Skincare for guys: A beginner’s guide

Hey boys, it’s time to talk man to man. You should be doing skincare—plain and simple. Boys have skin, too, and all skin can be prone to sunburn, sun marks, peeling and flaking. It might be intimidating to delve into the world of skincare—where everyone has 10 or more steps and terms like glass skin and cream skin are thrown around without care—but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Like a classic suit or a beer-and-movie night, skincare is best when stripped down to the basics and made simple. You can take care of your skin with only a handful of products and three easy steps. 

Cleanse

Cleaning the face of the oil, dirt and grime that have accumulated throughout the day is the first step to a very basic skincare regimen for men. Washing the face using a gentle cleanser can help clear the inside of your pores to prevent acne breakouts and bacteria from settling in. It’s best to wash your face twice, when you wake up because your pillow and sheets are breeding grounds for bacteria, and before sleeping, so you can wash away the buildup of dirt on your face throughout the day.

After washing your face, applying a toner can help restore your skin’s pH level while simultaneously smoothing out rough skin patches and improving the evenness of your skin tone. Toner is also an additional cleansing step, as it helps clear away whatever was missed by your initial wash.

The Face Shop’s Fresh For Men Hydrating Toner is best for dry skin as its English Breakfast extract can help bring back moisture into dry skin. Meanwhile, the Seed For Men Refreshing Toner is a light formula that won’t leave a sticky residue and would be best for men who have oily skin.

Moisturize

After cleansing your face, you have to restore the vitamins and nutrients that have worn down over the duration of the day. You also have to hydrate and protect your face from air and sun. In comes moisturizer, which creates a barrier between your skin and possible irritants.

Like cleansing, it’s best to moisturize twice every day. In the morning, The Fresh For Men Hydrating Fluid is best. It’s a thin formula that won’t clog up when exposed to sun. Apply it after your morning wash to rehydrate the skin after a long night without water and to protect your face once you go out. In the evening, you may apply The Fresh For Men Hydrating Emulsion. It has a thicker formula that can assist your skin cells in its nightly healing and regeneration.

Protect

Cleansing and moisturizing isn’t the end of your lesson in a basic skincare routine. There’s also protection. All that washing and hydrating won’t do a lot to help already damaged skin, so in this case, prevention is better than a cure.

Never forget to apply SPF or a sun-protecting cream to make sure your skin isn’t drying out throughout the day. Ultraviolet rays can be harsh contributors to skin deterioration and in worse cases, can lead to extreme sunburn and even skin cancer. Usually, SPF 30 is a safe bet for a quick commute or a brief al fresco lunch, but also take into consideration what you’ll be doing for the day. If you’ll be out playing golf or tending to your homegrown garden, then definitely bring up that SPF level.

The Seed For Men Refreshing Lotion can be used alongside your usual sunscreen to make sure your skin doesn’t dry out while The Face Shop’s Perfect All-in-One can be your face mist for the day, to make sure your face stays hydrated.

For more skincare and grooming tips, visit SM Shopmag.

Editor’s Note: This article was provided by SM Shopmag.