It’s true that men and women are from entirely different planets when it comes to getting ready. While many women spend an hour or two practising good skincare routines and getting their hair and makeup just right, it usually takes more or less 30 minutes for men to get ready for work.
The thing is, a lot of guys believe that a skincare regimen is only beneficial when there’s a specific skin problem to address, such as acne, dark spots or other typical skin concerns. However, if you’ve been skipping out on a daily skincare routine, you’re missing out on giving your appearance a major boost.
It is no secret that skin is the largest organ of the body, and just like any other essential part, it needs daily pampering and other preventative measures to keep it healthy inside and out. In a nutshell, skincare is just as important as maintaining a healthy weight to keep your body in tip-top shape. The good news is that no man is too old or too young to start his own skincare regimen. In this article, we cover some of the easiest adjustments you can make in your daily routine for potentially long-lasting results.
Cleanse
Both morning and night are the best times to give your skin a deep cleanse it needs. Every morning, wash your face with a cleanser that works for your skin type. Cleansing with a mild foaming soap before shaving may also help reduce sebum buildup on your skin’s surface and pores. Unless you have skin sensitivities, you may alternate between a mild foaming soap or exfoliating cleanser for an enhanced shaving and cleansing experience. Cleansing first thing in the morning helps refresh your skin by removing stubborn dirt and other impurities that might accumulate overnight.
Similarly, before you go to bed, wash your face with your preferred cleanser to prevent oil and bacteria from soaking into your pores all night. When it comes to facial cleansing or taking a bath, warm water works best for any skin type. It can be tempting to jump in a hot bath and stay there for an extended period when it’s cold. However, a scorching shower may harm your skin by drying it out and stripping away its natural oils, thereby causing itchy, flaky and scaly skin. If you want to use hot water, be sure to keep it under five minutes to prevent skin dryness. Another pro tip is to rinse with cold water for an extra refreshing boost, especially if you have oily skin.
Repair
Your skin experiences wear and tear over time because of the free radicals, such as air pollution, ultraviolet (UV) rays, and other environmental toxins that cause oxidative stress. While most skin conditions are a natural reaction of the body to everyday stressors, failure to manage such issues can lead to even more severe skin disorders in the long run.
Some experts suggest that antioxidants like vitamin C may help repair skin damage. Clay masks, in addition, may work well for oily and acne-prone skin. Clay is thought to have positive effects in killing moulds and bacteria, which often cause common skin issues like acne. On top of that, this mineral can help absorb excess oil or sebum to maintain balance in the skin. Also, nowadays, many people tend to use various CBD infused products, from the best CBD oil gummies and countess topical solutions to easy-to-swallow pills and fruity-flavoured tinctures, as this compound is known as a great antioxidant.
Purchasing a suitable skincare product can be a challenge, with an influx of skincare trends in the market. One helpful tip when buying new skincare products is to review their content. For more sensitive skin, less is more when it comes to skincare ingredients. Make sure the product contains ingredients that you can pronounce and is free of any harsh additives that could cause skin irritation. Most importantly, make sure to always do a patch test before you use a new product to determine whether your skin will react negatively to it.
Moisturise
Start applying moisturiser to your skin after every wash if you haven’t already. A moisturising cream that suits your skin type is essential in keeping your skin’s natural glow and radiance. As you age, your skin proteins — also known as collagen — start to fluctuate in number. Take note that any imbalances in collagen typically affects your skin cells’ ability to hold as much moisture as they used to when you were younger. Luckily, moisturisers give your skin extra moisture to help reduce dryness and even wrinkles and fine lines, too, as you grow older. Applying small amounts of your preferred moisturiser can have a significant impact when it comes to keeping your sebum level in check and minimising blemishes that cause ageing. Skin experts recommend using heavier moisturisers during the cold months to maintain skin hydration.
Furthermore, one study shows that moisturisers can help ease common inflammatory skin problems, such as eczema. The researchers pointed out that “some moisturiser components, including glycyrrhetinic acid, palmitoyl-ethanolamine, telmesteine and Vitis vinifera potentially hold some anti-inflammatory properties that help regulate cytokines production and provide a soothing effect on inflamed skin.“. While moisturising the face is an essential part of daily skincare rituals to promote hydration, it doesn’t hurt to apply moisturiser to sore areas on your skin after a warm cleanse to help alleviate the inflammation.
Protect
Applying sunscreen is vital not just for sunbathing at the beach or playing outdoor sports. Excessive sun exposure without protection allows UV rays to penetrate your inner skin layers and cause sunburn. Even incidental sun exposure, such as when you spend walking to and from your office or sitting at a bus stop, adds up over time and causes skin damage and ageing. That’s why it makes sense to always apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 before going out, especially during summer. In fact, many experts recommend the use of sunscreen even inside your home or your car to help protect your skin from the UV rays that can pass through glass windows, as well as the blue light from your smartphones, laptops and TVs.
Final Thoughts
Those are the easiest skincare tips you can include in your daily morning and nightly routines. Keep in mind that there’s nothing vain or feminine about skincare habits. In fact, skincare is a vital part of what you do for your overall health and wellbeing. More than that, it’s about self-love, which greatly influences the way you view life and treat others, so being kind to your own skin won’t make you less of a man but more of a healthy and confident individual.
One gender-inclusive skincare brand that I know is Refresh Skin Science.