A 5-Minute Grooming Routine for Men Who Start Work Before Sunrise

When the alarm goes off at 4:30, nobody's doing a ten-step skin routine. But looking and feeling put-together doesn't take long, and a few basic habits protect your skin from the beating it takes on the job. This is a routine built for early shifts: about five minutes in the morning, a few more at night, and a short list of products worth keeping.

The Morning: About Five Minutes

1. Rinse or wash your face (30 seconds)

If you shower at night, a splash of lukewarm water in the morning is enough for most men. If your skin gets oily, use a gentle face wash. Skip regular bar soap on your face if it leaves your skin tight and dry.

2. Shave or trim (2 to 3 minutes)

If you shave, do it after a shower or after holding a warm, wet washcloth on your face for a minute. Warm water softens the hair. Use a sharp blade, go with the grain to cut down on razor bumps and irritation, and rinse with cool water. A dull blade causes more nicks and irritation than anything else, so change it often.

If you keep a beard, a quick trim of the neckline and anything around the mouth keeps it looking intentional. Our guide to beard care on the job covers the rest.

3. Moisturize with sunscreen (30 seconds)

If you work outside, this is the step that matters most. A face moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher handles two jobs at once. Rub it into your face, ears and the back of your neck. Those are the spots that take the most sun. Our guide to sunscreen for outdoor workers explains how to make it last through a sweaty day.

4. Lip balm (10 seconds)

Wind, sun and cold dry out lips fast. A lip balm with SPF in your pocket takes care of it.

The Evening: A Few Minutes

Wash off the day

Dust, sweat, grease and sunscreen sitting on your skin overnight can clog pores and irritate skin. A shower or a quick face wash after work takes care of it. Wash your hands and forearms well if you've been around chemicals or cement.

Antiperspirant at night

This sounds backward, but antiperspirant generally works best applied at night to dry skin. Your sweat glands are less active while you sleep, so the active ingredient has time to work. It keeps working the next day, even after a morning shower. If you only need odor control, a deodorant in the morning is fine.

Hands and feet

Put a thick cream on your hands before bed, especially in winter. If your hands are already cracked, follow our guide to fixing cracked hands. Check your feet while you're at it.

The Short Kit

You don't need a cabinet full of products. These cover almost everything:

Fragrance-free versions are a safe choice if your skin is sensitive or gets irritated easily.

What You Can Skip

• Expensive face creams. Basic drugstore moisturizers work fine for most men.
• Harsh scrubs. They can irritate skin that's already taking a beating at work.
• Aftershave with a lot of alcohol, which stings and dries skin out. A moisturizer does the job better.
• Strong cologne on the job. In tight spaces, a little goes a long way, and coworkers will thank you.

Adjusting for Your Job

The basic routine works for most men, but a few tweaks help depending on the work you do:

• Outdoor work: sunscreen is non-negotiable, and a stick sunscreen in your pocket makes reapplying at lunch easy.
• Dusty or dirty jobs: wash your face and hands as soon as you're done for the day, not just at bedtime, so grime isn't sitting on your skin for hours.
• Hot, sweaty work: a lighter, gel moisturizer feels better than a heavy cream, and a rinse at lunch helps prevent breakouts under a hard hat strap or respirator.
• Cold weather: switch to a thicker moisturizer and keep lip balm and hand cream within reach. Wind and cold dry skin out fast.
• Jobs with chemicals or wet cement: wash exposed skin promptly and moisturize afterward. Gloves do most of the protecting.

Make It Stick

The best routine is the one you'll actually do at 4:30 in the morning. Keep everything in one spot, in the order you use it. Put a hand cream and lip balm in the truck. Once it's habit, it takes no thought at all.

If something on your skin changes, like a mole that grows, changes color or bleeds, or a rash that won't go away, get it checked by a doctor. Find more practical guides on our guides page.