Kanika Mittal
04-Jun-2026
Men, it’s time you take your skincare seriously!
Inputs by: Kanika Mittal, Founder and CEO Unbound
Skincare used to be sold as ambition, with extended rituals, luxurious experiences and idealised concepts of perfect skin. But today's lifestyle is altering that discourse fast, especially for guys living fast-paced urban lives.
Today, skin is continually subjected to challenges it was never meant to face: rising temperatures, air pollution, over-cooling inside, poor sleep cycles, stress and hours of screen time. These are no longer episodic problems. They are part of everyday life. Therefore, skincare is becoming less cosmetic and more useful.
How is Climate Change Affecting your Skin?
Longer summers and higher humidity levels are causing increased oil production, perspiration retention and discomfort. At the same time, the skin barrier is being challenged by pollution and dry indoor air, often leaving the skin parched under an oily surface. A lot of us are now dealing with skin that’s oily, sensitive and tired at the same time.
Urban lives are making the problem worse. Long trips, inconsistent schedules, gym sessions, shaving, lack of sleep, and frequent exposure to dust and heat put persistent stress on the skin. This is affecting the expectations of consumers. People are shifting away from routines that are unnecessarily difficult and take up time and effort they truly don’t have. They want things that are easy to use, practical and made for real conditions rather than trends.
Men are especially likely to take a practical approach to skincare. They don’t want ten-step regimens or items that feel staged. They want answers for particular issues, whether it’s post-shave irritation, tanning, sweat-related breakouts or dullness from pollution exposure.
The industry is starting to respond and there is a growing emphasis on lightweight formulations, barrier-supporting ingredients, hydration balance, and multifunctional products that align with simpler skincare routines. Consumers, too, are becoming more discerning, paying closer attention to ingredient transparency and formulation quality rather than relying solely on marketing jargon.
Another trend I see is a greater understanding that skin health is intimately tied to environment and lifestyle. Now stress, diet, sleep quality and weather changes visibly affect the skin faster than before. While skincare can’t make up for bad behaviours, it can help skin heal and better adapt to everyday pressures.
Why the Product you Use Matters
What matters now is not excess, but consistency and usability. A product is only valuable if it fits naturally into someone’s life. With the increasing demands of urban life and constantly shifting climate conditions, skincare is naturally becoming more practical. The future of the category lies not in excess but in intelligent simplicity — products that support skin in real-world conditions without unnecessary complication.
That is also the philosophy shaping brands like Unbound, where multifunctional formulations are designed to adapt to modern lifestyles instead of adding more steps to them. As consumers continue to prioritise efficiency, transparency and long-term skin health, the industry will increasingly move away from performative routines and toward products that quietly, consistently work.
Cover Credits: Instagram @vedangraina
