When it comes to skincare, men are notorious for keeping it as simple as possible. Water and soap should do the trick, right? Well, not exactly. Men’s skin needs pampering just as much as women’s skin does, but because skincare products are often falling into the beauty category, they are often perceived as being a feminine thing.
Truth be told, anyone who wants to keep their skin healthy should start developing a skincare routine. Now, I’m not saying you should put on a mask every evening, although that’s not wrong either, cleaning your skin right and moisturizing it to protect it from dryness should be mandatory.
So, where should you start? Luckily, we have put together this simple guide to help you understand why skin care is important, and how to select products that work for your skin type. Plus, a simple guide to help you develop a short and effective skincare routine.
Why skincare matters
Skincare is not a male or female thing, but should rather be something mandatory for anyone wishing to have healthy skin. With age, your skin goes through a number of changes, especially your facial one, so you need to take good care of it, to avoid issues.
Acne, for example, is an issue that anyone can face, whether we are talking about men and women. From time to time, you will start noticing that blemishes or acne may appear. If you don’t take care of them and keep popping every pimple insight, you can end up damaging your skin tissue to the point of no return. A good exfoliator can help dissolve dead skin cells and remove blackheads, improving your skin for good.
Aging is another thing that happens regardless of gender. If you are not going to do anything about those fine wrinkles that start appearing with age, you may end up looking older than you actually are. This is where a good moisturizer can come to help, as it can increase collagen growth in the skin, as well as stimulate tissue repair.
Last, but not least, the sun is also as dangerous for men’s skin, as it is for women. Prolonged and unprotected exposure UVA and UVB rays can cause the skin to age prematurely, or get damaged. Sunburns can also be a serious issue, especially if you have very light skin. This is why a good sunscreen and moisturizer should never miss from your bathroom.
Know your skin
Now that you know how important skincare is, it’s time to start investing in so good products. But before you can do that, it is important that you know what type of skin you have, in order to find the right products and give your skin exactly what it needs.
In theory, there are 5 main skin types, but your skin can go through all of these stages, depending on the factors that influence it. Some people with normal skin can start seeing signs of dryness during winter when temperatures drop. But to help you get a better idea, let’s explore them one by one:
Sensitive skin
Skin that gets easily irritated, often being prone to sensitivity and redness after shaving or exfoliating. Using men’s facial products designed for sensitive skin that helps moisturize and calm the skin can help reduce redness and sensitivity after shaving.
Dry skin
If your skin is often flaky, itchy or red, then you might be dealing with dry skin. This type of skin gets particularly sore when in contact with wind and direct sunlight, so using a gentle moisturizer and SPF cream should be mandatory.
Normal skin
For those of you who only get one pimple a year, and never seem to have an issue with their skin, congratulation! You have been given the gift of normal skin, but this does not mean you should cut back on skincare. Normal skin can gen dehydrated as well, but the good news is, you can keep it under control with a simple cleanser and moisturizer.
Oily skin
Oily skin tends to get shiny even a few minutes after you washed your face. A lot of people make the mistake to stop using a moisturizer when they discover they have oily skin, but that’s a mistake. Oily skin can also get dehydrated, and when that happens, your glands produce even more oil, to compensate. This ends up making your skin even more oily and shiny. Exfoliate regularly, to help unclog pores and prevent blemishes, but don’t forget to also use a lightweight moisturizer to maintain hydration.
Combination skin
If you find your T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) is oily, and you often get blackheads in this area, whereas your cheeks are tight and normal, this means you have a combination skin type. To help balance your skin, you need to exfoliate your T-zone constantly and use a light moisturizer on the rest of your face.
Basic skincare routine for men
Women spend hours in the bathroom every day, taking care of their skin in the morning, as well as before going to bed. This may be why their skin is always so soft and smooth. If you want to start taking care of your skin, you need to start developing a routine. It does not have to involve a dozen products, but it needs to be consistent if you want to start seeing results. Here’s how a simple skincare routine should look like:
- Step 1 – Cleanse: use a cleanser that is suited for your skin type and ditch the old bar of soap. Then, rinse with cool water and gently at your skin with a soft towel, to dry it out.
- Step 2 – repair: if you have acne, or start seeing signs of aging, you need to use the proper products to help tackle your issues. Anti-acne and anti-aging creams should never miss from your routine if you are confronting with those issues.
- Step 3 – moisturize: again, use a product that is specially designed for your skin type, to hydrate it and prevent signs of aging, as well as dryness.
- Step 4 – sunscreen: never, not even during winter, leave your house without using an SPF cream. Even mild, but repeated exposure to the sun can have damaging effects. Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before leaving the house and you should be good to go conquer the day.
