Men's Skincare Explained

New to skincare for men and trying to work out where to begin? Decoding men's skincare and building a routine might seem like a challenge at first considering there are so many choices and concerns to tackle, so we are here to ease your way in.

 It's important to have goals for your skin to find the right products. Healthy skin looks even, radiant and damage-free - who wouldn’t love that? Your skin should feel hydrated and balanced, regardless of your skin type. Remember that your men's skincare routine will not just be about the products you use but also age, the environment you are in, and your diet. The saying “you are what you eat” is very true, as your skin health will also depend on the food you consume besides your surroundings and products you use. For example, long exposure to the sun or the state of your gut health can directly affect how your skin looks and feels, but there are many ways to compliment good lifestyle decisions with skincare products that can do a lot of heavy lifting.

Skincare For Men

Having a skincare routine in place is important for men's self-care as it helps you look and feel good. Feeling comfortable in your own skin can help you feel more relaxed, boost confidence and improve self-esteem. It might be tempting to just use your partner's products, but everyone's skin is different, especially when we are talking about men's and women's skin. This is why you should build your own routine with specific products to help with your concerns. It's vital to do a bit of research before getting started to find out what skin type you have and what ingredients would work best. You will probably have to experiment with a few different products before you can set a final daily routine. 

Everyone has a different skin type

Your skin type reflects a combination of factors such as your diet, genetics and skincare routine.

- Normal-Combination. Skin with little to no concerns. It looks relatively clear and balanced but can be dryer in some areas and oilier in others. There is no truly perfect skin type so at Humanery, we use normal-combination because all skin is prone to mixes and changes.

- Dry. Skin that struggles to retain moisture with low sebum production.Oily. Skin with above average sebum production, resulting in a shiny, oily look.

- Sensitive. Skin with a lower protection barrier, allowing room for more irritations and reactions. 

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Building a Skincare Routine for Men

There are four essential products that you need as part of any skin care regimen:

- Cleanser. This removes dirt and impurities from the skin. Usually specially formulated for your face and used twice a day. Avoid harsh cleansers and soaps that strip the skin.

- Exfoliant. Also known as a scrub, this sloughs away dead skin cells. Exfoliation will leave your skin looking brighter, help your skin to renew, prevent ingrown hairs, stop clogged pores and leave your skin feeling smoother. Use 1-2 times per week. These can either be chemically based with ingredients such as Salicylic Acid, or ‘manual’ with scrubby grains and particles - more sensitive skin should use the chemical kind.,

- Moisturiser. Adds moisture/hydration back into your skin, which can help it to look younger and healthier. You need to apply moisturiser twice a day, and you may even want to apply a richer moisturiser at night. If you’re oilier, look for hydrating moisturisers with gel textures; if you’re dryer, look for more buttery moisturisers that help protect your moisture barrier.

- SPF. Sun damage causes premature ageing of the skin, dark spots and can lead to serious issues like skin cancer. SPF should always be part of your skincare routine, especially if you spend a significant amount of time outside. You should re-apply throughout the day and use at least SPF 30.

These are the four product types that will make your skin look (and feel) way better. If you want to keep it really simple - go for these products and apply them in the order above. This process is really easy and will take you around 5 minutes each day to apply.

Next Steps - Elevate your skincare routine even further

If you want to take your routine a little further, you have specific skincare concerns or you want to get really noticeable results, then there are some additional skincare products that will really help you to boost your skin:

- Toner. Used after cleansing to remove any leftover dirt. It also balances the pH of your skin. Toner should be used once a day, ideally in the morning after cleansing and exfoliating.

- Serum. This adds a boost of nutrients or a specific ingredient to your skin for added glow and healthy-looking skin. Apply daily before moisturiser.

- Eye Cream. The area around the eyes is where skin is the thinnest and most delicate and where signs of premature ageing show first. Using an eye cream can be a great preventative measure to keep the area around your eyes moisturised and wrinkle-free for longer.

- Face Masks. Face masks come in lots of different types and are usually used to refresh, revitalise, moisturise or temporarily add glow to your skin.

You don’t need to use all of these products every day, but adding them into your routine and making the time to be consistent will help you to see results.

Now that you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to start building your skincare routine. 

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