There’s always been an underlying issue between men and the undeniable effectiveness of having a skincare routine. Perceived as going against the social norm, you might not have a skincare routine yet because it’s something practiced only by your girlfriends or you just don’t know where to start.
From what we know, skincare routines don’t need to be complicated and the products you use shouldn’t be too costly. There are tons to choose from online or at your local pharmacies but it won’t help if you’re still clueless about what to purchase, right?
To make it easier, we’ve selected a curated list of skincare products for men in Malaysia, ranging from cleansers, moisturizers, toners and serums to help kick-start your skincare routine!
Editor
Nina Shahriman chevron_right
Table of Contents
10 Best Skincare Products for Men in Malaysia (2024)
Perfect for clearing off dried down sweat accumulated from your daily life; a gentle cleanser clears dirt unseen to the naked eye from your pores, ensuring a smoother skin.
Overview
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a soap-free facial cleanser that gently cleanses your skin and removes excess sebum, dirt and other impurities. With that, it leaves the skin soft and supple as it doesn’t strip any natural oil from your skin which typically results in dryness and a tight sensation after a wash.
Moreover, its formula is fragrance-free, making it suitable for those with very sensitive skin which can irritate the skin’s comfort such as itchiness and cracking. It can also be used as a body wash, especially for those with troubled skin like eczema.
Details
- Designed with a blend of niacinamide, panthenol and hydrating glycerin to help improve the resilience of sensitive skin
- Formulated with Micellar Technology to gently yet effectively remove dirt, makeup and impurities
- Paraben free and hypoallergenic
Who is this for?
Men are prone to impurities and acne, which can be a sign of having sensitive skin. What makes this cleanser so special? Well, it cleans the skin without any irritation, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin types.
Always felt like your skin has too much oil or dirt? Whether you were exposed to sweat or an air-polluted area, face washes like this one is important to have for skincare.
Overview
This hydrating formula from Hada Labo deep-cleans your skin while being gentle in removing dirt and excessive oil, thanks to its infusion of beneficial beauty oils and super hyaluronic acid content. After a long day of work and being outdoors, this cleansing oil will also feel refreshing on your skin. Since it’s quite water-soluble, it leaves your skin feeling smooth, moist and non-greasy.
One of the main reasons why men hesitate to try new skincare products is that we fear our skin might feel irritated and damaged. Well, worry less, as the pH balanced formula ensures low irritation and a gentle feel on your sensitive skin.
Details
- Formulated with high purity olive oil
- Anti-pollution formula
- Balanced in pH content
Who is this for?
Generally, cleansing oils are not common in skincare routines, especially for men. So, it won’t hurt to know that they actually work in giving your skin a cleaner and healthier complexion! All in all, the Hada Labo Hydrating Cleansing Oil helps retain your skin moisture, leaving it soft and supple after long hours of working.
Toners are used after face washes to ensure the skin’s pH level is balanced. This process is important in order to not harm the skin or interfere treatments being effective on it.
Overview
What makes this toner special is that it contains Chamomile which helps soothes and softens most skin types. Whether your skin is dry, rough or oily, the Kind-to-Skin Soothing Toner from Simple removes alkaline residues commonly found outdoors while restoring your skin’s natural pH level.
It’s also interesting to note that the toner is vegan and only contains natural ingredients, so it won’t harm those with sensitive skin. After just a swipe of this toner on your skin, you can be sure to have it feeling much comfortable as well as smoother.
Details
- Contains a special blend of natural ingredients such as Pro-Vitamin B5, Chamomile, Witch Hazel and Allantoin.
- Vegan and certified cruelty-free
- 100% alcohol-free
Who is this for?
Most toners refresh your skin without stripping away its natural moisture. For a first toner to implement into your routine, try this water-based Simple Toner one. It’s perfect for those with combination skin as it cleans and close-up more pores which is typical in most men’s skin.
Have bad acne or uneven skin tones? With the gentlest level of treatment strength, essences are thinner in consistency compared to ampoules and serums. If you are worried about your skin being too sensitive and might react badly, essences are what you should start with.
Overview
This lightweight essence from COSRX contains nutritious snail mucin ingredient. Yes, you heard that right. This ingredient is friendly for most skin types and aims in repairing your sensitive skin from redness after breakouts while replenishing its moisture. So if your skin is always cracking from dryness, this serums works to balance that out too.
The essence’s formula absorbs into your skin fast to give it a more natural glow as well! Moreover, other benefits include improving your skin texture and fading dark spots too.
Details
- Formulated with low-stimulated, filtered snail mucin
- Free from parabens and sulfates
- Alcohol-free
Who is this for?
Most essences contain active ingredients to hydrate and boost overall complexion of your skin. In this case, the 96% mucin-containing essence from COSRX is great for those looking to boost your rough skin hydration and reduce inflammation.
One thing to note is that the consistency of the essence is a bit slimy because of the mucin but you’ll get used to it regardless, thanks to its benefits!
If you find that your skin needs a big boost in treatment and/or rejuvenation from skin stressors such as sun UV rays and inflamed acne scars, masks are a great way to soothe and heal the skin.
Overview
Facial therapy doesn’t get much more convenient than this. Dr.Morita’s Ultra Aqua Refreshing Facial Mask helps draw excess oil and dirt from your face and it’s perfect for dry skin types as it delivers a good amount of moisture too.
Applying it to your face takes only a few simple steps. Have the mask onto your face and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Be reminded that you’d want to cleanse your face before applying and it’s not necessary to rinse off extra essence after removing the mask.
Details
- Infused with stabilised anti-oxidants to protect skin from ageing too fast
- Contains cucumber extract for cooling effect
- Filtrated with rice ferment
Who is this for?
After a long day of going from one place to another, it’s never wrong to pamper yourself with a therapeutic facial mask. If you’re looking for the best mask to deep cleanse and moisturise your dry skin, Dr.Morita's Ultra Aqua Refreshing Facial Mask will work.
Offering the perfect balance between treating and healing your skin with a fair amount of strength; serums are great to incorporate into your grooming routine. Whether you have acne or inflamed redness constantly, there’s always a serum for it!
Overview
Take an extra step to your skincare routine by making use of this serum by SOMEBYMI! This tea tree leaf water and 14.5% centella extract infused serum reduces acne, soothes your skin, and hydrates it on a deeper level more effectively.
As the product’s name suggests, the serum is formulated with added AHA to eliminate dead skin cells, BHA to remove excess oil, and PHA to retain your skin’s moisture. You may not be familiar with these acidic ingredients but trust us, they are beneficial to help make the skin look clear as day.
Details
- AHA BHA PHA ingredients gently exfoliate and remove skin waste
- pH 5.5 sub acidity content infused with all-natural ingredients
- Hypo-allergic test completed
Who is this for?
The formula is specially curated for acne-prone skin types but is tailored for those with sensitive skin as well. In fact, this serum helps to calm the inflammation as well as reduces blemishes and dark spots for a more natural glow effect to your skin.
Acne is probably the most common skin issue that both men and women face. For minimal effort and maximum benefits, spot treatments are great for targeting a small pesky issue on your face.
Overview
Having a pimple just days before an event must keep you restless. Surely there won’t be a solution to this, right? Worry not, the Hiruscar Anti-Acne Spot Gel helps subside pimples and zits in 2 days.
This special acne gel contains ingredients like Aloe Vera extract, Salicylic Acid and MPS to reduce acne while soothing your skin from redness and maintaining its moisture. Its lightweight and non-greasy formulation acts fast on acne as well as lessen pimple marks without any peeling effect.
Details
- Helps to control sebum secretion and removes dead skin cells
- Tested non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic
- Antibacterial formulation
Who is this for?
Specially formulated to be gentle on the skin, it causes no irritation and is suitable for acne-prone skin types. The gel is also great at controlling excessive oil and helps reduce recurring acne, so you don’t have to worry about having pimples and oily face on your important events.
After layering your skin carefully with all that treatment, it is time to seal them onto your skin so that effects can take place maturely.
A good moisturisers should not feel like it’s sitting on your face, yet feels protective of the skin. Moisturisers also help to ensure the skin does not dry out; something that causes many issues including premature ageing and acne.
Overview
If you have dry or sensitive skin, you may want to consider something that can help boost hydration. With that, the Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy Cream might be worth considering.
Formulated with BioMimic technology, this clinically proven face cream restores your skin barrier for long lasting moisturisation. If you’re used to gel moisturisers, don’t be hesitant as the rich and smooth cream texture makes it easy to apply and the facial cream protects against recurring dryness too!
Details
- Contains 29% lipids that are similar to those found naturally in skin that help repair and strengthen skin’s moisture barrier
- Hypoallergenic and fragrance free
- Provides long lasting moisturization in dry and sensitive skin
Who is this for?
This facial cream is suitable for those with sensitive and dry skin as it helps regain your skin’s moisture and smoothness without causing irritation. Using moisturisers is one of the key parts of your skincare routine and if you’re left undecided on what product to use, the Physiogel Therapy Cream will do the trick!
Applied only during the day; sunscreen is a must to protect your skin when you’re out during the day. A lot of harm done to the skin is actually due to the sun’s UV rays including pigmentation, premature ageing, sunspots and even cause skin cancer. So protect your skin out there!
Overview
It’ll be a waste to not apply sunscreen before taking a breeze walk under the hot weather with your plus one. Little do you know, that sunlights could cause skin ageing, rashes, sunburns and potentially skin cancer too. It is where the BIORE UV Aqua Rich sunscreen comes in.
This light sunscreen is infused with the hydrating essence of Hyaluronic Acid and Royal Jelly Extract. With SPF50+, it protects your skin against harsh UV rays and the water-like texture feels light on your face without leaving any sticky residue.
Details
- Formulated with revolutionary World's First Technology to fend off UV rays at micro level
- SPF50+ PA++++ gives broader protection against the sun
- Light watery texture
Who is this for?
Having sunscreen by your side when you’re outside helps block harmful UV rays from damaging your skin. As the BIORE UV Aqua Rich sunscreen is suitable for all types of skin, it’s great if you’re just starting a skincare routine yet still unsure on what sunscreen to purchase.
Like the skin on your face, your body deserves to be hydrated and protected too. While the body’s skin is thicker than the face, moisturising it can help ensure comfort as well as supple-looking skin in the long run. Our best advice is to wear a thin layer after showering.
Overview
Say goodbye to dryness and hello to long-lasting hydration when you use the NIVEA Creme body lotion! This easily recognisable body lotion works well to keep your skin feeling soft and supple.
It contains Eucerit which maintains skin health by supplying moisture and oil. Since it’s free from alcohol and parabens, this NIVEA Creme can be used on your body, hand, face and even rough spots like your knees and elbow!
Details
- Enriched with Provitamin B5 to intensively moisturises your skin
- Skin compatibility dermatologically approved
- Thick and rich cream formula
Who is this for?
We could all agree on giving a little extra care to our skin, and what better way to start than to apply the NIVEA Creme body lotion every now and then? This product helps to keep your hand, body and face smooth and hydrated and perfect for all skin types. It’s also great for your intensive moisturising skincare needs.
FAQs:
- Skincare routine steps for men
No matter how you spend your day, taking care of your skin is important and you don’t need to worry if you're a little behind as this skincare routine is easy to follow once you’ve found the best products that match your skin.
To maintain a healthier skin complexion, you should:
- Cleanse your face: At least twice a day; in the morning to wash away any dirt and bacteria overnight, and before you sleep after long hours of staying outside.
- Use toner: Soothe your irritated skin and maintain its pH balance.
- Exfoliate: To deeply cleanse your skin and remove dead cells and trapped sebum in pores. Do note that you’d only need to exfoliate around 2-3 times a week as excessive exfoliating can cause rashes and dry skin.
- Moisturise: Do it everyday to maintain skin hydration and remove excess sebum production.
- Apply sunscreen: Protect your clean skin from ageing UV rays and sun damages that could potentially contribute to skin cancer.
Once you’re ready to up your skincare regimen, you can tailor your product offerings to address whatever issue you see fit by trying out products like serums, facial masks and essence.
- Can men use female skincare products?
- To put the debate to an end, yes! Men can safely use women's skincare products. Although, it won’t be as effective as there are a few significant differences between male and female skin.
- Most men don't need to use heavy moisturisers because their skin is oilier and they have thicker skin than women by 20-30%!
Therefore, putting a stop to the trial-and-error of buying skincare might take some time but for all we know, it would definitely bear fruit for gradually improving your skin health.