Why Men Skincare Matters
It is important to take care of your skin based on its needs and condition above anything else, regardless of gender. But we all know men and women tend to differ in how important a skin regimen is.
Most (American) men do not really think about their skin - which was initially strange for me because, in Poland, 40% of men take care of their skin and have a basic routine. **
Contrary to popular belief, men should also get facials routinely and use the proper products for their specific skin condition.
Some men do get facials, sometimes (I wish more would get then regularly). When they do get them, there are 2 typical behaviors: 1. They ask a LOT of questions, and they want to know what I am doing every step of the way or 2. They fall asleep. I would say, though, that most of my male clients do care about what I am doing to their skin, and they are curious about what they can be doing to make it better (even if they do fall asleep!)
There are also some key differences between male and female skin that affect the products that I use on men. For instance, it is important to men that they do not leave with dewy, glowing skin. They prefer a matte finish. For these guys, I recommend Biologique Recherche Emulsion Gel Biosensible SR. It is a complete solution for restoring comfort to the skin and promotes a unified, mattified complexion.
Men have larger hair follicles on their faces and backs (creating thicker, coarser hair) more sebaceous glands on their bodies, and higher levels of testosterone. Testosterone accounts for why men’s skin is 25% thicker than women’s skin. It is also responsible for the rougher texture that we associate with male skin.
And tough skin also needs to be exfoliated! I recommend Biologique Recherche Lotion P50V 1970, as it gently exfoliates and regulates excessive sebum secretion, moisturizes, and helps maintain the epidermis’ acid pH. It prevents and treats in-grown hairs, making it ideal for pre and post-shaving skin care.
Rougher skin does not necessarily mean tougher skin. Whenever a razor glides against the top layer of skin, it removes it, which can cause irritation.
Certain products can be used specifically to counteract razor bumps and irritation on the face. Joanna Czech The Soothing Serum helps calm redness and inflammation.
Biologique Recherche Masque Biosensible is a great relief for razor burn. Mix 2-parts shaving foam with 1-part Masque for a gentle, smooth shave. And don’t ever forget to moisturize! Try Augustinus Bader’s Cream.
I have also curated a Men’s Essential Edit to make it as simple as possible.
** please note, I am generalizing, and I have actually found that more and more men in the US are taking skincare seriously…finally.
