Finally, figure out how to take care of your men’s skin once and for all
The Male Face is often a neglected canvas that many guys tend to overlook. That being said, your face needs a baseline skincare regime to look your best. After all, your face is the first thing people see.
Creating a solid men’s skincare regime isn’t as easy as stopping by your local CVS and just picking up a few generic bars of soap. To enjoy the feeling truly confident with a youthful-looking face, you’ll need some of the best men’s skincare products of 2020.
Don’t worry, we’ve already done all the heavy lifting for you to help you cut through the clutter.
While quarantines and mask-wear socially distanced meetings might give the illusion that your face isn’t being seen, virtual facetime (i.e. zoom calls, skype calls, etc.) poses a new problem.
Your face is the only thing people are seeing.
The Male Face Is Being Broadcasted 24/7
First, we’re going to rip this off like a band-aid. Yes, you might be dressed for the day’s Zoom call, but if your skin is looking tired and dull people are definitely going to notice.
Why men’s skincare is now a thing?
Second, we’ve got to keep it real with you. From the invention of social media to the sudden need for 69 Zoom calls in a single day, putting your best face forward will help you feel more confident while you work from home.
What Makes a male face attractive?
So, what makes an attractive male face might mean different things to different people. Today, we’re approaching it from having healthy-looking skin. How do you get healthy-looking skin? By building a great men’s skincare kit.
Men’s Skincare
Why we have felt frustrated with men’s skincare?
Before we share our ultra-cool and easy-to-follow skincare regime below, we need to talk about the main reason we need advice in the first place.
Many of us were simply not taught about how to take care of the male face
Think about it. Many of our female counterparts have typically grown up freely discussing which skin regimes work. From what we hear, the more you liked or disliked a particular product gave you extra cool points. There was never any shame for trying out new products.
What should be in your men’s skincare set?
With a never-ending supply of overpromising men’s face washes and other grooming products – even the savviest groomer can get confused. Today, we’re going to put an end to all the confusion and help you build the ultimate men’s skincare regime.
Once you get the hang of these basics, you can then layer in additional products that are necessary. It’s time for guys to start the conversation about which products to use. Enough of the whispering and let’s get our faces in tip-top form. Alright?
Men’s Skincare Routine: Where to start with men’s skincare
Guys Must Start By Actually Washing Your Face
In order to help everyone, we need to start at the very beginning. Some of you may think this is unnecessary, but we have to say this. There are guys out there that think washing their faces with an old bar of soap is sufficient.
Please, for your sake, stop.
This is doing more harm than good and stripping your face of essential oils. Every guy, no matter how old or what stage of life, needs to care for their face.
How to Take Care of The Male Face
Important Tips About Caring for Men’s Facial Skin
Here are a basic men’s skincare kit and regime
Firstly, there are 6 main items that you need. Get your notepad ready or screenshot this. The next time you’re out shopping, you’ll want easy access to this list.
Here’s are the 6 things you need to build a solid and simple face care regime.
- Facewash
- Antioxidant Serum
- Sunscreen
- Moisturizer
- Eye Cream
- Restorative Topical
Before you go and get all excited there are some very important details about each of these items.
That’s why we tapped an expert in this field.
We spoke with Jeremy Fenton, MD who is a Board Certified Dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC. He’s been in this industry for 7 years, so we thought he’d be a great resource to help us learn.
What to Look for in Your Men’s Face Wash
Again, we cannot stress how important the below details are for you to follow in order for you to get that beautiful mug of yours looking its absolute best. Dr. Fenton suggests that in the morning’s guys should wash with a gentle foaming face cleanser.
This is great to know because of a few things.
First, the brands he mentions below doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Second, it also means that we don’t necessarily need the harshest of washes to have good looking skin. He also suggests that if you have dry skin or if it’s cold out, that you can use a more gentle foaming cleanser.
“You can use one of the even more gentle versions that don’t foam such as the Neutrogena ultra gentle hydrating cleanser or the Cerave cleanser for dry skin.”
Best Men’s Facial Serum Tips
Next, it’s important to apply a serum every morning, but not just any serum. You need an antioxidant serum.
Dr. Fenton mentioned, “Antioxidant serums will protect your skin from damage from UV sunlight and from pollutants during the day.”
Serums are foreign to most men, but imagine if this is the game-changing item you’ve been looking for.
Our Recommended Men’s Antioxidant Serum
If you’re shopping for a great antioxidant serum that’s strong, long-lasting, and won’t break the bank here it is. This Facial Serum by Anthony is a miracle in a bottle. We tried for a month and after about a week our skin started to feel smooth.
For just under $50, it’s a great choice whether you’re a skincare beginner or expert.
Shop Now via Amazon by clicking here or clicking the image above ($46)
Sunscreen and Moisturizer Tips For Men
Sunscreen and Moisturizer are not to be taken lightly
After that serum has been applied, it’s time for the sunscreen and moisturizer. Most people believe that sunscreen is only needed when you’re on a vacation or out in direct sunlight. This is not true. Sunlight is everywhere. Our faces interact with various UV rays every day that can and will damage our skin.
“Apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. This is one of the MOST important steps of your skin care routine.” Dr. Fenton urges us, “My favorite sunscreens are pure physical blockers like zinc oxide. I prefer to avoid the chemical sunscreens if being used on a daily basis.”
Fenton brings up a great point about opting out of using chemical-filled sunscreens. This is because of the fact that our skin is our largest organ and will soak up all those bad chemicals.
Our Recommended Men’s Sunscreen and Moisturizer
No men’s skincare kit is complete without a solid men’s facial sunscreen. Anthony yet again wins for best sunscreen.
Their day cream offers an SPF of 30 and feels so lightweight that you won’t even notice wearing it. Plus, it helps brighten the face and will keep your skin free from those harmful UV rays.
Shop Now via Amazon by clicking here or by clicking the image above ($34)
Now, Let’s Talk About Men’s Facial Moisturizer
In some cases, as Dr. Fenton mentioned, some sunscreens will already have your desired level of moisturizer in it. But the sunscreen above is just sunscreen. This means you should apply a moisturize before the sunscreen over it.
Our Recommend Men’s Sunscreen
Hands down love the Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisturizer for men.
It offers a great scent, feels lightweight with no sticky residue. It’s a must for your skin care kit.
Shop Now via Amazon by clicking here or by clicking the image above ($52)
Here’s the Men’s Nighttime Skincare Regime You Need for Young Looking Skin
Compared to your morning routine, the night time regime has a couple of minor changes.
First, you wash with your morning cleanser.
Pro tip: use a glycolic or salicylic acid pad to help remove sunscreen and any dirt.
Dr. Fenton says, “You can also use a gentle face wash followed by a glycolic or salicylic acid pad such as Dr. Schweiger Skin Solutions Refine Complexion Clearing Pads”.
Second, (this is new) is to apply a restorative topical. Dr. Fenton says to specifically purchase a topical that is designed to repair and rebuild collagen.
“I generally recommend a prescription retinoid (for example Retin-A or tretinoin). Unfortunately, these can sometimes be drying and irritating. For those that can tolerate it, they are a great option for keeping the skin exfoliated and building collagen. They should be applied in conjunction with a moisturizer either before or after (before if your skin is more sensitive). For those with more sensitive skin, there are options that can repair and rebuild without drying the skin such as Neocutis Biocream or Skin Medica’s TNS serum, which have growth factors.”
Lastly, it’s time to pay a little attention to your undereye areas.
Your Men’s Eye Cream Must Have Growth Factors
“I like Neocutis Lumiere which contains growth factors similar to the Bio cream mentioned above. This should be thought about as more preventative and be started before you start to develop the dark circles” Dr. Fenton shares.
What About Using Toners on the Male Face?
We recently had a friend approach us and talk about how he just learned about what toners are.
When we asked Dr. Fenton for his thoughts about toners, here’s what he said.
“I actually don’t recommend toners. It’s one thing I think you can skip. If you like them, then there is usually no harm as long as you choose one that is alcohol-free and won’t dry the skin too much. People like them because they help to remove any excess makeup or oil left behind after washing.”
Dr. Fenton continues…
“However, I think if you choose the right cleanser for your skin and you aren’t putting on large amounts of makeup, you shouldn’t need one. The risk is that too much cleansing can strip vital oils from your skin. People also like them because of they supposedly pH balance the skin, but most modern cleansers are already pH balanced. For those wearing makeup, I recommend a makeup removing wipe instead. I think the value in a toner is minimal at best and just another step to worry about. I would eliminate that one.”
So, unless you’re rocking some heavy-duty makeup (no judgment if you are and you probably already know a thing or two about skincare if you do) then this is a step you can eliminate.
How Much Should I Spend on my Men’s Skincare Regime?
With all this awesome men’s skincare knowledge in mind, the question of how much is this going to cost can come up. As it is already, we spend a good amount of money on men’s shaving products.
How Much Does a Descent Skincare Regime Cost?
We asked Dr. Fenton who suggested a range anywhere from $100 to $200 will get you a solid skincare lineup.
“If you follow a regimen such as the one I described above, you should be able to get a solid regimen at about $100 to $150 per month. You can get pretty inexpensive face wash and moisturizer at most any drugstore that works well. A good sunscreen usually runs about $20-$40, how long that lasts will depend on how much time you spend outside (as you need to apply more frequently if you are outdoors all day). The real cost comes in with the antioxidant serum and the evening rebuild/repair cream you choose (serum vs retinoid vs. cream) which can run you about $150 each and last about 2-3 months.”
In Conclusion: The Male Face
In conclusion, we want you to know that if you’re new to taking care of your skin, to take it slowly. There’s a lot to learn. Don’t expect to just be able to make sense of it all right at the beginning.
Some products will give one person a great result but not give you the same. Why? Because we all have different types of men’s skin. The key tip is to try. Play with things that make you feel good and help you look like a stud during all those Zoom Calls.
Worried about how to care for your beard when trying to care for your skin?
Taking care of our skin takes some focus and getting used to. Now, imagine if you have a beard or have been wanting to understand how to take care of your facial hair.
Want to know the basics of beard grooming and understanding the differences between beard balm vs oil?
Lucky for you, we do just that in our recent article covering over 15+ Questions pertaining to your beard game.
Read our article by clicking below:
15 Beard Balm vs Oil Questions Answered for Your Beard Journey
Stay safe and Healthy
The team at MAN’edged Magazine