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Guys, getting your skincare right can be a pain in the ass, to say the least. I spent about 10 years trying to figure it out.

My journey definitely began in high school with acne, where I used over-the-counter face washes, those little circular wipes with salicylic acid in them (I don’t remember the brand), and PanOxyl in the shower, which helped a bit but not fully.

In college, it got worse. I played football, so my gross chinstrap was constantly rubbing my face, and I don’t think my newly grown beard helped either. I used Proactiv, and that was my go-to for a very long time, but eventually it stopped working.

Today, I think I’ve finally got it figured out. Here’s the routine that works for me as a 32-year-old guy with very sensitive, acne-prone skin that can range from extremely dry to pretty oily at times.

Jolie Filtered Showerhead

I think one of the biggest things that changed my skincare was the showerhead. I definitely felt a difference after getting this showerhead in my Chicago apartment. Not only did the showerhead I had before suck, but the pipes in the city are gross and the water is harsh, carrying all kinds of micro-debris from old pipes.

I know this one works for sure because when I travel and use different showers, I usually get breakouts, which I attribute to the water. First and foremost, I think this is one of the best products you can use to improve your skincare. Plus, if you have a crappy showerhead, this one is so much nicer. It has a very strong, even flow and really makes for a soothing shower.

iS Clinical Cleaning Face Wash

I finally started investing in a really premium face wash, and you can definitely feel the difference. A little bit goes a long way with this product, which is a good thing because it’s definitely not cheap.

I’ve traditionally used more affordable products like CeraVe, which was originally recommended to me by a dermatologist. It worked fine, but it’s honestly just an average product.

I like iS Clinical a lot. My girlfriend turned me on to it, and I can’t see myself going back. It feels much more pure and hydrating, lathers really well, and doesn’t leave my face feeling dry.

Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide

My first trip to the dermatologist introduced me to clindamycin. They initially gave me clindamycin wipes, which worked okay. After going back, they bumped me up to Clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide, and I honestly think this stuff is the real deal.

I apply it every morning, and you can definitely feel it doing its work. It’s strong, and if you let it sit too long without moisturizer, it will dry your face out. I usually put it on in the morning, wait a few minutes, then follow up with a moisturizer. Definitely a necessary step.

You can’t buy this over the counter, though. You need a prescription. It’s also important to note that you should not apply it and then go directly into the sun. Make sure to avoid prolonged sun exposure and always use a moisturizer or SPF if you are going to be outside for a longer period of time.

Tretinoin Cream

Tretinoin cream is another prescription product recommended by my dermatologist. This is what I use nightly after my shower. It works really well for acne, and I’ve also heard it helps reduce wrinkles, which is an added benefit. This is another product where moisturizing afterward is a must.

It dried my skin out pretty badly at first, but you get used to it fairly quickly, at least I did. At my last refill, my dermatologist also recommended increasing the strength slightly.

Van Man’s Tallow & Honey Balm

I used generic face moisturizers for the longest time and felt like they helped with moisturizing, but I also felt like they contributed to acne breakouts because they were greasy and filled with chemicals. A friend of mine, Joey Sorts, is always preaching that he only uses beef tallow on his face and nothing else. He also uses filtered water for showers, but no other products. He just eats clean and keeps things simple with minimal ingredients.

At first, I thought it sounded a little crazy to be using beef tallow, but the more I looked into it, the more I realized a lot of people actually use it. You’d think it would be really greasy, but honestly it goes on easily, soaks into your skin, and feels great while working really well.

I apply it after I shower and after using my benzoyl peroxide in the morning, and I also use it after tretinoin at night. I found Van Man on Instagram and decided to give it a shot. I love this product. It definitely moisturizes my face well, and I love that it’s completely natural.

The Facetub

Guys, I recently got into this one, and it’s been super helpful. I was experiencing a bit of a breakout after getting back from a trip. My routine was off, no filtered water, less time to take care of my skin, and I started breaking out pretty badly. The following week I tried everything and nothing was working.

I finally pulled this tool out of my bag. I had owned it for a while but never really used it much. And honestly, it worked incredibly well. I had a really bad pimple that wouldn’t go away. I eventually popped it, but the scar was pretty intense. Every time I used this, I immediately noticed it go down significantly.

I started doing it every day, 30 seconds in cold water, waited a few minutes, then another 30 seconds. It helped so much. After doing this daily, my skin cleared up in about 4 to 5 days. I’m definitely adding this into my routine consistently.

Omnilux Red Light Mask

I don’t use this red light therapy mask every day, but I started using it when I was having some skin issues, and I noticed a visible difference after a couple of weeks. I usually use it a few times a week for about 10 minutes at night on clean skin before moisturizing. It helps reduce facial marks and is also supposed to help with wrinkles. I’m working this into my routine more consistently.