Men rarely use the word “routine” in combination with facial skincare. Routine implies time wasted or a chore to perform. So, for many of us, the nearest we get to a skincare routine is a daily shower using a harsh, synthetic-laden body wash on our face too.
There is a happy medium between next-to-nothing skincare and feeling you have to spend 30 minutes or more a day on a face skincare routine.
Read on for some startling facts about men’s skin health that will make you want to swap things up. Plus, we’ve advice on elevating that daily shower and soap to something that will actually help nourish, improve and maintain your skin health.
Skin facts - what men need to know
Men’s skin does start with advantages over women’s. Our skin is naturally oilier - and therefore has more natural moisturisation - and is also thicker - and contains more collagen and elastin (the fibres that keep skin firm).
These factors give it greater protection from harmful environmental factors, like the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, harsh weather, and pollutants that are key in speeding up the signs of skin ageing.
However, men are more likely to have excess sebum which can harbour dirt and grime. This build-up can give rise to blocked pores, and make the skin more acne prone. Breakouts can cause irritation especially when shaving.
If you’ve a poor diet, drink excessively and smoke, then be aware that these factors really play havoc with skin health and promote premature skin ageing.
Most of us men have a belief that our skin is not prone to the same rate of visible ageing as women’s and that as a result we don’t really need to bother with a skincare routine. But a little knowledge can be a bad thing.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association has research showing that men are far less informed about the facts of sun exposure and its propensity to damage skin. And that by the age of 50, men are more likely to develop an aggressive melanoma than women.*
Why a skincare routine makes sense for men too
Becoming informed about skincare now is a step to taking measures that can help you avoid skin issues later in life.
Historically, skincare has been equated with a single purpose - beautifying. This terminology can see men shy away from being interested in it, informing ourselves or discussing skin issues with others.
Yet, the skin, our largest body organ, needs to be understood if we are to help it do its vital role as our body’s first defensive barrier. Its microbiome works to protect us from harmful microorganisms and its cells are drafted into action to heal abrasions. It assists our overall health by excreting waste and maintaining our body’s hydration.
Ingredients known to strengthen the skin barrier, improve its hydration and promote general skin health, such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and fatty acids in plant oils, are not the preserve of cosmetics aimed at women. All these can and should be deployed in men’s skincare too, which is why we include them in the MÄNN range.
MÄNN’s tips for men’s skin
Skincare equates to skin health - and that, in turn, results in an overall healthier, more confident self. It makes sense to include skincare in our daily routine, much as we might jog or go to the gym.
So what can we do to keep it functioning at its best? If you’re not sure and have little idea about what constitutes a sensible, fast and effective skincare routine, MÄNN’s tips below will help.
As you’ll see, there are just 2 steps morning and night - cleanse and moisturise. And just one deeper cleanse activity once or twice a week. Simple, sensible and super easy to adopt. See them as time well spent strengthening and helping protect your skin barrier.
Tip 1: Wash your face - the right way
Ditch the all-in-one shower option and the harsh liquid hand soap. Instead, use a cleanser specifically formulated with actives of benefit for your face. The ideal cleanser will have gentle, natural surfactants and shouldn’t strip the skin of its natural moisturising factor or microbiota. We are not after squeaky clean here.
Look out for gel cleansers with glycerine and other active moisturising agents like niacinamide and panthenol. A product that includes ingredients to soothe and hydrate, such as aloe vera extracts, is optimal as it will not only cleanse, but also help balance the skin and offset the irritation caused by the daily shave.
By massaging in your cleanser neat onto a moist face, you give those active ingredients a chance to work before rinsing it off.
Try MÄNN’s Daily Detox Cleanser
Tip 2: Moisturise daily
You might think that as men have oilier skin, there is no need to use a moisturiser. After all, what is it trying to achieve? The key aim of a men’s moisturiser should be to boost your skin’s protection for the reasons we outlined earlier.
Look for a light, non-greasy formulation offering advanced skincare science in natural ingredients such as plant oils renowned for protecting the skin thanks. MÄNN’s Age Defense Light Day Cream contains an innovative blend of desert date oil along with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to shield the skin from UVA damage.
Another key active ingredient is derived from the unique properties of mastic tree resin. A plant-based retinol alternative, it offers strong anti-ageing effects as well as benefits for oily or acne-prone skin.
Try MÄNN’s Age Defense Light Day Cream
Tip 3: Regenerate skin nightly
Repeat and rinse the cleansing step at night. Then use a night time moisturiser that will work while your skin rests. This is the best time for highly-potent ingredients to target crow’s feet and wrinkles, even out skin tone and hydrate, as well as calm skin irritated by that daily shave.
At MÄNN, our regenerative night cream does what it says on the tin. It includes a synergistic combination of bio-actives including hydrating niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, protective botanical oils, and algae extracts to rejuvenate and improve your skin.
Try MÄNN’s Regenerating Moisture Night Cream
Tip 4: The weekend deep cleanse
Weekends give you time for one more step that will set your skin up for the next seven days. Heard about exfoliators and peels? These cosmetic products are once or twice-weekly routines that do a deep cleanse to leave your skin feeling and looking smoother and healthier.
Their actives include fruit enzymes and acids derived from citrus, sugars and berries, that slough off the uppermost dead layers of your skin - along with more dirt and excess sebum. A well formulated exfoliator should include ingredients to calm and moisturise to balance its resurfacing role. Our product is also fragrance free to ensure your skin is not burdened by potential irritants.
Our skin may be thicker, but as men, it’s time for us not to be thick skinned about talking skincare. Skin + skincare are better together when it comes to having healthier skin for life.
References:
* https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/types/common/melanoma/men-50
