Skin Care Advice for Men
Many men take great care of their skin, but many, many men do not. This could stem from the fact that they don’t wear makeup, so have no reason to remove it; or it could be that they grew up watching their dads shave, brush their teeth, comb their hair and head out the door. Whatever the cause, more and more men are beginning to realize that they could take better care of their skin. We offer this advice to men of all ages, and suggest that Father's Day is just around the corner, maybe Dad could use a little nudge in that direction!
So what does it mean for a man to take care of his skin? How involved does a skin care routine need to be?
In a nutshell, most people can get by with cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection. Those are the most powerful three things you can do to keep your skin looking it’s best. Additional steps like exfoliation, anti-aging serums or acne treatments can be helpful, depending on one’s skin condition, but aren’t strictly necessary. And if your goal is to get your dad to take care of his skin, maybe stick with the basics at first!
Cleansing
Most men do wash their face, but many do it in the shower, and may use their regular body soap. While this isn’t horrible, it isn’t the best choice for your skin. Most body soaps are fairly harsh, and highly fragranced. A better choice would be a tube of cleanser that can be kept in the shower, and a second tube by the sink. Some favorites with men we talked to are Dr. Rogers Restore Face Wash, a non-stripping cleanser for daily use, $42
Others prefer the invigorating effect of Kiehl’s Energizing Face Wash, $24.
And finally, the no-frills dad can’t help but like Cetaphil. It’s gentle and the price is right! This one doesn't foam up, and some people do tend to equate cleaning with foaming, but a non-foaming cleanser can clean just as well. Stick one in the shower and it can also be used on the body. About $14
Moisturizing
Once skin is clean, the next step is to apply moisturizer. A good moisturizer helps keep skin’s own moisture in, but also helps replace what is lost due to the environment or cleansing. The moisturizer doesn’t need to be fancy, it just needs to be effective, delivering hydration and helping form a barrier to prevent moisture loss. Everyone should moisturize twice a day.
For someone who needs a lot of moisture, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration makes great sense. It’s ideal for someone who works outdoors and is exposed to extreme temperatures. The Collodial Oatmean and Allantoin help soothe irritated Skin. $38
Jack Black Skincare makes a moisturizer that includes 8% glycolic acid, to provide gentle chemical exfoliation, thereby improving the appearance of fine lines and dark spots. $32.
BullDog makes a nice, simple moisturizer in a squeeze tube that has antioxidants and is non-greasy, at a great price point. $9.99
Sun Protection
It's the last step before you go out the door, and everyone needs it, every day. But luckily for dads who are short on time, it doesn’t need to be a part of his nighttime routine, just during the day. That being said though, it is important that EVERY sunscreen be reapplied EVERY 2 hours when outdoors (or driving, sitting by a window). Why is this? Because there are two types of UV rays. UVB rays are strongest when there is no cloud cover, and are the ones that cause sunburn. Everyone wants to avoid those! But UVA rays, most of which reach the ground even on cloudy days, are the ones that cause photoaging—the crow’s feet around the eyes, the dark, uneven spots on the skin. Both types of UV rays can lead to skin cancer, but the good news is that the effects of both types can be largely avoided by habitual use of a broad spectrum sunscreen.
It is probably no surprise that we recommend Brush On Block Mineral Powder Sunscreen for daily use for men of all ages. The broad spectrum, SPF 30 powder is easy to apply and reapply, and also keeps hands clean and dry…no more slippery, greasy hands messing up dad’s golf, tennis, fishing or biking grip! The brush is small and easy to carry in a pocket or backpack, making it ideal for hiking or backpacking without adding a lot of weight or bulk. And yes, mineral powders can be water-resistant! Brush On Block has the highest water-resistance that the FDA acknowledges…80 minutes. $34
Even better, Brush On Block is refillable, so you don’t need to reinvest in a new brush every time you run out. Instead, try one of our Eco-Friendly Refills. This compact pouch pours right into the powder container of your existing brush, eliminating the need to throw out any part of the brush. $16.
And finally, for full-body protection, Brush On Block Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 is a quicker way to apply sunscreen to large areas of the body. This zinc-only formula has minimal skin-whitening effects, but offers all the protection of our powder formula. $20
This summer, make sure dad is protected from head to … well, probably shoes, but toes if he’s that kind of guy!
