more oil)

The sweet spot is thorough, gentle cleansing — especially if you shave, sweat, or get congestion.

Step #1 - Oil cleanse: deep clean without harshness

This step helps loosen and lift what water alone often leaves behind:

• excess oil
• grime and buildup
• dead skin sitting on the surface

How: Massage onto damp skin then rinse well and/or gently wipe with a clean face cloth.

Why it helps: Oil binds to oil. Done properly, this cleans deeply without needing harsh scrubbing. This is sometimes called colloidal cleansing — where oil and water work together to loosen and carry away buildup, rather than relying on harsh scrubbing.

Step #2 - Lather cleanse: finish the cleanse + gentle daily exfoliation

This step finishes the job by removing what the first cleanse loosened and helps keep the surface of the skin smoother through consistent, gentle cleansing.

How: Make a small lather in your hands, apply, rinse well, then gently wipe with a clean face cloth.

Common mistake: scrubbing aggressively or using very hot water. If your face feels “squeaky” or tight afterwards, you’ve usually gone too hard.

Hydrate, then support the barrier

Cleansing is only half the routine. The part that keeps skin comfortable, predictable, and less reactive is what you do after cleansing.

Think of it like this: cleanse removes what shouldn’t be there; hydration and barrier support help your skin function normally again.

Step #3 - Hydrate and condition

After cleansing, your skin can absorb hydration more efficiently because you’ve removed the buildup that gets in the way. This step helps:

• reduce tightness and dryness
• keep the skin feeling balanced (including oily skin)
• support a healthy surface barrier so the skin is less prone to irritation

Common mistake: skipping hydration because it feels optional. For most men, it’s the difference between “my skin feels fine” and “my skin is always a bit annoyed.”

If you have facial hair, this step can also help keep beard/moustache hair feeling softer and easier to manage.

Step #4 - Protective lotion (barrier support)

This step is about supporting your skin’s resilience — keeping it calm, comfortable and less reactive day-to-day. It helps your skin hold onto hydration and recover from things like shaving, weather changes, and general daily stress.

It also helps maintain a healthy skin surface environment (your skin microbiome), which can make skin less prone to congestion and breakouts over time.

Quick note: this is not sunscreen. If you’re outdoors regularly, sunscreen is an extra step you apply afterward (we cover that below).

Sunscreen (optional, but worth knowing)

Sunscreen isn’t part of the four steps above — it’s an extra you add when needed.

In Australia, if you’re outdoors regularly (work, sport, commuting, weekends), sunscreen is one of the simplest ways to protect your skin long-term.

How to use it: apply sunscreen after your morning routine once everything has absorbed. Don’t forget to re-apply if outdoors for a long period of time or after swimming.

If you’re mostly indoors all day, you don’t need to overthink it — just use it when you know you’ll be outside for extended time.

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Do men need double cleansing?

For most men, using two cleansers in sequence is a simple way to get a more thorough clean — especially if you:

• wear sunscreen often
• train/sweat a lot
• get congestion (blackheads/whiteheads)
• feel oily by afternoon

Benefits of double cleansing (without the drama)

• cleans thoroughly without harsh stripping
• helps keep pores clearer
• supports a balanced skin surface environment (your skin microbiome)
• softens dead skin so it removes more easily
• softens facial hair for a smoother shave

Some men use both cleansers morning and night, while others use just one depending on how their skin feels. The key is choosing what keeps your skin clean, comfortable, and balanced.

Shaving + skincare (the simple way)

Shaving is basically controlled exfoliation. Done well, it’s fine. Done poorly, it’s irritation on repeat.

Simple shaving rules:

• Shave after a warm shower or after cleansing (softens hair)
• Use a clean, sharp blade (blunt blades cause irritation fast)
• After shaving: rinse → hydrate/condition

If you’re getting burning, redness, or bumps, the fix is usually calming the barrier, not scrubbing harder. A smoother shave usually comes from better prep — not more pressure.

I’ve put the full breakdown here if you want to go deeper: How to Stop Shaving Rash + Razor Bumps (Australia) .

Common mistakes men make (and how to fix them)

• Over-washing → you end up oilier and more irritated
• Using harsh “men’s” products → strong doesn’t mean effective
• Skipping hydration → tight skin isn’t “clean”, it’s stressed
• Changing products constantly → consistency beats novelty
• Turning skincare into a project → keep it simple so it sticks
• Scrubbing hard to “fix” breakouts → gentle + consistent usually wins long-term

(If your routine needs 45 minutes and a TED talk, it won’t last.)

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What my routine looks like (real-world example)

My routine is built around my morning shower and evening shower, because that’s what keeps it easy and consistent.

Morning

• Oil cleanse: I apply the oil cleanser to dry skin then jump in the shower and leave it on for about 30 seconds. Then I wipe it off with a damp face cloth or rinse under water.
• Shaving (if I’m working): I usually shave in the shower. If I’m short on time, I can even use the oil cleanser as a shaving “cream” — it gives a surprisingly close shave and helps the razor glide.
• Lather cleanse: I do the lather cleanse next. I normally rinse it off in the shower (you can use the face cloth too if you want).

In cooler months I’ll sometimes keep the morning routine simpler, but during summer I’m almost always doing both cleanses.

After the shower

• Hydrate/condition: I dry my face and apply the moisturiser.
• Protective lotion: Once the moisturiser has absorbed (quicker in winter, slower in humidity), I apply the Protective Lotion.

If I’m heading outside, I’ll finish with sunscreen.

(Real life note: this is usually the part where I go hassle the kids about breakfast, then come back and finish the last step.)

Evening

Evening is basically the same routine, but I’m more consistent with cleansing at night — especially if I’ve worn sunscreen during the day.

• Oil cleanse
• Lather cleanse
• Hydrate/condition
• Protective lotion

Depending on the season, I’ll adjust the amount of moisturiser:

• when it’s cooler and drier, I use a bit more at night so I don’t wake up feeling dry
• when it’s humid, I use a little less

If my skin feels a bit congested, I keep the routine simple and focus on staying consistent rather than throwing extra products at it.

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If you want a routine that’s already mapped out

If you prefer not to mix and match products, a simple system can make consistency easier. The Metrin Skincare System for Him follows the same routine above — two cleanses, hydration, then barrier support — designed to be used morning and night.

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FAQ: Men’s Skincare Routine