Skin Care Basics For Men

By Reine Gammo
[Grooming]
What should every man include in his skin care regimen?  Reine Gammo provides a cheat sheet.
Men can count themselves lucky when it comes to skin.  They get an excellent exfoliation just by shaving on a daily basis.  A man’s skin has thicker layers, larger pores and oil glands that produce more oil so it doesn’t get dry.  There are, however, certain things that a man should never do to his face.  More importantly, just because he is a rugged, masculine, manly man doesn’t mean his face doesn’t need a little care.  He doesn’t have to go full out with product and moisturizers as much as women do, but he still needs to do something.  Here are a guy’s dos and don’ts when it comes to skin care.

Never Ever

When it comes to shaving, you should never ever use hot water to shave.  Hot water will stimulate oil glands, which in turn will produce more oil than is necessary and can damage sensitive blood vessels.  This will create irritated and blotchy skin.  Save your face the agony of broken capillaries and use cold water to close the open pores, as well as to keep oil production maintained.

While still on the subject of shaving, you should never shave too close to the skin.  Even if you want a smooth and silky shave, this will cause major razor bumps.  Try using a pre-shave product to moisturize and prepare the skin.  This way, you will avoid razor bumps as well as ingrown hairs and irritation.

A lot of men will use the same bar of soap to wash and clean the face and body.  You should never do that because the body requires harsher chemicals to get clean, whereas the face is more sensitive.  Bath/shower soaps have harsh ingredients that strip the skin of its natural and essential oils, which maintain the face’s softness.  Your face will look dull and lacklustre if you do this.

Last but not least, never ever use a high-alcohol based aftershave product.  Alcohol dries the face and can cause an allergic reaction, never mind it being very painful if you have the slightest nick.  Try using a gel or soothing cream instead to repair the skin after you shave.

What You Need

In order to give your skin the best, you have to figure out what type of skin you have.  There are skin care products out there that are specifically tailored to your skin type.  This is essential when considering which products you should buy.

Here is a little guide to help you figure it out:

Normal skin is neither exceptionally oily nor dry, it doesn’t have any discolouration and it is generally blemish free.  If this is your skin type, all you need to do is wash it with a good quality facial wash and use a lightweight moisturizer afterward.

As for oily skin, it has a shiny appearance, large pores and sometimes patches of dry skin around the nose area where oil collects and dries.  What you need to do is to keep your face as clean as possible by using a natural cleanser twice a day and a mild alcohol and oil free moisturizer.  If you want to go the distance, use an astringent to keep the oil production at a minimum and to tighten the pores.

Dry skin is usually dull and flaky in appearance and lacks elasticity.  Obviously, dry skin requires moisturizing, so use a good moisturizer twice a day, morning and night, and remember to moisturize around the eye area.  Stay away from products that strip the essential oils from the face like soaps and alcohol-containing products.

Sensitive skin is easily irritated and can be prone to rashes and redness.  You should use mild products and avoid products that contain harsh chemicals, alcohol and fragrances.  Also, never use soap or low-quality products as they will irritate your skin even more.  Your shaving products need to create an adequate barrier between the blades and your face so that you do not get broken capillaries and blotchy, red skin.
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