Choosing the best regimen for your nighttime skincare routine, especially for men, can be a daunting task. To begin with, we’ve often been raised by our fathers, and even our mothers to be masculine, “manly” men. And, what manly man is concerned with skincare? Well, all people should be, but the time has come for someone to step up and say it out loud. We’ve focused so much on the ladies getting the “proper” treatments, that until recently nighttime skin care for men, and even grooming products for men have seemed to be secondary thoughts among health and beauty manufacturers.

Those days, thankfully are over. We now have access to a variety of products that are especially designed for us. Healthy skin isn’t just a cosmetic issue either; keep in mind that unhealthy skin leads to issues far beyond appearance, so taking care of your skin goes far beyond vanity. Here are four steps towards creating your own nighttime skincare routine, and regaining the healthy, vibrant look that your skin had when you were younger:

Step 1: Cleanse Your Skin.

Simply put, you must keep your skin clean as a part of any skincare routine. But, while soap is good for separating contaminants from your body, it can actually dry out the skin of many men, and cause us to produce even more oil than we had before. Try a cream cleanser instead. You’ll find that your skin will be just as clean, if not cleaner and will actually feel that way, without feeling dried out, or overly greasy when you’re done.

Step 2: Tone Your Skin.

Toners and mild astringents bring balance to the acidity of your skin. Similar to soaps, many astringents are highly acidic and will cause more harm than good. Carefully choose a mild product that won’t unnecessarily dry out your skin, and you will see results nearly instantaneously.

Step 3: Moisturize Your Skin.

First of all, put down that face cream your granny or your mom used. Get a moisturizer that’s designed for men. Men’s and women’s skin are vastly different, and require different treatments. As a result, many manufacturers are catching on, and making products that are designed especially for men’s grooming needs.

Step 4: Exfoliate Your Skin.

Exfoliation isn’t an every night process. About once a week, your skin, especially your face, upper body, arms and hands, need it. Choose an exfoliant that is designed for people with skin of color. There are a wide variety of choices, from nuts such as almonds and walnuts, to scrubs made from peach pits, which accordingly are peach-scented. If you’re hesitant to use a feminine fragrance, there are products coming onto the market every day that have more masculine scents, and are designed for men’s skin care.