Skincare for Men

I think I’ve always placed guys on a pedestal. They’re very attractive to me, so I don’t even care what’s on their faces most of the time. However, I do have some come to me for skincare advice (shyly at first, because some people think skincare is for women only, which is not true), because believe it or not, they do actually care.

Now as far as guys’ skin goes, it’s actually no different from a female’s skin (although they would like to think it’s “manlier”). There are a couple factors though that do make it seem different. 

1. Pore size. Pore size is genetic. Some men seem to have bigger pores, but the women in their family probably have just as equal a chance of getting that same pore size, too. Thing is, since (I find) guys are a bit lazier about their skincare, their pores just look bigger because of what they’ve let build up around them.
2. Testosterone. This hormone is probably the biggest factor for a guy’s skin. Testosterone makes skin oilier and “stickier,” meaning slower to slough off dead skin cells. All the oils and dead skin mix together, clogging up pores. Girls only have this problem every month as androgen levels get higher around “that time,” however, guys deal with skin PMS 24/7. 

So how to deal with the problem? I could put a link here to everything I would do with my skincare, but no guy I have talked to in or out of the store has wanted to do anything more than two steps. Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll convince them to do three or four. But I’ll just put what I think are the absolute bare necessities here. And, yes, I’ll try to recommend stuff with manlier packaging. For some reason it’s an important factor in whether or not a guy takes care of his skin. 

Bare necessity #1

Cleanser.

Something many people, not just guys, tend to skimp on is a proper cleanse. This is one of the most important things we do to our face every day. Not only does it get your sunscreen off, because yes, you do need to be wearing sunscreen every day, but it gets off the build-up of oil and dead skin that has formed around pores that make them look bigger and clog them.

Same cleansing rules I tell my girls about cleansing still apply to men. 

1. NO foaming cleanser

I know y’all like the feels, but it hurts more than it helps. It alkalines the skin, making it a breeding ground for bacteria which causes acne, and it over dries it, making it even oilier. 

Look at the ingredients. No sulfates of any kind please. If you can, look for something with Salicylic Acid (Willowbark) in it. Also, I personally love clay cleansers, so go for it if you want to try them. 

Steps:

1. Massage the cleanser into you skin 
2. Use a CLEAN washcloth to take it off 
3. Repeat (one cleanse to get off sunscreen, one to clean the skin)
4. Do this twice daily, y’all (morning and night)

Cleansers that I recommend:

The cleanser I use and absolutely love: http://www.drugstore.com/vichy-laboratoires-noraderm-3in1-cleansing/qxp462438?catid=182291

I know it’s expensive in the US, but you’re worth it, a little goes a long way, and you can get it in the US online and in France at almost any pharmacy. 

It’s clay based with BHA (Salicylic acid), gentle, and actually works (which is pretty important). Also, if you have a zit, you can put a little dab of it on the spot over night. I love multi-taskers.

Budget option: http://www.drugstore.com/neutrogena-oil-free-cream-cleanser-salicylic-acid-acne-treatment/qxp16672
It’s all about ingredients in this one. You can find good stuff on a budget!

Good stuff on the ingredients list: Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Glycerin, C12 15 Alkyl Lactate, Cetyl Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide

Gentle and natural cleanse (dryer, sensitive, aging skins): http://www.drugstore.com/burts-bees-radiance-daily-cleanser-with-royal-jelly/qxp218848?catid=182285

Because, yes, natural stuff works. #goodingredientgasm

Water, Decyl Glucoside, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Glycerin, Royal Jelly, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Vaccinium Myrtillus (Bilberry) Extract, Saccharum Officinarm (Sugar Cane) Extract, Acer Saccharinum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Gluconic Acid, Fragrance, Coco Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Glucose, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Canola Oil (Huile De Colza), Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool

Bare necessity #2

Moisturizer.

A lot of guys have no clue what this means. Basically, once you take stuff out (by cleansing), you gotta put a little love back in (moisturizing). 

Why skipping this step is bad: If you don’t moisturize, your skin gets dehydrated/dry and pumps out oil to compensate. Trust me, your face will get less oily if you start to use moisturizer. 

I like to use a different moisturizer for day and night (day has SPF, night doesn’t and is a bit more hydrating). However, I know y’all like to keep it simple, so I’ll suggest some multi-taskers that you can use day and night.

What I use and love (I don’t care if it says for men - the only difference is packaging when it comes to men’s/women’s skincare): http://www.beauty.com/jack-black-double-duty-face-moisturizer-spf-20/qxp86997?catid=298671

Pros: Hydrating enough for day and night, lightweight, SPF, little goes a long way, so even though you pay for the product, it lasts forever.

Cons: Do a patch test before trying it on your face. The sunscreen in it is chemical, so some people might be allergic to it.

Budget option: http://www.drugstore.com/neutrogena-men-triple-protect-face-lotion-spf-20/qxp87252?catid=182942

I’m not a fan of parabens, and again, it does use chemicals, but I think this is a good, effective option for y’all. And notice the manlier packaging.

Another natural option: http://www.drugstore.com/every-man-jack-face-lotion-sun-protection-spf-15/qxp218294?catid=288525

So anyway, this is what I consider the bare minimum of skincare for anyone, but this especially applies to most guys, as women are usually open to doing more. You can of course add more steps depending on your skin type, but this is simple and effective.

Any questions can go below, and I'll do my best to answer.