TheUnstitchd
The sheer volume of skincare options can be daunting for men who want to add a skincare routine to their nightly schedule. Putting in the effort to figure skincare out takes a lot of work but worth it in the end. Good skincare is your most potent tool against preventable skin issues like wrinkles, acne, and sun damage. Read on to get a grasp on everyday skincare products.
Skincare for Beginners
Using hand soap to wash your face isn’t a viable or effective way to treat your skin. The following routine will help you build an effective skincare habit.
Facial Cleanser
Clean skin should always be your first step in your skincare routine because it gives you a neutral palette to further add products. Be sure to choose a facial cleanser that won’t strip your skin of natural oils, like the Purifying Cleanser from Tata Harper Organics. The best cleansers will come with moisturizing ingredients and gently add oil to the skin. Use twice a day.
Eye Creme
Don’t skip the eye creme because the first sign of age usually happens around the corners and underneath your eyes. Dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles aren’t uncommon for men, but you can prevent these forms of aging by applying products. You can’t just use a facial cream because the skin around your eyes is thinner and needs more concentrated ingredients to prevent dryness. Use twice a day, morning and night.
Moisturizer
Men require an entirely different line of moisturizer products for their skin because we grow beards. Using the wrong moisturizer could irritate your pores and cause red bumps, so stick to gentle face lotions like Age Rescue Face Lotion by Lab Series. If you avoided using a moisturizer in the past because it felt too heavy on your skin, lotions and gels would hydrate your skin without leaving that “mask” feeling. Use at least once a day or twice if skin is really dry.
SPF or Sunscreen
Everyone on this planet should put sunscreen in their skincare routine because the UV rays from the sun can severely age your skin and potentially cause cancer. While the sun is beneficial to us in small doses, sunscreen helps elongate the time you can spend outdoors and hydrates your pores. Wear sunscreen in addition to your moisturizer for a full anti-aging effect. Apply at least once per day but re-apply depending on how often you spend time in the sun.
Extra Skincare Advice and Products
The above skincare regimen will get you started, but if you want to do more than just wash your face and apply moisturizer, you may add the following products:
Exfoliator
Most men already exfoliate parts of their face from daily shaving, but not all men even have to shave as often or at all. There are still parts of your face that remain untouched from exfoliation, like your cheeks, nose, and forehead. To help remove clogged pores and prevent dry skin, add an exfoliator with alpha hydroxy acid to slough away dead cells. Don’t overdo it: only use an exfoliator once a week, or you could dry out your skin.
Serum
Serums are the moisturizers’ more potent cousin as they contain more active ingredients and nutrients in a single dollop. No matter your skin type, a serum can effectively break through common issues and can even help manage eczema. Find a serum that contains skin-building and hydrating ingredients filled with vitamin B. Use serums twice a day after applying moisturizer.
Toner
Acne-prone and oily skin will benefit from toners because they keep it shine-free and smooth without stealing away moisture. Toners are usually as thin as water, so use a cotton swab to apply it gently around your entire face. There are gel options available if you want to cut back on product use, as cotton soaks up most of the toner. Only apply toners directly after cleaning your face. It’ll be easier to apply a moisturizer if your skin isn’t oily.