How Men Can Benefit From Regular Facials
When it comes to self-care, these days men have plenty of options to groom and care for their skin in various ways.
However, research suggests they may not be taking advantage of all of the opportunities. For example, a YouGov poll in 2024 surveyed 1,148 American adults selected from a 2019 community survey. The sample was stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region and political party. The poll found that 58% of men skip daily moisturizing, and some prefer the bare minimum skincare routine.
But there’s one specific type of self-care where dermatologists and aestheticians say men are lagging far behind: facials.
“Here is the reality: Facials are not only for women,” said dermatologist Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed. “In fact, they’re a smart move for anyone who wants healthy, clear skin.”
Ahead, dermatologists and aestheticians share more about how men can benefit from facials too, the unique benefits, and how to have a more comfortable experience.
Why more men need to get regular facials
Facials are a safe treatment, and they’re an important part of skincare for all of us. While there’s no set-in-stone frequency, Meka Mathis, a master aesthetician and owner of Skin Beauty Bar, suggested getting one every four to six weeks. This aligns with the skin’s natural regeneration cycle, which sheds old skin cells every 4-6 weeks to produce new cells.
But back to men specifically: “Men benefit from facials as much as women do, though interest in skincare among men has traditionally lagged far behind that of women,” said Dr. Kate Dee, a Yale-trained aesthetician physician and founder of Glow Medispa in Seattle.
Here are a handful of the benefits that are specifically effective for men:
Testosterone = more oil glands
“Because they have more testosterone, men usually have thicker skin with extra oil glands,” Hamed said. “This means your skin can take more damage, but also becomes oily quicker, which causes problems like blocked pores, blackheads and acne.”
Dead skin build-up, as well as clogged and enlarged pores, are other issues you can avoid with a facial, according to Mathis. Further, regular maintenance can help you avoid acne and blemishes.
Additionally, for men who shave their faces, they may suffer from bumps, redness and general irritation. Facials can improve the skin and ease that irritation, said dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi.
For mental health
Facials can boost your emotional well-being in various ways.
“Facials allow for that hour of self-care,” Mathis said. “This can help increase momentum and self-worth.”
Those effects — both short-term and long-term — make sense, right? “Facials are like massages in the sense that they are soothing, calming and refreshing,” Dee added. “Having a facial can improve mood and outlook.”
The mental health benefits are based on science. “Your body makes less cortisol [when you’re less stressed], and it benefits your whole body, not only your face,” Hamed said. (Cortisol is known as the stress hormone.)
Skincare isn’t masculine or feminine
For men who are reluctant to get a facial, dermatologists and aestheticians shared encouraging words.
For one, skincare is simply smart — an attractive quality in anyone.
“Taking care of your skin does not make you less manly; it makes you clever,” Hamed said. “Healthy skin appears better, feels better and prevents bigger issues in the time ahead.”
At the end of the day, none of this is gender-specific.
“We should not think of skincare and facial care in feminine or masculine tropes,” Rossi said. “These procedures and self-care are great for all persons if they want it, and those old stereotypes are tired. You only have one face, so you should take care of it, along with your body and mind.”
How to find a spa where you’ll feel comfortable
Want to ensure the spa is prepared to meet your needs? Mathis recommended hopping on Google and searching for a licensed aesthetician who’s experienced with facial care.
After Googling, Hamed suggested asking the providers what types of facials they offer — like deep-cleaning facials for oily skin, or hydrating facials for after you shave — and if the spa carries products specifically for men.
“The more you know, the more comfortable you’ll feel,” he pointed out.
These places do exist, by the way. Mathis said many spas, including her own, offer male-specific facials. And they want to. “Spas love to welcome men into the spa environment,” Dee added.
“You don’t necessarily need a men’s-only spa, as many spas and facialists can treat all persons,” Rossi confirmed.