A basic skincare routine to clean, protect and hydrate the skin is essential for healthy skin, regardless of your complexion type, age or gender. Skincare for men is becoming more common thanks to an increase in awareness of how beneficial even a basic routine can be for the skin. However, a lot of men still seem to be hesitant when it comes to committing to skincare.
Skincare has come a long way in the past 5-10 years and is far from an act of vanity. The right skincare can improve the appearance of various skin conditions and reduce the signs of ageing, but that’s not all it does. Introducing a skincare routine is an act of self-care that will strengthen your skin’s barrier and protect the skin, just as going to the gym builds strength in your muscles and supports overall health and wellbeing.
If you’ve been attempting to sway the man in your life to take on new skincare products or introduce a routine without any luck, here are some reasons why men need skincare (feel free to keep these up your sleeve!).
Skincare cleans the skin
A dedicated cleanser suited to your skin type will remove excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells to deeply clean the skin, preventing the risk of blocked pores that can lead to blemishes. Splashing water on your face is not enough alone to dissolve oil and dirt, and if you’ve applied SPF in the AM you won’t budge that with H2O!
Skincare protects the skin
Investing in a suitable moisturiser (in addition to daily SPF) will protect your skin’s barrier from environmental stressors that cause damage and potentially lead to dry, irritated and sensitive skin.
Skincare helps to reduce and prevent common skin conditions
A lot of skincare brands are beginning to understand the importance of naturally derived bio-active ingredients and how they can support the skin at a cellular level. Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid and Bakuchiol are now widely used in oils, serums and moisturisers to support sun damage, pigmentation, dehydrated skin and acne.
Skincare helps to prevent premature ageing
Regardless of your gender, looking healthy for your age is something we all desire. Our skin is our largest organ and is the first part of our body to show signs of ageing. Skincare helps to prevent premature ageing and the right skincare can also target and reduce the signs of ageing. Youthful, healthy looking skin shows that we take pride in our health and overall wellbeing.
Men often shave their face which requires repair and protection
Men have an additional reason to support their skin - hair. Regular shaving can cause ingrown hairs, razor bumps and irritation. And if you skip the razor to grow a beard, that can come with it’s own list of potential problems. The skin under a beard can be harder to keep clean and hydrated, leading to dry, flaky skin, excess oil and irritation.
Men have different skin to women
Most men tend to have thicker and oilier skin than women due to higher levels of testosterone. Thick, oily skin can require some work when it comes to balancing oil production and preventing breakouts.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SKINCARE FOR MEN
Although men generally have thicker and oily skin, skin types can change depending on age and environmental factors. Oily skin in men is likely to be most common throughout teens and early twenties thanks to a surge in hormones. As we age our skin generally becomes dryer, needing more support with hydration. If you live in a cool climate or are changing environments, your skin could also become dry and prone to sensitivity. Before introducing a skincare routine it’s important to figure out your skin type so that you can choose products to effectively support your skin concerns.
Oily Skin
- Your skin is visibly oily on most areas of your face
- Oil build up is obvious first thing in the morning or at the end of the day
- Pores may be enlarged or congested
Combination Skin
- Your may be oily through your t-zone (forehead, nose & chin)
- The larger areas of your face such as your cheeks are generally normal to dry
- Your skin can become congested and breakout in areas of your t-zone
Normal Skin
- Generally well balanced, not too oily or dry
- You can use a variety of skincare products with minimal irritation or reaction
- Very few skin concerns
Dry Skin
- Skin can appear dry, flaky and textured
- Skin can feel tight and uncomfortable
- Your skin is ‘thirsty’ and products absorb quickly
When creating a skincare routine for men it’s best to keep it short. Sticking to a few essential steps will make consistency easier and avoid any confusion or overwhelm if they haven’t had a lot of experience using skincare in the past.
CLEANSING
Cleansing might seem like an unnecessary step for men because the majority of men don’t wear makeup. However, cleansing does more that just remove makeup. If you apply SPF to your skin in the AM, touch your face throughout the day or work in a hands-on industry where skin is more likely to be exposed to dirt, oil and dust, then cleansing is a step you can’t afford to skip! Cleansing will dissolve SPF, excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells that can lead to blocked pores, making it an essential step if you want to keep blemishes at bay! If you’re worried about how time consuming cleansing will be, I have good news! You don’t actually need to cleanse in the morning. If you’ve taking the time to cleanse thoroughly at night, a simple wipe over with a damp face cloth or rinsing with water in the shower is enough to give your skin a clean base in preparation for applying your AM products. Just be sure to use lukewarm or cold water for your morning splash, as water that is too hot can dry, damage and irritate the skin.
We recommend: LAMAV’s Sweet Orange Balancing Cleanser as it’s gentle enough for all skin types but specifically formulated to support oily and combination skin. This refreshing gel cleanser provides a deep clean without stripping the skin. The addition of natural AHAs effectively remove excess sebum and impurities while Australian Native Extracts reduce redness and inflammation.
REPAIR, PROTECT AND TARGET SKIN CONCERNS
Our skin is our body’s first line of defence when it comes to environmental stressors, and it takes a beating everyday. UV rays, wind, pollution, dust, dirt, germs, air-conditioning and heating…the list goes on! It may seem like an additional step that you don’t have time for, but investing in a serum to protect and repair the skin will have incredible long term health benefits for your skin.
AM
Vitamin C Serum is the best all-round antioxidant serum for all skin types. Applied under moisturiser, it’s lightweight and will help to protect the skin while reducing any signs of sun damage and pigmentation.
We recommend: LAMAV’s Daily Vitamin C Serum to target discolouration, brighten and protect the skin. Containing a serious boost of antioxidants from Australian Native Extracts and Marine Extracts, this potent serum will also support collagen and elastin production for healthy, youthful skin.
PM
If you’re in your late 20’s and beyond, now's the time to introduce a natural Vitamin A or Retinol alternative to support age defence and smooth wrinkles. Traditional retinol products can be harsh and often cause nasty side effects, so opt for a plant based natural alternative such as Bakuchiol. You’ll get all the benefits of wrinkle smoothing without the irritation.
We recommend: LAMAV’s Bakuchiol Booster - 4% natural retinol alternative to encourage cell turnover, improve skin structure and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
If you have dry, sensitive skin look for serums containing hyaluronic acid. This hydration hero can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water and acts like a magnet for your skin, drawing and locking hydration in to the skin. Apply this at night prior to moisturising for additional hydration support and calmer skin.
We recommend: LAMAV’s Hyaluronic Hydra-Max Serum. This serum delivers instant results to boost and lock in moisture, plumping dry skin while calming any irritation.
MOISTURISE
If you have oily skin it can be tempting to skip moisturiser. You may be surprised to know that if you dry your skin out it may overcompensate with additional oil production, resulting in even more unwanted oil! In the AM apply a lightweight moisturiser following your Vitamin C Serum to hydrate, balance and protect your skin. Finish with SPF to prevent sun damage and premature ageing.
We recommend: LAMAV’s Skin Balancing Fluid. This lightweight moisturiser will have you second guessing if you’ve applied anything at all! Rest assured, your skin will be hydrated, balanced and smooth all day long. This is the perfect barely-there moisturiser, particularly if you have oily/combination skin or plan on applying SPF afterwards.
While we sleep our skin finally has time to breathe, repair and balance. Apply a skin type suitable moisturiser after your chosen serum at night to lock in moisture, support healthy skin barrier function and prevent premature ageing. Just be sure to use a moisturiser without the SPF in the PM to avoid excess oil and blocked pores while you sleep.
We recommend: LAMAV’s Hyaluronic Moisture Cream to replenish essential cellular lipids and prevent moisture loss while you sleep. This non-greasy moisturiser will lock in hydration while healing and calming any redness or irritation.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, why not treat the special man in your life to a new skincare routine with our hand-picked essentials packs! These packs contain everyday essentials to support all skin types and target skin concerns most commonly experienced by men.
ACNE ESSENTIALS KIT
This pack contains everything your special man will need to combat breakouts and balance oily skin. Each product is formulated with bio-actives to soothe and calm the skin.
BRIGHTENING ORGANIC SKINCARE ESSENTIALS
If the man in your life has normal or combination skin, this is the perfect everyday pack. It contains 3 daily essentials to brighten and protect the skin while reducing the appearance of sun damage.
AGE DEFENCE ORGANIC SKINCARE ESSENTIALS
If your dad, husband or partner has skin on the dryer side or is over the age of 30, look no further! This pack will renew skin to deliver real results. You’ll see a reduction in fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation while boosting hydration for a firmer, smoother complexion.
