From oily skin to acne, these are the most common skincare issues we hear about from men, along with our suggestions for the best ingredients to fix each problem.

While the list of skincare ingredients to avoid is fairly universal to everyone, the same cannot be said for those ingredients to actively seek out. While many ingredients are universally beneficial to everyone, they are not necessarily required uniformly, since different skin conditions require different strategies—and thus, different ingredients.

Below are the most common skincare grievances that we hear about at Cardon, along with the best “hero” ingredients that might remedy each one. You’ll see most of the ingredients repeated many times; after all, that’s why we call them “hero” ingredients. Here’s an important note about the recommendations, too: Because we chose to focus on the best ingredients, we didn’t want to overwhelm you by also outlining the overall regimen required for each condition. However, for many of the conditions, we do have articles tailored to the regimen itself, and will link to those accordingly.

If your skin is overactive and produces too much oil, this is often because it’s fighting underlying dehydration. But the best news for oily skinned guys is that you can train your skin to produce less oil by using the right ingredients. The best one to prioritize is hyaluronic acid (via a serum or moisturizer), which helps skin absorb and retain moisture, so that it never has to account for dehydration.

In terms of mitigating excess oil (and the accompanying appearance of large pores), look for niacinamide, which regulates oil production and pore appearance while also improving surface texture.

Salicylic acid will help unclog pores and break down dead skin cells (minimizing breakouts and shine), and a good clay-based product will help extract oil and other impurities from deep with the skin. Just be sure to rehydrate after any cleansing efforts.

Regimen Guide: Best Oily Skincare Routine for Men

Regimen Guide: Best Dry Skincare Routine for Men

Here they are again: Lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid are great for acne-prone skin, since they help dissolve dead skin, mitigate oil production, and keep pores clear. (Ditto for niacinamide’s oil-controlling powers.) Deep-extracting ingredients like clay will double down on these efforts, while a nightly application of retinol or daily application of benzoyl peroxide can help prevent persistent breakouts. (Talk to your board-certified dermatologist for acne-fighting prescriptions of the latter two.)

Regimen Guide: How to Prevent and Treat Acne/Maskne

Even the guys who drink adequate water and get restful sleep can wake up with puffy eyes or dark circles. If you want a morning boost, find a caffeine-packed eye cream to boost circulation in the area. However, a long-term solution and preventative measure (applied at bedtime) can be found with niacinamide and peptides. The former helps boost moisture levels and strengthen the skin barrier (which in turn prevents those dark circles from peeking through so readily). Peptides, meanwhile, boost collagen production and in turn improve elasticity, yielding similar smoothing and happily hydrating benefits. Wearing SPF daily will also prevent this thin skin from breaking down and giving in to puffiness and dark circles. (Not to mention, fine lines, too.)

Regimen Guide: How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes

People with sensitive or easily irritable skin need to use fewer products and less aggressive ingredients. It’s important for them to prioritize soothing recipes, withaloe vera, cactus extract, cica (tiger grass), heartleaf, or chamomile. And while wearing SPF is necessary for everyone, it’s these sensitive-skin types who need to be especially cautious against the sun’s harmful, painful rays.

Regimen Guide: Best Routine for Men with Sensitive Skin and How to Reduce Redness and Irritation