When it comes to skincare, men are arguably lazier and less clued up than their female counterparts. While women often diligently indulge in elaborate skincare routines that include everything from scrubs, to serums to masks and moisturisers, guys usually wash and go! Although men’s skincare is often overlooked, basic skincare requirements are not vastly different for men and women. Although, men have thicker skin so they can generally benefit from slightly stronger products than women. Gents, if you want to raise your skincare game and glow this summer, use these simple yet effective men’s skincare tips!
Whilst my girlfriends can quickly tell me their skin type without hesitation when asked, the guys are generally stumped by this question. They usually just stare back at me with a blank expression and manage a vague ‘erm’. In order to understand what products will work best for your skin, it is extremely important to analyse your skin and understand whether it is dry, combination, oily, normal, sensitive, etc. If you are having trouble with this, a member of staff stationed at a good skincare counter will be able to help you and offer you the best products for your skin type.
If there is one skincare item you boys can really benefit from, it’s a good, gentle exfoliator! Exfoliation products come in many different forms, from gritty scrubs to gentle gels and soft bristle brushes. If in doubt, opt for a product that is targeted to sensitive skins, as some exfoliators can irritate even the most resilient of skin! So, why might you need to exfoliate you may ask? While exfoliating is beneficial for all skin, shaving the face can cause in-grown hairs that can give the skin an uneven appearance and bumpy texture. Exfoliating can help to keep the skin free of in-grown hairs and therefore, smooth, even and glowing! A men’s skincare staple!
Based on my knowledge of men’s skincare, specifically my male friends’ cleansing routines (or lack of!) I think it is safe to say that cleansing with anything other than water doesn’t come high on many guys’ list of priorities, particularly if they don’t suffer from skin issues such as acne. However, cleansing is very important to remove any dirt and impurities from the skin, leaving it super clean and refreshed!
Many men that I’ve spoken to seem to think moisturising is a practise reserved for women, and don’t bother with it as a result. However, moisturiser is designed to hydrate the skin and prevent moisture loss. This can help keep the skin looking glowing, supple and soft. What’s not to like about all of that! There are many ‘manly’ moisturisers available on the market, and if you don’t fancy those, you can always join the oil revolution and use natural cold pressed oils to moisturise the skin!
Keeping up your water intake is absolutely essential for maintaining healthy, glowing skin. You should aim to drink at least one litre of water a day to flush out toxins – keeping your skin clear – and maintaining hydration which keeps the skin looking supple and plump. Water intake also promotes healthy hair and maintains your general health. Drink one glass of warm water first thing in the morning to kick start your metabolism!
As much as we hate to hear it, having an adequate amount of good quality sleep works wonders not only on your overall health, but also on the health of your skin. It can’t be a coincidence that one of the top suggestions in google when you type in ‘sleep’, is ‘sleep for glowing skin’! The term ‘beauty sleep’ is just another one that tells you how important it is! When you sleep, your body rests and rejuvenates in a way that it can’t while you’re awake. Sleeping helps to lower your stress levels which in itself can keep your skin looking young. What I’m saying is, sleep is super important!
Boys, start changing your sheets regularly! While so many girls seem to be obsessive about changing their bed sheets regularly to avoid acne-causing bacteria build up, guys, in general, seem to be the complete opposite! This is such an important habit in the fight against spots and breakouts!
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