Achievable Men’s Skincare
The Skinsmith | 12th December 2022
How Does Men’s Skin Differ to Women’s?
Getting men to think about skincare is rarely easy, men tend to push a skincare routine to the bottom of their to do list. Recent years have seen a rise in men’s skincare popularity, particularly amongst younger men. There are some significant differences between men and women’s skin types and the care that is needed.
The hormone testosterone determines the masculine characteristics of male skin, thicker, coarser facial hair in men and the necessity to shave daily if clean shaven can cause irritation, nicks, cuts, razor burn and bumps. As a result, most of the products men do use are centred on shaving and their facial hair.
Men produce double the amount of sebum as women and they have more and larger pores, because of this male skin is oilier and shinier than female skin. It is more prone to acne and less likely to be dry. Men’s skin has higher collagen density than women’s and so it ages slower and has a tighter, firmer appearance. In fact, a woman’s skin is about 15 years older than a man’s skin of the same age.
Women make up for this by being much savvier with their skincare than men in general and much better at protecting their skin with sunscreen. As a result, this 15-year gap is not readily noticed. UV damage from the sun can add years to a man’s skin and negate the benefit of slowed intrinsic ageing. On average, male skin is about 20-25% thicker than women’s as well as having a tougher texture.
Common Men’s Skin Issues.
Men face many skin problems such as shaving rash, acne, oily skin and dark under eye circles. Many skin issues can be taken care of or certainly reduced by drinking lots of water and paying close attention to diet. Our skin undergoes challenges throughout the day and men’s skin is no different, pollution, direct sunlight, harmful UV rays, infection and sweat are just some of the factor’s skin must deal with. When winter settles in skin can dry out and start to crack if not paid any attention. Here are the 5 most common male skin issues:
Oily Skin.
A very common problem faced by men is skin being too oily. Sebum production is naturally higher in men so as a result they suffer from more oily skin problems. Using moisturisers that will control sebum production is a great help such as Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer. Men must not forget that skin can be both oily and dehydrated, in order to really get to grips with oily, dehydrated skin Eminence Kombucha Microbiome Leave-On Masque will really pack a punch! It supports and balances the skin microbiota and replenishes the skin’s moisture barrier supporting a skin type that is both oily and dehydrated.
Acne.
Acne is not just a problem for teenage boys! Grown up men can have irritating and uncomfortable acne too. Humidity levels, stress and sweating all cause acne, apart from maintaining good hygiene and washing your face twice a day, a good skincare routine is important. If the problems of acne continue then it is important to visit a dermatologist or there is a risk of permanent scarring. Eminence Acne Advanced 3-Step Treatment System is incredibly effective at dealing with an acne problem, it treats existing acne while preventing future breakouts.
Shaving Issues.
Both pre and post shaving issues can be a real headache for men. If you don’t pay attention to your shaving, you can leave long term, negative effects on your skin. Make sure your razer is kept clean, sterilised and the blades are kept sharp by changing regularly. If you have razer bumps, apply a bit of aloe vera to soothe your skin. Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist spritzed onto the skin after shaving is a wonderful and easy way to soothe and heal the skin after shaving.
Dark Circles.
Men can suffer from bags and dark circles under the eyes. If you are stressed at work and don’t get enough sleep, your skin will start showing the side effects. Even bad eating routines or eating junk food can cost your skin. Healthy eating habits and lots of water can certainly improve the quality of your skin as well as maintaining a proper sleep cycle. Eminence Wild Plum Eye Cream reduces the appearance of dark circles around the eyes with iron rich wild plum.
Dry Skin.
While many suffer from excess oil in their skin, there are some who have dry skin. Heat, sunlight, work pressure, stress and environmental stressors may all result in dry skin. Drinking plenty of water as well as a fixed skincare routine that involves applying moisturiser at regular intervals during the day is a must for every man suffering from dry skin. Eminence Marine Flower Peptide Night Cream smooths, hydrates and tones while you sleep. At night cellular regeneration as well as product absorption increases making this the best time to get the most from your skincare particularly when your issue is dry skin.
Caring For Male Skin.
Skin care is very much advertised with women in mind for the most part, so much so that you’d think only women actually had the need for a skincare routine! This just isn’t true, because of their unique differences male and female skin benefit from tailored skincare routine to keep their skin at its natural best.
Keep it simple is the best message to send out to men thinking about starting a skincare routine. Overcomplicating things often results in abandoning the plan before it’s even started so think about the following 3 things and you’ll get off to a flying start:
- Cleanse:
Clean at night, water in the morning – washing too much can ruin your skins natural oils. This only works if you start each day with a clean blank slate and this means you must clean all the dirt and pollution off your skin before going to sleep at night or all of the impurities will soak into the pores overnight.
Use a mild foaming cleanser such as Eminence Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser before you shave to reduce surface oil. Unless you have sensitive skin, you can alternate between using an exfoliating cleanser such as Eminence Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser and a mild cleanser.
If your skin is oily use a hot towel to clean your face in the morning and refresh with a splash of cold water.
- Repair:
Apply Serum after shaving – Thanks to free radicals causing oxidative stress, our skin takes a fair beating over time. To summarise oxidative stress relates to our bodies’ negative reaction to bad things like:
- Air Pollution.
- Cigarette Smoke.
- Industrial Chemicals.
- UV Rays.
An antioxidant serum like Eminence Citrus and Kale Potent C+E Serum, is helpful to reduce damage and should go on in the morning underneath moisturiser or apply after your shaving routine.
Before bedtime those in their 30’s and up should use a retinol cream such as Eminence Bamboo Firming Fluid which helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
- SPF:
In the morning follow up your antioxidant serum with a moisturiser that has at least SPF 30. Eminence Lilikoi Daily Defence Moisturizer SPF 40 hydrates and protects from UVA, UVB and improves the appearance of skin that has been exposed to blue light stress. Incidental sun exposure during the time spent walking to the train or sipping a beer on the patio after work all adds up and causes skin damage. At night go for a lightweight moisturiser without sunscreen such as Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Gel . You also don’t have to moisturise at night if your skin isn’t dry, moisturising is a lot like drinking water, just do it when you need it.
Picking Products in the Most Effective Way.
A few things to consider when picking products for male skin are:
- Know your skin type - Most male skin care targets oily skin but some men do have issues with skin dryness and it is important to understand your skins specific needs and tailor your routine to this.
- Forget Gender – Men specific products are nice but most products are unisex and work for both men and women if you use the right products for your skin type. You might want to go for products that are not highly scented or more earthy or woodsy smells that have a calming effect. Eminence Stone Crop products are ideal for men; they are calming and soothing to the skin with a fresh and clean scent.
- Experiment – It’s not always easy to find the perfect skin care products straight off. Have fun playing around and try samples, there isn’t always just one perfect product for you. If you’re lucky there are many and you can enjoy mixing things up!
Discover The Benefits of Men's Skincare By...
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