When it comes to finding a men’s skin care routine, most men want to keep it as simple and fast as possible. While you may not want to bother with specialty products, you know you need to pay attention to your skin in order to keep your it looking and feeling as healthy as possible, for as long as possible.
The good news is, skin care doesn’t have to be complex or time consuming in order to be effective.
Know Your Skin Type
In order to determine the best skin care routine for you, it will first be important to figure out your skin type. That way, you can find products that will provide the most benefit to your skin.
Here’s a quick look at the most common skin types.
- Noticeably Aging – This means you might have noticeable wrinkles, dull skin, sagging skin, or age spots.
- Dry – As the name implies, this means your skin dries out quickly. It may also easily become irritated. If the skin on your face turns red after you wash it, you might have dry skin.
- Sensitive – Your skin becomes easily irritated, especially when you use certain products or experience harsh weather conditions.
- Oily – You might have the opposite problem. Your skin might seem shiny, with oily patches in certain places.
- Combination – It’s possible to have a mixture of dry and oily skin. Your forehead, for example, might be oily, while your cheeks are dry.
- Normal – Your skin rarely gets dry or irritated, and you don’t notice any oily spots.1
The Basics: Wash, Exfoliate, And Moisturize Your Skin Daily (With Products Designed For Your Skin Type)
Once you determine your skin type, starting a men’s skin care routine is easy. The first thing to do is to make sure you wash your face daily. Look for a facial cleanser that matches your skin type. Bar soap may contain ingredients that are too harsh for your skin, which could lead to dryness.
Apply your facial cleanser, and wash with warm water. This will remove bacteria that can clog your pores. After doing that, use a moisturizer designed for your skin type. Apply the moisturizer while your skin is still damp from washing to lock in moisture.
The next step is exfoliation. You can use either a gentle facial scrub or products containing exfoliating ingredients such as lactic or glycolic acid. Now, you don’t necessarily need to do this every day, but doing it every once in a while can help keep your skin looking its best.
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and promotes the growth of healthy cells to help keep your skin looking smooth. Exfoliate between one and three times a week, depending on what type of skin you have. If you have oily skin, do it more often. If you have dry skin, do it less often.2,3
Other Products And Ingredients: Toner, Sunscreen, Eye Cream And More
There are several other products on the market made to support the health of your skin When deciding what to use, again, keep your skin type in mind. If you have dry or sensitive skin, for example, consider using products with mild ingredients. And if you’re unsure what’s best, ask a dermatologist for help with a skin care regimen.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a must for everyone – especially for those who live an active life and love the outdoors. You should use it every day no matter what the temperature may be. You should also use it even if it’s a cloudy day.
If you’re going to be outside for a long time, re-apply sunscreen every two hours – especially if you’ll be doing a lot of swimming or sweating. Doing so will help protect your skin from damage linked to sun exposure, and it may also help with the appearance of wrinkles or age spots.4,5
Eye Cream
Do men really need to use eye cream? In a word, yes. This type of cream might help reduce the appearance of aging skin under and around the eyes. Using cream under the eyes can ease the dryness that occurs when you’re outside for extended periods of time. If you like to ski, for example, the winter air can really do a number on the thin skin under the eyes. Using an eye cream can create a barrier between your skin and the elements.
Eye cream may also help reduce irritation, which can cause wrinkles.6
Sensitive Skin, Dark Spots, Sun Damage, And More: Know When To See A Doctor Or Dermatologist
You should check your skin regularly (at least once a month) to look for any odd spots or moles.7 If you see something strange, make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist to get it checked out.
You should also see a medical professional if you have a mole that changes color, grows in size, bleeds or itches.8 The earlier you get checked out, the better the chances that any problems can be caught early and addressed successfully.
There are other reasons to see a doctor if something is off with the appearance of your skin. Here are just a few.
- Persistent rashes or hives – These could be signs that you have some sort of skin ailment or you’re experiencing some kind of allergic reaction.
- Excessive scarring – If you have a troublesome scar that affects your appearance, see a dermatologist. They may have recommendations for helping to reduce the appearance of certain scars.
- Irritated skin – Itchiness and redness are signs your skin is irritated. If moisturizer and other products don’t take care of these issues, see your doctor. You might have sensitive skin or a skin condition that needs to be addressed.9
A Men’s Skin Care Routine Might Be Just What You Need
If you’re worried that you’re looking older than your years, you might want to consider starting a skincare routine. As you can see, it’s not really difficult or time-consuming to do so, and the earlier you begin caring for your skin, the better.
Learn More:
5 Quick Health Benefits Of Manuka Honey
Fact Or Fiction: Stem Cells Are The Fountain Of Youth?
Should You Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day?
Sources
1 https://modrnman.com/blogs/health/daily-mens-skin-care-routine
2 https://effortlessgent.com/daily-skincare-routine/
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5172479/
4 https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/do-you-really-need-a-skin-care-routine
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853009/
6 https://www.askmen.com/grooming/appearance/eye-creams-for-men.html#What%2520Do%2520Eye%2520Creams%2520Do
7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440310/
8 https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/healthy/be-safe-in-sun/skin-exams.html
9 https://healthcare.utah.edu/dermatology/when-to-see-dermatologist.php