How to Take Care of Your Skin: For Men Edition
Written by Lauren Arent (Lo Clark)
Owner of Bewitched Esthetics & Licensed Esthetician since 2013
June 9th, 2023
Hello my darlings,
On average, men can be quite difficult to convince to use skincare. Typically the male self care routine is easier and more simple than what I recommend for women. I am not trying to box in every man, there are definitely men who take excellent care of their skin and are proud of their in depth self care routines. Personally I would love for skin care rituals to become more normalized for men and I think we are on a path to achieving this. Even the most rugged man can find skincare to suit his needs these days.
A Few Facts about Male Skin
#1. Male skin is 25% thicker than female skin.
#2. Men have a higher density of hair follicles and therefore they have bigger pores.
#3. Men produce more sebum due to the fact that they have more testosterone than women. This makes them more prone to acne.
#4. Men have a higher collagen density (lucky ducks).
Skin Care Routine for Men
Ideally, men keep their skin care rituals to the most important steps in a routine. Again, not trying to box men into one group because that’s simply not the truth. However, on average, men don’t take as much time on their self care as women. Also, since male skin is thicker and has a higher collagen density, the fact is your skin is just different in comparison to female skin and therefore is cared for differently.
So for men, we want to at least maintain these minimum steps in a routine: cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate. Treatment steps can start to be incorporated as signs of aging start to appear, although as your esthetician I must advise (as I repeat to every client) PREVENTION IS SO MUCH EASIER THAN REVERSAL. Meaning, it’s easier to start using anti-aging products before you see that you need them.
This is where two in one products come in REALLY handy for men.
Product Recommendations for Men
Cleanser: For cleansers, I love the Stone Crop Cleansing Oil. This cleanser is gentle and hydrating, perfect for men with beards as it conditions the beard as it cleanses. It also really picks up the excess sebum men have, making it easy to eliminate the acne issue before it becomes an issue.
*If acne is something you already struggle with, I highly recommend the Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam as it contains encapsulated salicylic acid to deeply clean out your pores, but is gently and hydrating so as not to overstrip the skin.
Exfoliant: For most guys, this is an incredibly important step that you skip. If you wanna learn more about this step please check out my article on exfoliating. Exfoliation is an important for a lot of things, but for men we are mostly looking at acne prevention and age prevention. If you struggle with skipping this step, I recommend the Monoi Age Corrective Exfoliating Cleanser. Use it every day without stripping the skin. Also it contains Natural Retinol Alternative for age prevention. Two in one win! If you want an exfoliant to use once or twice a week I recommend the Stone Crop Fizzofoliant as it’s alkaline and useful for softening the sebum within the pores.
Hydration: Easiest step here. Again my biggest recommendation is going to be a product that does two jobs. The Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer. It’s incredibly hydrating and targets age prevention. Easy. However, again if you struggle with excessive sebum and acne control, I would recommend the Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer. It has a lightweight texture and contains tea tree oil which is excellent for keeping to pores clean and clear.
SPF: And of course, never forget to wear your sun protection. The sun is responsible for 90% of aging, which is a significant enough number to prevent in your skin. Try any of the mineral sun blocks from Eminence, they contain zinc and 40spf! There’s the Lilikoi Daily Defense for guys who are on their phones or computers often (because it contains blue light protection as well as sun protection) and the Tropical Vanilla Day Cream for those who need hydration.
In the Spa for Men
I also recommend regular facials, just as I would for women. Brushing your teeth at home is incredibly important but you wouldn’t avoid regular dental appointments would you? Plus a spa facial is so much more relaxing than going to the dentist. I’ve created an option specially designed for men called The Pampered Papa. It includes an Eucalyptus Steam Towel Treatment, a Working Hands Spa Treatment, a Pore Refining Gentle Organic Peel and a Beard Growth Stimulating Massage. Book your treatment in Boise, Idaho here! If you don’t live in Boise, keep in mind that at most spas, their facials will include male-centric services even if they don’t clearly state this on their menu. And you definitely shouldn’t be deterred from making a facial appointment if you have a beard! Estheticians don’t fear the beard.
Furthermore
If you have any specific questions you would like answered about skin care for me, do not hesitate to reach out by leaving a comment below! I would love to answer anything I neglegted to cover here. And men, if you enjoyed this article and find any of my tips useful for improving your skin, please tag me in your skincare selfies @bewitchedestheticsboise so I can share you on my stories!
Wishing you a life full of beauty and blessings!
