After living in a majority male household at university, I discovered that a lot of men do not have a daily skincare routine, although that is not to say that they do not want one. A lot of men I know, do not think there is nothing wrong with using shower gel and body moisturiser on their face. If your skin appears healthy then perhaps there is no need to improve skincare, However you never know how healthy your skin can be, until you make those small changes. This read should give some guidance for anyone looking to establish a skincare routine an Idea of where to start.
HEALTHY SKIN: DO's & DONT's
DO – Exercise. Increasing blood flow to circulate nutrients round the body and sweating can help help remove toxins from the body. Exercise is also great for hormone regulation.
DO – Moisturise and then use and SPF for Anti-aging. Collagen production can stop from as young as 25, the body then starts to breaking down collagen at this point.
DO – Hydrate. Drinking plenty helps flush out toxins, help nutrient delivery and hydrate your skin from the inside.
DON'T – Use body Wash / shampoo & body Moisturiser on your face. A lot of Shampoo and body washes contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and Silicones which can irritate and dry skin out. Body Moisturisers are generally more rich and intensive so have the ability to block pours.
DON'T – Pull the skin. Be gentle when handling your skin, moving the skin heavy handed without moisturiser can cause fine lines and wrinkles.
DON'T – Forget to wash your facial hair. Not cleaning your beard regularly can contribute build up at the root of the hairs, which can cause blemishes.
DAILY SKIN ROUTINE FOR MEN
Follow the recommended steps to help inform a healthy skin routine with the suggested products.
METHOD
AM OR PRE EXERSIZE - Cleanse,Clean facial hair & Moisturise.
CLEANSE - Cleansing skin is just washing your face with a soap free face wash. Massage the skin in upwards motions while cleansing. Then use a warm cloth to gently dab away the excess products, avoid pulling the skin with the cloth.
FACIAL HAIR - If you have a Beard or Stubble when cleansing use beard shampoo at least once a week. This maintains healthy looking hair and helps remove dirt and dead skin, which can help promote healthier skin.
MOISTURISE - Let the skin cool, before applying moisturiser, being careful with the skin to avoid pulling.
SPF - Will help slow ageing, even if you have a lot of melanin in your skin. If you are heading outside skin will be exposed to UVA/UVB whatever the weather.
LIP BALM - Apply a lip balm to moisturise lips & skin around the mouth.
PM OR POST EXERCISE - Repeat Cleanse, then exfoliate & finish with Moisturiser.
EXFOLIATE - exfoliating twice a week or daily with a gentle exfoliator like the one recommended below is a great way to smooth the skin surface and remove dead skin. The best time to do this is in the evening as skin can be left looking and feeling more sensitive initially. Target areas where dead skin or dirt can build up around the T-zone. Exfoliating too much can sensitise skin - do this in moderation or try AHA & BHA chemical exfoliators for a more gentle approach.
MOISTURISE - moisturise and apply lip balm before bed.
PRODUCTS SUGGESTIONS
CLEANSERS - Help remove dirt & oil, cream or milk cleansers suit most skin types.
Dry or sensitive skin - Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser £11.49
Normal skin - Botanics organic softening Cleanser £7.99
Combination skin - COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser £10
Oily skin - Lab Series Skincare For Men Multi-Action Face Wash £21
EXFOLIATORS - Help to smooth skins surface and remove dead skin. Beta hydroxy acid (BHA's) are great for acne prone skin & Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) help plump and smooth skin's surface.
Dry or sensitive skin - The INKEY List Lactic Acid Exfoliant (AHA) £7.99
Normal skin - Lab Series Skincare For Men Invigorating Face Scrub £27
Combination skin - Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser (AHA) £10
Oily skin - Bulldog Oil Control Face Scrub £5
MOISTURISER - Helps support the skins protective barrier. Even if skin is oily ALWAYS moisturise
Dry or sensitive skin - The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA £5.20
Normal skin - Bull Dog original moisturiser £6
Combination skin - T&H Authentic No.10 Sensitive Moisturise £12
Oily skin - Natio For Men Oil Free Moisturiser £8.50
SPF - Essential for anti-aging.
BEARD CARE
LIP CARE
For more skincare recommendations see 'Exercise Your skin Beautiful'