Aging Men and Skincare

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Even if you’re 20, you’re an aging man. And the way to age well is with evolving skincare. This decade-by-decade “how-to” is the key to owning your years while looking your best.

While researching male grooming products from the early to mid-twentieth century, I encountered a significant lack of variety. There were pomades, shaving soaps, and aftershaves, but not a single moisturizer.

For severe dryness, a man could use classic Nivea Crème or Vaseline—the go-to for chafed and cracked skin or chapped lips. But for general maintenance, his only option was his better half’s cold cream, which he’d apply when nobody was looking.

And in retrospect, the mere thought of my father with a pot of face cream is absurd. According to him, it was for sissies.

Nowadays there’s a whole array of skincare products targeted at men. From scrubs and serums to cleansers and under-eye patches. The trouble is, prejudice still exists.

Many men’s skincare products are over-scented in an attempt to seem more masculine. And moisturizers absorb so quickly that they leave the skin as thirsty as it was before application. Thicker creams are often avoided for fear of shine, although a quick blot with a tissue would solve the problem.

Products marketed for women are generally more effective, as are unisex items with a more medical feel—I favor these.

But what’s important is that the stigma attached to a man taking care of his skin is all but gone. This allows us to look better for longer.

Skincare Keeps Doors Open

I went through the same rites of passage as my peers: my first shave at 13, my first mustache at 15, and my first suit at 17. Striving for manhood, I looked increasingly more like my father, which made him very proud.

So, in order not to disappoint, the pot of moisturizer I bought at 14 was kept hidden.

You see, I already realized back then that agility, healthy teeth, and good skin are the key to being whatever you like whenever you like.

I may have phases where I go for days on end wearing the same sweats and tank top, looking like an unshaven slob who hasn’t seen a barber in months. But for as long as you take the time to wash your face twice daily and apply cream, all you need to bounce back are a shave, a haircut, and a change of clothes.

But dryness, warts, broken capillaries, and blackheads are not so easily rectified.

And worst of all for any man, premature aging can close doors way too soon, especially where career and romance are concerned.

Okay, so you’ve already got a steady job and you’re in a stable partnership. But nothing is guaranteed; none of us know what the future holds.

Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t about anti-aging. It’s about owning your age while looking your best. This is what keeps doors open, no matter how old you are.

Skincare for the Aging Man Decade-by-Decade

The name of the game is anticipation: you need to know how to take care of aging skin long before signs of age appear.

Let’s find out what you can expect of your skin from 20 to 70+ and how to keep it healthy throughout.

But don’t forget, we’re all different. Like my parents, I age more slowly than other men—you may experience the opposite. So don’t just look at your decade to find where you are; look at the signs of aging, too. These I’ve bolded for easy reference.

When Does Aging Begin for Men?

By about 25 at the latest, you’ll start to notice fine lines around your eyes. This didn’t happen overnight, even if it seems that way. It began when you were about 20.

This is when collagen fibers start to diminish at a rate of one percent per year, or faster if you don’t protect yourself from the sun.

That’s why you should think about more extensive skincare before you enter your 20s. As previously mentioned, I began at 14.

Start with a Basic Skincare Routine

Minimize early signs of aging with a simple skincare routine.

This means cleansing your face twice a day: once in the shower with a soap-free wash lotion like Sebamed, and once with micellar water. Follow with your acne treatment if appropriate, but avoid astringents—especially around the eyes.

Always shower after shaving to thoroughly remove loose whiskers and lubricant residue, which can lead to dryness and irritation.

Moisturizing is a must. There’s one for every skin type, including the oily and acne-prone.

When applying moisturizer, massage upwardly and outwardly. This “trains” the skin to defy gravity, which delays the onset of sagging and wrinkling.

Another trick: with a dry, folded washcloth, pat firmly along the jawline, the brow bone, above the bridge of the nose, and over the nasolabial folds. This slows the formation of jowls and frown lines.

Exfoliation

Exfoliate once or twice a week. Rather than physical scrubs, opt for chemical exfoliants with alpha-hydroxy (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHA).

I favor The Ordinary’s Peeling Solution, which has both.

If using a scrub, choose one with jojoba beads. Unlike solid granules, these slough away dead cells without damaging facial skin.

Don’t forget that wet shaving (especially with a brush) is also a form of mechanical exfoliation.

Sun Protection

Day creams usually have a built-in sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. For me, that’s enough to get a tan without burning. But when I’m on vacation in sunnier regions, I need more—remember, SPF isn’t one-size-fits-all; it depends on your location, activities, and skin tone. When in doubt, aim higher.

If you’re bald, don’t forget your dome, which could otherwise develop age spots later in life. For sensitive scalps, protect with a hat or cap.

Eye Cream

Whether eye cream is necessary remains controversial. Personally, I’ve never found it substantial enough to protect against the elements or the drying effects of central heating and air conditioning.

I therefore apply the same moisturizer as for the rest of my face.

For dark circles, swelling, or wrinkling, a specialized eye serum worn beneath your moisturizer is probably a more sensible option.

Hands

Use hand cream as often as possible, especially after contact with soap and detergents. And always wear gloves in cold weather.

All of the above are commonsense skincare rules you should follow for the rest of your life. Only age-appropriate adjustments are necessary as of now.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

After Thirty

Most of the changes observed after 30 reflect a yearly 1–2% decline in testosterone.

Slackening and Creasing

If you haven’t taken good care of your skin, you’ll start to notice a slight slackening of your facial contours. The lines around your eyes and nasolabial folds will also be more prominent.

Reversal is impossible, but you can decelerate the process by following the advice already given above.

Change of Skin Tone

A change in skin tone cannot be prevented. Because the body produces about 20 percent less melanin, you’ll look less vital than you used to. Tanning evenly will also be more difficult, and you may burn more easily in the sun.

To make matters worse, cell turnover slows, which leads to dullness. Counteract this with continued use of exfoliants.

Tanning towels are the easiest, no-mess way of bringing color to your face and scalp. Or add glow with The Ordinary’s Pycnogenol 5%, an orange serum derived from the bark of the French maritime pine. Not only is it a subtle cosmetic, it also works as a powerful antioxidant to protect against environmental damage. Usually, you should apply serum beneath moisturizer, but this one is more effective applied over it.

CeraVe’s Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is a further option. Containing iron oxide, it lends color while appearing undetectable.

After Forty

By 40 you’ll have at least 20 percent fewer collagen fibers than you did at 20, causing your contours to give way to gravity.

You’ll also notice a depletion of the fatty tissue that plumps skin up to keep it looking smooth. Serums worn beneath moisturizer can help counteract this. Personally, I use Adipeau’s Active Face Cream. Its black ginger and safflower seed oil renew, and restore the skin’s structure at a cellular rather than surface level.

Dry Skin

Although men typically have higher sebum levels, aging still leads to dryness due to reduced dermal cell activity and slower skin regeneration.

If you enjoy hot showers, your could end up with eczema, as I did. Years later, I’m still suffering the consequences. I now shower cold.

Circulation

Circulation plays a huge role in skin health.

• Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells.
• It flushes out cellular waste and toxins via the lymphatic system.
• It stimulates fibroblast activity, essential for collagen and elastin production.
• It provides natural color and radiance.
• It supports immune responses and reduces inflammation.

But aging slows circulation, and more so in men who smoke or lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Be sure to get plenty of fresh air and exercise, even if it’s just a brisk walk to work each day. Cold showers are also beneficial if you can stand the brutality.

After Fifty

By 50, unless you’ve been good to your skin, you’ll notice the appearance of age spots on your hands, as well as ever-deepening facial wrinkles and sagging contours.

And even if you’ve treated your skin well, there’ll be no mistaking that it’s all downhill from now on. The hormonal recalibration that takes place during the middle years causes poor sebum quality, enlarged pores, and dry skin.

You’ll also perspire less; this, combined with poor sebum quality, means a weakening of the skin’s natural protective barrier, which is basically a mixture of sebum and sweat.

How to Improve Skin Texture

To visibly refine pores, apply a serum with retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic or salicylic acid. These encourage cell turnover and stimulate collagen production, which thickens the skin and improves texture over time.

At night I use A-Game, a mid-strength retinal that’s gentle enough for retinoid newcomers.

During the day, apply a layer of hyaluronic acid serum to draw water from the air, thus plumping from beneath. Keep hydration locked in with a barrier-repair cream rich in ceramides. Or try a calcium-infused moisturizer like Nivea’s Anti-Wrinkle + Revitalizing Cream (55+).

A transparent perfecting balm like M. Asam’s Magic Finish Perfect Me can cosmetically improve skin texture and the appearance of enlarged pores. Marketed for both sexes, it’s completely undetectable in spite of anti-blurring technology and pigmentation through iron oxide—it neither pills nor collects in creases.

Exfoliating

Apply a chemical exfoliant once a week, or opt for a gentler enzyme peel if your skin is sensitive.

Cleansing Mature Skin

Because jojoba oil repairs and imitates the skin’s natural barrier, it’s an ideal cleanser for mature skin. It can dislodge even the most stubborn grime without irritation—even on a freshly shaved face.

This is how it’s done:

1. Massage two teaspoons of jojoba oil into your face. If you’re not washing over the sink, do this before stepping into the shower.
2. Apply a little water and work up to an emulsion.
3. Rinse with cold or lukewarm water.
4. Dry with a lint-free cotton pad.

Source: The Neat and Tidy Man

After Sixty

Your skin can produce only just enough new cells to compensate for the amount shed, which is why it may start to look dry and thin by 60.

And its protective barrier will have further depleted, causing vulnerability to bacteria and infection.

But the most unexpected sign of aging in men is no longer finding sunburn and harsh astringents painful, which indicates a failing warning system.

Continue as appropriate for a man in his 50s with serums, rich moisturizers, jojoba oil, and sunscreen.

Your body wash, deodorant, and facial cleanser should now be formulated for sensitive skin to avoid the possibility of adverse reactions that could go unnoticed.

Body Odor

The so-called “old person smell” is one of the most troubling signs of aging in men. Stemming from a natural compound called 2-nonenal, it typically begins to appear around age 40 and may be noticeable by 60.

Neutralize with a body wash containing persimmon extract.

After Seventy

If you’ve taken good care of yourself over the decades, you’ll receive many compliments on your ageless appeal. Keep up the great work!

Additional symptoms of aging that are more prevalent in men are an accelerated recurrence of foot, knee, and elbow calluses; blackheads around the nose; and warts of the hands, face, and underarms.

You can manage these with consistent use of products containing salicylic acid, a BHA known for its exfoliating properties:

• Patches or creams with 12–40% salicylic acid can reduce calluses.
• Clear blackheads with acne-targeted cleansers, but apply only on problem areas.
• Warts can be treated with liquids, gels, or medicated pads containing up to 40% salicylic acid, which gently peel them away over time. For your armpits, once the warts have vanished, wash daily with a salicylic acid facial cleanser to prevent their return. This also helps against underarm odor.

In case of diabetes, circulation issues, or sensitive skin, consult a doctor before using salicylic acid on your feet and hands.

A Word on Shaving Mature Skin

Many men in their 60s and 70s swap wet shaving for dry. If you still have a steady hand, don’t do this.

Dry shaving involves repeated downward strokes, often without lubrication. Over time, this can stretch the skin and contribute to sagging at the jaw and throat. Mature skin doesn’t bounce back the way it used to.

For a gentler shave, use a shaving brush and safety razor. The brush lifts the whiskers and the dense lather it builds cushions the skin. Unlike today’s cartridges, which often cut below the skin’s surface, safety razors slice cleanly at skin level, reducing ingrown hairs and irritation.

Ten Essential Tips for Men to Keep Aging Skin Healthy

1. Always wear moisturizer, no matter what your skin type.
2. Use only non-astringent products.
3. Make sure your day cream has an SPF of at least 15.
4. Bathe only in cold or lukewarm water, whether in the tub or the shower.
5. Apply hand cream as often as possible and wear gloves in cold weather.
6. Massage your body daily from the shoulders down with a washcloth to aid circulation.
7. Massage your face upwardly and outwardly when applying moisturizer.
8. Don’t shave with an electric razor.
9. Don’t smoke.
10. Alcoholic beverages dehydrate the skin and enlarge pores—keep to a minimum.

© 2025, J. Richardson. All rights reserved.