Hi, I’m Bob Gearing or, as my buddies like to call me, “Beauty Bob.” By day, I’m a well-SPF’d tech sales bro; by night, I’m a red-light mask guy who definitely didn’t think he’d care this much about skincare. Every month, I’ll be coming at ya with a real-guy perspective on beauty and grooming because, uh, nobody really taught us about this stuff. Questions? Hit me up @beautybob.
THESE DAYS, MY DMs look a lot different than they did a decade ago. Instead of memes and sneaker drops, when I check my messages between rounds of golf or chasing my 19-month-old around the house, I’m getting stuff like this:
“What eye cream do you recommend?”
“My face got torched at golf—what sunscreen do you rec that won’t sweat off?”
“Have you ever gotten botox?”
If you knew me back then, this would be pretty comical. Up until I turned 30, my idea of a skincare routine was mostly raiding the top of my then-girlfriend’s dresser and hoping for the best. Around that time (likely in an attempt to stop me from wasting her products), she introduced me to Birchbox Man, a monthly subscription box of grooming products. I would have never paid full price to try all of these up-and-coming brands, so their sampling was perfect for me.
From there, things escalated and I became obsessed with more legacy brands: First it was Kiehl’s, then Jack Black. The next thing you know, I’m standing in this architectural wooden boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, called Aesop. I went in looking for some moisturizer and walked out with $400 worth of products. Maybe I’m a sucker for a convincing salesperson, but since then I’ve remained a convert of good skincare for the same reasons I’m happy I finally upgraded from Hanes T-shirts to Buck Mason: real quality makes a difference. Investing in great products makes my sensitive skin better—less dry, less red, and almost never sweaty. These are massive wins, and will keep me looking fresh in the future.
Hi, it’s me.
Look, I never thought I’d be here. I’m a husky 42-year-old, new-ish dad who rocks a Tom Selleck ‘stache and spends way too much time analyzing my putting stroke. But somehow I’ve also become that guy who has a four-step skincare routine and gets random DMs asking for product recs. So many, in fact, that I started a separate Instagram account—partly as a joke, partly because guys are clearly looking for someone to talk to about this stuff—that I named Beauty Bob.
The truth is we all want to take care of ourselves. I know so many dudes who drop plenty of cash on a monthly AG1 subscription, but still use a 3-in-1 body wash from Costco to wash their hair/body/face (no shade to Costco–they’ve got great groceries). I know other dudes who have spent more days sitting in a cold plunge than rubbing SPF onto their face all year. But if you care about what’s going inside your body, you should equally care about what you’re putting on your skin (a.k.a. the largest organ in your body). That’s where I come in. If you’re ready to level up your grooming game with a straight-shooter who will cut through the bullshit, I got you. This month, we’ll start off with the basics you’ll need to build a skincare routine that will make your old splash-and-go routine look like amateur hour.
The Absolute Level-Up Basics
I’ve tried a lot of lotions, potions, and elixirs in recent years, but I’ve narrowed down my basic morning skincare routine to three daily products after washing my face. I jokingly call this my Beauty Bob “2-Minute Drill,” a la ESPN’s Chris Berman back in the day, but I swear I can do it in 60 seconds as well.
Step 1: Wash Your Face
I can’t believe I have to say this, but please just do it, like Nike. And don’t do it with that bar of Irish Spring, either! You don’t want your face feeling stripped down and dry. Look for cleansers that are cream-based with gentle formulas that contain hydrating ingredients.
Step 2: Apply a Hydrating Serum
If there’s one type of product I’m seeing more and more questions about, it’s serums. I personally prefer using them instead of moisturizer because you can find formulas with moisturizing capabilities already built in, which cuts that step completely. Think of serums as the concentrated version of your skincare—like cold brew versus regular coffee. They pack more active ingredients, including antioxidants that protect your skin from free radicals (the bad stuff from the sun), and get deeper into your skin than your regular moisturizer ever could. And they literally feel like nothing once they’ve dried.
Fun fact: You’ll want to layer on your products from lightest to heaviest in terms of thickness.
You’re going to see a lot of serums on the market, but I make sure to buy serums that include hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane. Also, if you tend to get pimples, look for the word “non-comedogenic,” which means it’s not supposed to clog your pores. Application couldn’t be simpler: just a few drops into your hands, gently pressed into clean skin—cya.
Step 3: Apply Under Eye Product
I’ve learned that the skin under your eyes is basically tissue paper compared to the rest of your face. It’s also my biggest problem area, so it gets more attention from me. The right product can de-puff eye bags, brighten up dark circles, eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, and hydrate and firm up the skin so you look more like “I’ve got my shit together” and less like “I need a vacation.” When you start getting compliments about looking “well-rested” and “awake” (a huge compliment when your toddler is up at 5:30 a.m.), you’ll get why these 20 seconds in your morning routine matter.
I tend to gravitate towards eye serums, but you can also use an eye cream. In terms of application, you wouldn’t walk onto the first hole with your boys without pounding a few drives or hitting a few wedges on the range, right? So follow my lead. I apply it lightly either with the roller ball or by dabbing it under my eyes with my ring fingers.
Step 4: Protect That Face With SPF
I know sunscreen feels like yet another step, especially when you’re rushing to make your 7 a.m. tee time. But here’s the thing: Sunscreen is the best anti-aging product out there, period. Whether you’re crushing a morning run, stuck in traffic on the way to work, or chasing your kid around the playground, those UV rays are coming for you. I look for something that won’t make me more sweaty or feel heavy or greasy. Also, it needs to rub clearly into my beard and stache, which makes me really (really!) picky about mineral sunscreens. I prefer brands with SPF 50+ (bare minimum is 30, but grow up and go for the gold) that includes a moisturizer, especially during dryer winter months for added hydration.
What About at Night?
If you’re an overachiever like me, you’re probably thinking, what about nighttime? The answer: retinol. It’s one of the few ingredients actually proven to change your skin, thanks to its ability to speed up the cell turnover process, which can help unclog pores and make your skin feel smoother. I stick to using it two to three times per week because trust me, more isn’t better. Overdo it, and your skin’s gonna let you know. On the nights I’m using retinol, I like to keep my routine simple: wash my face, lightly dab on retinol, and apply a moisturizer or night cream to avoid any dry, flaky skin that typically comes with using the retinol. If you don’t want to use retinol, stick to cleansing and moisturizing.
Master this quick routine, and I promise you’ll notice a difference in how you look and feel. You’re welcome to blame me when you find yourself in Aesop dropping four bills on parsley seed products. Consider yourself warned. LFG! 🚀
