My husband’s end of our bathroom counter and mine are a tale of two skin care cities. Mine is a democracy made of cleansers, toners, serums, masks, and moisturizers. His is a utilitarian society composed of toothpaste, shave cream, and deodorant.
There’s nothing else to care for his skin because he simply washes his face once a day in the shower with bar soap. Skin has needs, however, and I’d like to see that his are met. I asked him if there were any skin care products he’d like to use.
“Something for ingrown hairs,” he said. “A moisturizer that doesn’t make me break out. Something for dark spots, too.” He thought for a moment. “But nothing that makes me smell like you. And nothing pink.”
The quick and thought-out response was a surprise. (The ban on pink was not.) It meant that I could introduce him to a regimen tailored to his needs … in navy and gray packaging.
As the name implies, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($13.99) is a cleanser gentle enough for all skin types. It can be used as part of morning and nighttime routines without leaving the skin feeling stripped or tight. If, like my husband, you only wash your face once a day — which you shouldn’t — this one will actually get you clean.
Clarins ClarinsMen Exfoliating Cleanser ($22). The fine beads of salicylic acid in this facial wash exfoliate dead skin cells and deeply clean pores. After use, skin looks brighter and more even-toned. If you’re not in the habit of regularly exfoliating, ease into this product by using it twice a week as your morning cleanser. (Bonus: It smells sporty, as if you’ve washed your face after a vigorous rugby match.)
Lock in moisture with Elemis Daily Moisture Boost ($47.50). A lightweight lotion with a clean smell, it’s formulated to hydrate and soothe skin post-shave, helping to alleviate troublesome ingrown hairs, particularly on the neck, but can also help with overall complexion.
Jack Black DIY Power Peel Multi-Acid Resurfacing Pads with UGL Complex & Niacinamide ($38) sounds like something done in a garage with loud equipment, but it’s a skin treatment. Two to four times a week, as part of your nighttime routine, swipe the alpha and beta hydroxy acid–soaked pads across skin to improve tone, texture, and clarity and help diminish the appearance of lines and dark spots.
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Midnight Recovery Concentrate ($120). Used nightly, this lightweight blend of essential oils and botanicals brightens and improves skin’s appearance. It comes with an eyedropper, which makes it feel a bit like part of a science project.
Finally, there is a product my husband needed no introduction to because he’d swiped it from me long ago: Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream ($30). The magic skin care combination of caffeine and mica work to de-puff the eye area and bounce light away from dark areas. Unlike the other products mentioned here, this one comes in an orange jar. But no one will ever know you’ve used a product targeted to women.
They’ll simply think you have great skin.
For more beauty tips, follow Wendy on Twitter @WendyDuren.