If you’ve been skipping out on your skin care like most men do, it’s time to change that. Contrary to what most women would have you believe, you don’t need to spend hours in the bathroom every morning and evening to protect and care for your skin. There are a few simple steps that will help you obtain long-term results in having healthier skin, fighting breakouts and shaving irritations.
As with most things in life, skin care requires a lot of consistency. However, developing a routine can be quite difficult if you don’t know what to use or where to start. The first thing you need to do is figure out your skin type. Generally, men have thicker, oilier skin due to the effects of testosterone, so most products formulated for men are meant for combating oily skin. But that’s not a given. Some men have dry skin, and if you’re one of them, look for products that address that issue.
Once you’ve figured out your skin type, you need to buy 3 basic products – a cleanser, a moisturiser and an antioxidant. You should use a cleanser every night in order to prevent pollution and dirt soak into your pores throughout the night. Personally, I use a facial cleanser from Sukin for men, which is completely natural and removes dirt and oil build-up, soothes my skin and leaves it hydrated, clean and refreshed.
The antioxidant is to combat the oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Oxidative stress is basically our bodies’ reaction to things like cigarette smoke, air pollution, UV rays, and industrial chemicals. The antioxidant will help you reduce damage, and you should use it every morning before using the moisturizer, and after your shaving routine. I use an antioxidant from LAB Series, which helps recover the skin, fight off wrinkles and help neutralize damage.
And lastly, you need a moisturiser that has a sun protection factor of at least 30. Contrary to what many people believe, sunscreen isn’t just for outdoor sports and the beach. Any time spent in the sun adds up and damages your skin. That being said, always apply a moisturizer after the antioxidant in the morning, and you can also apply a moisturizer without sunscreen at night. However, people with oily skin don’t really need to apply a moisturizer at night. The moisturizer from Sukin for men that I use has significantly helped me to hydrate and soothe my skin.