It’s true that men should take care of their skin too! Skincare for men has made a big splash over the past couple of years and it’s more important than ever for men to adhere to an effective routine. From shaving to regular cleansing, it is our duty as men to ensure we are doing right by our skin.
The Top 5 Reasons Men Should Start A Skincare Routine
Here are the top 5 reasons men should start a skincare routine:
1. To Improve Your Overall Health
Taking care of your skin can also improve your overall health. A good skincare routine can help you avoid infections, keep your skin hydrated, and reduce stress.
2. To Prevent Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and it’s on the rise. While sunscreen is always recommended, it’s not enough on its own. A good skincare routine can help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
3. To Reduce wrinkles and Fine Lines
As we age, our skin starts to lose its elasticity and we begin to see more wrinkles and fine lines. A good skincare routine can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by keeping your skin hydrated and healthy.
4. To Prevent Acne
Acne is a common problem for teenagers, but it can affect people of all ages. A good skincare routine can help prevent acne by keeping your pores clean and clear.
5. To Look Good
The final reason is that you want to look good. Whether you’re trying to attract a partner or just want to feel better about yourself, taking care of your skin can help boost your confidence.
Skin Types
In order to better understand what you need in a skin care routine it’s important to know the characteristics of your skin. Here are some broad categories:
Normal Skin
Normal skin has the appropriate amount of water and oil hence it suffers from few flaws. Pores are not prominent, skin tone is even, blemishes are few and far in between, and the texture is neither greasy nor flaky.
Dry Skin
Dry skin suffers from lack of adequate sebum production and a high cell turnover rate. It appears lackluster, flaky, and almost poreless.
Oily Skin
Oily skin has visible pores, a greasy texture, and is very prone to breakouts. Unfortunately, since hormone levels determine the amount of oil produced, stress or anything that affects hormones could also trigger them.
Combination Skin
Combination skin might have areas of their face which are oily such as the T-zone (the area of your forehead and your nose are) while the rest could be dry. This skin type is also prone to blackheads.
What Are The Benefits Of The Best Types Of Skincare Products For Men?
The best skincare products for men are designed to improve the appearance and health of your skin. These products can help to:
– Reduce wrinkles and fine lines
– Improve skin tone and texture
– Reduce dark spots and blemishes
– Hydrate and nourish your skin
– Protect your skin from damage
Most of these products work by providing the skin with nutrients that it needs to stay healthy, while also protecting it from damage. For example, sunscreen will protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, while a moisturizer will keep it hydrated.
What Should A Good Men’s Skincare Routine Consist Of?
1. A good face wash: Face washes help to remove dirt, oil, and other impurities from your face. They also help to exfoliate your skin, leaving you with a clean and refreshed complexion.
2. A good shaving cream: Shaving creams help to soften your facial hair, making it easier to shave without causing irritation or razor burn.
3. A good razor: A good razor will give you a close and comfortable shave without causing irritation or razor burn.
4. A good moisturizer: Moisturizers help to hydrate and nourish your skin, keeping it healthy and looking its best.
5. A good sunscreen: Sunscreen helps to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
6. A good lip balm: Lip balms help to hydrate and nourish your lips, keeping them healthy and looking their best.
7. A good cleanser: Cleansers help to remove dirt, oil, and other impurities from your skin. They also help to exfoliate your skin, leaving you with a clean and refreshed complexion.
8. A good exfoliating scrub: An exfoliating scrub will help to slough away dead skin cells and reveal healthier, more radiant skin.
Related Post: Exfoliation Before Or After Shaving? – Experts Weigh In
9. A good eye cream: An eye cream can help to reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes.
What Are Some Of The Key Ingredients Found In These Products?
There are some well-established ingredients with documented benefits to men’s skin care. Here are a few of the major ones:
Allantoin
Promotes healing and soothes skin irritation. Allantoin is known as a keratolytic agent because it helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. This makes it useful for treating acne and other skin conditions that cause flaky skin or eczema. It can also be helpful for preventing wrinkles and fine lines on your face so you look younger longer
Argan Oil
Rich in fatty acids with moisturizing and anti-inflammatory benefits. Argan oil is highly-regarded for its moisturizing properties, which make it an excellent choice for dry or aging skin types. It also contains essential fatty acids (EFAs) and antioxidants that help protect your body from free radicals — molecules that cause damage within cells.
Azelaic Acid
Helps with inflamed pores and works to brighten spots often caused by acne. Azelaic acid is a natural skin-lightening treatment that can help fade dark spots and prevent new ones from forming. It works by inhibiting the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for color in your skin and hair.
Caffeine
Antioxidant that (temporarily) protects and depuffs the skin. Caffeine in men’s skincare products works mainly by increasing circulation to the skin, which helps bring fresh blood to the surface of the skin. This improves circulation and reduces inflammation, which can help reduce redness in the skin. In addition, caffeine stimulates collagen production in the dermis layer of your skin, helping to reduce wrinkles and fine lines as well as improve elasticity in your skin.
Hyaluronic Acid
An ace exfoliator that combats acne and oil, reduces inflammation. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it attracts and binds water to the skin. This helps keep the skin hydrated and plump, which makes it look firmer and younger. Hyaluronic acid also helps prevent moisture loss from the skin.
Kojic Acid
Kojic acid has been shown to be effective in lightening the skin, as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Additionally, kojic acid can help to prevent sun damage and improve the overall health of the skin.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Reduces inflammation, redness and hyperpigmentation. Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) is a water-soluble vitamin that when applied topically helps to improve the appearance of acne scars, hyperpigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to its effects on skin appearance, niacinamide also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe redness and irritation.
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Promotes cell growth minimizing wrinkles, scars and fine lines. Retinol is a form of vitamin A that has been shown to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps to prevent skin from thinning and sagging, which makes it an excellent ingredient for fighting signs of aging.
Peptides
Produces collagen and elasticity, fights lines and uneven tone. Peptides can help stimulate the production of collagen, leading to smoother, more youthful skin. In addition to boosting collagen production, peptides also help to repair damage caused by environmental factors like UV exposure and pollution. They can also increase skin elasticity and help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Salicylic Acid
Removes dirt and oil buildup and unblocks pores. Salicylic Acid is a type of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA). It works by exfoliating the skin to remove dead skin cells and unblock pores. This helps to improve acne, blackheads and whiteheads by unclogging blocked pores. It also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by promoting cell turnover (exfoliation) which stimulates collagen production.
Squalane
Natural moisturizer that hydrates and prevents aging. Squalane can help to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging. It also helps to increase moisture retention in your skin which can help reduce dry patches, flakiness and rough texture. Squalane also has antioxidant properties which can help protect your skin from environmental damage like UV rays from the sun or pollution particles in the air.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps in healing skin after sun exposure and protects it too. It can also brighten and even out skin complexion.
Ingredients To Avoid
Just as there are ingredients to look for in skincare products, there are a few to avoid, too.
Alcohol
Traditionally, alcohol has been included in skincare products to help dry skin and make it less oily — at least in the short term. Long term, it can actually disrupt the skin barrier by stripping away too much oil. This can be particularly a problem for people with sensitive skin, who depend on a healthy skin barrier to keep inflammation in check — but everyone should be wary of how much alcohol they’re putting on their skin. Look for products that say ‘alcohol-free’ on the label instead.
Sulfates
Sulfates are powerful detergents in soaps, shampoos, and shave creams that create the thick foam and lather that many people associate with cleanliness But they can irritate your skin, strip away natural oils that are good for hair and skin, and have been linked to respiratory and kidney issues.
Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial ingredient used in many soaps and grooming products. It’s an effective germicide…but it’s also an endocrine disruptor. That means it interferes with normal hormonal function. The FDA partially banned the use of triclosan in certain over
What Are Some Good Men’s Skincare Product Sets?
[Note: Geologie, Caldara, and Tiege Hanley links are affiliate.]
When it comes to skincare, men have different needs than women. That’s why it’s important to find a skincare routine and product set that’s specifically tailored for men, with options for different skin types if possible. But with so many products on the market, it can be hard to know where to start.
Here are some of the best skincare product sets for men I have found:
#1: Geologie
Geologie has carved out a solid place for itself in the growing men’s skincare industry by making easy-to-use products that focus on simple, proven ingredients that have been trusted by dermatologists for years, like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and kojic acid. And they don’t believe that a one-size-fits-all skin routine can also take into account the specific needs of your age and skin type.
Click/tap THIS LINK to take a 30-second diagnostic quiz: tell them about your skin and goals, and their team of dermatologists will design a regimen just for you. It’s that simple. And I’ve arranged for a special deal for 70% off your 30-day personalized trial set when you use code SHARPOLOGIST70. The Complete trial set includes Geologie’s best-selling eye cream, a $45 value if purchased alone.
One thing I particularly like about Geologie is they have regimens for different skin types instead of going for the middle-of-the-road approach.
I also appreciate that they give you the same amount of face wash as they do moisturizer: I’ve used other skincare sets where the volumes aren’t the same and I’ve run out of one product before the other.
Got a skin thing going on? Geologie can help. You can shop by concern:
- Acne
- Anti-Aging
- Dry Skin
- Oily Skin
- Redness
- Sun Protection
- Under Eyes
The only things I wish Geologie offered are shaving products.
#2: Bevel
Formulated with men-of-color in mind, Bevel’s line includes skincare designed to treat common issues in skin of color, such as discoloration, ingrown hairs, razor bumps, previous damage, and uneven skin tone. Bevel’s relatively new to the men’s grooming game but they’ve gone from offering a few top-notch shaving products to a whole line of excellent skin care products too, at a very reasonable price point.
Related Post: How To Even Out Skin Tone In Older Men
#3: Vitaman
In 2019, Antonio Centeno – Sharpologist friend and founder of Real Men Real Style, joined Vitaman as co-owner.
I find Vitaman generally a really good, solid line of men’s grooming products. They concentrate on ‘natural’ ingredients and avoid the ones with long chemical names.
Related Post: Vitaman Men’s Grooming Products
#4: Caldara + Lab
Those who are looking for natural ingredients and “holistic” treatment will be interested in what Caldera + Lab offers. The Regimen skincare set contains only three products:
Their facial cleanser, The Clean Slate, is formulated to reduce inflammation and balance your skin’s pH.
The Base Layer, Caldera’s morning moisturizing cream, offers defense against environmental stress and pollution.
Last, The Good is Caldera + Lab’s flagship multifunctional serum, formulated with active botanicals for hydration and rejuvenation of your skin. Designed to be used in the evening, The Good helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The Caldera + Lab regimen is simple (but powerful) but its lack of shaving and sunscreen products are weaknesses. Some users with oily skin said the Caldera products weren’t helpful.
#5: Teige Hanley
Some brands like Tiege Hanley try to make the process more approachable to men who may not be used to (or comfortable with) using a skin care regimen. They’ve made a real effort to make skin care as quick and uncomplicated as it can probably get for the results you’re looking for. Everything is very straight-forward and not too expensive. None of the products require a lot of effort or time to use. Their products are formulated for all skin types.
Summing Up
In conclusion, using a skincare set can be beneficial for many reasons. For one, it can help save time by providing a complete routine in one package. Additionally, sets can be tailored to specific skin types or concerns, making them ideal for those who want to target problem areas. Lastly, skincare sets can be a great value, offering more bang for your buck than purchasing products separately.
