With a glance
- Men’s skin needs three things: a good cleanser, a non-pore-clogging moisturizer and a weekly recovery treatment
- The right cleanser prevents oiliness and congestion created by daily shaving and exposure to the environment
- A lightweight moisturizer with antioxidants and skin-rejuvenating ingredients is essential, even for oily skin
- A face mask used two to three times a week extends the results of the professional treatment at home
- All four products below are available at joannavargas.com
Do men really need a skin care routine?
The honest answer is no, it is not a routine in the traditional sense. You don’t need 10 steps, a shelf full of bottles, or a color-coded program. What you need are the right products for what your skin faces every day.
As Joanna Vargas writes in her book Glow from within: “Creating a great skincare routine starts with the basics.” For men, these basics are cleansing, moisturizing, and resetting weekly. This is it. Three steps. Two minutes in the morning, two minutes at night and one mask a few times a week.
The products below are Joanna’s recommendations specifically for men’s skin, built around the concerns she sees most often: shaving irritation, congestion, oiliness, and skin that looks tired before the day is even over.
What grooming products do men really need?
Step 1: The right face wash for men
Why is cleanser so important for men’s skin?
Joanna is direct about this at Glow from within: “Along with sun protection and hydration, cleansing is one of the most important steps in your skincare routine.” For men, daily shaving is a form of exfoliation that leaves the surface of the skin sensitized and reactive. Add in the build-up of environmental pollutants, sebum and daily stress, and the case for a proper cleanser becomes clear.
A critical warning from the book: “You shouldn’t feel crazy after washing your face. If you do, it means your cleanser is too acidic, so your skin will overcompensate by producing too much sebum, and it’ll soon become oily.” This is the most common mistake men make: they use a harsh cleanser and wonder why their skin remains oily. The answer is the cleaner itself.
Joanna also notes that products should go on within a minute of cleansing, because “moist skin absorbs products faster, so you get more bang for your buck if you act quickly.”
Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash ($40)
Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash is a non-drying brightening cleanser formulated with grapefruit, acai, goji berry and galactoarabinan, a natural exfoliant from the larch tree that boosts cell turnover more effectively than glycolic acid. It instantly brightens, keeps pores clear, removes daily impurities and leaves the skin clean without stripping it. For men with oily or congested skin, grapefruit provides natural salicylic acid for gentle exfoliation, while antioxidant-rich acai and goji berry fight free radical damage built up from sun exposure and the environment. Use morning and night.
- It lights up instantly
- Non-drying formula
- Keeps pores clean
- Nourishes with vitamin C
Which moisturizer should men use?
Do men need moisturizer if their skin is oily?
Joanna addresses it directly Glow from within: “If you have combination skin, not using the right moisturizer will cause the dry parts of your skin to feel dry, while the oily parts produce more sebum in an attempt to compensate for the dryness. Suddenly, you’re stuck in a cycle where your skin never evens out.”
The solution is to not skip the moisturizer. The solution is to use the right one. For men, that means something light with antioxidants, skin-replenishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and emollients that prevent water loss without feeling heavy.
Joanna Vargas Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer ($90)
Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer is a lightweight moisturizer powered by ginkgo biloba extract, a powerful soothing antioxidant, and plant-derived stem cells derived from Swiss apples. Macadamia seed oil provides nutritious fatty acids without heaviness. Ceramides support the skin barrier. The formula soothes and plumps on contact, tackling dryness and post-shave sensitivity that builds up over time without leaving an oily residue. Use morning and night after cleansing.
- Addresses full-spectrum signs of aging
- Hydrates and plumps on contact
- Minimizes the appearance of uneven skin tone
- Ideal for all skin types, including stressed and inflamed skin
What is the best face mask for men?
Should men use a face mask?
In Glow from withinwrites Joanna: “I love masks. They’re the perfect combination of skin care and rejuvenation, providing a number of ways to improve tone, texture, hydration levels and more.” Especially for men, a mask used two to three times a week fills the gap between professional facial appointments, addressing dullness, dryness and fine lines that accumulate between visits.
Joanna also recommends clay-based masks for men with oily or congested skin to follow up after cleansing, especially to keep pores clear between professional extractions. The key is consistency over intensity. Two to three uses per week are more effective than an aggressive treatment.
Joanna Vargas Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask ($25)
The Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask is the most versatile mask in the Joanna Vargas range for men’s skin. Moisturizes, revitalizes, repairs, soothes and brightens in a single application, addressing the five conditions that arise in men’s skin between professional appointments: fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, loss of elasticity and dullness. Apply after shaving to soothe post-shave irritation or use once a week on clean skin as a stand-alone restorative treatment. Leave on for ten minutes and remove.
- Moisturizes and soothes immediately upon application
- Regenerates and repairs between professional appointments
- Ideal aftershave treatment for irritated skin
- Brightens dull, tired skin
The complete two-minute men’s grooming routine
This is the complete system. Everything else is optional.
- Morning: Vitamin C Face Wash followed by Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer. Apply moisturizer within a minute of cleansing.
- Night: Vitamin C Face Wash followed by Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer.
- After shaving: Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask for ten minutes and then Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer.
- Once a week: Forever Glow anti-aging facial mask as a stand-alone reset to clean skin.
- Monthly: The Gentleman’s Facial at Joanna Vargas to clear away the build-up below the surface.
Two products daily. One mask a few times a week. One business appointment a month. This is the complete system.
Frequently Asked Questions: Men’s Grooming Products
What grooming products do men really need?
A leave-in cleanser, a lightweight moisturizer with antioxidants and skin-rejuvenating ingredients, and a face mask used two to three times a week. These three products address the main concerns of men’s skin: congestion from shaving and exposure to the environment, oiliness caused by overproduction of sebum, and dullness from accumulated build-up.
Should men wash their face morning and night?
Joanna recommends cleansing at night without exception: “Never, ever skip a nightly cleanse. If you fall into bed with your makeup on and sleep in it all night, your skin cells won’t be able to regenerate.” For men with oily or congested skin, cleansing both morning and night is the right approach. For drier skin types, once in the evening is enough.
Is vitamin c face wash good for oily skin?
Yes. The grapefruit in the formula provides natural salicylic acid, which is the preferred exfoliant for oily and congested skin. Galactoarabinan boosts cell turnover without stripping the skin. The result is a cleanser that keeps pores clean without causing the overproduction of sebum that harsh cleansers cause.
Can men use Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer if they have oily skin?
Yes. Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer is a lightweight formula that soothes and plumps without weighing it down. For men with combination or oily skin, lightweight moisturizers with antioxidants and skin-rejuvenating ingredients are the way to go, as Joanna notes in Glow from within. Skipping moisturizer causes the skin to produce more sebum to compensate for dryness, which makes oiliness worse, not better.
How often should men use a face mask?
Two to three times a week. The Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask can be used after shaving as a soothing post-shave treatment or once a week as a stand-alone skin rejuvenation. Consistency is more important than frequency: two to three uses per week over time produce better cumulative results than occasional intensive use.
What is the best grooming routine for men who shave daily?
Cleanse with vitamin C face wash morning and night. After shaving, apply the Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask for ten minutes to soothe, hydrate and correct micro-irritation caused by shaving. Follow with Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer to lock in hydration. Book The Gentleman’s Facial once a month to clear the deeper congestion that daily shaving contributes to over time.
Where can I buy Joanna Vargas skin care products for men?
All products are available at joannavargas.com. The Gentleman’s Facial is available at the Joanna Vargas Spa locations in Midtown, New York, Brooklyn, and West Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Ready to get started?
Vitamin C Face Wash, Eden Hydrating Pro Moisturizer, and Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask are now available at joannavargas.com. Combine them with a monthly Gentleman’s Facial for the complete men’s skincare regimen.
The Gentleman’s Facial Book
Shop Men’s Grooming at Joanna Vargas
