The most common mistake men make when it comes to skin care is not having a skincare routine.
Is men's skin different?
At the end of the day, skin is skin. That being said, there are a few key differences between men's and women's skin that are important to understand.
Men's skin is thicker than women's skin, due to increased amounts of testosterone. Testosterone also accounts for why men's skin texture is rougher. And we can't forget facial hair: If men are consistently shaving their face, their skin may be drier than women's skin.
Experts attest that this is the ideal bare minimum routine for men 50 and over.
1. CLEANSER
At least every night, if not twice a day, you should be cleansing your skin. It's important to wash off the excess oil, dirt, and pollutants that latch onto your skin throughout the day. If your skin is on the drier side, look for a hydrating formula. Check the label for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
If you struggle with excess oil or congested skin, try to find something with exfoliating or oil-balancing properties. Look for ingredients like AHAs, BHAs or niacinamide.
2. RETINOL
Retinol has tons of benefits, especially for ageing skin. Retinol has the power to regulate cell turnover, exfoliate the skin, even tone, control oil production, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and hamper the breakdown of collagen. But only apply it at night as it can cause photosensitivity.
3. MOISTURISER
Once you've cleansed and treated the skin, you must follow up with a moisturiser. This will help keep the skin barrier intact and encourage better skin health overall. Not to mention, it will combat the tight, dry feeling that comes with avoiding moisturiser post-cleanse.
While most men tend to have oilier skin (thanks, again, to the testosterone), everyone with ageing skin can struggle with dryness as well.
4. SUNSCREEN
Not wearing sunscreen will advance all signs of ageing. You should be wearing a minimum of SPF30, preferably SPF50.
And it's never too late to hop aboard the sunscreen train: Men can see brighter skin with less redness pretty soon after incorporating daily sunscreen, and after a year of consistent use, there can be some changes in the overall tone and texture of the skin..
5. COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS
Healthy skin starts from the inside out. Yes, this means drinking enough water and eating a nutritious diet, but it also means maintaining your collagen production. Collagen, after all, is what keeps your skin firm and taut.
As you age, your collagen production begins to slow down. Your natural levels can also decline due to environmental factors and stressors, such as sun exposure (hence, daily SPF) and high sugar diets. And collagen supplements have been shown to help promote the body’s natural production of collagen.