What products should men use to take care of their skin? To start with, all men need a gentle, water-soluble cleanser; a gentle shaving product (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel), followed by a gentle, non-irritating aftershave or shaving lotion (which for all intents and purposes are just masculine names for a gentle toner) or an alcohol-free topical anti-inflammatory product. An ideal after-shave product for men is an aspirin-based topical product that uses additional potent anti-irritants. Aspirin is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent for irritated skin and is able to alleviate the redness and razor bumps/burn many men who shave experience. Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment contains stabilized aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) with other anti-irritants and is designed to work beautifully as a gentle, effective after-shave for men or women.

Follow with the same options as women's skincare for treating breakouts (disinfectant and beta hydroxy acid), sun care (SPF 15 with UVA protection), or dealing with dry skin (a good moisturizer). The one exception is that for some skin types it can prove to be too irritating for men to follow shaving with an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA product.

However, for men dealing with blemishes, milia, or blackheads, a well-formulated BHA product can be used over non-shaved areas, or over the entire face in the evening (assuming the man shaves in the morning). Men who shave do have an advantage, because shaving removes the top layer of dead skin cells, improving cell turnover. Yet it doesn't mean that men have to avoid the advantages of using a retinoid—like Retin-A or Renova—or that they should omit using a reliable sunscreen.

Within the Paula's Choice line, here are the skin-care routines recommended for men:

NORMAL TO DRY SKIN

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Extra Care Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30 (applied to all exposed areas of skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin
2. Paula's Choice 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel (applied to unshaven areas, avoiding the eye area)
3. Paula's Choice  Hydrating Treatment Cream

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DRY TO VERY DRY SKIN

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cleanser
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Extra Care Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30 (applied to all exposed areas of skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cleanser
2. Paula's Choice 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel (applied to unshaven areas)
3. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Moisturizer 

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NORMAL TO OILY/COMBINATION SKIN

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 (applied to all exposed areas of skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Paula's Choice 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion or 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel (applied to unshaven areas, avoiding the eyes)
3. Paula's Choice HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion (applied to dry areas only)

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NORMAL TO OILY/COMBINATION SKIN PRONE TO BLEMISHES

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution (applied to areas prone to breakouts)
5. Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 (applied to all areas of exposed skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Paula's Choice 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion, 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid or
   2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion
3. Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution (applied to areas prone to breakouts)
4. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisture Gel (applied to dry areas only)

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NORMAL TO DRY SKIN PRONE TO BLEMISHES

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution (applied to areas prone to breakouts)
5. Paula's Choice Extra Care Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30 (applied to all exposed areas of skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin
2. Paula's Choice 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion or 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion
3. Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution (applied to areas prone to breakouts)
4. Paula's Choice Hydrating Treatment Cream

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OILY TO VERY OILY SKIN

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 (applied to all areas of exposed skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Carbon Mask (use 2-3 times per week or as needed)
3. Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid

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OILY TO VERY OILY SKIN PRONE TO BLEMISHES

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice  Skin Balancing Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution (applied to areas prone to breakouts)
5. Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 (applied to all areas of exposed skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Carbon Mask (use 2-3 times per week or as needed)
3. Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid
4. Paula's Choice Blemish Fighting Solution or Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution (applied to areas prone to breakouts)

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ROSACEA WITH OILY SKIN

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. MetroGel, Azelaic Acid or Noritate (prescription-only; consult your dermatologist)
5. Paula's Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15 (applied to all areas of exposed skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
2. Paula's Choice 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion or 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion
3. MetroGel, Azelaic Acid or Noritate (prescription-only; consult your dermatologist)
4. HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion (applied to dry areas only)

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ROSACEA WITH DRY, FLAKY SKIN

A.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin (for very dry skin, choose Skin Recovery Cleanser)
2. Gentle shave Gels or foams (such as Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel)
3. After shaving: Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment
4. MetroCream, MetroLotion, Azelaic Acid or Noritate (prescription-only; consult your dermatologist)
5. Paula's Choice Extra Care Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30 (applied to all exposed skin)

P.M.

1. Paula's Choice One Step Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin (for very dry skin, choose Skin Recovery Cleanser)
2. Paula's Choice 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion or 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Lotion
3. MetroCream, MetroLotion, Azelaic Acid l or Noritate (prescription-only; consult your dermatologist)
4. Paula's Choice  Hydrating Treatment Cream (applied to dry areas only)

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Shave Gels and Foams

The following shaving creams and gels are recommended because they are effective, gentle (they do not contain fragrance or common irritants) and reasonably priced:

*Paula's Choice Close Comfort Shave Gel 

*Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel ($3.69 for 7 ounces) 

*Edge Active Care Shave Gel Ultra Sensitive ($2.99 for 7 ounces)