Men's Skin: The Facts
Men's skin is generally oilier and a great deal thicker than womens, therefore a skin care product that is suitable for women will not be neccessarily benficial for men.
Collagen is the elastic property of skin which slowly reduces as you age, making your skin sag and wrinkle.
Men’s skin contains more collagen than womens, therefore making our skin less prone to wrinkles.
Sound Advice
Firstly find your skin type, then identify the products that will make your skin appear at its best, and combat any problem you have with your skin.
Adopt a skin care routine twice a day and stick to it, Cleanse, Protect and Moisturise
Before you seek to maintain your skin, you first need to know what type of skin you have.
There are four different types of men’s skin:
What's your skin type?
Oily Skin
This is identified by greasy areas around the face in particular the forehead and nose.
Noticeable clues are pores clogged with sebum otherwise known as blackheads.
The face will appear shiny and more prone to spots.
What to Use: Choose oil free products and mildly astringent toners and facial washers that have a salicylic acid. A good facial scrub is also helpful in removing surface blackheads.
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Dry Skin
The signs to look for here are rough dry patches and signs of flaking, also the skin appears dull and is easily chapped.
The down side to having this type of skin is that it will become more wrinkled as the skin ages.
What to use: Good quality moisturizers and rich creams will help hydrate the skin and seal in the water. Ensure that the product you use penetrates the skin rather than sit on the surface as this will give the appearance of greasy skin. Using a night cream will also help in nourish the skin.
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Combination Skin
A symptom most of us men suffer from, featuring both elements of oily and dries skin. The greasy areas are normally found around the nose, chin and forehead known as the “T zone”. And the dry areas are on the cheeks neck and parts of the forehead.
What to use: Its simple really, you need products targeting the greasy areas, and a different product to combat the dry patches. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just identify those differing areas and treat them accordingly.
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Normal Skin
Great news and I’m sure you want to keep it that way. Your skin should be well moisturised and hydrated and has a great texture and feel to it. You still have a degree of oil in your skin and this will help your skin looking healthy.
What to use: Using a daily routine of cleanliness that includes the use of a mild facial wash and moisturiser will ensure that your skin appears fresh and healthy.
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What do they do?
So now you have found your skin type, but what do all these products do, and will they be beneficial to me?
We have provided a breakdown of some of the terms you will come across in your search for various products.
Washes, Cleansers and Toners
Washing your face twice daily keeps pores unclogged and helps prevent acne. It rids the skin of all the unpleasant particles you have acquired from the environment.
Apply the cleanser on an already damp face using warm water.
Use as the instructions suggest, and rinse off.
These are particularly effective to use prior to shaving.
Scrubs and Exfoliators
Using scrubs and exfoliators are an effective way of ridding the skin of dead cells which need to be removed in order for new skin to come through. The removal of the dead cells will stimulate the skin to produce newer and smoother skin which will appear healthier and fresh.
Use once or twice a week to be effective. Good scrubs do not require any pressure to be applied, the ingredients do all the work. Do not use around the eyes as the skin here is very delicate.
Moisturisers
These are the most used products on the market and when used correctly provide your appearance with a natural glow of well being. Not only can a moisturiser hydrate the skin negating dryness, it promotes good skin cell growth and provides protection from harmful UV rays that can lead to premature signs of ageing.
Use morning and evening after giving the skin a wash to keep the skin replenished.
Avoid using a moisturiser if you have oily skin.
Aftershave Lotions
Designed to sooth the skin after shaving, these products combine healing qualities and moisturise at the same time. A quality after shave balm will also reduce redness and razor burn.
Always use after shaving before applying any cologne or fragrance.
Eau de Toilette or After shave?
One of the most important accessories for a man is a good fragrance.
Colognes work as an astringent which help avoid infection after shaving, and should be applied sparingly on to the upper body arms, not directly onto the face.
Eau de Toilettes have the greatest concentration of essence generally available for men and hence lasts the longest, up to 5 hours. An EDT is mostly found in a spray and After shaves are commonly known to be a splash.
After shaves are less strong than eau de toilette, and lasts for 2 to 3 hours. Those with very sensitive skin should use after shave balms, rather than colognes.
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