Guys, we get it.
Taking care of your skin isn’t just for women and shouldn’t be complicated. That’s why we’re taking the B.S. out of skincare and making it simple to design a skincare routine that matches your lifestyle. Whether you are starting from scratch or building on what is already working, creating a routine for your specific needs will keep your skin feeling and looking its best.
But first let’s take a look at the subtle differences between men and women’s skin that affects how you age and your specific skincare needs.
Lucky for you guys, men’s skin ages better than women's. Your skin is around 25% thicker with larger pores and double the sebum production when compared to women's skin. This extra sebum makes men's skin more oily and prone to acne, and generally less prone to dryness or dehydration. Another perk for you guys, you have a higher density of collagen that degrades more slowly over a longer period of time. This results in less pronounced wrinkles and a less noticeable aging process.
Now that you have a foundational understanding of the common characteristics of your skin, let's break down the different skin types. Your skin type can change throughout the year and as you age, so use these as a guide to help understand what your skin needs at any given time.
Dry skin- This skin type produces less natural oils. It can appear dull or flaky, feel itchy or rough, and struggle with elasticity.
Oily skin- This skin is characterized by excessive oil production on your face, scalp, back or chest. Skin can appear shiny or greasy with clogged pores concentrated in your t-zone.
Sensitive skin- Prone to redness and inflammation, this skin is reactive. It often stings or burns after using certain products and can struggle with maintaining moisture.
Normal skin- balanced oil production and holds onto moisture easily. Even texture and better elasticity.
Knowing your skin type is the first step in selecting the right products for your skincare routine. When building out your routine, we’re going to keep it simple and stick to the essentials. Your routine is designed around 3 essential steps: cleanse, moisturize and protect.
1. Cleansing
Wash your face daily and please, trade in that bar of soap for a mild facial cleanser. Since you’ve got more oil production on your hands, its important to keep this in check. Removing any excess oil with a mild cleanser will keep this buildup from holding onto dirt and grime, clogging your pores and causing acne. If you have dry skin try out a gentle cream cleanser, whereas if you have oily skin reach for a mild gel cleanser.
We recommend the Clarifying Milk Cleanse to unclog pores and remove debris while prepping your skin for a clean shave.
2. Moisturize
Moisturize daily when your skin is still damp from showering. This will help trap water deep in your skin, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and boosting cellular hydration. If you spend a lot of time outside or struggle with discoloration, look for a moisturizer rich with antioxidants in the ingredient list like niacinamide, green tea extract, vitamin C or vitamin E.
We recommend the Deep Hydration Face Cream to keep your skin moisturized and supple.
3. Protect
The last, and the most important step, is protecting your skin with sunscreen. Sunscreen is the best anti-aging product out there and will help prevent your skin from turning leather-y as you get older (70 year old you will thank you). The most important thing about choosing a sunscreen is that you like the formula, because then you are more likely to apply it every day.
If you put your skin through particularly rough conditions, sometimes it will need some extra care. Pollution, harsh working environments, smoking, dehydration and excessive sun exposure all slowly break down your lipid barrier. If you’ve been struggling with flakey skin, increased irritations or skin that stings after shaving, then you might want to consider adding in a face oil. This is an optional step, but there are many lightweight face oils and beard oils available with ingredients like essential fatty acids and ceramides to help restore your skin.
We recommend the Renewing Night Elixir to replenish the building blocks of your barrier while reducing the appearance of redness and irritations post-shave.
Guys, your skincare routine doesn't have to be complicated. By following the steps and guidelines outlined in this blog, you can create a personalized skincare routine that works for you and addresses your specific needs. Remember to stay consistent with your routine and be patient.