Why men neglect skincare (and why it's not your fault)
You grew up in a culture where a "real man" washes his face with hand soap and thinks moisturiser is for girls. Nobody told you that your skin — literally — is your largest organ. It's also the first thing people see when they look at you.
This isn't about vanity. It's about health, confidence and — let's be honest — how you look on Zoom at 9 a.m.
The numbers are clear: the global men's grooming market is growing 6.5% a year and passed $78 billion in 2025 (Statista, Grand View Research). Men now spend 40% more on aesthetic treatments than five years ago. Non-surgical procedures for men have risen 29% over the past five years, according to ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons) data.
So no, you're not "less of a man" for wearing SPF moisturiser. You're simply keeping up with what the rest of the world already does.
No Neglect November — challenge rules
The rules are simple. Each week adds one habit. By the end of the month, you'll have a working routine that takes less time than scrolling TikTok on the toilet.
🔧 Week 1: Hydration (1–7 November)
Mission: Every morning, after washing your face, apply moisturiser.
Why it matters: Men's skin produces more sebum than women's — around 60% more on average. Paradoxically, dehydrated skin responds by OVERPRODUCING sebum. That means more shine, more blackheads, more irritation after shaving. Moisturising isn't a "luxury" — it's basic maintenance, like changing the oil in your car.
Pro tip: Look for a cream with niacinamide (vitamin B3) — it regulates sebum, smooths skin and doesn't irritate. You don't need to know how to pronounce it. Just check the ingredients list.
☀️ Week 2: SPF (8–14 November)
Mission: Add SPF 30 or higher to your morning routine. Or use a moisturiser with built-in SPF — 2-in-1, since I know you're counting steps.
"But it's November — there's no sun."
There is. UVA rays pass through clouds and glass. UVA doesn't burn — that's UVB — but it breaks down collagen, accelerates ageing, causes hyperpigmentation and raises the risk of melanoma. Dermatologists say it again and again: SPF every day, all year round.
A statistic that should wake you up: Men have a 55% higher risk of dying from melanoma than women (American Cancer Society data). Why? Because they skip SPF and skip dermatology check-ups. No Neglect November is also about this — realising that looking after yourself can literally save your life.
💈 Week 3: Your first salon treatment (15–21 November)
Mission: Book one visit — a consultation or a treatment.
This is where things might feel a bit daunting. A beauty salon? Me? What would I even do there? Will anyone judge me?
The answers: Yes, you. It depends on what you need. And no, nobody will judge you — at good salons, men already make up 15–25% of clients, and the trend is growing.
What might interest you:
- Manual extraction — for blackheads. And who doesn't have those?
- Chemical peel — sounds brutal, but it's really just 20 minutes lying down with an acid mask. Zero pain. Skin feels smooth, like a reset.
- HydraFacial / aquapeel — cleansing and hydration in one. Zero downtime. You leave looking better than when you arrived.
- Vascular laser — for persistent redness or spider veins.
- Microneedling mesotherapy (Dermapen) — a collagen booster, for acne scars and skin texture.
- Laser hair removal — neck, cheeks, uniback, unibrow — freedom from the razor.
You don't need to know what niacinamide, hyaluronic acid or retinoids are. Just book a consultation and say: "I want to look better, but I don't know where to start." Any good specialist will tell you the rest.
🏆 Week 4: A stable routine (22–30 November)
Mission: Keep up the habits from weeks 1–3. Add one more: an evening face wash with a gel or foam cleanser (not soap!).
By the end of the month, your routine looks like this:
Morning (2 minutes):
- Cleanse with a gel wash
- Moisturiser with SPF
Evening (1 minute):
- Cleanse with a gel wash
- Moisturiser (optional)
That's the whole routine. Four steps a day. Three minutes total. No excuses.
"But I don't have any skin problems"
You do. You've just got used to them.
Those grey circles under your eyes? Not genetics — dehydration and poor sleep. That shine on your nose in photos? Excess sebum. Those "spots" after shaving? Pseudofolliculitis barbae — an inflammation that eases with the right shaving technique and moisturising. Those forehead lines you notice on Zoom? Photoageing — UVA doing its work while you skipped SPF.
In 2026, a man doesn't need to feel embarrassed about wanting to look good. David Beckham isn't embarrassed. Ryan Reynolds isn't embarrassed. LeBron James isn't embarrassed. Robert Lewandowski — definitely not embarrassed.
Normalising self-care: it's not about being metrosexual
Our fathers' generation had two grooming options: soap and aftershave. We have more knowledge, more tools and fewer absurd expectations about "masculinity".
Self-care isn't narcissism. It's an investment in yourself — no different from going to the gym, eating well or getting regular check-ups. And if you still feel awkward about it, think of it this way: you look after your car (washing, waxing, oil changes), you look after your shoes (cleaning, waterproofing), you look after your beard (trimming, oils) — but you won't look after the skin on your face, which you wear EVERY DAY? Really?
The most common excuses — and how to neutralise them
"I don't have time." You have 3 minutes a day. You check your phone 96 times a day (RescueTime data). You'll find 3 minutes.
"It's too expensive."
"I don't know what to buy." CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena — affordable, dermatologically tested, fragrance-free. Walk into a pharmacy and say: "A face wash and a moisturiser with SPF." The pharmacist will do the rest.
"My mates will laugh at me." The same mates who, in five years, will be asking why you look better than they do. Trends have changed. Being well-groomed is the new standard.
The final boss: what comes after November?
If you've made it through the month — congratulations. You've done more for your skin than most men do in a lifetime. Now you have two options:
- Keep the routine going — the minimum that makes the maximum difference.
- Take it further — add a vitamin C serum (morning, under SPF), retinol (evening, twice a week) and regular salon treatments every 4–6 weeks.
Whatever you choose, you already know more than 90% of your friends.
And if you're at the "I want to try it, but I don't know where" stage — come in for a consultation at J'ADORE INSTYTUT in Warsaw (Żelazna or Mińska) or Krakow (Karmelicka). No obligation to buy, no pressure. Just a specialist who'll tell you exactly what your skin needs. And yes, we do have male clients. More and more of them.
No Neglect November starts soon. Your face is waiting.