The 13-step beauty routine Niall Horan uses to keep his baby face

It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since we met Niall Horan when a little band called One Direction hit the scene. Partly because time flies, and partly because his skin shows no signs of ageing.

Well, that’s because he takes incredible care of it! Or at least he does now. Yes, Niall Horan has a full skin care routine! “I’d say in the last few years I’ve gotten into the skin care routine. When I was younger, I didn’t really care – I was a real boy about it,” he shared in a Vogue video.

“Heading into my late twenties, I decided that I was going to look after this thing,” he added, jokingly gesturing to his face. “I need this. This is what I use for my job. It’s a good 20 minutes of your day to really look after your skin and look after yourself.”

So what does he mean by 'being a real boy' about it? Horan went on to explain the complicated relationship between men and beauty. “I think with men – we’re getting better at it – but everyone’s always kind of against the skin care thing for some reason. I don’t really know why; it’s like do we give up some of our masculinity if we admit to using moisturiser? We need our skin too, lads. We only get one skin, so look after it.”

Horan is putting his advice into practice, that’s for sure, committing to a whopping 13 steps. He has a solid reason why, though. “As I head into my thirties, I’m trying to keep the baby face for as long as possible,” the “Heaven” singer laughed. How does he do it? Let’s find out; here's Niall Horan's skin care routine...

Niall Horan's skin care routine

Step 1: Cold water splash

His first step is actually product-free! "I don’t know if it’s a myth, [and] I don’t know if it works, but I’ve been doing a cold water splash. I heard Lewis Hamilton say it one time, and Sam Smith! So I thought ‘well they look young and fresh’, so I’m going to do that too.” Nothing like a hit of icy water to get you going in the morning!

Step 2: Cleanser

"[Next is the] Sarah Chapman Ultimate Cleanse [Cleansing Balm] ($113 at ASOS). I’ve been using this for a while," Horan confirmed, committing to a classic lather and rinse.

Step 3: Exfoliant

“I use my exfoliator maybe twice, three times a week,” he shared of the Make Beauty Micro-Crystalline Resurfacing Skin Polish ($36USD at Make Beauty, but not currently shipping to Australia).

Step 4: Facial steamer

“Next step: steamer – really important,” Horan noted, switching the Vanity Planet Senia Hot & Cold Smart Steamer ($252.18 at Amazon) to its heat setting. “I try and do this as often as I can; it opens up pores and it also allows the products to actually get in and do their work. It’s fabulous; I’m going to be glowing after this.”

Step 5: Eye masks

“Eye masks are [something] that I always do just to give the eyes a little plump,” he said, visibly impressed with his skin-centric vocabulary. “See, look at all these facialist words I’m using!" Horan’s eye masks of choice? The Jaxon Lane Bro Mask Cooling Eye Gels ($39.95 at Manflower Co. but currently waitlisted). “I wear them in the car sometimes and on flights.”

Step 6: Cryotherapy globes

Horan likes to use a certain tool to reap the biggest benefits from his eye masks (and calm the rest of his complexion too). ‘While they’re plumping, let’s use the biggest and best thing that I’ve just recently found: the big silver balls,” he laughed, referring to the Hana Emi Cryo Globes ($66.29 at Amazon). “I always have mine in the freezer. When I’m in a hotel, I get a bucket of ice and roll them around a little bit.”

“Once they get working, they can take some of the swelling out of your face,” he explained, swiping them over his skin. “Out of all the things that I use, I see the most effects out of these. These are incredible.”

Step 7: Toner

“Next step: toner,” said Horan, applying the Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist ($112.86 at Cult Beauty) before adding that he uses the steam on its other setting post-toner. "We’re back with the steamer. This time it’s a cold steam, and that closes up the pores.”

Step 8: Serum

“Next step is serum; I love a serum. If I don’t have moisturiser, I still feel really good putting some of this Intense Hydrating Booster from Sarah Chapman ($145 at ASOS),” he said.

Step 9: Face oil

Horan didn’t say much about his face oil step (literally just “next one: face oil”), but he did commit to a little facial massage as he rubbed it in. His fave face oil formula? The OSEA Essential Hydrating Oil ($113.56 at Revolve).

Step 10: Moisturiser

Would you have guessed Horan is a luxury moisturiser lover? Well, he is! “I’ve found this hyaluronic acid [moisturiser], and I do two little pumps,” he explained, applying his Element Eight Q2 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrate Correct Cream ($373.32 at Element Eight). It may not come cheap, but Horan’s face is a pretty solid endorsement.

Step 11: Eye cream

“Dark circles run in my family, so I’m trying to do a bit more preventing. [I’m also] constantly tired and I need a bit of rejuvenation in the morning, so this is the eye cream that I’ve been using," he confirmed. "It has a roller on the back so you just need to dab a little bit on underneath [and roll it into the skin]." The cream? Ilia Bright Start Activated Eye Cream ($76 at MECCA).

Step 12: SPF

Horan won't step out the door sans sunscreen; well, at least not anymore. “If you’re Irish or you have fair skin, this is really important: SPF. I didn’t wear SPF on a daily basis for the longest time. I’d obviously wear it when it was sunny, but what we don’t realise is that the UV rays are coming through all the time, and I would see myself getting red skin constantly. So I dab a little bit in [daily]," he shared. Jaxon Lane Rain Or Shine Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50+/PA+++ ($49.35 at Amazon) is his fave!

Step 13: Lip balm

Last step? Lip balm! “I play a lot of golf and it’s always windy out there, and no matter what the sun’s doing, I always get wind burn. So I’m a big lip balm guy, and I’m using this [Salt & Shone California Mint Lip Balm ($14.95 at Man Perfected)] at the moment," Horan explained.

His final review? “Skin done. Glowing, fabulous!” Hype yourself up, Horan! You’re glowing indeed.

Main image credit: Getty Images

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