For years sunscreen was something men grabbed once a year or if they venture to the beach. Thats changing fast, and thank goodness! Search interest in mens skincare routine and men's grooming products has climbed sharply this year and the product driving a lot of that shift isn't a fancy serum, it's SPF. Dermatologist, grooming brands and men themselves are landing on the same conclusion: Daily sun protection is the single highest-impact step in any men's skincare routine. Skipping it undoes almost everything else you're doing for your skin. PLUS it's saving you from potential skin cancer.
Why SPF Beats Almost Everything Else in Your Routine
You can spend money on retinol, peptides and vitamin C serums but none of it holds up if you're not protecting your skin barrier from UV damage everyday. Here's what unprotected sun exposure actually does;
- Breaks down collagen faster - which is the leading driver of fine lines, sagging and premature ageing, ahead of anything caused by age alone
- Undoes active ingredients - Retinol and exfoliating acids make skin more UV sensitive. Using them without SPF the next morning can actually accelerate the damage you're trying to prevent
- Increase skin cancer risk - particularly for anyone spending a lot of time outdoors, driving regularly or living somewhere with strong UV exposure, essentially Australia.
Put simply, SPF isn't an add on to a men's skincare routine it's a step that protects return on everything else in your routine.
Understanding Sunscreens
Not all sunscreens are created equal as we've learned recently in Australia. Also on top of this the formulas were greasy, or white cast or felt unpleasant under stubble.
That's largely solved now, with options for men's moisturisers with SPF or stand alone sunscreens designed for men.
A lightweight non greasy finish, a gel or fluid formula absorbs fast and will sit better under facial hair, than a thicker cream based sunscreen.
No white cast - Mineral formulas (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) have improved a lot so check some of these out.
If you have sensitive skin, avoid fragrance in sunscreen.
How to Build SPF into a Routine You'll Keep Up
Fewer steps means better consistency, here's a routine that takes under two minutes;
AM Routine
- Cleanse - gentle cleanser morning
- Moisturiser - especially while skin is still slightly damp to lock in hydration. Or you can opt for a SPF moisturiser in the AM only, but note you will have to reapply it throughout the day as per directions, to maintain protection.
- Apply SPF - over the top of your moisturiser as the last step rain or shine. UV exposure isn't limited to sunny days, cloud blocks a fraction of the UV rays not most of them.
PM Routine
- Double Cleanse - this will remove the sunscreen which is harder to remove than the dirt and grime build up, but the double cleanse will only help improve your skin, so it's definitely worth the extra minute.
- Serum - You can use an active serum now - specially considering your protecting your skin during the day. Read this blog to work out what serum is suitable for you.
- Moisturiser - Apply moisturiser to lock in the serum and hydration
One thing to note is the amount of sunscreen applied. Most people under-apply. A rule of thumb is roughly a full teaspoon for the face and neck, probably more than you'd expected.
Daily SPF has moved from an occasional application to a anchor step in a modern men's skincare routine. It's one product that protects your skins long-term health and makes every other product in your routine actual worth using. If you're building or refining your routine this year, start here, everything else works better once this step is locked in.
Another article - SPF Explained
