The lockdown period had us sorting through every draw and shelf possible. One thing I wanted to tackle is what went on my face. Six weeks into a new skincare routine, I’m sharing what’s been a hit, miss and what I plan to change up.

Products pictured: PURIFYING FACIAL CREAM CLEANER and ANTI-OXIDANT SERUM by AĒSOP SKINCARE, OIL-FREE MOISTURISER by TOM FORD [ad - pr product], RŌZU [ad - pr product] by AĒSOP SKINCARE and AFTER SHAVE BALM by BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA

Men prioritising skincare goes against any old adage that men can splash water on their face and be done with it. The fewer polysyllabic products you own, the more of a man you are. And while there maybe pockets of resistance to it, a men’s skincare wave is in full flow. Stubbornness to not choose what we put on our bathroom shelf - yes we get a whole shelf now - is wearing thin and more men are starting to cleanse, hydrate and dance their way through a conversation about fragrance top notes while at the pub (and finished up by 10pm of course).

I consider myself an early convert. I’m all for a product that solves a problem and in the end, make your skin better. Why wouldn’t you? When my skin decided in lockdown that it was time to crack and peel, it was a time for an overhaul. So armed with a list of recommendations provided through Instagram, all including follow-up messages on why X brand was the best, I decided to go and take charge of what I put on my face.

Perhaps it would help if I described what my skin was like before this new routine I am doing my upmost to stick to. While I was still cleansing my face morning and night and then applying a moisturiser, I was finding that by the morning it would be dry again, even sometimes before I headed off to bed. My skin was not getting enough hydration which eventually led to cracking around my cheeks - the only silver lining being that we’re not leaving the house much.

Armed with a resurgence to get my skin sorted, I headed to Aēsop in Coal Drops Yard and walked out with a new cleanser and serum. The facial cream cleanser is gentle and you only need a tiny amount to massage in. The anti-oxidant serum is something I had used before and had success with, but back then that’s all I was using. So this time I’ve added in the extra step of a moisturiser.

I give it a couple minutes for the serum to seep into my skin (I use around 5-6 drops) and then go in with three pumps of the oil-free moisturiser by Tom Ford *fancy claxon*.

This trio has been my stalwart for the past six weeks and I’m happy to report my skin is feeling good. Even just the routine element and pro-activeness to fixing the issue has me walking to the bathroom with an extra spring in my step.

So as it stands I’m feeling on top of my skincare regime and equipped with something extra in reserve should my skin so need it (more on that in the winter months). And when it comes back round to summer again, I might not need a serum and moisturiser so I potentially could take one away. The Baxter of California after shave balm has lasted given that my shaving area is limited, but this ensures I don’t dry out of my face on shaving days.

While not strictly skincare, I wanted to include Rōzu as this is what has been making it onto my neck before I leave the house or in most cases, from upstairs to downstairs. It’s Aēsop’s latest creation and offers an unusual take on rose notes usually found in fragrance. The scent isn’t as long lasting or as present on the forefront on the skin as perhaps I’d like, but for days working from home you don’t want to be inhaling what you smell like every second breathe.

With my critique cap on, from an effectiveness aspect all three: the cleanser (£25), serum (£55) and moisturiser (£80) have worked a treat. While the moisturiser does come in at the high-end, I did enjoy using it. Three small pumps provided enough coverage and hydration while leaving my skin matte and not over fragranced, something I often associate with skincare derived from fragrance brands. There will be cheaper alternatives out there, but if you are able to try it out then I have no hesitation to say you’ll enjoy using it. As for the other two I’d happily repurchase both, proving good value for their longevity. I feel confident knowing I have a simple base which works for me as I venture off in search of other effective products to share with you. There is still plenty of me to look into: peels, masks, AHAs, BHAs, vitamins, overnight creams, retinols, toners… it’s a jungle out of there for men and I’ll happily be the explorer on the quest for good skin solutions.jbicon