Often times men cringe at the thought of having to execute some 6 step skin care plan. Nor do they want to shell out the cash for products when they can’t understand what to do with said skincare products. Instead of opting for your girlfriend’s moisturizer or roommate’s eye cream, we wanted break down men’s skin care and simplify it, while calling out ingredients to look for when shopping.
First let’s answer the age-old question: Is men’s skin really that different from women’s or is this some type of fragile masculinity marketing ploy for brands to expand revenue off naïve consumers? The simple answer to Men’s skin care is yes, men’s skin really is different. However, fear not, sharing some products can be okay!
Besides the obvious differences such as coarse facial hair, testosterone stimulation causes a thickness in men’s skin up words of 25% from women’s. With the thickness of skin also comes a tougher texture that can be more sustainable to acne and dirt build up due to texture and sweat. Though men have smaller oil glands they generally have oilier skin, which will play a big part in what type of products to look for when updating your skin care collective.
Regardless of oily or dry skin an ingredient every guy should have in his routine is a strong hydrator. Whether it be a more common hydration vessel like glycerin, or my personal favorite hyaluronic acid, is up to you. Using a serum with Hyaluronic Acid is going to lock in hydration and plump up any fine lines you may have in the smile lines or crows feet area. Hydration is key because if you have oily skin the hydration boost can lower oil levels and lots of men’s moisturizers have a matte finish to help you keep oil at bay all day.
If you struggle with oily skin and even see acne it is crucial that you deep cleanse and exfoliate at least twice a week. Doing a detoxifying facial mask will keep debris buildup at bay while exfoliating keeps the dead skin aka dry texture off the skin. Remember, dirty oily textured skin equals acnes playground. Look for powerful ingredients like glycolic acid and salicylic acid to combat oil and also help to exfoliate the skin throughout the day. Check out this brand highlight post we did on Dermalogica for more product recommendations for acne prone skin.
Regardless of age, men have a higher collagen density than women. Because collagen content is directly related to the signs of skin aging, it has been said that it seems women age more quickly or lack the firmness of men within the same age gap. UV damage from the sun can also add years to skin which is where men can step up and understand that a quality facial sunscreen is a non-negotiable.
Did you know that half of the sunscreens that are sold in the US would not get approved to be sold in the UK? Select a “Broad Spectrum” sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, the big numbers past SPF 50 are nothing more than misleading but we will save that for another post. Broad Spectrum sunscreens should protect against UVB and UVA rays.
While not every skin care product needs to be gender specific, its important to remember what your personal skin type may need. Regardless of oily, acne prone, dry or sensitive there are products out there to help support your needs. If you want to try a unisex facial mask or anti-aging retinol go for it but when it comes to the core of your skin care routine stick to what your skin is asking you for.
