While most guys aren’t interested in (or won’t confess to using) girly stuff like eye creams and chemical exfoliation, looking after your skin is still important. While I admit, dedicated makeup lines for men might be taking things a little far, proper skincare is a definite must.

Skincare basics are the same for both sexes, but most guys don’t want to smell of peaches or strawberries so male orientated skincare smells of tough stuff, like musk and spices. At the very least, you should be using a cleanser with a face cloth to clean off oil and buff off dead skin, followed by a moisturiser with a little sunscreen in it. The extras are up to you! And you can bet your ass Brad Pitt uses all kinds of this stuff!

Cleanser. It’s probably best to stick to a foaming cleanser as creamy cleansers can leave a residue that you might find uncomfortable. A foaming cleanser will make your skin feel fresh and clean without leaving anything behind. I bang on about Neutrogena cleansers but it’s because I really think they work, they’re affordable and readily available. A good cleanser to try would be Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser ($12.57) as its gentle and soap-free so it won’t strip your skin, plus the bottle’s blue. Score! If you can’t wrap your head around using cleanser from a bottle, try Clinique’s Skin Supplies For Men Face Soap Regular Strength ($25) which comes as a soap bar with a dish. Stay away from those scrubs though, and stick with a face washer to exfoliate.

Moisturiser. You’re looking for a moisturiser that’s oil free and has a SPF of at least 15. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you should use a proper sunscreen with a high SPF in place of a moisturiser but if you’re indoors most of the day, stick with a light one like Neutrogena’s Comboskin Moisturiser ($14.39) which has oil-absorbing properties so you won’t be left shiny. Another goodie is Clinique’s Skin Supplies for Men Maximum Hydrator ($65), with no greasy finish or feminine smell.

Spots. Zits are the same for everyone and therefore should be treated the same way (I’ve got an upcoming post about how to deal with acne for both guys and girls) but if you’re only getting the occasional spot, Neutrogena and Clinique have medicated spot gels but you can also go for the natural alternative, a dab of good ol’ Thursday Plantation Tea Trea Oil ($ $4.57 for 10mL) directly on the spot. Tea Tree Oil is a natural germ killer and will also dry out the zit. Make sure you just put it on the spot though!

Until next week xx