Men Need Skincare Too…Really!!
If you’re of the male persuasion, you may be under the false belief that all you need to get through your daily skincare ritual is a can a shaving cream, a razor and maybe some aftershave. While keeping your facial hair in line is a must, there are a few easy extra steps that should be added to address the needs of your actual skin. Most guys tend to avoid taking care of their skin because they think it’s too complicated or that it’s downright a ritual reserved for women. Nothing could be further from the truth. Skin is your largest organ and whether you’re a woman or a man, it needs to be kept healthy.
Here are some easy essentials, even if you’re a newcomer to the whole skincare scene.
Figure Out Your Skin Type
This is pretty basic but as a guy, you may have never really thought about it. It’s actually really good to know. That way you can choose products that are geared to your specific skin type. Which of these sounds most like yours?
- Normal Skin: Your skin is generally free of oil and doesn’t tend to get irritated or dry and you typically don’t experience breakouts.
- Dry/Sensitive Skin: Your skin tends to feel tight and dry and is easily irritated.
- Oily Skin: Your skin tends to be shiny and is prone to acne.
- Combination Skin: Your forehead, nose and chin tend to be oily but your cheeks are dry.
- Aging Skin: Your skin is wrinkled, has age spots and may show signs of sun damage.
Cleanse Twice a Day
Choose a cleanser suited to your skin type. Wash your face first thing in the morning and before you hit the hay at night. Using warm water, apply facial wash to your wet skin. Gently rub in circular motion. Rinse with cool water.
Scrub-a dub
Exfoliating is really important and should be done once to three times a week following your morning cleansing. It helps remove dead skin cells and any impurities that may have built up on your skin. As with a cleanser, you’ll want to gently rub a mall amount in circular motion onto damp skin. Rinse with cool water.
Prep for Shaving
Following cleansing or exfoliating, rinse your face with warm water to open up your pores then apply a thin layer of pre-shaving cream.
Choose a razor you feel comfortable with even if this means some trial and error. Some men like single blades, others prefer multi-blades as the shaving process tends to be quicker with these.
Love the shave
When shaving, be careful not to apply too much pressure as doing so can lead to irritated skin. Another culprit of irritated skin? Shaving against the direction of beard growth. Rather, choose to shave in the direction of your hair growth, with slow, smooth strokes.
Skin gets damaged more easily if you make swift movements with your razor or apply your creams too quickly. Give yourself enough time to shave in the morning and allow a few minutes between washing, applying pre-shaving cream and shaving.
Moisturize Day & Night
This is an important step that mustn’t be neglected. Not only does a well-hydrated skin make for a smoother shave, it firms up the skin by replenishing moisture and helps to combat free-radical damage, an unavoidable effect of aging skin.
If it’s a no-shave day, apply a hydrating moisturizer (day and night) after cleansing or exfoliating your face. If you’ve shaved, apply moisturizer about 5 minutes after you’ve finished shaving.
Don’t Forget: Sun Protection Is Key
The key to maintaining healthy skin and avoiding premature aging is to use a sunscreen. If you know you’ll be outdoors for an extended period of time, choose a sunscreen that has at least an SPF of 15. Apply it in lieu of your hydrating moisturizer.
So gentlemen, admittedly there are a few steps to attaining youthful yet manly skin but you’ll see that once you implement, and start following a daily skincare routine, you’ll get the hang of it in no time flat. Not only is it a cinch but as an added bonus, get ready for compliments on your appearance to start pouring in.
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