Men’s skincare often consists of 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash. The results are underwhelming, and you run the risk of denying your skin of nutrients it needs to thrive.
Implementing a skincare routine might seem like a burden when you find solace in an all-in-one product, but it’s easy and will help you age gracefully. Proper skincare will also help you to avoid dreaded acne and even skin cancers.
1. Cleansing
Cleansers come in bars, gels, and creams with names that match the ingredients making up the soaps.
A cleanser will always be your first step in a skincare routine. If you’re using a face wash, you’ll want to wet your face with clean water then massage the facewash onto your face–just make sure you avoid your eyes and mouth! Furthermore, it’s important to use a cleanser that’s right for your skin; if you have any allergies or sensitivities you should keep those in mind when choosing a product.
When using a body wash the same rules apply, so find products that are right for you. Bar soap or gel body wash can dehydrate your skin. If you’re using a bar or gel look into following up with a lotion. A moisturizing body wash will be more sensitive and hydrating.
For best results, you’ll want to use a separate product from the one you choose for your face. Face and body wash don’t consist of the same ingredients and your face is more sensitive than your body. Your face will dry out faster and needs to maintain a balance of healthy oils.
2. Exfoliating
Your skin has regenerative properties, it can repair itself over time. Partly due to the skin’s regenerative ways, there are some areas of your body with thicker layers of skin. These are areas that experience larger amounts of friction. Parts of your skin that are thicker than others might dry out and need extra attention to keep moisturized.
Exfoliation comes in a variety of methods, which depend on your specific needs. If you’re trying to reduce dry, peeling skin, then a pumice stone or a dry brush will work. Both help to reduce flaky skin and allow the skin to take in moisturizer better.
Your face can also benefit from exfoliation; however, you don’t want to use the same tools for the skin on your face as you would for your feet or legs. If exfoliating your face, stick with exfoliating scrubs or chemical exfoliants in form of toners.
3. Moisturizers and Serums
Overly oily skin is undesirable, but so is overly dry skin. To maintain the right balance between the two your skin routine should include a moisturizer. A properly moisturized face won’t leave you feeling greasy but will provide just the right amount of moisture to keep your face soft. If wrinkles are starting to form you can fight back with moisturizers.
A lightweight formula will be more versatile but if you have fewer concerns about adding another step to your regimen then consider a serum.
As far as the rest of your body is concerned, you’ll still want to add lotion or hand cream to your routine.
4. Sunscreen
Your skin is precious and although it has some regenerative properties it still needs protection. The sun is one of the skin’s top enemies. UV damage from the sun accounts for well over half the skin cancer cases each year.
The sun can speed up the aging process. Too much time in the sun with little to no protection will cause wrinkles and sunspots.
Sunscreen is often present in facial moisturizers but in small quantities. This is great for daily use and is often all the protection you need when spending short periods of time in the sun. When you’re planning on spending an extended period of time in the sun then reach for a higher SPF, preferably SPF 30 and above.
5. Masks
If you enjoy having a more thorough skincare routine but lack the time to implement an extensive daily regimen, then the occasional mask may be of interest to you. Even if you have an extensive daily regimen then the occasional face mask will do wonders for your face.
Masks come in many different varieties. Some are helpful for dry skin while others help with oily skin. They work by putting the ingredients closer to your skin and into your pores. Face masks only offer temporary relief from skin issues, but make for a great tool to keep your skin feeling and looking great for specific events. Adding a mask to your skincare routine can also give you a few minutes of peace and stress relief.
6. Shaving and Aftershave
For men’s skincare, it’s important to consider facial hair. Underneath those bristles, your skin is prone to dryness and acne. Using a good beard cleanser will help clean your beard but also exfoliate the skin underneath it. You’ll want to find a beard balm or oil to use as well.
For those that want to keep a scruffy look or that opt for a clean-shaven appearance, a standard facial cleanser will work well. Trimming and shaving your facial hair will help to exfoliate your skin but can cause some other issues.
Ingrown hairs and cuts from shaving can be problematic and painful on top of that. One way to prevent ingrown hairs is to use aftershave. Aftershaves help to close pores after shaving and aid in the healing of any self-inflicted shaving injuries.
7. Lifestyle and Diet
Having a diet rich in vegetables and abstaining from processed foods will do your skin wonders. Aside from avoiding processed foods, you’ll want to stay away from foods high in oil and sugar.
The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables will promote healthy skin by fighting free radicals. In order to combat aging, you’ll also want to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is key to maintaining healthy skin. Drinking alcohol can also be a detriment to your skin. Alcohol dehydrates you and is known to cause wrinkles.
Your lifestyle choices can potentially be the reason your skin requires additional care. Smoking is hard on the skin and has been known to cause wrinkles and even lead to yellow-tinted fingers.
