Abdul El-Sayed's skincare routine is everything He loves his SPF

If you’ve been on Twitter over the past few hours, you already know that the United States just held its midterm elections, the ones that renew a major portion of the federal legislative branch alongside key state and local offices. The results brought a wave of wins, with a literal blue wave (courtesy of the Democratic Party) sweeping across the country. It was an election marked by historic firsts and a decisive comeback: both the House and the Senate now hold a Democratic majority.

Abdul El-Sayed, the first muslim senator in US history, has a simple yet flawless skincare routine

Among the standout figures who dominated the campaign trail is undoubtedly Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, known on social media simply as Abdul El-Sayed, the first Muslim senator in US history, elected in Michigan. The 41-year-old physician made waves with his sharp looks, athletic build, and direct, charismatic communication style, quickly becoming - at least across social feeds - the kindred spirit to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with whom he is constantly compared and linked.

Interviewed by Suzanne Lambert for The Cosmetic Lane, the senator broke down his skincare routine with his signature wit. He explained in detail that every morning starts with a CeraVe cleanser formulated for oily skin (his Egyptian heritage, he notes, gifted him definitely oily skin), followed by a broad-spectrum SPF from EltaMD, essential for long hours spent in the car. That’s where his background as a doctor and public health expert shines through: "There was actually a paper written about truck driver skin," he explains. "When they're driving, they get more exposure on the one side of their face because it's the one in the window, and they actually age significantly faster. We sometimes forget that the stuff wipes off, so I try to go in again at like 12 or 1." A true pro move. And it doesn't stop there. On alternating nights, he introduces a retinoic acid using the sandwich method, strictly before bed. In other words, he sandwiches the active ingredient between two layers of moisturizer, also by dermatological favorite EltaMD.

Men's grooming and self-care: still a touchy subject (unfortunately)

We've said it before, but it bears repeating: we love men who take care of themselves, especially with an uncomplicated skincare regimen tailored to their skin's needs. The backlash sparked by our previous piece on Ghali proves there is still every reason to talk about it: masculinity is still too often treated as something inherently rugged, unbothered, and immune to care. And skin is the first casualty. Having a bearded, muscular Muslim Dem senator walk through the fine details of how he protects his skin barrier mid-campaign is a breath of fresh air. It carves out room for new archetypes of masculinity not just across entertainment, where boundary-pushing is easier, from Ghali to Harry Styles' manicures and Timothée Chalamet's soft-boy aesthetics, but right inside the halls of political power. Steering entirely clear of the ridiculous, hyper-macho morning routines peddled by creators in the incel and looksmaxxing spheres, Abdul El-Sayed proves once again to be progressive and unapologetic, even in a routine so seemingly mundane.

Is skincare political? Not always, but it is undeniably social. In this instance, it remains heavily gendered, defaulted to women as something frivolous or inherently feminine. Seeing a traditionally masculine man discuss it with total ease is a win for everyone, men and women alike. Because honestly: aren't we all exhausted by men enduring dry, flaking skin simply out of fragile pride and outdated stigmas?