You've got the products. This page makes sure you get everything out of them.

Here's the thing about skincare built for men with facial hair: the products do the heavy lifting, but the order you put them on decides whether they get the chance.

Get the order right and everything absorbs, layers, and works the way it was formulated to. Get it backward and you can have the best routine on the planet sitting on your bathroom counter, underperforming.

This is the full guide — every product, in order, with how much to use, how often, and why the sequence matters.

It's the same routine we've been refining at stubble + 'stache since 2013, back when "skincare for men with facial hair" wasn't a category yet. Bookmark it. It takes about 60 seconds a day to run, and about five minutes to learn.

The Routine Order

The full routine, top to bottom:

1. Cleanse — wash face and beard (swap in Exfoliate 1–2x a week)
   
   
2. Refresh — eye cream, right after you rinse, before anything else
   
   
3. Hydrate — moisturizer, full face and beard
   
   
4. Soften or Groom — oil or balm, last, on top of Hydrate

Morning and night, about 60 seconds. If you only own some of the products, run the same order and skip the steps you don't have — the sequence holds whether you're running two products or all six.

Why the order matters

Think about washing your truck. You wash it, then you wax it. Nobody waxes first — the wax would just seal in the dirt and block the wash from doing anything. Your face works the same way: clean first, hydrate second, seal last.

The mistake we see most: skipping moisturizer entirely, or using one that wasn't built to work with facial hair. Close second: putting oil or balm on before moisturizer. Hydrate goes on first so your skin and facial hair actually get hydrated, then Soften or Groom seals that moisture in on top. Flip those two and the oil forms a barrier before the moisturizer ever touches your skin — it sits on top of the oil layer and never gets to work.

And Refresh goes on right after cleansing, before Hydrate. The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, so it gets treated first, before the full-face moisturizer goes on over everything.

One timing tip that costs nothing: apply your moisturizer within about 60 seconds of towel-drying. Your skin is still holding shower moisture, and Hydrate locks it in before it evaporates.

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Step 1: Cleanse — Daily Probiotic Face + Beard Wash

What it does: Cleanse removes the day — sweat, oil, sunscreen, whatever built up — without stripping your skin. Most face washes clean by stripping everything, including the natural oils your skin and facial hair need. That's the "squeaky clean" tight feeling, and it's not a good sign. Cleanse is built on organic aloe vera juice instead of water and uses a probiotic extract (Lactococcus Ferment Lysate — no live bacteria needed) to clean without wrecking your skin's barrier.

How to use it: Wet your face, work a small amount into a light lather over your whole face — forehead, nose, cheeks, neck, and through your facial hair — then rinse.

How often: Wash your face at least once daily. If you've got a full beard, lathering the beard itself 2–3 times a week is plenty; just rinse it with water on the other days. It's gentle enough for daily beard use if your lifestyle demands it — landscapers and jiu-jitsu guys, we see you.

Step 1 (alternate): Exfoliate — Probiotic Face + Beard Charcoal Sugar Scrub

What it does: Exfoliate is your 1–2x-per-week swap-in for Cleanse. The sugar crystals buff away dead skin and buildup as you work the scrub in, while activated charcoal draws out excess oil and impurities from your pores. Then the sugar dissolves, so nothing gets stuck in your facial hair. If you deal with flaky skin, ingrown hairs, or a dull complexion, this is the step that handles it.

How to use it: Best used in the shower — the water and steam dissolve the sugar crystals so they rinse clean out of your beard. Work it over your entire face, not just the beard area, then rinse. On exfoliation days, you don't need Cleanse for that wash; the scrub cleanses on its own. (You can also split the day: Cleanse in the morning, Exfoliate at night.)

How often: 1–2 times per week, maximum. More isn't better here — over-exfoliating damages the skin barrier you're trying to protect. Twice a week is the ceiling, not the target.

A note on flakes: if your flaking comes from dry skin or product buildup, a proper cleanse-and-hydrate routine with weekly exfoliation makes a real difference. If you've adjusted your routine and the flakes persist, see a dermatologist — some causes are medical and need medical treatment.

Step 2: Refresh — Eye Reviving Cream

What it does: Refresh targets the spot that gives you away first: puffiness and dark circles under your eyes. Caffeine constricts blood vessels to reduce the look of dark circles, Albizia Julibrissin helps de-puff, and Pullulan creates an instant tightening effect on the skin surface. Between long weeks and short nights, this is the difference between looking how you feel and looking rested anyway.

How to use it: Right after cleansing, before Hydrate. Tap a small dab gently around the eye area with your ring finger — don't rub or drag the skin there. Morning and night.

Why it goes on first: thinner, more delicate skin gets treated before the full-face moisturizer covers it. That's the whole rule.

How long it lasts: a little goes a long way — one bottle can last up to ~4 months with daily use.

Step 3: Hydrate — Daily Probiotic Face + Beard Moisturizer

What it does: Hydrate is the workhorse of the routine — if you only run one product, run this one. It hydrates and firms your skin while nourishing and softening your facial hair, both jobs in one step. Flip most moisturizers over and the first ingredient is water. Hydrate's is organic aloe vera juice, so every pump is actually doing something: hydrating, delivering sodium hyaluronate (holds up to 1,000x its weight in water), niacinamide, and the same probiotic extract that runs through the rest of the line.

How to use it: 1–2 pumps, worked over your entire face — forehead, nose, cheeks, under-eye area (over Refresh), neck — and down through your facial hair to the skin underneath. It's fast-absorbing and non-greasy, so there's no waiting around.

How often: Daily, morning and night. Within ~60 seconds of towel-drying whenever you can — that's when it locks in the most moisture.

The one rule that matters: Hydrate always goes on before Soften or Groom. Moisturizer hydrates; oil and balm seal it in. That order is the routine.

Step 4 (option A): Soften — Face + Beard Oil

What it does: Soften is the seal. A pump or two locks in everything Hydrate just delivered, softens coarse and wiry facial hair, and adds shine without grease — broccoli seed oil works as a natural silicone alternative, which is why the shine doesn't come with buildup. Most beard oils are two or three basic carrier oils; Soften is a potent blend of 15 active botanicals, including exotics like baobab, buriti, and murumuru you won't find in the average bottle.

How to use it: After Hydrate has absorbed, dispense a pump or two into your palm, rub your hands together, and work it through your facial hair down to the skin. Longer beards can take the second pump; stubble usually needs one.

How often: Daily or as needed. Bonus uses: it doubles as a nighttime face oil (a pump on clean skin before bed — visibly healthier skin by morning) and as a pre-shave oil if you keep your neckline sharp.

Step 4 (option B): Groom — Hydrating Beard Balm

What it does: Groom is the same final step with control added. Light hold — think tamed flyaways and a shaped beard, not helmet stiffness — with a beard-butter consistency and actual skincare actives (niacinamide, panthenol, the probiotic extract) working on the skin underneath while it styles. And because it's water-soluble, it washes out clean. No scraping wax out of your beard at the end of the day.

How to use it: After Hydrate, take a small amount and work it through your facial hair with your fingertips, shaping as you go. Groom has a soft, beard-butter consistency, so there's no need to work it hard between your palms like a stiff wax-based balm — it spreads easily as-is, and over-rubbing it can actually turn it grainy. Start small — you can always add.

Worth knowing: because of the natural butters and oils, the balm can flake off if your beard gets touched or worked excessively during the day. It's the product, not your skin — and a lighter touch keeps it in place.

Soften or Groom? Soften if your priority is softness and shine; Groom if you want light shape and control. Longer beards can layer them: Soften first for conditioning, Groom on top for hold.

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About Your Pump (Read This Before You Reach Out)

One quick thing about your pump. It's an airless pump, so the first few pumps out of the box can come up empty while it primes. That's normal — keep going and it'll start dispensing.

In the rare case you keep pumping and still get nothing, there's a quick fix. An internal seal sometimes needs help breaking:

1. Hold the bottle with one hand and the top of the pump head with the other.
2. Pull the pump head straight up and off the stem.
3. Set it back on, then press down firmly and quickly to break the seal.
4. Pump as normal.

If that doesn't do the trick, reach out through our contact page and we'll send you a replacement.

(Why airless pumps at all? No tube left behind wasting product, no air getting in and degrading the actives, and a metered dose every press. Worth the three-pump warmup.)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I apply face and beard care products?

Cleanse first (or Exfoliate 1–2x a week), then Refresh on the eye area, then Hydrate over your full face and facial hair, then Soften or Groom last to seal it in. Cleanse, treat, hydrate, seal — the whole routine takes about 60 seconds.

Should I use moisturizer or beard oil first?

Moisturizer first, always. Hydrate delivers moisture to your skin and facial hair; Soften seals it in on top. Put oil on first and it blocks the moisturizer from ever reaching your skin — you'd just be layering product on top of a barrier.

Can I use Cleanse and Exfoliate on the same day?

Yes — Cleanse in the morning and Exfoliate at night works fine. Just don't use them in the same wash; on exfoliation days, Exfoliate cleanses on its own. And keep Exfoliate to 1–2 times per week total, whatever the schedule.

How often should I wash my beard?

Rinse it with water daily, but a full lather with Cleanse 2–3 times a week is plenty for most beards. Overwashing strips the natural oils your facial hair needs. Cleanse is gentle enough for daily beard use if your work or workouts demand it.

Do these products work if I don't have a beard?

Yes. Everything here is skincare first — formulated to work with facial hair, not to require it. Full beard, stubble, mustache, or clean-shaven, the routine runs the same way; you'd simply use Soften or Groom on whatever facial hair you've got, or skip that step entirely.

How long until I see results?

Most guys notice a difference within one to two weeks of consistent use — less itch, less flaking, softer facial hair. The key word is consistent: 60 seconds morning and night beats a perfect routine you run twice a month.

How long does each product last?

It depends on how heavy-handed you are, but as a rough guide: Hydrate can last up to 2–3 months depending on usage, and Refresh can last up to ~4 months with daily use. Each press of the pump dispenses a metered dose, so heavier users land at the short end and lighter users at the long end.

My pump isn't dispensing — is it broken?

Almost certainly not. Airless pumps need a few pumps to prime out of the box — keep going and it'll start flowing. If it truly won't dispense after repeated pumping, use the four-step reseat fix in the pump section above, and if that fails, contact us for a replacement.

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That's the Whole Routine

Cleanse, Refresh, Hydrate, seal. Sixty seconds, morning and night. Your products were built to work as a system, and now you know how to run them like one.

If you're missing a piece of the routine, every product above links to its page — and the Face + Beard Care System covers steps 1 through 4 in one box. But mostly: use what you've got, in the right order, and give it two weeks. Your skin will take it from there.

Questions this page didn't answer? Reach out through our contact page — a real human reads every message.

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stubble + 'stache is the first specialized skincare brand for men with facial hair, founded in 2013 by Nick Karnaze, a Naval Academy graduate and former MARSOC intelligence officer who couldn't find products that worked for his skin and his beard. A Certified B Corp™ and service-disabled-veteran-owned small business, stubble + 'stache donates a percentage of profits to organizations supporting service members suffering from the mental wounds of war. Made in the USA.