7 Skin Care Rules Every Man Should Know

by The Puritan's Pride Editorial Team

Before the title of this blog leads you to any conclusions, let me get a few points across:

  • This won’t cost you a lot of money
  • I promise you’ll have enough time to do it
  • You will not need to pack your medicine cabinet full of products
  • You don’t have to ‘borrow’ your wife’s products
  • No trips to the day spa are required

The truth is that men’s skin is thicker and less sensitive than women’s, and skin care for men is easier because most men don’t wear makeup. As a man, I don’t need my skin to glow, sparkle, or radiate; I just want it to be clean, healthy, and to look as good as possible 30 years from now. Is that too much to ask for?  Absolutely not, in my humble opinion.

Here are the 7 golden rules of skin care that modern men everywhere can benefit from.

Face Value

I (hopefully) don’t have to tell you to shower daily to keep your skin in tip-top condition, but I must ask – is your facial care routine on point?  If not, listen up!

First, find a facial cleanser that works for you.  Identify a scent that you love; this will help you keep up with your routine and even look forward to using it.

If, like me, you can’t stand the overpowering aroma of the man-branded grooming products in your local drugstore, find something simple and, like tea tree.

Your best options are a foaming cleanser, a cleansing gel, or my personal favorite, a cleansing cream.  Bar soap often dries out the skin, but if you insist on bar soap, look for one that’s made from hydrating ingredients like vitamin E or olive oil.  If you have any special skin conditions, like oily, acne prone, or especially dry skin, take this into consideration when selecting a cleanser.

Use a cleanser with cold or warm water (hot water strips necessary natural oils from the skin) once in the morning and once in the evening, each and every day, like your skin depends on it (and it does).  Your pores and your future self will thank you.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

While our physique demonstrates our commitment to diet and exercise whether we like it or not, our skin tells the story of our lifestyle habits – good or otherwise.  A few small changes can make all the difference in the health and appearance of your skin.

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol, sodium, or any substance that may cause dehydration
  • Don’t eat too much sugar (and be careful – it’s hiding everywhere)
  • Get lots of sleep
  • Quit smoking

I’m not here to sell you on a particular type of moisturizer.  We sell a lot of them, and they’re all good.  You just need to pick one, and then use it every day without fail.  Hydrated skin is happy skin.

Select a moisturizer that is formulated for the delicate skin of the face (rather than an ‘all over’ cream meant for the entire body).  Many men prefer an unscented moisturizer, but it’s your call.  Apply a thin layer of moisturizer to your face once or twice per day after washing, when the skin is still slightly damp.  Aloe vera is an excellent choice, and rarely expensive.

Sun’s Out Guns Out

When it comes to the health of your skin, the sun is not your friend.

Do not, under any condition, allow your face or any other part of your body to become sunburned.  Period.

Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher each and every time your skin is exposed to the sun for an extended period.  Your significant other probably doesn’t care whether or not you’re sporting a tan, but they most definitely will care if you begin to resemble a tomato, or worse – a prune—as you age.

Feeling ambitious?  Incorporate a night cream into your routine to replenish skin cells, and wake up looking refreshed.

Biotin Bromance

If you’re a Puritan’s Pride customer then you’re probably already in the habit of nutritionally supporting digestion, heart health, sleep, immune health, healthy vision……the list goes on and on.*  Your skin wants in on the action!

While avoiding the sun, feel free to buddy up with biotin.  A B vitamin found in foods such as oatmeal and soy, biotin assists in energy metabolism in cells, and helps support healthy skin and hair.*

Biotin is not produced naturally in the body, so it must be consumed daily through dietary sources.

Hair, Skin & Nails formula is a great option, as it combines biotin with a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts.  Antioxidants like resveratrol or alpha lipoic acid may also help fight against free radicals in the body which can contribute to the premature aging of cells, and zinc also supports skin health.*

The Eyes Have It

We don’t choose to age, but we do have some say in how we age. Taking a few simple steps today can help you maintain the youthful appearance of wrinkle-prone eyes as your golden years approach.

“Pulling and tugging on the skin surrounding the eyes is a big skin care DON’T and may even speed up the natural aging process,” says Puritan’s Pride beauty blogger Melissa Chichester. “When applying creams, dab them on gently with your ring finger instead of your index finger, because it will have the lightest touch.”

Daily application of retinol, a form of vitamin A which is important to the appearance of your skin, is an excellent option for this delicate area, keeping the skin soft, smooth, and hydrated.

Going the Extra Mile

Facial treatments like masks, exfoliating scrubs, and skin peels aren’t just for women, aren’t time-consuming, and aren’t expensive.  You don’t even have to leave your home, and the treatments make for a perfect selfie photo op.

Facial masks serve a variety of purposes, like polishing, cleansing, hydrating, exfoliating, brightening, and pore refining.  Wash-off masks like this one are the most common, but modern men will find disposable, single-use cloth masks a quick and easy option.  Feeling lazy?  It doesn’t get much easier than a peel off mask or a sheet mask.  Here’s a Facial Mask for Men that’s my personal favorite.  Use it once a week, once a month, or whenever you are able.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

And whoever said I don’t want no scrubs certainly never gave this a try.