Psychology says men who don’t use face wash or moisturiser may value simplicity more than self-care rituals

A man who washes his face with whatever soap is available, skips moisturiser completely and has never understood why anyone needs a separate face cream may seem uninterested in grooming. But psychology suggests that the behaviour can be more complicated than simple laziness. People's grooming routines are influenced by habits, identity, social expectations, perceived usefulness and the amount of effort they believe a behaviour deserves. Research into men's grooming has found that attitudes toward masculinity, self-image and perceptions of skincare can influence whether men engage with skincare products.

Psychology Says Skincare Can Feel Like An Unnecessary Ritual

One reason some men avoid face wash and moisturiser is instrumental thinking: they may evaluate a product primarily according to whether they can immediately see a practical benefit.

If a man thinks, “My skin is fine, so why do I need a cream?” he may not be rejecting self-care itself. He may simply have a high threshold for adopting routines that appear unnecessary.



This is where Self-Determination Theory, developed by psychologists Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, becomes useful. The theory proposes that people are more likely to sustain behaviours when they experience autonomy, competence and personal value rather than feeling externally pressured to perform them.

So a man who independently decides that sunscreen prevents sun damage may use it consistently, while resisting a 10-step skincare routine because he sees it as imposed rather than personally meaningful.

Masculinity Can Shape Attitudes Towards Men's Skincare

Social expectations can also influence grooming. Research on male grooming has found that some men negotiate skincare through ideas about what is considered appropriately masculine. A study of men's grooming in New Zealand found that participants developed informal rules about which grooming products felt acceptable, including their function, quantity and presentation.

This relates to gender-role socialisation, in which people learn behaviours and expectations associated with socially defined gender roles.

For some men, products associated with beauty or appearance may have historically been coded as feminine. As a result, using several facial products may feel unnecessary, overly appearance-focused or inconsistent with the identity they have learned to associate with masculinity.

That does not mean every man who avoids moisturiser has “toxic masculinity.” It simply means cultural ideas about masculinity can become one factor in grooming decisions.

Habit Psychology Explains Why Men May Keep Skipping Skincare

Another explanation is surprisingly simple: habit. Psychologist Wendy Wood's research shows that habits develop when behaviours are repeatedly performed in stable contexts. Eventually, environmental cues can trigger familiar behaviours automatically, making alternatives less likely to occur.

Imagine someone who has spent 20 years waking up, brushing his teeth, showering and leaving home without applying anything to his face. His brain has essentially learned that this sequence is complete.

Adding face wash or moisturiser introduces another decision and another action. That is why someone may genuinely intend to start skincare but repeatedly forget. The absence of the behaviour itself has become habitual.

Some Men May Simply Prefer Low-Maintenance Grooming

There is also a personality and lifestyle dimension. Some people naturally prefer minimalism and behavioural efficiency. They want routines that require little time, few products and minimal decision-making. Skincare can therefore compete with an individual's preference for convenience.

This does not necessarily indicate poor self-esteem or a lack of concern about appearance. In fact, research on men's grooming shows that grooming behaviour varies according to factors including appearance concerns, social influences and personal attitudes.

A man might spend considerable time choosing clothes, maintaining his beard or exercising while having almost no interest in skincare. Grooming is not a single psychological trait; people can care intensely about one aspect of appearance and ignore another.

Why “My Skin Is Fine” Can Be A Powerful Belief

Perceived need matters. If someone has never experienced dry skin, irritation or another obvious problem, moisturiser may seem like a solution to a problem he does not believe he has.


This is partly consistent with the Theory of Planned Behavior, developed by psychologist Icek Ajzen. The theory proposes that behaviour is influenced by attitudes, perceived social expectations and perceived control over the behaviour.

In practical terms, a man who believes skincare is unnecessary, does not think people important to him expect it and feels no urgency to change may have little motivation to develop the habit. That does not mean his belief is medically correct. Psychological motivation and dermatological need are different questions.

Skipping Skincare Does Not Automatically Mean Someone Is Careless

It is tempting to interpret a man's refusal to use moisturiser as evidence that he is careless, lazy or unconcerned about his appearance. Psychology does not justify such a conclusion.

Men's skin has genuine skincare needs, and dermatological research notes the importance of appropriate cleansing, moisturisation and sun protection. At the same time, a person's product preferences cannot diagnose their personality.

For one man, skincare may feel like an enjoyable self-care ritual. For another, it may feel like an unnecessary chore. A third may avoid it because of cultural ideas about masculinity, while someone else may simply have never formed the habit.

The interesting psychological point is that the same behaviour doing nothing to the skin, can emerge from completely different motivations.

FAQs

Why do some men dislike using face wash or moisturiser?

They may perceive skincare as unnecessary, prefer low-maintenance routines, lack the habit, dislike the sensation of products or have absorbed cultural ideas about masculinity and grooming. Research suggests men's skincare decisions are influenced by several psychological and social factors rather than one universal cause.

Does avoiding skincare mean a man is lazy?

Not necessarily. Habit formation, convenience preferences and perceived usefulness can all influence grooming behaviour. Someone can be highly disciplined in other areas while simply not considering skincare important.