Key Takeaways
- Colorado’s altitude hits your skin harder than you think. At 5,280 feet and above, you’re dealing with 25% more UV exposure and humidity levels that make the Sahara look lush.
- A solid routine takes 5 minutes, not 50. Morning and evening, no complicated 12-step rituals required.
- Men’s skin is genuinely different. Thicker, oilier, and constantly under assault from shaving — it needs its own approach.
- Your beard is suffering too. Dry altitude air turns facial hair brittle and the skin underneath into a flaky mess.
- "Soap and water" is not a skincare routine. It’s a fast track to looking 10 years older than you are.
Why Colorado Is Quietly Destroying Your Skin
You moved to Colorado for the mountains, the lifestyle, the 300 days of sunshine. What nobody mentioned is that those same things are waging war on your face.
Here’s the deal: Denver sits at 5,280 feet. The ski towns you hit on weekends? 9,000 to 11,000 feet. At those elevations, the atmosphere is thinner, which means UV radiation is significantly stronger — roughly 25% more intense than at sea level. That’s not marketing hype. That’s physics.
Then there’s the humidity problem. Colorado’s average relative humidity hovers around 30-40%, and in winter it drops into the teens. For context, dermatologists consider anything below 30% to be "dry enough to cause skin damage." Your skin is literally losing moisture faster than it can replace it.
Add in wind exposure from hiking, biking, and skiing, and you’ve got a perfect storm for premature aging, cracked skin, and a beard that feels like steel wool.
Men’s Skin: Why the "Tough It Out" Approach Fails
Let’s address the elephant in the room. A lot of guys think skincare is optional — something for other people. Here’s why that logic falls apart, especially in Colorado.
Your Skin Is Different (Not Tougher)
Men’s skin is about 25% thicker than women’s, produces roughly twice as much sebum (oil), and has a higher collagen density. Sounds like an advantage, right? It is — until you ignore it. That extra oil production means clogged pores and breakouts when you don’t cleanse properly. And while the collagen density delays visible aging, when it finally hits, it hits hard and fast. Men don’t get gradual fine lines. They get deep creases seemingly overnight.
Shaving Is Controlled Damage
Every time you drag a razor across your face, you’re removing the top layer of skin cells along with the hair. That’s exfoliation — aggressive exfoliation. In Colorado’s dry air, that freshly exposed skin loses moisture rapidly, leading to razor burn, irritation, and that tight, uncomfortable feeling that lasts all day. If you’re shaving without proper prep and aftercare, you’re essentially giving yourself a minor skin injury three to five times a week.
Your Beard Needs Help Too
Growing a beard doesn’t get you off the hook. Colorado’s low humidity dries out facial hair and the skin beneath it. The result? Beard itch, flaking, and hair that looks dull and feels coarse. The skin under your beard doesn’t stop needing moisture just because it’s covered. If anything, it needs more attention because it’s harder to reach.
The 5-Minute Morning Routine
No one’s asking you to spend half an hour in the bathroom. This takes less time than brewing your coffee.
Step 1: Cleanser (60 seconds)
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser — not the bar soap you use on your body, not your shampoo, an actual facial cleanser. Bar soap strips your skin’s natural oils, which triggers your face to produce even more oil to compensate. That’s how you end up with skin that’s simultaneously dry and greasy.
Step 2: Hydrating Serum (30 seconds)
While your skin is still slightly damp, apply a hydrating serum. Hyaluronic acid is the gold standard here — it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water and pulls moisture into your skin. In Colorado’s dry climate, this step is non-negotiable. Ayonne’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum is formulated to deliver deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy — exactly what you need before heading out into Denver’s dry air.
Step 3: Moisturizer with SPF (60 seconds)
Lock that hydration in with a moisturizer. During the day, use one with at least SPF 30. Remember, you’re getting 25% more UV up here. Skin cancer rates in Colorado are among the highest in the nation, and UV damage is the number one cause of premature aging. This isn’t vanity — it’s basic health maintenance. Check out our moisturizer guide for specific recommendations that hold up at altitude.
Step 4: Beard Care (90 seconds)
If you’ve got facial hair, work a few drops of beard oil through your beard and into the skin underneath. This keeps the hair soft, reduces itch, and prevents the flaking that Colorado’s dry air loves to cause. Ayonne’s Beard Oils come in three scents and are designed to condition both the hair and the skin beneath — no greasy residue, no perfume-counter smell. Just healthy facial hair that doesn’t look like it belongs on a neglected broom.
The Evening Routine (Even Faster)
Your evening routine is about repair and recovery. After a day of UV exposure, wind, and whatever else Colorado threw at you, give your skin what it needs to rebuild overnight.
Step 1: Cleanse (60 seconds)
Wash off the day. Sunscreen, sweat, dirt, pollution — all of it needs to come off before you sleep. Same gentle cleanser as the morning.
Step 2: Treatment Serum (30 seconds)
Evening is the time for active ingredients. Your Hyaluronic Acid Serum works here too, giving your skin a moisture boost that it can absorb overnight without competing with sunscreen or environmental stressors.
Step 3: Night Moisturizer (30 seconds)
Use a slightly heavier moisturizer at night. Your skin does most of its repair work while you sleep, and in Colorado’s dry air — especially in winter when your heater is running — it needs all the help it can get.
Total evening time: about two minutes. You spend longer scrolling your phone in bed.
Shaving in the High Desert: Do It Right or Pay for It
If you’re a clean-shaven guy in Colorado, your shaving routine matters more than it would at sea level. The dry air means your skin has less natural protection against the micro-trauma of shaving.
Pre-shave: Wash your face with warm water first. This softens the hair and opens pores, reducing the force needed to cut through stubble. Less force means less irritation.
During the shave: Use a quality shaving gel — not foam from a pressurized can, which is mostly air and chemical propellants. Ayonne’s Shaving Gel creates a protective barrier between the blade and your skin, allowing the razor to glide rather than drag. The difference in post-shave comfort is immediate and obvious.
Post-shave: Skip the alcohol-based aftershave. In Colorado’s climate, alcohol on freshly shaved skin is essentially pouring a desiccant on an open wound. Use your hydrating serum and moisturizer instead.
Myth-Busting: The Stuff You’ve Been Told That’s Wrong
"Real Men Don’t Moisturize"
Real men also used to smoke unfiltered cigarettes and think seat belts were optional. Taking care of your skin isn’t about vanity — it’s about maintenance. You change your car’s oil. You maintain your gear. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and the first thing people see. Neglecting it isn’t tough. It’s just negligent.
"Soap Is Enough"
Bar soap has a pH of around 9-10. Your skin’s natural pH is around 5.5. Every time you wash your face with bar soap, you’re disrupting your skin’s acid mantle — its natural defense barrier. In Colorado’s already harsh environment, that’s like removing your jacket in a blizzard because "you’re tough enough."
"I Don’t Need Sunscreen, I Don’t Burn"
UV damage is cumulative and largely invisible until it’s not. You might not burn easily, but that doesn’t mean the UV isn’t breaking down your collagen, creating dark spots, and increasing your skin cancer risk. At Colorado’s altitude, this is especially dangerous. Wear SPF daily. Period.
"Skincare Products Are All the Same"
Would you put diesel in a gasoline engine because "fuel is fuel"? Products formulated for Colorado’s specific challenges — intense UV, low humidity, temperature swings — perform fundamentally differently than generic drugstore options. Climate-specific skincare isn’t a luxury. It’s common sense. If you’re also dealing with breakouts, our acne solutions guide breaks down what actually works without making things worse.
Seasonal Adjustments for Colorado
Winter (The Worst Season for Your Skin)
Indoor heating, sub-zero wind chill, and humidity that drops to single digits. Layer your hydration: serum first, then a heavier moisturizer. Consider a humidifier in your bedroom. Apply beard oil more generously — your facial hair is getting hit from all sides.
Summer (UV Overdrive)
You’re closer to the sun. You’re outside more. Reapply sunscreen every two hours if you’re active outdoors. Switch to a lighter moisturizer but don’t skip the hyaluronic acid serum — summer sun dehydrates just as aggressively as winter wind.
Shoulder Seasons (Spring and Fall)
Colorado’s spring and fall bring wild temperature swings — 30°F in the morning, 70°F by afternoon. Your skin doesn’t know what’s happening. Stick with your core routine and adjust moisturizer weight based on what the day looks like.
The Bottom Line
Living in Colorado is incredible. But the same altitude, sun, and dry air that make this state beautiful are actively working against your skin. The good news? Fighting back takes about five minutes in the morning and two minutes at night. That’s less time than your commute, less time than one beer on the patio, and significantly less time than explaining to a dermatologist why you never wore sunscreen at 5,280 feet.
You don’t need a complicated routine. You need the right products, used consistently, in the right order. Cleanse, hydrate, protect. That’s it. Your future self — the one who still looks good at 50 instead of looking 50 at 35 — will thank you.
How is men’s skincare different from women’s skincare?
Men’s skin is approximately 25% thicker, produces more oil, and has higher collagen density. Men also deal with unique challenges like shaving irritation and beard maintenance. These differences mean men benefit from products and routines designed for their skin’s specific characteristics — particularly in harsh climates like Colorado’s where the margin for error is smaller.
Why does my skin feel so dry in Denver even when I drink plenty of water?
Drinking water hydrates your body from the inside, but it doesn’t directly moisturize your skin’s outer layers. Denver’s low humidity (often below 20% in winter) pulls moisture directly from your skin’s surface faster than your body can replace it internally. You need topical hydration — a hyaluronic acid serum and moisturizer — to create a barrier that slows that moisture loss from the outside.
How often should I apply beard oil in Colorado’s dry climate?
Most men in Colorado benefit from applying beard oil once daily — typically after your morning face wash when the skin and hair are clean and slightly damp. In winter or if you spend significant time outdoors, a second lighter application in the evening can help combat the extreme dryness. Focus on working the oil down to the skin beneath the beard, not just coating the surface hair.
Is SPF really necessary on cloudy days in Colorado?
Absolutely. Up to 80% of UV rays penetrate cloud cover, and at Colorado’s elevation, UV intensity is already 25% stronger than at sea level. Cloudy days in Denver can actually be more dangerous because people skip sun protection while still receiving significant UV exposure. Apply SPF 30 or higher every morning regardless of the forecast.
