aIf you thought only women fuss over their skincare regime, you couldn’t be more wrong. Today, men are also just as diligent when it comes to taking care of their grooming and creating men’s skincare routine. You must have noticed some guys examining their skin in the mirror often and taking precautions to ensure it looks just right. Sometimes, you may even dip into your mom’s or wife’s stash of moisturiser if you’re feeling motivated! But a man who cares about his skin deserves a routine that does it justice and has a routine that’s custom-made for it, be it issues like acne, shaving scars or even oily skin. Precisely why we’ve come up with the ultimate CTM guide for you boys who don’t mind paying a wee bit of extra attention to your skin.
What is a Skincare Routine?
Whether it boils down to sheer laziness or cluelessness about your skin type, many men ignore a skincare regimen with the right products. It’s time to change that by sticking to a disciplined routine for a healthy and fresh face. What is the best way to deal with dull and dry skin, beard dandruff, excess oiliness or just acne? Follow an efficient men’s skincare routine by cleansing your face, using facial scrubs and toners to deal with woes like acne and blackheads and moisturising.
The Basic Routine:
1. Cleanser
Times are sure changing and with you guys going to that extra length to care of your looks, cleansing seems to be one of the most necessary parts of men’s skincare routine. After all, the sun, pollution and humidity in the air can easily ruin your complexion and cause the skin to turn dull. This is why every man should get his hands on the Pond’s Pure Detox Anti-Pollution Purity Face Wash. This one’s sure to lend your skin a cooling touch along with removing deep-seated impurities and the effects of everyday pollution. It contains activated charcoal, yep just like the black peel-off masks and can help control excess oil while not drying out your face. The result? Spotless, acne-free and evenly-toned skin!
2. Exfoliator
Once or twice a week, turn to a face scrub to exfoliate your skin. This helps get rid of dead skin cells, blemishes, acne scars, blackheads and the like. It also opens up beard follicles allowing your facial hair to grow better. We love the St. Ives Green Tea & Bamboo Blackhead Clearing 3 In 1 Face Scrub. While it is free of harsh chemicals that could otherwise turn your skin rough, it uses natural ingredients like green tea extract, walnut shell and bamboo powder to make a satisfying textured scrub to unclog your pores and remove blackheads. It also has salicylic acid that clears up the skin and smoothens your texture.
3. Toner
Although most men would assume that using a toner is an unnecessary part of the skincare regime, several men have large pores and it is only a toner that can help shrink those pores and get rid of greasy-looking skin. This is why you need to use the alcohol-free Lakmé Absolute Pore Fix Toner because this one has a light texture so it doesn’t make the skin look greasy. It also frees the skin of bacteria and leaves it hydrated. Three seconds of extra time between the cleansing and moisturising ritual isn’t much to ask for, boys!
4. Moisturiser
Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin, moisturising is of utmost importance to your skincare regime. A dime-sized amount of moisturiser is more than enough to keep your skin hydrated. For that, you can rely on the Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser. Free of parabens and alcohol (while you may love drinking, you aren’t supposed to put it on your skin), it uses hardcore skin-loving ingredients like vitamins B, E, glycerin and borage seed oil to soothe your skin and soften it. It also happens to be oil-free, making it perfect for those who have oily skin.
Lifestyle changes
Shave right
Since shaving is an integral part of men’s skincare routine, it needs to be done right. To ensure that your skin doesn’t get dry while shaving, opt for a moisturising shaving gel that can soothe the area. An even easier solution is to shave in the shower since the steam opens up the pores and softens the skin.
Drink up
Consuming gallons of water isn't restricted to the summer alone. When your skin gets dry and itchy, it’s a sign that you’re dehydrated and in need of refuelling. Remedy this by drinking around three litres of water daily.
Don’t forget your body
Especially during the winter, strong wind and cold temperatures can bring your skin down. Put an end to this with the Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Body Lotion. It has a pure oat extract-infused formula that gets absorbed deeply into the skin so that your body stays nourished all through those dreary days when you’re busy travelling or working.
Put facial fuzz first
If you’re a man who favours facial fuzz, you should know that dry skin can affect the hair follicle too. Nourish the hair of your ‘stache or your beard by applying a few drops of almond oil on your face to keep it healthy and scruff sleek this season.
Wear sunscreen
The UVA and UVB rays of the sun are detrimental to the skin and are one of the main reasons why your skin darkens. Prevent this from happening by avoiding stepping into the sun between 11 am and 3 pm and even when you do, load up on sunscreen. To give it a stylish spin, you can also opt for a hat and sunglasses to keep the sun's rays at bay.
Face mask
If you want to try a tested home remedy to get an even skin tone, make a face pack of a tablespoon of lime juice, a tablespoon of tomato pulp and two tablespoons of yoghurt. Apply it over your face, leave it for 30 minutes and wash it off with warm water. The vitamin C in lime juice and the astringent properties of tomato combine with yoghurt’s cooling effect to make the skin brighter. Repeat it every week and soon your skin will find itself blemish-free.
Basic hygiene
Beyond everything else, it’s important to maintain a basic sense of hygiene. That means, washing your face and neck when you perspire, changing your razor blade or cartridge when it gets blunt and keeping your hands and mobile phone clean as they can transmit bacteria easily. Upholding a basic sense of hygiene will ensure your skin stays clear, fresh and healthy.
Factor in skin type
Most men are unaware of whether their skin type is normal, dry, sensitive and acne-prone, oily or a combination of all. Unfortunately, this ignorance can lead you to make bad skincare decisions too! That’s why men, it’s time to identify your skin type and figure out the kind of skin you have. Based on this, you’ll be able to find products that are best suited for you.
FAQs on How to Build The Best Skincare Routine For Men
1. Is men’s skin different from that of a woman?
Yes, it is. Due to the production of testosterone, male skin is much thicker than a woman's and has a different texture as well. Along with this, the number of blood vessels and secretion of sebum is higher in men which may cause your skin to become greasy more quickly.
2. Do men need a separate skincare routine and product choice from women?
Owing to the differences in male and female skin, men definitely need a skincare routine that’s meant for them. Skincare products that are crafted for men’s skin take into account their thicker texture and increased sebum production. Keeping this in mind, the products are tailor-made for male skin concerns of which, oiliness is the most common.
3. What to target when creating a skincare routine for men?
Start by washing your face with a good chemical-free face wash. It will either help remove the excess oil from the face or not dry out your skin if you have dry skin. Follow this by applying a light moisturiser. This will keep the excess sebum in check while also keeping your face moisturised and nourished.
Gentlemen, are you rubbing your face to find it scaly and dry? Or is your face extremely oily whether it is summer or winter? If you’ve been dealing with skin issues, follow this effective men’s skincare routine to get a face that’s healthy, clear and itch-free.
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Written by Lopa K on 2nd Feb 2023