When it comes to skincare, most men have traditionally kept it simple, however more men are now pursuing healthier and younger looking skin, making it a great time for men to evaluate their skincare routine and also learning more about how to take care of their body’s largest organ. Although there are key differences between men and women skin. For example, men’s skin is at least 25% thicker than women’s skin, but the basic element of an effective skincare plan remains the same for everyone including men, it is important to identify and understand their skin type before you carry out any skin care routine.

Different Skin types

• Sensitive skin may sting or burn after product use.
• Normal skin is clear and not sensitive.
• Dry skin is frisky, itchy or rough.
• Oily skin is shinny and greasy.
• Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others.

Understanding your skin type will help you learn how to take care of your skin and select the type of skincare product that is right for your skin.

Here are some skincare tips you can follow as a man:

1. Use sunscreen: To prevent sun damage on your skin that can lead to wrinkles, age spot and even skin cancer, before going outdoor apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your skin, including your scalp, ears, neck and lips. For best protection use a broad-spectrum water-resistance sunscreen with an SFP of 30 or higher, reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating. You can also protect your skin by seeking shade or wearing sun-protective clothing, such as a light weight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection when possible. Also, you can select clothing with ultraviolet protection factor label (UPF).
2. Cleansing: Clean at least twice daily, usually first thing in the morning and right before bed. If you tend to exercise in the morning or in the middle of the day, you should clean right after your work-out. Hot water can strip the oil from your skin, so use warm water with your cleanser, even if you do this step in the shower, use your finger tips to massage the cleanser into your skin, then rinse it off completely. When drying, don’t rub all the moisture off instead pat dry.
3. Use moisturizer: start using moisturizer every time you wash your face, here is why? Moisturizer traps water close to your dermis, giving you that glowing skin. The extra moisture reduces wrinkles too, it eases the effect of dry skin and can make chapped, patchy, flaky skin look better. Using the right moisturizer can also help with inflammatory skin problem like eczema. Moisturizing creams are a middle ground between oily ointments like petroleum jelly and watery lotion. Cream works great as moisturizer, but their stabilizer can cause allergic reactions, so it is best to test them first in small amount for at least a day or two to see if you feel any pain or itchy or any redness in your skin. While moisturizing your face it is essential, it doesn’t hurt to apply moisturizer across your whole body after a warm bath, which can help prevent dryness, itching and flaking on the skin.
4. Soften up before you shave: For an easier shave, keep things moist, that is smart to do it when you are having your shower, it helps coarse beard hair to be wet and flexible to shave easily. If you are prone to razor burn, try a shaving gel rather than a foam, some new gel in the market helps soften the beard hair even more so you’re less likely to have redness, razor bumps or in grown hairs afterwards. Other ways to avoid in grown hairs is to always shave in the direction of hair growth and use a few strokes as possible.
5. Follow some skincare routine: Ensure you follow a skincare routine such as washing your facebefore going to bed and after exercising. Cleaning your face any time you come in contact with dust or pollutants, exfoliating your skin from time to time and moisturizing whenever necessary. Simply follow a skincare routine to consistently, especially the one that works best for you and in no time your skin will start to look healthy with a natural glow.
6. Choose the right skincare products: Flawless skin calls for a proper skincare routine and product that actually suit your skin type. Always check the ingredients used in a product before you invest in it, some products may contain ingredients that do not suit your skin or that are extremely harmful for your skin type. Before applying any new product always do a patch test, that is apply it in small amount to see your skin reaction.
7. Eat healthy food: A healthy skin also requires proper food, junk food won’t do any good to your skin, while healthy food will internally repair your skin issues. An important aspect of healthy skin is hydration, eating fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and carrot can hydrate your skin from within and keep it looking bright and youthful. Salmon, olive oil, flax seeds and walnut are rich in omega-3 fatty acid that help rebuild the cell membrane, they also help keep your skin moisturized for a longer period and protect it from irritation, dryness and flakiness.
8. Skip after shave with alcohol: Shaving scrapes away the top layer of your skin cell, which is good for cleaning up breakouts and dryness, but it can irritate your face. A moisturizer will soothe the sting, so avoid alcohol base aftershaves which can make it worse. Traditional after shave were meant to kill germs and prevent infection from the neck skin. But with today’s razors, cutting yourself is less common and a less risk than razor burn.

Avoid the following habits for a healthy skin

• Avoid alcohol: Using excessive alcohol can severely dehydrate your skin, dehydrated skin exaggerates flaws such as fine lines and wrinkles even more. Alcohol can also make the pores of your skin appear bigger; it can dilate the blood vessels in your face leading to a flushed look.
• Avoid stress: Stress increases cortisol level and make your skin oily, oily skin is prone to blemishes and breakouts. When you are stressed, you may tend to get less sleep or not pay enough attention to your diet which can negatively affect your skin health.
• Avoid excess sugar: If you love sweet you could be consuming excess sugar without even realizing it, your sugar intake can significantly affect your skin’s health. Glucose and fructose produce an unwanted result when they meet collagen, which is your skin’s primary protein. They link collagen fiber together that makes it difficult for the collagen to repair itself and this process is called glycation.
• Quit smoking: Tobacco contains nicotine, when you smoke, nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict or narrow, which limits the amount of blood that flows to your organs.

Smoking also reduces the circulation and production of collagen in addition your skin may start to losing its natural color.

Summary

As a man it is important to take care of your skin, with male targeted skincare products. What works for another person might not work for you, therefore it is import you choose a skincare product and routine that best suit your skin type.