A skincare routine is essential for maintaining your skin’s natural radiance and ensuring it looks its best. Women are the primary focus of many skincare products in the beauty industry, but men are equally prone to skincare issues. This guide will discuss the significance of male skincare and the most common skincare mistakes.
Why Skincare Matters for Men
It isn’t “unmanly” to care about your skin.
Men and women experience the same environmental stressors, sun exposure, and skin changes associated with aging. Men also produce more androgens than women, a sex hormone that helps sebum production. Sebum often causes clogged pores, an oily complexion, stubborn acne breakouts, imperfections, and other skin care issues.
To balance the skin and preserve its youthful appearance, men should follow the example of women and invest in a skincare regimen to treat pesky skin concerns, stay moisturized, and fight off irritation.
5 Common Skincare Mistakes
If you only wash your face every once daily, you need to do better. Healthy and hydrated skin needs nutrients, skincare essentials, and an effective shaving routine. Here are five common skincare errors:
1. Cleansing the Face with Bar Soap
Cleansing your face with a regular bar of soap can strip away natural oils and harm your skin’s protective layer. Instead, invest in skincare essentials like gentle water-based or purifying gel-based cleansers, which usually contain gentle, nutrient-rich ingredients that clean your pores without stripping your skin.
2. Inadequate Shaving Practices
Before you shave, wash your face with a cleanser to eliminate dirt, grime, and build-up in your pores.
Next, apply thick shaving cream to your face and ensure your razor is sharp, as accidentally nicking your skin with a dull razor can cause inflammation. In addition, always shave with the grain of the hair – shaving against the grain often leads to razor burn and irritation.
Lastly, apply aftershave to lock in moisture and hydration but avoid those infused with harsh alcohol as they tend to dry out the skin.
3. Skipping Daily Moisturization
A trusted daily moisturizer is a must-have. Moisturizing daily can help reduce your risk of dryness, redness, and other skincare problems. If you don’t moisturize daily, you may experience skin tightness, dryness, and ongoing irritation. To achieve optimal results, moisturize your skin at least twice a day – once in the morning and once at night with a moisturizer like The Cream – our light, refreshing daily moisturizer that supports cellular renewal and is clinically proven to help reduce signs of aging.
4. Over-exfoliation
Exfoliation eliminates dead skin cells, allows new cell growth, and helps brighten your complexion. However, daily exfoliating can harm your skin’s natural barrier, leading to redness, impurities, and imperfections.
5. Forgetting Sunscreen
If you only apply sunscreen on the way to the beach or pool, it’s time to rethink. Regardless of the time of year, you always need a trusted sunscreen on hand to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Failure to use sunscreen can lead to skin discoloration, fine lines, and even skin cancer. To ensure adequate protection, apply SPF 30 or higher before going outside, and reapply every few hours when you plan to spend an extended period in the sun.
Five Quick Fixes to Transform Your Skin
If you want to combat signs of aging and keep your skin healthy and thriving, it’s time to revise your everyday routine and start making substantial lifestyle changes. Here are five quick fixes to help you get started:
Stay hydrated
Hydrate your skin from the inside out by regularly drinking water. According to the National Academy of Medicine, men over 19 should drink at least 13 cups of water each day. Prioritizing your water intake is a great way to keep your skin hydrated and prevent unwanted signs of aging.
Make time for yourself
Did you know that stress can contribute to several skin care conditions, including acne and eczema? Don’t be afraid to step back, unwind, and relax when you feel overwhelmed with work or everyday life. Minimizing stress will help you combat anxious feelings and the physical signs of stress.
Protect your skin from the sun
As we said before, sunscreen is a must. If you don’t have sunscreen, consider protecting your skin with sunglasses and a hat to minimize exposure.
Prioritize skin-loving nutrients
Your skin reflects what you put into your body, so keep your skin looking healthy by choosing a diet filled with skin-loving nutrients like vitamin A, zinc, and protein.
Quit bad habits
Excessive alcohol or smoking reduces your skin’s elasticity and leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Put an end to these bad habits if you’re serious about maintaining a youthful complexion and building a successful skincare routine.
Building a men’s skincare regime
Men still need a skincare routine, so don’t be fooled by the lack of marketing. However, before you run to the nearest store for products to add to your routine, identify your skin type – this will help you find skincare essentials formulated with nutrients for your specific skin type.
Start with a cleanser, sunscreen, and moisturizer. From there, you can revise your daily routine and minimize common skincare mistakes to move closer to visually healthier-looking skin.