Face wash, wipe down with a face towel, and apply lotion! For decades, this traditional practice resonated with many men as their basic skincare routine.
Fortunately, there have been conversations necessitating men on the importance of good, clear, and smooth skin. Most men are prioritizing their health and self-confidence with younger-looking skin.
Men's skincare is becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry with many products available. It becomes a treasure hunt curating your personal skincare routine that works for you. How do you deal with breakouts, shaving irritations, and fine lines?
Here is a basic guide to begin your refreshed look:
What Is Men's Skincare?
You may be a social butterfly who is always out on the street, enjoying the sun and the heat, which is unhealthy for your skin. Or maybe you are a laid-back casual worker who spends most of their time indoors, for example, at the grademiners essay writing service. In any case, grooming is an important part of adult life, no matter how much time you spend outside or inside.
All efforts to maintain or improve male skin health form part of men's skincare. A simple routine seeks to rectify your skin's challenges, whether it's increased oiliness, a coarse texture, acne, dark circles, dry skin, or age spots.
Why Men's Skincare Differ From Women's Skincare
One popular mistake is our opinion that men's skin requires the same care as women's. Comparing thickness, men's skin is much thicker with a greater density of pores than women's. As a result, men have more access to acne than women. Consequently, their skin does not work well with heavy, over-greased moisturizing products.
Another differentiating factor is hormone differences, as males have high testosterone levels, making their skin thicker than their counterparts. This leads to dense hair follicles, large pores secreting sebum, and oilier skin.
Basic Skin Care Regimen
Scrolling through TikTok tutorials makes landing on a common skin care regimen difficult. Celebrities and influencers often complicate a basic procedure to look like a costly affair. Here is a simple routine to start with:
Cleanse
At least one thing most men get right in protecting their skin is washing their faces every morning. Constantly washing your face can interfere with your skin's natural oils. Start your day with a simple cleanse, and finish it fresh.
Freshen up your face with a cleanser to remove sweat and bacteria picked up during sleep. Repeat the same procedure before heading to bed. The intent behind cleansing is to clean sebum from skin and dirt. We recommend a mild foaming cleanser to reduce surface oil.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating unclogged pores eliminates dirt and bacteria for smooth, flawless skin while preventing breakouts.
We recommend using a 'gentle' face scrub or chemical exfoliant to prevent breakouts by penetrating pores to unblock impurities and stop blockages underneath. A chemical exfoliant is widely recommended for dealing with acne and dissolving dead skin cells. Also, it traps any sebum trapped inside the pores.
Don't over-exfoliate with your selected product since your skin cells need time to regenerate fast enough to keep up with the scrap.
Eye Cream
Eye creams are specially made for the delicate skin around the eye. It may help you with dark circles, wrinkles, or fine lines. Don't forget the skin around your eye is thinner than the rest of your face and contains more oil than your regular facial lotion. Hence, it requests concentrated ingredients.
To maintain a sharp look, this cream helps deal with multiple skin concerns, such as dark circles, fine lines, or eye bags. Always apply it every morning or night after cleansing, patting a pea-sized amount to the eye area with a dry cleanse.
Moisturize
Moisturizers help the skin by keeping it hydrated. In addition, a good day cream provides the nutrients the skin loses during cleansing and exfoliation. Regular use of moisturizer will prevent the skin from overdrying or becoming excessively oily. A moisturizing product must correspond with your skin type. Men's skin produces more sebum, so selecting a light, matte finish is best.
Sunscreen
Protecting the appearance of your skin calls for quality sunscreen. Moisturizing with sunscreen regularly prevents sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. We would also recommend its inclusion in your skin type routine.
We suggest purchasing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for daily use. If you're outdoorsy, we recommend SPF 60 and above. An ounce of sunscreen is required to coat your face, neck, arms, and legs.
Selection Criteria for Your Products
The skincare market is vibrant, with millions of products available. Reading skin care ingredients is quite hectic and needs special knowledge. Here is what to know when you're at the beauty store:
Understanding Your Skin Type
Various products in the market exist specifically meant to address oily skin in men. However, talking about different skin types is essential apart from oily skin. Here are the different types of skins:
• Sensitive skin – this skin might sting after product use
• Dry skin- this skin releases little to no natural oils with a dull, rough, flaky, scaly appearance
• Normal skin – this skin is balanced with no signs of breakouts, greasy look or even feel, as well as tight
• Oily skin- this skin releases excess sebum, giving a shiny, greasy feel.
• Combination skin – has both dry and normal skin simultaneously, depending on the season.
Investigate Ingredients
Skincare products have active ingredients. Read any product's packaging or description to know whether the active ingredients suit your skin type. Online research about your specific needs to identify beneficial or harsh ingredients. Common ingredients include:
- Vitamin C has brightening benefits and contains antioxidant properties that reduce hyperpigmentation, increase collagen synthesis, and protect photoaging.
- Vitamin E is another antioxidant that eliminates free radical damage, resulting in premature aging.
- Vitamin A is a pivotal anti-aging ingredient for acne, keratinization, and scars that boost collagen.
Final Takeaway
With the high involvement of influencers in pushing the marketing hype, especially with these skincare products, you may buy into such a marketing gimmick and obtain an inferior product. You should not buy a product based on its appearance or the influencer's recommendation. Contact your local dermatologist to know which brand will work well for you.