The Ideal Skin Care Routine for Men

Some men might consider a good “skin care routine” one that includes the suds that run down their face when rinsing after a shampoo. But for others, their skin care routine mirrors that of the most skin care-conscientious woman. More and more men today understand the benefit of a proactive skin care routine to help them improve the condition and appearance of their skin.

With a simple and comprehensive approach to skin care, achieving optimal skin health is possible for everyone; skin is skin, after all. There are, however, a few minor distinctions in men’s skin that requires slight variations from the skin care routine employed by women.

Men have rougher and thicker skin – 25% thicker – due to the higher levels of testosterone in their bloodstream. Because men’s dermis and epidermis skin layers are thicker, they have more elastin and collagen, skin proteins that gives skin improved firmness and elasticity. What does this mean? As unfair as it may be, men are more resistant to aging skin than women and may not need to start using anti-aging products at the same time women do. But it’s not all a bed of roses for men. Generally speaking, their skin tends to be oilier and their pores larger than women’s. As a result, men have an increased risk of clogged pores and acne breakouts. It is important to consider these differences when choosing skin care products.

When it comes to daily skin care for men, it doesn’t have to be time intensive. Keep your daily routine simple and you will be able to maintain your good looks while preventing the onset of unwanted skin characteristics.

What follows is an ideal skin care routine for men. If you have specific skin concerns, such as acne or signs of aging, it will be necessary to switch out some of these steps and/or add a few news ones. For most men, however, this routine meets all of their skin's needs.

Wash Your Face 2x Daily

Washing your face both morning and night with a gentle cleansing lotion will remove dirt, bacteria, and excess oil that accumulate on the skin’s surface. (That bar of soap in the shower will do far more harm than good.) This is a vital first step in any skin care routine.

TIP: Lexli Cleansing Lotion can also be used as a gentle shaving cream to minimize inflammation, help keep pores clear and leave skin feeling hydrated. When used with water, Cleansing Lotion will slightly lather.

You might be interested in reading: How to Properly Wash Your Face.

Soothe Skin After Shaving

Men that shave on a regular basis should be using an anti-inflammatory aftershave or toner to soothe the skin and to prevent infection.

TIP: Try using Tone & Balance aloe vera toner after shaving to calm redness and inflammation. It also adds much-needed hydration after the exfoliation process of shaving.

You might be interested in reading: Why a Simple Skin Care Routine is Often Best .

Moisturize

It may seem that those with oilier skin should not moisturize, but on the contrary, hydrating the skin is important for all skin types both day and night. Think of it as creating a shield around your skin that prevents its water content from escaping. And because of daily shaving that exfoliates the skin, men’s skin can also be dry. Determine your skin type and use an appropriate moisturizer. Lexli has a broad collection of moisturizers to help maintain the skin’s moisture levels, including a daily moisturizer for oily skin and an emollient and humectant-rich night moisturizer that locks in moisture to minimize water loss while you sleep.

TIP: Apply moisturizer immediately after washing your face and body lotion after showering. This is vital to locking in moisture and preventing its evaporation from the surface of your skin.

You might be interested in reading: How to Overcome Dry and Itchy Winter Skin .

Protect your Skin

The sun is the biggest cause of aging on our skin. To prevent photoaging and to protect the skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, it is important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 every single day. Many moisturizers like Lexli Day Moisturizer with SPF 30, include SPF in the formulation so you can combine these two skin care steps.

TIP: Look for sunscreen products that have moisturizing ingredients like Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil.

You might be interested in reading: How to Prevent Photoaging, the Main Reason for Premature Skin Aging .