As someone who once found skincare overwhelming, Amulya, realized that simplicity is key. With the help of a friend he committed to a basic routine—cleanse, moisturize, and protect and ever since he has seen his skin transform with no marks and oil-free texture. With little help he understood that consistency can enable a a holistic skin health which can make all the difference.

It's never too late to establish the best skincare routine for men or refine the one you already have. Developing a skincare routine is an investment in both your health and self-confidence. However, many men find the idea of skincare overwhelming, akin to a treasure hunt without a clear map.

But the secret to great skin isn’t elusive—it’s a daily practice, much like regular exercise or eating well. Think of skincare as another essential aspect of your overall health.

This guide aims to help you discover the best skincare routine by explaining the essential steps and the key ingredients you need to look for. Whether you're just getting started or refining your routine, these insights will set you on the right track.

Start with the Basics: Cleanse, Moisturize, Protect

Every men's skincare routine should consist of three essential steps: cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting. While the products may differ based on your skin type, these steps are universally important. You don’t need a cabinet full of expensive products—what matters most is choosing the right ones for your skin and using them consistently.

Identify Your Skin Type

Before diving into a skincare routine, it’s essential to understand your skin type. This helps you avoid using the wrong products, which could irritate or worsen your skin condition.

How to Determine Your Skin Type at Home?

1. Wash your face to remove any products or oils.

2. Wait for 30 minutes, allowing your skin to return to its natural state.

3. Observe your skin:

- If it feels tight or flaky, you have dry skin.

- If it appears shiny, you likely have oily skin.

- If it's red or irritated, your skin might be sensitive.

- If you notice both oily and dry areas, you have combination skin.

Once you’ve identified your skin type, you can structure your routine to meet its specific needs.

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing is the first and most critical step of any skincare routine. Whether it's morning or night, a good cleanser removes sweat, bacteria, and other products from the skin. This process ensures that subsequent skincare products penetrate effectively, maximizing their benefits.

Recommended Cleansers by Skin Type:

- Oily skin: Opt for a deep pore-cleansing face wash with active charcoal. This helps remove excess oil and impurities.

- Dry skin: Choose a gentle cleanser with hydrating ingredients like vitamin E, squalane, and other repairing agents. These will cleanse without stripping your skin of necessary moisture.

Consistent cleansing, morning and night, is key to maintaining a clean and healthy complexion.

Step 2: Moisturize

Moisturizing is the next critical step, no matter your skin type. Both our skincare experts recommend applying a moisturizer twice a day to keep your skin hydrated and nourished. This step ensures that your skin remains supple and protected against environmental stressors.

Why Moisturizing Matters?

- For dry skin, a rich, hydrating formula can provide much-needed moisture.

- For oily skin, a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer prevents overproduction of oil by keeping the skin hydrated.

Consistency is key here. Using a moisturizer every morning and evening will ensure your skin stays hydrated and healthy over time.

Step 3: Protect

The final step in any skincare routine is protection. An SPF product is essential to shield your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays, which can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer. This is a crucial step year-round, regardless of the weather.

Tips for Choosing the Right SPF:

- Look for a dedicated face sunscreen, rather than relying on moisturizers with SPF. Dermatologists recommend a light, non-greasy, fragrance-free SPF designed specifically for the face. The best SPF for daily use is one that leaves no residue and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin.

Using SPF daily is one of the most powerful ways to prevent skin damage and aging, making it an essential part of your routine.

Just focus on these three fundamental steps, you’ll be ahead of most men when it comes to skincare. As you become more comfortable with your routine, you can introduce additional products like serums or exfoliants.

Additional Tips for a Healthy Complexion

Exfoliation, while not an everyday step, exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and keeps your skin smooth. Use an exfoliant once or twice a week, depending on your skin type. For oily skin, a product containing salicylic acid can help prevent clogged pores. For dry skin, look for gentle exfoliants that won’t cause irritation.

Hydration, in addition to applying a moisturizer, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. Dehydrated skin often looks dull and is more prone to irritation.

Consistency is key, whatever routine you decide to follow, the most important aspect of skincare is consistency. Regularly cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin will lead to visible results over time. There’s no magic product that works overnight—it’s about committing to daily care.

Skincare doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive to be effective. Focus on the basics—cleanse, moisturize, and protect and you can create a routine that fits seamlessly into your daily life. Investing in your skin is an investment in your health and confidence, and it’s never too late to start.

It’s déjà vu Braves fans didn’t ask for. Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta’s powerhouse baseball outfielder and reigning National League MVP, has hit the injured list again, this time with tightness in his right Achilles tendon. Just months after returning from a torn ACL in his left knee, Acuña pulled up sore after sprinting the bases and later chasing a fly ball, exiting Tuesday’s game against the Royals mid-inning.

But what does Achilles tendon tightness actually mean, and why does it freak out athletes and sports doctors alike?

The Achilles tendon, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is the thick band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. It is the biggest and strongest tendon in the human body. But it can bring even the fittest athletes to their knees.

It helps you run, jump, pivot and push off the ground, basically every move an outfielder like Acuña makes in a single play. When it is tight, inflamed or partially torn, that springy propulsion becomes painful and unstable. Cue the limping, grimacing and, in some cases, weeks on the injured list.

Why Achilles Pain Is a Red Flag

In Acuña’s case, the discomfort reportedly began the night before while sprinting around the bases and got worse chasing fly balls. That is a classic setup: high-intensity bursts, sudden stops, and quick direction changes, all high-risk moves for the Achilles.

If ignored, tightness can escalate to tendonitis (inflammation), partial tears, or the dreaded rupture, which is basically the tendon snapping in two. That is a season-ending injury, often requiring surgery and months of rehab.

When the Body Says No

But ignoring Achilles issues can backfire in the worst way. What starts as tightness today could be crutches tomorrow. The tendon does not heal fast, and re-injury is a very real risk if recovery is rushed.

The Game Plan for Recovery

Recovery is not just about waiting for the pain to stop; it is about rebuilding strength, restoring flexibility, and ensuring both legs are balanced and strong.

Why This Matters for Everyone Who Plays

Stretch regularly, warm up before activity, avoid sudden ramp-ups in intensity, and listen to your body. And if the pain lingers or worsens, see a specialist. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Achilles flare-up might just be tightness, but it is the kind of tightness that turns trainers serious and fans anxious. It’s also a timely reminder that this tendon is small but mighty, and when it acts up, rest is not optional. Whether you are chasing fly balls or your morning run goal, treat your heels with the caution they deserve.

A recent tragic shooting in Midtown Manhattan has pulled an obscure but alarming brain disease back into the headlines. The shooter reportedly left behind a suicide note claiming he suffered from CTE, short for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition linked to repeated head trauma. As shocking as the incident was, it has opened up a floodgate of questions: What exactly is CTE? Can it really make someone act out violently? And how can we even know if someone had it?

What Exactly Is CTE?

The Symptoms

It is the sort of change that can feel like a personality transplant. Loved ones often report seeing someone “become a different person” over time.

Not Just a Pro Athlete Problem

Back to the Manhattan case. While the shooter’s note mentioned CTE, we still do not know whether he actually had it, let alone whether it influenced his behaviour. This brings up messy territory: should possible brain disease be considered in criminal responsibility? Can CTE be a mitigating factor in violent crime?

It is a grey zone. And until we develop reliable tools to diagnose CTE in the living, we are mostly left guessing.

What Can We Do?

• Rethinking how we approach youth and professional sports
• Reducing repeated head trauma wherever possible
• Keeping an eye out for changes in behaviour following head injuries

Hepatitis is not nicknamed the “silent killer” for nothing. What makes it so dangerous is how symptomless it often is for years. It can quietly chip away at your liver without so much as a warning sign. By the time symptoms like fatigue, jaundice, or abdominal pain appear, significant harm may already have occurred. This eerie silence allows hepatitis to go undetected until it has done some serious damage.

Just Because You Cannot Hear It Does Not Mean It Is Not There

Dr Vikram Vora says that hepatitis is a major global health threat, killing over a million people each year. What is even more tragic? These deaths are, in his words, “largely preventable”. The villains in this tale, cirrhosis and liver cancer, often stem from untreated or undiagnosed hepatitis infections.

Prevention Helps

“The cornerstone of hepatitis control is prevention,” Dr Vora says. And the good news is that you have got some powerful tools at your disposal. “Vaccination, especially against Hepatitis B, is one of the most effective tools available,” he says, adding that infants, healthcare workers, and at-risk adults should be prioritised. Other prevention measures include safe injection practices, steering clear of needle-sharing, and ensuring blood transfusions are properly screened.

But danger often hides in plain sight. Dr Vora warns that something as seemingly harmless as getting a tattoo or piercing can carry lifelong consequences if done in an unregulated facility. His advice? “Choosing safe, licensed establishments is non-negotiable.”

Why You Should Not Wait for Symptoms

If there is one thing hepatitis is good at, it is staying undetected. That is why Dr Vora champions regular screening, especially if you have had medical procedures, blood transfusions, or close contact with someone infected. “Early diagnosis is a game-changer,” he says. Caught in time, hepatitis can be treated effectively, helping patients avoid severe liver disease or even make a full recovery.

A Diagnosis Is Not a Death Sentence

Dr Vora offers hope to those living with hepatitis. “With proper medical care and lifestyle adjustments, a healthy life is achievable,” he insists. That means ditching alcohol, sticking to a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and closely following medical advice. He also points out the mental and emotional toll a diagnosis can take. “Support from family, community, and healthcare providers can make a significant difference in outcomes.”

The Stigma That Silences

Perhaps just as damaging as the virus itself is the social stigma surrounding it. Dr Vora identifies this as a major hurdle in tackling hepatitis. “Fear of social exclusion keeps many from seeking help,” he explains. And that delay can cost lives. According to him, building a culture of empathy and understanding is critical. He encourages public health campaigns, education, and open dialogue as essential tools to dismantle this stigma.

Make Noise Against the Silence

In Dr Vora’s words, “Hepatitis may be silent, but it is not invincible.” Every little step, whether it is getting vaccinated, getting screened, or just talking about it, can chip away at the power hepatitis holds. Silence has cost too many lives already. Awareness can save them.