Skincare is for women right? Not exactly, Men need to take care of their skin too and according to the Wall Street Journallmen's skin care has recently gone mainstream and that's a good thing.
Growing up, I remember my dad in the bathroom for the 3 S's. Shhh, shower, and shave. There weren't any skincare routines or elaborate creams, moisturizers, or anything of that sort going on.
My mother was the one in the bathroom washing her face, putting on lotion, creams. My dad and I were the ones in and out of the bathroom, sitting and waiting for her to get ready.
This isn't the case any longer. Skin care is something that everyone can benefit from including guys. It makes sense that taking care of your skin is just as important as working out, eating healthy foods, and getting enough rest to live a long and happy life.
What is Men's Skin Care?
According to Wikipedia skincare is a daily routine used to help the integrity of your skin. Preventing excessive exposure to the sun (reduced sun exposure and the use of sunscreen), the use of emollients to moisturize the skin (lotions, moisturizers, ointments, creams, or gels), exfoilation (removal of dead skin cells), and the use of cosmetics to help with skin that is too dry or too oily.
In short skin care is a routine that helps you take better care of your skin. If you are into exercising then you are very familiar with an exercise routine that helps reduce fat, enhance muscle growth, and provides overall better health. Skincare is the same type of routine for your skin.
Protecting your skin from the sun
Men and Women alike enjoy being out in the sun. There is nothing better than enjoying the rays of the sun at your favorite beach. Getting that much needed suntan makes your teeth look whiter and makes you feel great. Unfortunately those powerful sun rays harm your skin and can cause a variety of skin problems later in life.
The best way to prevent future skin problems from the sun is to reduce your exposure to the sun. It doesn't mean you need to stay inside and hide under covers. Just be smart and take a few precautions and you'll be all good.
No tanning beds. These things are concentrated ultraviolet rays that produce a killer tan, however they damage your skin no matter how careful you are. Before buying an unlimited tanning pass you might want to think twice about the impact it has on your skin.
Use Sunscreen. Sun screen can be found in almost any store and if you are going to be out in the sun you need to use it. The higher the SPF the better. It will protect your skin from burning and also protect it from future problems you'll encounter later in life.
If you are spending the entire day out in the sun make sure you take cover under some shade for at least part of the day. You will get to enjoy the outdoors while you are protecting your skin. Wear clothing that covers your skin if shade isn't available. There are plenty of clothing options made to protect your skin under the sun.
Should Men Exfoliate?
The short answer is yes. This is one of the most important aspect of Men's skincare. Exfoliating your skin helps remove dry and/or dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.
It can help reduce many types of skin problems and will also improve blood circulation. The results are much healthier skin, keeping your face looking like a young guy instead of an old wrinkly man.
Should men use lotion?
Lotions, Creams, Balms, and other such products are emollients. Emollients help keep many types of skin problems in check. If your skin is dry, oily, itchy, flaky, then you need to start finding a skincare routine that will help address it.
According to Eczema.org emollients will help your skin remain flexible, less itchy, and fell more comfortable.
Not all men have the same type of skin, so you'll need to identify your skin type, try a few different products until you find the right one for you. Here are a few tips to get started.
If you have dry skin you'll want to apply a moisturizer after bathing while your skin is still moist. This will help trap some of the moisture in your skin and keep it feeling soft and smooth.
If your skin is on the oily side then you'll want to look into cleansers and moisturizers. Some guys think that since soap is a drying agent it might help with oily skin. Unfortunately this isn't true. Soap can dry out your skin and trigger your body to produce excessive oil to combat it, leading to an even worse problem than before.
According to Webmd.com using a basic facial cleanser will help men with oily skin. If that doesn't cut it you can use products created for acne even if your skin is acne free. The chemicals in the acne products naturally help reduce the oil in your skin.
Shaving skin care
Many men shave daily and this itself can lead to many skin problems. Shaving seems to be a very trivial thing where you just need a razor and some shaving cream, but that's not entirely true.
Razors with multiple blades are designed to lift and cut facial hair. For some guys this creates a silky smooth shave and for others it leads to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Switching to a safety razor can help prevent these issues and provides an amazing shave at a fraction of the cost.
Shaving cream in a can has become the norm for men. Unfortunately canned shaving cream is full of all sorts of things that just aren't good for your skin. An article on HowStuffWorks.com talks about the chemicals in many brands of men's shaving cream. Some of the chemicals are also found in antifreeze and brake fluid and are very controversial in the cosmetic industry.
Shaving soap is an excellent alternative. The harmful ingredients in canned shaving cream are non existent in shaving soaps. A side benefit is that most shave soaps include emollients that moisturize your skin and also provide an excellent shave.
Men's Skin Care Summary
As you can see there are a variety of aspects when it comes to Men's skin care. To keep it simple make sure you protect your skin from the sun, moisturize and exfoilate your skin, and when shaving consider a safety razor and shaving soap to help keep you looking young and healthy.
