a beginner's guide to men's skincare
If you’re just starting to craft your skin-care routine, or you’re looking to fine-tune or simplify your regimen, you should know one thing: Men have different skin—and skin needs—than women do, so you need to tailor your skin-care routine accordingly.
The good news is, men’s skincare doesn’t need to be complicated. “A simple regimen is fine,” says Emily Newsom, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA. The most important part of any skin-care routine, she says, is the daily application of sunscreen (SPF 30+). Beyond that, Dr. Newsom advises using a gentle cleanser in the shower, followed by a moisturizer.
More on how to optimize your skin-care routine ahead.
1. Protect Yourself From the Sun
Sun exposure is good for you - to an extent. It’s great for supporting your body’s natural circadian rhythm. It increases vitamin D in the body, improving your immune system and bones. It can also elevate your mood.
Yet, there’s a dark side to this bright light. Too much sun leads to age spots and more wrinkles. It further increases your risk of skin cancer.
By preventing this photo-aging, premature aging of the skin due to UV exposure, you can minimize your skin damage. When you’re on the hunt for a good daily moisturizer, look for one with broad-spectrum defense against UVA and UVB–and don’t forget to reapply.
2. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Good skin isn’t just about what you put on your face—it’s also about how you treat your body. The best way to take care of yourself, in the long run, is to create a relationship between what you consume, and how you treat yourself on the outside. Did you know that stress causes your body to produce cortisol, which encourages your skin to produce excess oil? Or that a diet rich in antioxidants can help reduce inflammation? From a balanced diet to regular exercise, a healthy lifestyle goes a long way to keeping your skin young.
3. Moisturize— Night and Day
Today’s man needs to not only protect his skin, but also to provide it with the proper ingredients to improve cellular turnover. Treating your skin right means using an appropriate morning moisturizer and a different night cream. While you might be tempted to use your daytime moisturizer before you head to sleep, there are good reasons not to make your morning cream do double duty. Your morning moisturizer will have different active ingredients (and SPF) designed to protect your face during the day, while a night cream offers complimentary ingredients that heal and restore your skin while you sleep. ASYSTEM’s Performance Skincare set includes both a morning moisturizer and a night cream, plus a cleanser you can use twice daily.
4. Start Early
By taking the necessary steps involved in proper skincare, you can slow the aging process down and feel good about it. If you really want to make a dent in the march of time, your best bet is to start early. In fact, you lose 1% of the collagen in your skin every year after the age of 20. Considering that collagen loss is one of the most significant factors in aging, getting a head start on a solid skincare routine is key to maintaining a youthful look.
