Skincare, simplified
It may be a sweeping generalisation, but it’s not uncommon for some men to have bare-boned, or practically non-existent, skincare regimes. Compare this to reams of women, who often have vanities overflowing with serum, lotions and moisturisers.
There’s no doubt sexism is at play here. By and large, society has conditioned women to strive for youth, vitality and Instagram-worthy perfection. The rugged, ‘silver fox’, salt and pepper look, on the other hand, is coveted in men; ageing isn’t as big a deal.
In any case, looking after your skin isn't just about aesthetics; it’s an integral part of your overall health as a man. And it doesn’t need to be complicated.
There’s no one-size-fits-all
Curating a well-balanced, healthy skincare routine is like anything worthwhile: it takes consistency, commitment, and care – not to mention a good dose of trial and error until you find the best products to suit your skin (be it oily, acne-prone, sensitive, or dry).
Get skin squeaky clean with cleanser
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Oily/acne-prone skin: choose a formula with breakout-banishing salicylic acid or glycolic acid. Cleanse once in the morning and, crucially, twice in the evening.
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Sensitive skin: use simple cleansing milk with all-natural ingredients.
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Dry skin: look for a hydrating, gentle cleanser, like micellar water.
Buff it out with exfoliator
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Oily/acne-prone skin: choose a purifying formula with pore-perfecting glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or lactic acid. Use once or twice a week.
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Sensitive skin: look for a sensitive skin-friendly exfoliator with ingredients like lactic acid, glycolic acid, vitamin C, and multi-fruit acids. Exfoliate once a week, but be gentle – you don’t want to aggravate already-cranky skin.
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Dry skin: use a gentle exfoliator formulated with alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA) or glycolic acid once per week. Never over-exfoliate, even if it’s tempting to scrub away
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the flakiness.
Restore balance with toner
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Oily/acne-prone skin: choose a purifying formula that includes glycolic acid or niacinamide (vitamin B3). Use once or twice daily.
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Sensitive skin: use a toner with calming, moisturising ingredients, like glycerin, vitamin C, rosewater, witch hazel, or aloe vera, once daily.
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Dry skin: look for gentle, alcohol-free, fragrance-free toner. Use once a day.
Shine with serum
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Oily/acne-prone skin: choose a quality vitamin C serum to brighten and even skin tone. Pat onto skin morning and evening.
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Sensitive skin: use hyaluronic acid – the holy grail of serums for sensitive skin – morning and evening.
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Dry skin: look for a hydrating serum with nourishing oils, like rosehip, lavender, evening primrose oil, or squalane. Apply morning and evening.
Lock in moisture
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Oily/acne-prone skin: use a mattifying, featherweight moisturiser every morning and evening.
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Sensitive skin: choose a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturiser. Use morning and evening.
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Dry skin: look for an ultra-hydrating moisturiser specially designed for dry skin. Apply morning and evening liberally.
Finish off with broad-spectrum SPF (use ½ teaspoon on your face and neck every morning)
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Oily/acne-prone skin: use a lightweight, oil-free, non-greasy SPF formula every morning.
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Sensitive skin: choose a fragrance-free, mineral SPF containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Apply every morning.
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Dry skin: look for a richly moisturising SPF that hydrates and plumps. Use every morning.
Additional support
To feed your skin from within, you may wish to consider the following additions.
Anthocyanidins
Anthocyanidins are powerful antioxidants that may support collagen production. Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body that gives the skin its structure. A regular dietary intake of anthocyanidins is an excellent way to support your overall skin health. Eat them: blueberries, or try Colladeen Visage (which contains more anthocyanidins than any supplement!)
Zinc
A powerful mineral, zinc supports normal skin and protects cells from oxidative damage, which is known to play a role in skin ageing. Eat it: steak
B vitamins
Some of the B vitamins, namely biotin and niacin, contribute to normal skin and mucous membranes. Eat them: liver.
Iodine
An essential trace mineral, iodine plays an important role in maintaining skin health. Eat it: eggs.
FREE expert nutrition advice
Our dedicated Nutrition Advice department is a major reason for our success. Our Nutrition Advisors have a wealth of experience between them. They talk to thousands of customers every year, helping them make the right choice from our extensive product offerings. No matter how small your query, they’re happy to help. So, if you’re still unsure what to select, please do reach out via email, phone, or Live Chat.
Call: 01892 552 175
Email: nutrition@naturesbest.co.uk
Write: Nature’s Best Ltd. Century Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 3BE
Want to find out more?
Read more of our resources on ageing and related content here.
