Three cisgender men, one common goal—great skin!

For actors like Sahil Salathia, Ankur Rathee, and Vihaan Samat, skincare is not merely about aesthetics—it’s an essential part of their lifestyle, each crafting a regimen tailored to their needs. Sahil, a firm believer in natural ingredients, emphasises the power of hydration and tea tree oil, while Ankur’s extensive Korean-inspired routine comes courtesy of his knowledgeable family. Vihaan’s holistic approach combines gut health, stress management, and the rejuvenating power of retinoids. With routines rich in ingredients like multani mitti, hyaluronic acid, and retinoids, these actors prove that skincare isn’t about vanity but self-respect. Their journeys illustrate how self-care, once gendered, is now a universally essential practice for confidence and well-being.

Sahil Salathia 

Jammu’s pollution-free environment has given his skin a natural edge over others, believes actor and model Sahil Salathia. But don’t think he’s just banking on that! “I am not a guy who thinks that skincare isjust for women or that being unhygienic is cool,” he says. And honestly—we’re here for it. The skincare routine for the telenovela Everest (2014 onwards) actor is a mix of both internal and external well-being. “If you’re healthy on the inside, it’ll show on your skin,” shares Salathia. No wonder his mornings kick off with one essential step: Hydration. This philosophy extends to his choice of products—a medicated soap that’s packed with tea tree oil and neem, and the Forest Essentials Tea Tree Toner. “I think it’s the tea tree oil that’s helping, it’s my go-to ingredient in all my skincare”.

For the 35-year-old actor and model, sunscreen is non-negotiable. “You can’t deny using sunscreen on your skin because then you’re just killing it.” However, it wasn’t always this way—like many Indian men, he only started using sunscreen religiously about four or five years ago. When it comes to homegrown remedies, Salathia swears by an Indian household staple we’ve all heard of before. “If you’re breaking out, or if your skin is oily, or just not looking its best, I recommend using multani mitti (bentonite clay). It really works like magic.” We can’t agree more with Salathia when he says, “It’s not a crime to look pleasant. When you take care of yourself, you feel confident, and who doesn’t want that?”

Ankur Rathee

An in-house skincare expert would just be what most of us need. However, for Indian-American actor Ankur Rathee, it’s a reality, thanks to his family. “My skincare routine is entirely thanks to my mother-in-law, Namita Joshi, and my sister-in-law, Anisha Joshi,” Rathee laughs. “It’s been a process, but here’s where I am now.”

For the 33-year-old, the day starts with an oil cleansing balm— specifically, the Clean It Zero by Banila Co. “A lot of my skincare is made in Korea because they have the best skin and skincare.” After cleansing, he jumps to his rice toner, followed by a series of serums. “Right now, I am not using any active ingredients like retinol, but I do love my hyaluronic acid and multi-peptide serums,” he admits. His favourite is The Ordinary’s multi-peptide serum, and he also swears by Easydew’s hyaluronic acid serum. “All my brands sound super technical, but trust me, this stuff works.” As someone with drier skin, Rathee pays extra attention to moisturising. For his under-eye area, which he compares to “gentle tissue paper”, he turns to Goodal’s vitamin C serum. His go-to moisturiser is La Roche-Posay’s Double Repair Face Moisturizer, a favourite among skincare enthusiasts. As for sun protection, Rathee stands proud of the four “pluses” SPF rating in his Madagascar Centella’s Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum. 

“Every woman wants a man who takes care of himself,” chuckles the Four More Shots Please! (2019) actor who believes that skincare isn’t about vanity, but self-respect. “Just like you go to the gym or brush your teeth, you should take care of your skin. Your body is your temple, and it deserves some TLC.”

Vihaan Samat

Skincare for actor Vihaan Samat isn’t just about creams and what goes on your face. “It is about your health, gut, stress, sleep,” he explains. Samat may not have started off as a skincare enthusiast, but once he realised the impact it could have, it became a routine. “I used to just grab any face wash from the chemist and be done with it. No moisturiser, no sunscreen—just get on with my day,” admits the 28-year-old actor. The world of acting changed all that for him, and now, he’s got a process that walks the talk. This shift in his routine was also inspired by his female friends’ flawless skin. “Why does skincare just have to be a female thing?” he asks. “Both men and women can have amazing skin, if we put in the effort.”
Now, he washes his face twice a day!

“I’ve got a combination-oily skin, so I use products that cater to that,” Samat shares. After cleansing, he follows up with a toner (when he remembers) from The Ordinary and alternates between azelaic and retinoid. “Retinoids have been a game changer for me.” The ISDIN Fusion Water Photo Protector is bae for the Call Me Bae (2024) actor. “It is so light, feels great on the skin, and doesn’t have any overpowering smell.”

Samat takes real care of his hair too. “My naani (grandmother) used to massage my scalp with coconut oil when I was a kid, and from time to time, she still does. It is not just great for my hair—it’s a wholesome family moment too,” he shares. “It keeps my scalp healthy, especially with all the drying shampoos we use.”

Lead image credits: Sahil Salathia, Ankur Rathee, Vihaan Samat/Instagram

This article originally appeared in Cosmo India's September-October 2024 issue.

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