Quick Take
- Cold outdoor air and dry indoor heat can leave a man’s skin feeling tight and dry all winter.
- A simple winter skincare routine for men takes about five minutes a day: wash, mist and beard oil.
- Two of the easiest changes are swapping body soap for a face wash made for his skin type and finishing his routine while skin is still slightly damp.
- Men’s Beard Oil, made with clear jojoba oil, is the last step and the one that takes care of his beard.
- For a gift, the three products in our Men’s Skincare collection make an easy all-in-one pick.
If you’re shopping for a man this Christmas, or you are that man, this guide is for you. Here’s a simple winter routine that fits into a busy morning, what’s in each product and why it’s there, and a few natural gift ideas he’ll reach for long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Why Does Men’s Skin Feel So Dry in Winter?
- Cold air holds less moisture. Winter air is dry outside, and indoor heat dries the air in homes, offices and cars too, so skin can feel tight even when nothing else has changed.
- Hot water and harsh soap add to it. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests shorter showers in warm, not hot, water and gentle cleansers instead of harsh soaps.
- Timing matters. The AAD also recommends moisturizing within a few minutes of washing, while skin is still slightly damp.
- Hands and lips are out in the cold all day. They’re often the first places he’ll notice the change. Our cold snap guide covers them in more detail.
Insights From Our Founder
Brooke Summers, Rooted For Good’s founder, is a cosmetologist and a mom of six. She started making her own skincare because natural products for a family of eight cost too much, and she has always built her products around simple routines for busy lives. That’s the heart of this routine: few steps, a mist instead of cotton pads, and about five minutes a day.
Here’s what Brooke hopes men take from her products:
I hope women can use our products and feel confident in their skin. I hope men can use our products, and teenage boys, and they can feel confident in their skin, and they’re not going to get a message from our company that they’re not worthy or that they need to do X, Y or Z to fit in. My desire is never to try to create a company where we’re the cool ones and you’re out. That goes against my heart. My wish is for everyone to have a seat at the table and for everyone to feel loved and cherished and appreciated.
And on why five minutes for yourself is worth it:
Self-care is not selfish, particularly when it’s motivated by a desire to care for yourself so that you have more energy and bandwidth to care for others.
A Simple 3-Step Winter Skincare Routine for Men
Brooke’s goal for busy people is five minutes a day. Here’s the whole routine, using the three products in our Men’s Skincare collection:
- WashMen’s Face WashMorning and night, about 1 minute
- MistMen’s Face TonerRight after washing, a few seconds
- Beard oilMen’s Beard OilAfter misting, under a minute
About five minutes a day, start to finish.
Step 1: Wash With a Face Wash Made for His Skin (Not the Body Soap)
Men’s Face Wash comes in four versions, for normal, dry, oily or sensitive skin, so you can pick the one that sounds most like him. Lather, then rinse with warm water.
Because we don’t use emulsifiers, some products separate. If his does, a quick shake mixes it back together. Brooke shares that she’d much rather give a bottle a shake than have preservatives in it.
What’s inside Men’s Face Wash, and why it’s there
- Distilled water
- Plain water that has been boiled and condensed. It’s the base that carries everything else.
- Vegetable glycerin
- A clear, thick liquid made from plant oils. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts water (Fluhr et al., 2008), so it helps skin feel hydrated instead of stripped after rinsing.
- Sweet almond oil (clear jojoba oil in the dry-skin version)
- Adds a little softness, so his face doesn’t feel squeaky after rinsing.
- Witch hazel
- Made from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub. It gives a clean, fresh feel.
- Essential oils
- Give the wash its natural scent, and the blend depends on the version: lavender, frankincense, tea tree, sweet orange and ylang ylang for normal skin; lavender, frankincense, ylang ylang and bergamot for dry skin; lavender, frankincense, tea tree and sweet orange for oily skin; and lavender and frankincense for sensitive skin.
Step 2: Mist Instead of Reaching for Cotton Pads
If cotton pads are the reason a toner never gets used, good news: Men’s Face Toner skips them. It’s a spray, so a spritz or two after washing, morning and night, is all it takes. Made with premium witch hazel, it leaves his skin feeling clean and refreshed, and it leaves his face slightly damp, which is just right for the next step.
What’s inside Men’s Face Toner, and why it’s there
- Premium witch hazel
- The main ingredient, for a clean, refreshing feel.
- Distilled water and glycerin
- Keep the mist light and leave skin feeling hydrated.
- Frankincense
- A resin from the Boswellia tree with a warm, slightly woody scent.
- Lavender
- A soft, clean scent.
- Tea tree
- An oil from the leaves of an Australian tree, with a fresh, sharp scent.
- Ylang ylang
- An oil from the flowers of a tropical tree that adds a sweet floral note.
Step 3: Finish With Beard Oil
Men’s Beard Oil is made with clear jojoba oil and a blend of frankincense, sweet orange, tea tree, peppermint and cedarwood essential oils. After misting, while his beard is still slightly damp, he can work a small amount through it, then add a little more only if it still feels dry.
What’s inside Men’s Beard Oil, and why it’s there
- Clear jojoba oil
- Pressed from the seed of a desert shrub. It’s technically a liquid wax rather than a true oil (Pazyar et al., 2013), and it feels smooth rather than greasy.
- Frankincense and cedarwood
- Essential oils that give the blend its warm, woodsy base.
- Sweet orange
- A bright citrus note. See the note on sun at the end of this post.
- Tea tree and peppermint
- Add a fresh, clean finish to the scent.
Real Results: What Our Community Says
My husband really likes these products, especially the beard oil! He’s always searching for beard oil that smells good and softens his beard, and this really works! Would definitely recommend!
Natural Skincare Gift Ideas for Him
The right gift depends on the man. Here’s where to start:
| If he… | Give him | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Still washes his face with the body soap | It comes in four versions, for normal, dry, oily or sensitive skin, so you can match it to his. | |
| Wants his face to feel fresh after washing | A quick spray of premium witch hazel gives a clean, refreshing feel in a few seconds, no cotton pads needed. | |
| Takes pride in his beard | Clear jojoba oil with a warm, woodsy essential oil blend. | |
| Is ready for the whole routine | Wash, mist and beard oil: everything in this guide, in one gift. |
Whatever you choose, we don’t use any preservatives or artificial fragrances; our products are scented with essential oils. And 10% of every sale goes to help people in need around the world, so the gift is good for him and good for others.
Best Practices & Key Takeaways
| Instead of… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Using body soap on his face | Use a face wash made for his skin type. It’s the easiest upgrade. |
| Turning the water up hot | Turn it down to warm, which is what the AAD recommends. |
| Waiting until his skin is bone-dry | Mist and apply beard oil within a few minutes of washing, while his skin is still slightly damp. |
| Starting with ten steps | Keep it to three: wash, mist, beard oil. Three steps he’ll actually do beat ten he won’t. |
| Using more beard oil than he needs | Start with a small amount and add more only if his beard still feels dry. |
| Skipping the patch test | Take a small amount of the product and try it on a small patch of skin first to see how his skin reacts. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do men need different winter skincare than women?
Not really. Winter dryness doesn’t check whose face it’s on. If he’d rather use products made with men in mind, our Men’s Skincare collection has a face wash, a toner and a beard oil.
What’s a good natural face wash for men?
Men’s Face Wash comes in four versions, for normal, dry, oily or sensitive skin, so you can pick the one that sounds most like him.
When should he use beard oil in winter?
Right after washing and misting is a good time, while his beard and skin are still slightly damp. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests moisturizing within a few minutes of washing.
What if his skin is oily?
Choose the oily-skin version of Men’s Face Wash. Follow it with a spritz of Men’s Face Toner, and start with a small amount of beard oil.
What’s a good skincare gift for a man who doesn’t use skincare?
Start small. Men’s Face Wash is the easiest first step, since it simply replaces the body soap he’s using now. When he’s ready for more, all three products from our Men’s Skincare collection make up the full routine.
Is Rooted For Good men’s skincare scented?
Yes. Our products are scented with essential oils, not artificial fragrance, so they aren’t fragrance-free. If he needs a fragrance-free product, ours aren’t the right fit.
Bringing It All Together
Winter skincare for men doesn’t need a crowded bathroom shelf. A face wash made for his skin, a quick mist and a little beard oil take about five minutes, and that’s a routine he can keep all winter.
As Brooke likes to say, self-care is not selfish, and that goes for the men in our lives too. Five minutes for himself means more to give to the people he loves.
Ready to give it? Find Men’s Face Wash, Men’s Face Toner and Men’s Beard Oil in our Men’s Skincare collection. Orders over $75 ship free in the U.S.
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