Good question. So often, men neglect their skin and have a mindset that good skin care is more for women. However, men deserve healthy, youthful, and radiant skin too.
One of the most common problems for men is their negative perception on skin care. They are scared of all of the morning and nigh-time steps of applying products, not to mention the fact that men (not all) do not believe in the results. After all, there are many other important things in life. The simple fact of human nature is that when we take the time to look better, we feel better about ourselves. Let’s move on and keep this short and sweet to change this pattern.
For men needing simple, yet effective steps to achieve healthy skin:
Start with a cleanser. This is a simple step that can be a complete game changer for your skin. Cleanser should be used to clean your face from dirt, bacteria, and all of the pollutants your skin is exposed to daily. Remember, no one wants to kiss a dirty face!!
Treatment cleansers with glycolic or lactic acids also help exfoliate your skin. This helps rid off all of those dead skin cells that actually can create fine lines on your face.
Foaming cleansers are another great option and they still feel like a soap making suds on your face. They are also extremely easy to rinse off and nice to keep in the shower for an easy step.
Invest in a professional skincare line and seek out some guidance. This is a great way to figure out your skin type and condition to find the best product for your specific skin’s needs.
Tip: Do not use soap on your face, as it strips the acid mantle changing the skin’s PH level. What does this do? Easy, ages you faster and your skin becomes dry and dull!
Add in a moisturizer. Hydration is an important step for dry, combination, and oily skin. No matter what your skin type or condition of your skin, moisturizer is a must to give your skin cells key nutrients. Men who work outside or like to spend time outdoors often have very compromised skin with a very dry, tough looking appearance. Restoring the skin’s barrier function with moisturizer will strengthen the skin, reduce redness, and protect it from daily exposure.
Take a look at some of the different moisturizers for different skin types:
- Oily skin – use a water based moisturizer, which is not heavy and will not clog your pores.
- Combo skin (oily T zone with dry cheeks) – use a medium weight moisturizers or a combo. A small amount can go a long way!
- Dry skin – use a heavier moisturizer. Even some of the professional night creams can be used for morning or night, until healthy skin is restored.
SPF – Protect your skin from the sun. Believe it or not, this is the most important step out of anything we apply to our skin. Your skin is exposed to UVA (ultraviolet aging rays) and UVB (ultraviolet burning rays) every day. Skin is exposed while driving in the car, walking your dog, getting the mail, through windows, and even reflecting off of the snow. These are just some of the ways, besides direct sun exposure, your skin is exposed to sun damage.
Why is this step important?
- Skin cancer is on the rise, as the sun’s rays have become much stronger. Enough said!
- The sun ages us faster, more than anything else.
- Sun damage after just as little as one bad burn can create cellular damage, resulting in sun spots.
In a nutshell, these are these simple steps that can change your skin pretty fast. Make sure to consult with a professional to get the right products and avoid products with fillers.
Remember, nothing is more sexy than beautiful skin!
