My boyfriend has always been told he looks younger than his age, and I’d like to think it’s thanks to my persistent encouragement to follow a skincare routine. Despite his ‘baby face,’ which contrasts sharply with his dad’s more aged appearance, I believe it’s less about genetics and more about healthy habits—and maybe our decision to delay having kids! He recently turned forty, and while his dynamic wrinkles have become more static, his skin texture is in better condition than it was in his twenties!
I know firsthand how challenging it can be to get your partner into skincare, especially when it comes to something as crucial as sunscreen. Even though I’ve managed to get him to use toner and eye cream, he still grumbles, questioning if moisturizing is really necessary. Despite his protests, I’m proud of how his skincare routine has evolved and the positive effects it’s had. And although he doesn’t like to admit it, I think he’s started to enjoy it too.
How To Get Your Partner to Follow a Skincare Routine
Getting my partner on board with a skincare routine took some effort, but a few key strategies worked wonders. Except for having a beard, men’s skin isn’t that different from women’s, and there’s no need for a man to use skincare specified for men.
To make things easy for both of us, I started by sharing my routine with him. As time went on, his routine became more separate as he found his favorite products that worked for him. I enjoy trying and testing out new products, while he prefers a more familiar routine. However, it’s important to keep your partner’s skin type and issues in mind when choosing products. For example, my partner has large pores, dry skin, and redness that we try to address.
Here are the steps I followed in building a solid skincare routine for him:
Step 1: Start with the Basics
I began with the basics: A Moisturizer, Cleanser, and Sunscreen.
For the sunscreen, I chose one that’s nourishing enough to double as a daytime moisturizer, simplifying the routine and making it easier for him to adopt.
Step 2: Gradually Introduce Actives
Next Step: Introduce Retinoids and Exfoliants.
After a few months to a year, I started to incorporate actives like retinol and chemical exfoliants into his routine. When choosing these products, it’s essential to keep your partner’s specific needs and skin type in mind. I’ve noticed that my partner has slightly thicker skin than I do, which means he may not see or feel results as quickly with the lower-strength actives that I first started with. Instead, he often tolerates higher concentrations of actives without irritation, allowing for more noticeable effects over time.
Step 3: Address Specific Skin Concerns
Adding Extras: Toner, Eye Cream, and Targeted Serums.
After 5 years of focusing on the basics and a few actives, I’ve only recently added this to his skincare routine, If your partner is anything like mine and prefers a simpler routine, introducing toners, eye creams, and targeted serums can be challenging. While these extras might seem like overkill, they can make a noticeable difference.
For example, I managed to persuade him to start using a toner to address some dry patches he was experiencing. Initially, he thought he needed more exfoliation, but once he saw the benefits of added moisture, he continued to include it in his routine.
Step 4: Use Visual Reminders
One of the biggest keys to maintaining this routine is the visual reminders I use.
When the routine started getting a bit disorganized for him, I created a clear schedule and listed each product on two brightly colored post-it notes, which I keep in our bathroom cabinet. These notes serve as constant reminders and have been crucial in helping him stay on track—no more asking me every day what products he should use. As long as your partner can keep track of which day of the week it is, they should be able to follow simple instructions on a post-it note.
Step 5: Stay Consistent
Don’t: Swap out products too often.
Do: Stick to a routine.
My partner is quite habitual, and I realized that switching up products he had gotten used to would confuse him. So if you want your partner, who’s not as into skincare as you, to follow a routine, it’s best to eventually give them a set of products to stick with that they recognize and see as familiar.
While the post-it notes are great for initial guidance, you want to eventually make the skincare routine a habit. Unless your partner complains about not seeing any results or differences in their skin with the products, avoid changing them. Let them stick with what works.
Over time, the routine will become a natural part of their daily life, thanks to these simple yet effective strategies. This plan is not just specific for men, but any partner who’s not interested in skincare but you’d like for them to better take care of their skin.
My Boyfriend’s Weekly Skincare Routine
So let us get to the juicy stuff! Mind that a skincare routine is very personal, the products my partner uses are specifically for his skin type and the issues he wants to address. But I hope it can inspire and leave you with an idea of how to build your partner’s routine—whether they are a no-nonsense kind of guy or someone who’s utterly uninterested in caring for their skin.
My partner follows the same schedule/skin cycling routine as I do, which is laid out like this:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Retinoid
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Hydration
- Sunday: Exfoliation
Products Mentioned
Cleansing
Morning: Splash of Water
In the mornings I’ve allowed him to skip face wash and just splash his face with water. His skin is more on the dry side and he usually takes a shower in the morning.
Evening: Hada Labo Kouji Face Wash
What he barely does in the morning he makes up for in the evening. Although I haven’t been able to persuade him to do a double cleanse (only when I’m around and we do our routine at the same time), he will at least do one cleanse. The cleanser is usually whatever second cleanse I’m using. At the moment it’s the Hada Labo Kouji Face Wash, a foaming cream wash, which is gentle yet thorough, which is great as he’s skipping an oil-based first cleanse.
His personal favorite is a gel cleanser. Like the ACO Face Wash, Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, and Youth To The People Gel Cleanser. However, those usually don’t remove sunscreen and makeup that well. Or at least, he’s not willing to spend more than 8 seconds massaging it in, so he might as well opt for something more thorough.
Toning
A step I recently added to his routine after he complained about a dry patch. I personally use different toners or essences depending on the time of day and what I’m applying afterward. However, I’m at the extreme end of things. As to not overwhelm him with multiple products I got him his own toning lotion, which he diligently uses every morning and evening. He noticed a significant improvement in his dry spots once he included this step in his routine.
Morning & Evening: Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Treatment Lotion
The toner he’s using is the Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Treatment Lotion. It addresses many of his concerns by minimizing pores, hydrating, strengthening the skin barrier, and reducing redness.
I considered introducing a new product after he finishes this one, but I haven’t found a better or more affordable treatment lotion with saccharomyces ferment filtrate and mushroom extracts. As mentioned earlier, it’s best not to change something that isn’t broken and risk confusing him with a new product. So, he’ll be sticking with the Origins Mega-Mushroom lotion for a while.
Serums & Treatments
My partner uses three to four different serums, which might seem like a lot at first, but it’s actually quite manageable. He has one serum for the morning and one for the evening. Additionally, he uses treatment serums like a retinoid and an exfoliant. See, it’s not so overwhelming after all!
In this category, we often share products, so he’ll use whatever I’m using.
Hydrating & Antioxidant
Morning: Sunday Riley B Nice Serum
For mornings, he uses an antioxidant serum. At the time this photo was taken, we were using the Sunday Riley B Nice Serum (review here), but we have since switched to Paula’s Choice 20% Niacinamide serum. Another one we have in stock is the Summer Friday CC Me Serum (review here).
Evening: Elizabeth Arden Superstart Renewal Booster
For evenings, I convinced him to incorporate the Superstart prep-serum from Elizabeth Arden to use every evening without fail. I love it, he loves it, and we have a bunch in stock. It’s a great skin barrier-strengthening serum that enhances the effectiveness of other products while minimizing irritation from treatments by making the skin more resilient.
Actives
Depending on the focus of that specific day (see routine schedule again 👆🏼), he’ll either use a chemical exfoliant or a retinoid. On regular hydration days, he keeps it simple and jumps straight to his night moisturizer.
Exfoliant: Allies of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum
From my years of trial and error, I’ve learned to keep things minimal when it comes to exfoliants. While my partner prefers granular mechanical exfoliants (read: actual scrubs), he’s come to appreciate leave-ons, especially the Mandelic Corrector from Allies of Skin (review here). This might be the first product he turned to me and said he actually noticed a significant difference in his skin after one use.
Another one he likes, but I don’t, is the Oskia Liquid Mask (review here). Perhaps it’s because its formula sinks in and doesn’t leave the skin as sticky as the one from Allies of Skin. Overall, whatever exfoliant I have, he uses it too.
Retinoid: Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream
I’m constantly exploring retinoids, so whatever retinoid we have on hand is what he’ll be using. However, the current one we’re using, the Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Multi-Intensive Night Cream (review here), doubles as a night cream and treatment in one! Perfect for those who want as few steps as possible in their skincare routine. It’s a night cream with 0.1% retinal, highly effective and affordable too! Which my partner likes.
Eye Care
I wish I could’ve persuaded my partner to incorporate an eye cream earlier. However, better someday than never, right? I have the feeling that he sometimes skips this step, despite having it listed on his post-its. But it was kind of mean of me to introduce two at the same time 🙈.
BEAUTY TIP:
While researching eye creams for men, I’ve noticed something interesting. Many high-end brands with a men’s line offer eye creams that tackle multiple concerns but at a cheaper price than the equivalent eye cream for women! So if you want a good eye cream, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to check out the men’s line first. 😏
Morning: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Eye Serum 2.0
I got him the Elizabeth Arden Prevage Eye Serum, hoping the applicator tool would make him more interested and make the application easier for him. However, the tool on this one isn’t that great and tends to spit out product. Personally, I haven’t noticed much of a greater effect for the price. So, I think I’ll get him the Murad Targeted Eye Depuffer next time, as Murad’s finger applicator is much better from my experience with their Wrinkle Corrector. I’ve also been eyeing the Shiseido For Men Total Revitalizer Eye Cream, which seems to target all the concerns my partner has with his eye area.
Evening: Murad Youth Renewal Eye Serum
My partner makes a lot of grimaces, and although I don’t have anything against smile lines, I was curious to see what an eye cream with retinol could do. So, I introduced him to one, the Youth Renewal Eye Serum from Murad.
After expressing my disappointment with eye creams containing retinoids on Instagram, a follower suggested trying out the Murad Youth Renewal line. To my surprise, this might be the first eye serum I actually find effective! So, I think we’ll keep using this for a while.
Moisturizers
Morning: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50
My partner prefers a streamlined routine, especially in the morning, so I’ve simplified his day cream to make it as effortless as possible. Since he spends most of his working hours indoors, he doesn’t need an elaborate sunscreen. I still aim for a product with at least SPF 50 to counteract his tendency to apply too little. Even though he won’t reapply during the day, a higher SPF provides better protection as it degrades over time.
Currently, he uses the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50. In winter, he switches to La Roche-Posay UVMUNE SPF 50. In addition, for outdoor activities or extended sun exposure, he reaches for Shiseido Expert Sun Face & Body SPF 50 (review here) or the LRP UVMUNE Fluid.
Evening: L300 Pro-Retinol Intense Recovery Night Cream
Currently, on nights when he’s using a retinoid, he applies the Avène night cream with retinal, which serves as a 2-in-1 treatment. However, if he’s using a different type of retinoid or if it’s a hydration-focused night, he opts for the Pro-Retinol Night Cream from Swedish pharmacy brand L300. Despite its name, this cream focuses on gentle retinoid treatment with Retinyl Palmitate and serves as his primary night cream for hydration.
The Bottom Line
For my partner, the key was beginning with essential products and slowly incorporating actives, toners, and serums as he became more comfortable. Visual reminders, like post-it notes, helped keep him on track, while selecting versatile products that address his specific skin concerns made the routine both effective and sustainable.
Patience and persistence are key throughout this process. Tailor the routine to fit your partner’s unique skin type and preferences, and keep things as simple as possible. Pay attention to their feedback and let them stick with the products they enjoy. Over time, the routine will seamlessly integrate into their daily life, and the results will speak for themselves.
In summary, with a bit of effort and understanding, you can help your partner develop a skincare routine that enhances their skin and builds their confidence. The journey might take some time, but the improvements are worth it. ✨
Does your partner have a skincare routine?
Share your tips and stories in the comments!
