Most
men’s skincare routine consists of cleansing with soap and
water followed by a quick shave with foaming shaving
cream. Most also think that using a moisturizer is too
high maintenance or will make them break out. And even
using an SPF takes a backseat since the texture is seen as
too thick and oily. But with the increased awareness of
fine lines, dark spots, discoloration and even dryness
among men, most are looking to incorporate a skincare
routine but don’t know where to start. A basic skincare
routine for men should include:
·
A facial cleanser appropriate to skin type – choose a non-foaming
gel-lotion for dry/normal types or a foaming gel for
combination/oily skin. Regular bar and liquid soaps are
too drying and disrupt the normal pH of skin.
·
Toner – made to remove oils and debris that the cleanser
did not remove. Can be used both day and night after
cleansing if skin is excessively oily or breakout prone
but once a day (preferably at night) for dry/normal/combination
skin to avoid overdrying.
·
Eye cream – use one appropriate for skin type both day and
night since there are no oil glands in the eye area and
the skin is three times thinner than on the face. Choose
an eye cream with SPF if spending a large amount of time
outdoors, such as for sports or working.
·
Daytime moisturizer with SPF – if working indoors, an SPF
15 is sufficient, but if spending the majority of the day
outdoors, choose an oil-free SPF 30 sunblock or sunscreen.
·
Nighttime moisturizer – choose an oil-free formula for dry/normal
skin but may be skipped if skin is combination, oily or
breakout prone.
·
Lip balm – crucial since there are no oil glands in the
lips and is often an overlooked area. Use day and night,
choose one with an SPF and look for ingredients such as
shea butter (for moisturizing) and Vitamin E (for healing).
·
An exfoliator – most men think of this step as unnecessary
but men have larger pores and more acid in their skin. Use
one to two times per week after cleansing to remove dead
skin cell build-up, minimize the appearance of pores and
maintain even skintone and texture.
Even
though this looks like a long, complicated risk, men only
need to devote about 5 minutes per day to maintain healthy
skin and help minimize or prevent future skincare concerns
or extensive treatment.
