Some girls are known to be high-maintenance, but actor and supermodel Godfrey Gao gives them a run for their money.

It's rare to hear guys rave about skincare, but in an interview for beauty brand SK-II's new line for men last week, Gao waxed lyrical about his beauty regime.

"Every guy should take 10 to 15 minutes daily to wash his face," he declared.

"I like to take care of my skin. Cleansing and moisturising gives you a really good feeling. After doing so, people say my face looks more vibrant."

It is befitting that the 27-year-old is the face of SK-II Men, launched in Singapore last Friday.

"I was nervous. I had my fingers crossed and was really happy to be the ambassador of the brand," he said.

"My mum was really proud of me."

Gao, a Vancouver native, was born to a Taiwanese father and Malaysian mother.

His mother was the one who got him interested in skincare.

"When I was little, about 12 or 13 years old, I would come home from school and she would be green with cucumbers all over her face," he recalls.

"It scared me. It was like the Incredible Hulk."

Jokes aside, Gao also related how he bonded with his mother over facials.

"I would grind the serum and we'll put it on our faces. When it was dry, we wouldn't be able to talk (as the masks had hardened).

"I would think to myself, 'Whoa. This is a pretty cool experience'."

Given his fixation on grooming, it's little wonder Gao pays attention to women's skin too.

"Whenever a guy sees a girl, the first thing he'll notice is her skin and hair. Skin's definitely important."

Growing up, Gao, who was the first male Asian face for French luxury brand Louis Vuitton, had his fair share of skin problems.

"I had oily skin, pores and blackheads. And I've had break-outs before. Everybody goes through that period," he said.

Friends

During those times, he would pay special attention to his skincare. His celebrity pals have flocked to him for advice as well.

Taiwanese host Blackie is one of them.

"It's kind of embarrassing for guys to talk about skin, but Blackie always asks me, 'What do you use? Introduce it to me and let me use some!'"

Another friend, whom he plays basketball with regularly, would get terrible break-outs.

When he turned to Gao for skincare tips, he said: "Hey man, just clean your face."

That one basic step worked wonders and the friend thanked him for it.

Last month, Gao was invited to attend the Milan Men's fashion week.

It was his first time in the Italian city.

"It was a cool experience, and I'll never forget it," he said.

At the Dolce & Gabbana show, he partied with style magnates Anna Dello Russo and Giovanna Battaglia.

Korean actor Jung Woo Sung was also there.

"He was really interested in meeting me and I would definitely want to work with him in future," said Gao.

This article was first published in The New Paper.