Perfecting a grooming routine is like tailoring a suit: to see results, it takes one small alteration at a time. You have to hem the trousers, take in the waist, shorten the sleeves, let out the chest—the list goes on. None of these mean anything alone. Together, they make something elegant and personalized.
None of us need every little product that the grooming marketplace has to offer. Instead, consider addressing what catches your eye in the mirror, in photos, or halfway through a long day. Those could be a shiny forehead, stubborn breath, lingering acne scars, thinning hair at the temples. Each is hardly anything on its own, but more difficult to ignore when taken together.
And it takes a village. That’s why we consulted a dozen sages, from the worlds of dermatology, dentistry, hair restoration and more, to answer some of the most common questions in the realms of hair, skin, and hygiene.
“My face is shiny by midday no matter which cleanser or moisturizer I use. How do I actually manage oily skin without drying it out?”
Many men treat oil as if it’s the enemy, scrubbing it away with
harsh cleansers or skipping
moisturizer altogether. London plastic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, founder of 111 Harley Street and luxe skincare label 111Skin, says this tactic can make things worse. “Shiny skin by midday usually means
your skin is overproducing oil to compensate for dehydration or ineffective cleansing,” he explains.
In other words, your skin might actually be thirsty, despite the excess oil. Aggressive cleansing can trigger more oil production, so Dr. Alexandrides urges you to be conservative: “The goal isn’t to strip the skin,” he says.
When skin is properly hydrated and the pores are unobstructed, oil production tends to regulate itself. The shine fades not because you’ve stripped it away, but because your skin no longer needs to overcompensate.
Alexandrides recommends
salicylic acid–based products to dissolve excess sebum and
keep pores clear. Specifically, a gentle cleanser can remove build-up without damaging the skin’s barrier, followed by a lightweight moisturiser that delivers hydration without heaviness.
Read nine more expert tips on how to improve your skin, hair, and hygiene.
