Moisturizer is one of the most essential skin care products and should be a part of every man’s skincare routine. Technically speaking, our bodies have a way to lubricate themselves naturally.
This is why we have sebaceous glands located all over our bodies. These glands are connected to our hair follicles, and they are responsible for producing sebum, natural oil that travels up to the surface of the epidermis.
So, if you’re looking to protect your skin, there’s one product you need to invest in: moisturizer.
Why Do Men Need Moisturizers?
Moisturizers are designed to keep your skin looking and feeling fresh and hydrated. Your moisture barrier is extremely important for protecting your skin.
Some men have concerns that if they use moisturizer consistently, their skin will develop a reliance on the product and no longer be able to maintain moisture on its own. However, when it lacks moisture, your skin can appear dull, and this dryness can exacerbate various skin conditions.
Moisturizers Are for Every Skin Type
Moisturizers are not only for men struggling with dry skin. Every skin type needs it. A common misconception about moisturizing creams is that they are harmful to those with oily skin.
Moisturizers can help to prevent the production of acne. In fact, a regular skincare routine will strengthen your moisture barrier, which, in turn, keeps out bacteria that would otherwise have infected your blocked pores and turned into acne.
For extra security, make sure that you are using a non-comedogenic moisturizer which means that it is specifically designed to never clog your pores.
The benefits of moisturizer outweigh any fears you may have concerning the product. It is an essential aspect of taking care of your skin and keeping it healthy. In order to reap all of the benefits that moisturizers have to offer, make sure to apply them correctly.
How To Apply Moisturizer
Step One: Start With a Cleanser
Before actually applying the cleanser, wash your hands to remove any bacteria. Then, soak your face with lukewarm water. This temperature will be enough to open up your pores without burning your skin or removing necessary oils.
Next, apply two pumps of The Resetter to your palms and gently apply the product, using circular motions, to your face before washing it off with water. If you have facial hair, you should be washing all areas of your face, and our product is safe to use when accomplishing this.
Before applying any skincare products, it is important to start with a clean slate. This means removing all the dirt and grime that has gathered on your skin throughout the day and night.
Our patented 2- in-1 facial cleanser and shaving gel combines glycerin-infused coconut oil that is full of antioxidants to help preserve your skin and eucalyptus essential oil with a natural foaming agent to facilitate a smooth shave and deep but gentle cleansing. It also reduces dryness by decreasing the loss of moisture.
The Resetter also includes quillaja soap bark extract, which contains saponins that cleanse and bind water to the skin for a purifying feel. Our water-based cleanser is safe to use on all skin types, and in addition to preparing your skin for moisturization, will protect your #1 asset in giving a good first impression.
Step Two: Grab The Toner
After cleansing, consider using a toner.
Toners are specifically designed to better prepare your skin for the absorption of any skincare products that follow, including moisturizers. Without stripping your skin of any natural moisture, toners use healthy, soothing ingredients to refresh your skin.
Every toner is different, but all are intended to help boost your skin’s health. For example, traditionally, toners were alcohol-based and used to remove leftover soap and other products from your skin.
Using a toner will remove any remaining traces of leftover product on your skin. Pour a quarter-sized amount of toner on a cotton pad and gently wipe your face. If you do not have a cotton pad and plan to rub in your toner using your hands, make sure they’re clean to prevent the spread of bacteria on your face.
Step Three: Moisturize
Now’s finally the time to apply your moisturizer. Ideally, you should use your moisturizer twice each day, once in the morning and once at night. Going out on a cold, windy day or sleeping in a room with a heater running is enough to dry out your skin and cause it to lose natural moisture.
To prevent the risk of excessive dryness, follow a simple skincare routine and apply your moisturizer daily. Make sure that you are using the correct moisturizer for your skin. As previously discussed, many people have concerns over using moisturizers and how it might negatively affect the health of their skin.
We recommend MadeMan’s The Refresher.
Dermatologist–approved, our all-in-one moisturizer features a unique formula that smooths out your skin, retains moisture, and provides you with a hydrated appearance. In addition to moisturizing, The Refresher also plays a role in cleansing and protecting the skin from pollution.
The Refresher uses all-natural ingredients like chicory root, vitamin C, and Indian ginseng extract that work to increase collagen production, lift and tighten your skin, restore the skin’s natural moisture balance, reduce the appearance of blemishes, brighten the skin, and make sun damage less visible.
Like The Resetter, apply our product in circular motions evenly over your face for best absorption. Your face will immediately feel cooled and revitalized. However, the long-term effects of the product can be seen as early as after one week of use.
How Much Moisturizer Should I Use?
You only need about a dime-size amount of The Resetter Moisturizer to cover your entire face. Apply it to clean fingertips. Then, gently rub the product and apply all over your face, covering your entire forehead, around the eyes, and neck.
If you are prone to acne in specific areas, such as your nose or cheeks, apply a little less product to those parts.
Step Four: Don’t Forget the Beard!
Beard oil is especially designed to moisturize your facial hair and any skin living below your facial hair. Beard oil is an oil containing moisturizing agents that can seep below your facial hair and get absorbed by your skin.
Some of the benefits of beard oil include softening your facial hair, hydrating the hair follicle, and using it for styling purposes.
Everyone has experienced having dandruff in their hair. Dandruff can develop on the skin beneath facial hair if not properly moisturized.
Using beard oil can be an easy fix for softening, styling, and nourishing your beard or mustache at once. Simply use a few drops of the oil, spread it over your hands, and rub it into your facial hair. Massaging the product may not work for those with longer or thicker facial hair. In this instance, a brush or comb can work instead.
Refrain from using too much beard oil or applying beard oil too frequently, resulting in irritation. Don’t apply beard oil more than twice a day, and use it whenever you use your moisturizer.
Can I Use Moisturizer on My Beard?
All of this being said, you technically can use your facial moisturizer on your beard. Some men prefer beard oil for moisturizing the skin beneath their beards because it is specifically designed for facial hair. The important thing is that you are moisturizing all areas of your face.
Step Five: Sunscreen
The final step to keeping your skin moisturized is to fight off one of the leading causes of dryness: sun damage.
Sun damage occurs when your skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation without wearing any form of protection.
The proper term for sun damage to the skin is photoaging. Photoaging is defined as the premature aging of the skin due to repeated exposure to the sun’s rays and artificial ultraviolet light. It can alter normal skin structures and result in symptoms that include hyperpigmentation, fine lines, creasing, redness, spider veins, and rough, scaly patches.
To avoid photoaging and its drying effects, it is essential to wear sunscreen every morning. An extremely common misconception regarding sunscreen is that you only need it when you spend time directly under the sun.
The reality is that even on cloudy days or days that you spend entirely indoors, ultraviolet light from the sun can reach your skin.
Choosing the Right Sunscreen
When it comes to selecting your sunscreen, there are a few deal-breakers.
The first is the sun protection factor (SPF). A sun protection factor expresses what level of protection your sunscreen can offer you from the sun. For proper protection, you should be using sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
Another requirement is that your sunscreen is labeled as broad-spectrum. A broad-spectrum sunscreen is designed to defend your skin against UVA and UVB rays.
UVA radiation is known for its ability to penetrate deep into the skin and cause damage to the level of the dermis. UVA rays damage epidermal cells, collagen, blood vessels, and elastin. All three of these elements make up the structure of the dermis.
UVB radiation does not penetrate as deeply as UVA rays do. Instead, it is known for causing damage to the surface of your skin. UVB rays penetrate the epidermal layer of the skin, damaging DNA.
Mineral vs. Chemical Sunscreen
The next step is to choose between mineral and chemical sunscreen. These two types of sunscreen both keep your skin protected from the sun, but they work differently.
Mineral sunscreen sits on top of your skin and works as a literal barrier between you and the ultraviolet light.
Common ingredients in mineral sunscreen include titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These ingredients work together to deflect direct sunlight. Mineral sunscreen blocks and scatters rays that touch your skin before they have an opportunity to penetrate and harm your skin.
Chemical sunscreen does the opposite of mineral sunscreen. Instead of directing sunlight away from your skin, the ingredients in chemical sunscreen absorb the ultraviolet light, stopping it before it can reach your skin and cause damage.
Chemical sunscreen uses chemical filters that include oxybenzone and octisalate to accomplish this. It is often claimed to be the superior option for people with minimal time on their hands because they are typically lightweight, invisible to the eye, and fast-absorbing.
Mineral sunscreen, however, is believed to be a safer option for those with sensitive skin. Though both sunscreens are proven to be safe on all skin types, mineral sunscreen has a thinner texture and is more gentle on the skin than chemical sunscreen. This makes it safe for acne-prone or oily skin since it reduces the chances of pores getting clogged and your skin irritated.
Tips on How To Protect Your Skin
Keep Away From the Sun
Not everyone has the option of doing this since many jobs and exercises involve spending time outdoors. However, if possible, we recommend staying out of the sun between 10 am and 3 pm.
This is when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the strongest.
Wear Protective Clothing
If you are unable to find shade during these hours of the day, we suggest wearing clothing that covers your skin and daily sunscreen. This can include long sleeves or broad-brimmed hats.
Reapply Sunscreen As Needed
If you are out in the sun for an extended period of time, we strongly recommend reapplying sunscreen. Other instances in which your skin will benefit from the reapplication of sunscreen include sweating a lot from a high-intensity workout and going for a swim.
Keep your skin protected throughout the entire day by reapplying as needed. Do not be afraid to apply generous amounts of sunscreen to your skin, especially on thinner areas of the body, like your face, ears, feet, neck, and hands.
Don’t Forget Your Scalp
Certain areas of your body might not realize they need sun protection, too, such as your scalp and lips.
Carefully apply sunscreen to your hair part to avoid sun damage to the top of your head. Sun damage on your scalp will often result in unwanted flaking in your hair. As for your lips, invest in a lip balm containing SPF to keep them safe throughout the day.
In Conclusion
Remember to prep your skin before applying your moisturizer. Don’t apply moisturizer to your eyelids or the thin, sensitive skin below your eyes.
Once you’ve managed to find the perfect moisturizer, now’s the time to determine how to utilize it best. We suggest using The Re(Set) Collection so you can prioritize maintaining your skin's moisture and hydration levels and guarantee yourself a handsome complexion. All it takes is two steps, two minutes.
After all, a great face is built with MadeMan.
Sources
Skin type classification systems old and new | PubMed
Sebaceous gland lipids | NCBI
