For years, a bar of soap and some SPF on a good day was the extent of most men's skincare routines. As self-care has shed its stigma and wellness has become part of everyday life, men have begun paying real attention to their skin, and the results speak for themselves. The question is no longer if men should have a skincare routine, but what that routine should actually look like.
“The biggest hurdle with men is usually just getting them to think about skincare in the first place,” says Christopher Panzica, Licensed Esthetician and SVP of Marketing and Product Development at Hydrinity. “For a long time, it simply was not part of the conversation. That is definitely changing; more men are starting to see the value, they just do not want it to feel complicated or time-consuming.”
With a decade in aesthetics and a background in Fortune 500 marketing, Chris brings a rare dual perspective to skincare. As a licensed esthetician, he founded and ran two successful med spas in Brentwood and Franklin before moving to the brand side, where he's helped scale one of the fastest-growing professional skincare companies in the US to more than 4,500 practices across 40+ countries. His work spans marketing, product development, and creating award-winning clinical formulas, but what sets him apart is simple: he's been in the treatment room and behind the brand, and he knows what actually works for skin.
Growing up, Chris says he always struggled with his skin. Dealing with it firsthand made him deadset on finding a solution, allowing that trial-and-error phase to give him an appreciation for both the science and emotional side of skincare.
“Over time, that personal frustration turned into curiosity,” Chris says. “I started paying closer attention to ingredients, formulations, and why certain products worked better than others. It became less about just fixing my own skin and more about understanding how to approach skin health in a smarter, more effective way. That mindset is really what pushed me toward aesthetics. When I had the opportunity to step into aesthetics professionally, it felt like a natural extension of that journey. I was excited to combine what I had learned personally with the innovation happening in skincare to help others navigate the same challenges. There is something really rewarding about simplifying the process for people and helping them feel more confident in their own skin.”
“A lot of times, the men assume it must be complicated because they see an eight-step routine from a significant other or a friend and think that is what it takes to get results,” Chris says. “That perception alone can be enough to keep them from even starting. They do not realize that a little effort, done consistently and with the right products, can go a very long way. Once I show them that they can get real results with just a few targeted products, it starts to click. When they realize it can be simple, efficient, and make a noticeable difference, that is when they buy in. It becomes less of a chore and more of a smart, low-effort habit that fits into their daily routine.”
Now, he channels that experience into helping others navigate the same process. Through his work at Hydrinity, Chris has focused on developing advanced, results-driven formulas built around simplicity, because simplicity, for most men, is the biggest barrier to starting a skincare routine: time, cost, and confusion. The goal, he says, has always been to remove those obstacles and make effective skin health feel achievable while seamlessly blending into an everyday lifestyle.
For a simple but effective routine, Chris recommends a quality cleanser, a vitamin C, a good moisturizer, and a daily SPF to help protect against environmental stressors, support hydration, and prevent premature aging. For those wanting to take it a step further, adding a retinoid product can help improve skin texture, tone, and overall appearance, and Chris notes that consistency is key rather than complexity.
As for professional treatments for men, there’s been a shift where treatments such as injectables, both toxin and filler, have become much more normalized alongside other treatments such as lasers, chemical peels, and microneedling. These options can deliver meaningful results without looking overdone.
“Most men do not really pay attention to their skin until they start to see visible signs of aging,” Chris says. “That is usually the trigger. Things like fine lines around the eyes, forehead wrinkles, loss of firmness, or an overall dullness and uneven texture are the things that get their attention. There is often a realization of waking up one day, looking in the mirror, and wondering, “when did this happen?” It can feel like it showed up overnight. In reality, it has been building over time, but that first noticeable shift is what brings them in. It is less about perfection and more about wanting to look like a more refreshed version of themselves.”
Outside of skincare, self-care habits play a bigger role in how your skin looks and ages than most people realize. Sun exposure, hydration, diet, and sleep are all major factors, and while they may seem small day to day, they compound significantly over time. Unprotected sun exposure, excess sugar, and alcohol can accelerate aging and drive inflammation, while drinking enough water and eating with your skin in mind can make a visible difference. Above all, Chris points to sleep as the most underrated habit of all. Poor sleep raises cortisol levels, increases inflammation, and speeds up visible aging, while quality rest is when the skin does most of its repair, with research suggesting it can regenerate up to 60 percent faster overnight. “Sleep is one of those habits where the impact goes even far beyond skin and appearance, it improves how you feel, how you perform, and how you show up day to day,” Chris points out.
At the end of the day, great skin is not about vanity; it is about showing up as the best version of yourself. Whether it starts with swapping out your body wash for a real cleanser or finally booking that appointment you have been putting off, the bar for entry is lower than most men think. As Chris puts it, a little effort, done consistently, goes a long way. The hardest part is simply getting started.
@themalesthetician
"There is something really rewarding about simplifying the process for people and helping them feel more confident in their own skin.”