For a lot of men, there is nothing new about the three-step approach to the morning skin care routine. Unfortunately, these three steps often only consist of drinking coffee, showering, and shaving. Most guys are professionals at using as few skin-care products as is humanly possible. The thing is, how we approach this morning routine says a lot about how we see ourselves. Confidence starts (or can be boosted) with better care of your face, and an effective skin-care routine can be both easy and quick.

Do you fit into this classic “I could care less about skin-care” category? If your morning grooming routine is strictly about shaving and nothing else—ignoring sun damage, oily skin, blemishes, or rosacea (lots of guys have rosacea)—you may worry that skin-care is a strictly feminine concern. Beyond the razor everything else is irrelevant and well, not “masculine.” And honestly, taking care of a guy’s skin is not any different than it is for women, just like taking care of a cut or burn has nothing to do with gender.

This stubborn mindset prevents us from taking really great care of our skin. Don’t kid yourself: Blemishes, sun-damaged skin, and razor burn impress no one. I am not suggesting you obsess over your appearance, nor is it necessary to adopt a ten-step skin-care routine. The basics of a man’s skin-care routine can be just that, basic. Easy, no sweat! Here’s what you need to know:

• Just because a skin-care product comes in masculine-looking packaging doesn’t mean you should buy it. Packaging tells you nothing about what’s inside.
• The vast majority of products aimed at men are pathetically formulated, mostly useless, and often overpriced—one more reason to ignore gender when shopping for the best skin-care products.
• Repeat after me: skin care has nothing to do with gender. A blemish is a blemish and sun damage is sun damage whether you’re male or female! Guys do not need stronger products because, in most cases, “stronger” means “irritating” and that’s not a manly move. Men need products that work without damaging their skin!

Aiming for well-formulated essentials that will protect your skin should be the goal, and that’s where the Cosmetics Cop Team comes in. However, you can also check the ingredient label yourself and avoid ingredients that literally hurt your skin such as alcohol, citrus oils, fragrances, menthol, peppermint, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Using products that contain irritating ingredients is almost as bad as neglecting your skin entirely.

Finding great products is simpler than it sounds, stick with me for a moment longer—going from shower to out the door in the AM can still happen in a blink. Here’s how it shakes out:

• A well-formulated daily facial cleanser that’s easy to rinse is the backbone of your routine.
• Choose a proper exfoliant based on your needs. Are you battling acne or blackheads? Go for a BHA (beta hydroxy acid, listed as salicylic acid) to exfoliate your pores and use a benzoyl peroxide disinfectant to kill acne-causing bacteria.
• If your skin is sun damaged and you have normal to dry skin consider using an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid, listed as glycolic or lactic acid) exfoliant. An AHA will greatly reduce the damage done from too many days without sunscreen.
• During the day, a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 15 or greater is the last and most important step. You can find options that double as moisturizers if you have dry skin. If you have normal to oily skin there are lightweight sunscreens you won’t even feel, which most guys love.
• At night, if you have normal to oily skin a lightweight gel or liquid “moisturizer” loaded with state-of-the-art ingredients is incredibly helpful, or if you have dry skin a more traditional lotion or cream moisturizer loaded with great ingredients is essential. Check out Paula’s article about what makes a great moisturizer here.

Wondering how that new skin-care product you’re eyeing shapes up? The Cosmetics Cop Team product reviews at Beautypedia.com lists all our top recommendations. Following these simple tips can change how you feel about yourself, and on how others perceive you. You’ll see in no time that it’s so easy to improve your appearance!

If you would like information on which Paula’s Choice products may be right for you, call our Customer Service Department at 1.800.831.4088, email us at custserv@paulaschoice.com, or talk to us in a live chat session.