The skincare industry has been progressing and making such great strides in the past few decades. It has started to blur the gender norms and focus on an individual’s health rather than the societal stigma attached to beauty and skincare. In the past, men have faced judgement and bias if they took good care of their skin or used skincare products. Today, we are working towards a judgement-free future. That is why we bring you a skin care routine for men!
Why men need to take care of their skin too!
To dispel any myths about “why men don’t need to take extra care of their skin”, we need to be aware of the fact that most skin conditions like acne, comedones and pigmentation are not gender-based; they are skin issues. They are equally common to both men, women and anyone who has skin; hence it is only logical to focus on taking care of their skin too.
Do men need specialised skincare products?
The common skin types like normal, oily, dry and combination apply to men’s skin too. A widespread assumption is that since men’s skin is usually more rigid and less smooth than that of women, they need different skincare products specifically designed for such skin in a skin care routine for men.
Testosterone-targeted advertisements for men’s products only fuel this. However, this is false for the most part. A simple look at the ingredients list of any such product and comparing it to a similar women’s product will show you that they are no different from each other.
In actuality, both products tend to be similar and function just the same.
The skin care routine for men!
The basic actions that any skincare routine for men must perform are cleaning, exfoliating, moisturising, and protecting. We would like to stress that this is the same for any regular skincare regime, regardless of gender. However, today more products are available specifically for men if they feel uncomfortable buying products advertised typically for ‘women’.
Cleansing
This is a fundamental process that everyone should follow if they want to keep their skin healthy and blemish-free. When oil-producing glands known as sebaceous glands get clogged and infected, they result in pustules called “pimples”. One common conflict faced by men during cleansing is the use of bar soap versus a specific face wash.
Indeed, bar soap is often too harsh on the skin since it has higher chances of drying it out too much. In contrast, a face wash is specifically designed to clean the face of impurities, and dirt whilst retaining moisture in the skin.
It is vital to clean the skin by washing it with cleansers, as this rids the skin of possible impurities and dirt that may later clog the pores on our face. This clogging is the cause of pimples and acne.
This is only the first step in a series of simple steps for healthy skin for men, and there happen to be a wide range of face washes for men to choose from now.
Exfoliating
The following step of exfoliating is vital. It needs to be performed once or twice a week by men because it helps open up pores and rid them of any impurities.
Exfoliating with a suitable facial scrub extracts dead skin and debris from the outermost layer of skin. Post this mild desquamation, washing your face with cold water will help shrink pores, ensuring it stays clean. As for any working individual, men who are out and about all day need to ensure they follow these steps to combat the dirt that accumulates on their skin.
Moisturising
This is the most essential step in any skincare regime. We medically recommend that you apply moisturiser after baths or exfoliation while the skin is still a little damp.. This line of products helps restore moisture in the skin, and lipids that help store moisture in the skin’s surface need this to make the skin look younger and fresh.
Moisturising further helps you avoid any future skin conditions like dryness and scaly skin. It also helps camouflage minor blemishes and slightly uneven skin tone that you may have.
Protect
After moisturising your skin, the best way to end your skincare routine is to help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. The different types of UV rays are capable of causing skin damage. This involves drying out the skin and exhausting it of its natural oils and moisture.
The rays can also pass through the top layers of the skin, causing permanent alterations to the DNA through the absorption of UV-B photons. This leads to elastosis, meaning that the skin loses its elasticity and leads to wrinkling and fine lines.
To avoid such damage to the skin, it is always safe to use suitable sun protection in the form of sunscreen lotions, with an adequately high SPF, depending on how long you spend your time outdoors.
The silver lining
However, do not be discouraged if you still face skin conditions like acne because other factors do play a part in this. For teenagers, the hormonal changes during puberty will inevitably result in acne. For more competent advice on your skin, be sure to consult a dermatologist to find out your skin type and the exact kind of skincare you may need.
FAQ’s
1. How do I select the right products for myself?
You can start by finding out your skin type and then choosing products with ingredients that are good for your skin type. If you have specific skin issues you can take the help of a dermatologist to get yourself the right products.
2. Should men use toner?
We usually do not recommend that anyone use toner as it dries out the skin and can sometimes irritate it.
3. How can men get healthy skin?
In general, apart from having a basic skincare routine like the one above, you can get yourself healthy-looking clear skin by combining it with a healthy diet and exercise.
4. Do I need to use a serum or night cream?
Depending on your skin condition, you might have to use a serum to address any issues. A dermatologist will help you with treatment options and products.
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