Most men develop some kind of necessary skin care cleansing routine in the teenage years. Acne, blemishes, and the attentions of the opposite sex are usually the reason for such routines. However, many men ignore the toning and moisturizing steps that can improve both the appearance and feel of facial skin. Skin care products and routines may seem likely stuff for women only, but men have skin too. And just like women, men can do wonders for their skin by simply learning a few basic principles of skin care. For starters, men need to understand what type of skin they have, how to care for their skin, and how to develop a skin care routine they can live with.
Know Your Skin Type Before you can select skin care products, you need to know what type of skin you have. Although women often learn these differences as soon as they can hold a bar of soap, many men find the question perplexing. Skin is skin, right? Wrong! Your skin can be normal, oily, dry, sensitive, or a combination. Here's a primer for men on deciphering your skin type.
Oily Skin: As its name implies, oily skin is slightly to moderately greasy. If you have oily skin, your pores are medium to large in size and prone to blockage. You probably have problems with pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and acne cysts. Oily skin is usually thicker and firmer than normal skin and it's less sensitive to environmental damage.
Sensitive Skin: Men with sensitive skin are usually the ones who actually know their skin type. Sensitive skin is prone to rashes and breakouts from any kind of irritants such as sun, perfumes, shaving cream, temperature extremes, and even soap. Be very careful about the skin care products you choose if you have sensitive skin. Avoid products with dyes, perfumes, or unnecessary chemical ingredients that may irritate your skin.
A Skin Care Routine For Men Now that you know what kind of skin you have, and you've purchased skin care products to accommodate your skin type, how do you know what to do with them. Many men have a fitness regime, a financial plan, and a daily schedule. But mention a skin care routine and they run for the hills. Skin care is not just for women. In fact, men who exercise regularly are prone to having more skin problems than women who do the same. That's because you're stretching your skin, not cleansing it properly, and not protecting it from elements such as sweat, sun, and wind. But don't worry; taking care of your skin doesn't have to mean spending hours in the bathroom. It just means establishing a simple routine to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
Tone: If you have dry or sensitive skin, skip this step. Toners are usually alcohol based and may irritate these skin types. But normal, oily, and combination skin can benefit from the extra cleansing and pH restoration of a alcohol free toning product.
