My website is geared toward aging gracefully. I do have a lot of posts that are geared toward women, but I’ve had a few comments from men asking what about us? Men are definitely not excluded from skin care and aging, men also want to look and feel their best. Many think that men just do not want to take care of their skin, but truth is they aren’t sure how to do it. AEDIT.com did some digging to find out how men can get the best skin and anti aging techniques, and allowed me to publish an article for my readers to spread the word. So here you go all you men out there, here is the complete guide to anti aging for men.( Links lead to Amazon)
Mens Grooming Industry
The times are changing. The mens grooming industry is set to become a $166 billion dollar business by the year 2022 with skin care being on the forefront and growing rapidly. Now we have men waking up to something women have known for years which is proper skin care is more about prevention than reaction. With only a few steps to clean and protect your skin daily can lead to big changes in your complexion and slow the effects of aging more effectively than some of the most potent anti aging creams.
Think of it this way: if we don’t take our car in for regular maintain then it’s going to break down a lot faster right? Same concept here you want to tackle the problems before they start. Another problem we see is that if you’re just starting out with caring for your skin, it can be overwhelming, where do you start?
There are so many products out there that claim to help with your skin, so walking down any mens skin care isle you almost have to have a degree with all the different products out there and what they mean. That’s where the AEDITION comes in. They have done all the research so you don’t have to. Follow these 8 steps and you’re on your way to amazing skin.
No More Multi Use Products
For years product developers and marketers thought that in order for men wanting to buy and use their products, they had to pack as many functions as they could into a single multi use product. The idea was that men didn’t want a lengthy skin care routine, but the functionality doesn’t live up to the thought. The main problem with these products is that they emphasize cleansing.
In order to properly cleanse the body, they typically end up being too harsh for your face and hair. The skin on your face is more delicate than the skin on your body, so over cleansing can cause irritation and dryness. The same with your hair. Hair can get dry and brittle, which can make it fall out more easily due to the natural oils being stripped. Even the 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner can leave hair dry due to its emphasis on cleansing. Your hair needs conditioner to stay healthy and soft so no more multi-use products.
Wash Your Face With Facial Cleanser
Once you get rid of your multi use products, the first thing you should buy is a gentle facial cleanser. Remember the skin on your face is more delicate compared to the skin on your body and should be treated gently. Regular soaps contain sulfate which is a foaming agent and it’s very harsh on the skin due to the fact that they disrupt the skins natural barrier, a protective layer of lipids that keeps moisture in your skin and bad stuff out.
When harsh cleansers clean away dirt and oil, they also strip away this layer of lipids, which can leave your skin dry, irritated and susceptible to inflammation. When choosing a cleanser for the face, look for one that says gentle, and low or no lather. These will not lather like you may be used to, but they’re gentle and they are definitely still cleaning your skin. You may notice your skin doesn’t feel as tight and cleanser should be the first step morning and night.
Exfoliate Gently
As you delve deeper into your skin care routine, you’ll hear about exfoliation. It’s the idea that your cells go through a life cycle and when you have a build up of dead skin cells on the skin, it causes it to look dull and can cause pores to clog. Some say if you don’t exfoliate to gt rid of all the dead skin cells, it can cause fine lines and aging to be more noticeable.
What a lot of men don’t realize is that if they’re shaving every day, they are already exfoliating, but unless you’re shaving your entire face, you still need to exfoliate at least once a week to keep your skin looking fresh. Most exfoliators marketed to men are facial scrubs, but remember the skin barrier?
Scrubs can be too harsh, particularly if you use them aggressively, and can potentially cause damage to your barrier — even if you’re using a gentle cleanser. Instead, look for an exfoliating toner or mask that contains alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic or lactic acid (may we recommend Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 & The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning) These acids will gently break down the dead skin cells and slough them away gently.
Use An Eye Cream Daily
Most men say that the first place they notice sign of aging is around the eyes. Bags under the eyes and crows feet need to be tackled before they form, if possible, prevention is key. Using and eye cream twice a day will help keep the delicate skin under the eyes smooth and plump.
Look for creams that contain caffeine, which is a natural stimulant to help wake up the skin. Also, peptides are another important ingredient, they’re a natural protein which helps maintain the health of your skin. Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel & Lab Series Age Rescue Eye Therapy are good ones to try. Gently apply eye cream by using your ring finger to tap the cream into the skin, instead of rubbing, and put it on after cleansing both morning and night. Bonus: it will help erase signs of sleepless or hard-partying nights, too.
Moisturize Day & Night
Moisturization is key to keeping skin hydrated and fresh looking. Keeping the skin moisturized, the step after cleansing, will help skin cells stay healthy and functioning properly. A moisturizer will not only keep skin hydrated but it also creates a protective barrier to keep moisture locked in. When choosing a moisturizer, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring acid that helps skin cells retain moisture, and ceramides, which are lipids like the kind found in your skin barrier.
Top Picks: Baxter of California Oil Free Moisturizer & Aesop Seeking Silence Facial Hydrator. The most common reason men say they don’t like using moisturizer is that they don’t like the feeling of heavy cream on their face. If you’re one of those guys, opt for a lightweight gel moisturizer, which will give you hydration and protection to your skin. Use both morning and night after eye cream.
Importance Of Sunscreen
Sunscreen is the most important step to protecting our skin, regardless of age or gender. The problem is most men don’t use it. If you’re going to take away one thing from this list, it should be using a daily sunscreen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, men are diagnosed with skin cancer twice as often as women by age 65 (and they also die from it at a higher rate) and the most troubling part is that it can be prevented if they would just use sunscreen.
Skin cancer protection aside, sunscreen is one of the most effective anti aging products out there. Studies have linked the signs of aging to harmful UV rays and by wearing a daily sunscreen you’re minimizing damage on a cellular level. Like moisturizer, most men say they don’t ware it because they don’t like how it feels on their skin.
Just like moisturizer there are lightweight formulas available, such as Supergoop 100% Mineral Smooth & Poreless Matte SPF 40 Sunscreen & Cardon Daily Moisturizer SPF so no more excuses! You can even find moisturizer that also contain sunscreen, which is the only multi use product we endorse. But keep in mind that AAD recommends a minimum of SPF 30, which is higher than many moisturizers/sunscreen combinations contain, so if you’re going that route make sure you read the label.
Night Time
If you’re going to use a daily moisturizer containing SPF during the day, you may want to use a different one at night. Like many of our other bodily systems, our skin regenerates at night while were sleeping. It’s the perfect time for the microscopic systems to repair themselves after being exposed to sunlight, stress and pollution they’ve spent all day protecting themselves from.
Night creams usually contain a higher percentage of repairative and hydrating ingredients, such as hylauronic acid and ceramides and will sometimes also contain retinol which is important for cell turnover( production of new cells.) Using a special cream at night ( Ole Hendrikson Goodnight Glow Retin Alt Sleeping Cream & First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream), could mean you wake up with a smoother and brighter complexion with minimal effort. Each night, after you wash your face and apply eye cream, apply your night cream or SPF-free moisturizer.
Use A Serum
We hear a lot of talk in the skincare world about serums. If you compare your skincare routine to making a smoothie, then the serum would be like a booster shot. Serums are packed with concentrated ingredients to specifically target a variety of issues such as redness, hyper pigmentation (dark spots), uneven skin tone, and signs of aging. You want to apply them after you wash your face, before moisturizer.
They’re add-on products; you can create an extremely easy and effective skincare routine without ever using a serum, but, if you want to take your skincare to the next level, try an all-around serum that addresses a variety of issues, like the Venn Age Reversing All in One Concentrate & Caldera Plus Lab The Good Multi Functional Serum. If you like the results, try to find a serum that specifically targets any area you have trouble with such as deep wrinkles or dark spots.
Conclusion
The mens grooming industry is growing, and now you will have all the information you need when choosing what products to try and how to use them. Anti aging is not just for women anymore a lot of men are trying to look and feel their best also. Times are definitely changing. AEDIT.com is my go to site for all of the latest info on the beauty industry, thanks to them for allowing me to republish this article using some of their excellent research. As always, thanks for reading and please leave any comments or questions down below, I would love to hear them!
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Hi, Karli,
Thank you for this information, it has reminded me that I have to start taking more care about my skin.
I haven’t been using any kind of skincare products, with the exception of facial cleanser.
I am almost 40 years old and I have a very sensitive oily type of skin. It is so much oily that I need to wash it at least twice a day. Actually I do it as often as I can, every time I get back home.
I can see some of the products linked to this article are for sensitive skin too so I will check them out.
By the way, I like your website, I am sure a lot of people can benefit from the information you are providing here.
BR,
Ionut
Hi and thanks so much for reading and commenting. I had articles mostly geared toward women and I was receiving messages from men, they were like hey what about us…I have another new one coming out this week. I am glad you found my post helpful and my site informative. Come back for more in the future. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Karli,
Love the men’s guide! I always wondered what to get my husband because he is a truck driver and is constantly exposed to the elements. Yet, funny enough his skin is better than mine ?. I think I’ll indulge in getting him some eye creams.
Hi thanks for reading and leaving a comment! I am glad you found the article helpful. I was getting some guys writing me saying what about us..lol. I am going to be doing a few more for men and I will let you know when I post. An eye cream is a great idea, if you cannot get your guy to do a full routine, start with something small.:)
I was happy to find you didn’t leave us men from all your secrets, and even men are interested in how to prevent aging as they become older in age. I found all your products interesting and many new to me, I must admit until reading your article I had no idea there were so many anti-aging products for men
Awesome article,
Jeff
Thank you so much for reading and commenting! I was getting asked what about us men..lol so I have some more ideas as well for men. I am glad you found my article helpful. We all want to look and feel our best as we age. Thanks again for stopping by!
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