If you have women in your life, you’ve probably witnessed their multi-step skincare routine. You’ve seen their skin glow and wondered what potions and lotions they’re using to be so soft and supple and if you should be using them.
While you don’t need to copy their routine step for step, most men could use a good moisturizer in their life. Don’t know where to start?
Stop using that Axe body wash on your face and learn how to pick the right skincare for your skin type below.
Figure Out Your Skin Type
Before you buy any skin products, you need to know what your natural skin is like. Each person’s skin is as unique as their DNA, and knowing where to start will help you pick the right product. There are four basic skin types.
Dry Skin
Our skin naturally gets drier as we age, but some people have dry skin their whole life. It may be genetic, or it could have to do with environmental factors, like the climate you live in, the quality of your water, or the kind of products you use.
People with dry skin have fewer natural moisturizing factors (organic substances made by your body) and need more moisturizers than the general public. Having dry skin can make wrinkles appear more prominent and weaken the skin barrier, making it easier to get sick.
If you have dry skin, you’ll need a thicker moisturizer. Pick one with ceramides or one that’s made for dry skin types.
Oily Skin
While dry skin doesn’t produce enough oil to keep the skin hydrated, oily skin produces too much, which oversaturates the skin. That oversaturation can build up in pores, causing blackheads, whiteheads, and other unsightly blockages.
People with oily skin may notice that their face looks “shiny” or “greasy,” especially in the second half of the day.
While it seems counterintuitive, people with oily skin still need to moisturize. Many people overwash their oily skin, which actually tells your body to produce more oil, not less. Wash your skin once in the morning and once at night, then apply products meant for oily skin for best results.
Sensitive Skin
When you shave, do you notice your skin gets red and angry-looking? Does it feel like you get more ingrown hairs and/or reactions to products than other people? Then you likely have sensitive skin.
Sensitive skin is exactly what it sounds like – skin that has a delicate balance easily upset by the wrong products, motions (like shaving), or environmental factors (wind/cold). It is the most difficult type of skin to treat because when you start out, there’s no way to know which ingredients cause a reaction.
The best thing you can do is get a specific mens moisturizer made for sensitive skin and test it on a small patch for a few days before applying it to your entire face. People with sensitive skin should never add more than one new product into their routine at once in case of irritation.
Normal Skin
If you have normal skin, count yourself lucky. Normal skin can be dry or oily at times but generally doesn’t have any noticeable extremes. People with normal skin types can use most products and should follow a general face care routine.
Choosing the Right Kind of Moisturizer For Your Skin Type
Once you’ve identified the type of skin you have, you can start shopping for products. Follow the tips in your type-description above for the best results.
Remember that you may have to try a few different moisturizer options before you find the perfect product for you.
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