Facial care tips for men

As a guy, you may have been taught that washing your face with a bar of soap and scrubbing it dry are the only steps you need to take to care for your face. Taking care of your face doesn't have to be a big ordeal, but adding a few more steps to your routine can make a big difference if you want healthy-looking skin. Cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and shaving will leave your skin looking and feeling great.

Facial Cleansing

It is important to clean your face at least twice a day using a mild facial soap. A wash in the morning and then again in the evening is sufficient. The skin on your face is far more sensitive than the rest of your body, so choosing the correct products for the job are essential. Avoid products containing alcohol and other chemicals, as this will only help to dry out your facial skin, and possibly damage it. Even regular soap is too harsh for your face, especially if its detergent based, can harm the skin as they contain harsh chemicals.

Facial Exfoliating

Exfoliating is an important step for proper skin care. Purchase a facial scrub, because body exfoliators too rough for use on your face. To apply, wet your face with warm water to loosen the skins pores. Put some of your chosen product on the tips of your fingers and massage the entire surface of your face in small circles. Do not massage your eyelids, or under your eyes as this skin is far more sensitive. You can apply the same technique to your neck and shoulders. Exfoliate no more than twice a week for best results. Exfoliating before shaving will make shaving more comfortable. It will also help to prevent razor burn.

Toning and Moisturizing

Toners are aftershaves without alcohol. Alcohol only dries out the skin, so applying an alcohol based tonic after a shave will merely damage your skin more. A toner will usually contain helpful substances such as aloe, and should be applied after shaving to help with the damage caused by the razor. Moisturizing is an extremely important daily process that will help keep your skin young, supple and striking. Moisturizing simply means that hydrated facial skin. Apply a non-oil based moisturizer after shaving (and once a day in the mornings) to your face and neck to keep your skin hydrated. You still need to moisturize if you have a beard, as the skin is not completely protected and can also become dehydrated.

Eye Creams

Eye care products are usually more expensive because they are designed to deal with a much more sensitive part of the face. However, you also only need to use a very small amount per application for it to be beneficial. To apply, squeeze out a tiny dollop onto a fingertip of your right hand, then an equal amount onto a fingertip of your left hand. Dot the cream under the eyes and on the sides of the eyes (never on the eyelid) in an equal motion for both sides. Do not rub in the cream; rather try to apply the cream in small dabs.

Sunscreen Protection for Men

Lots of facial moisturizers promise to keep your face young, but not all of them deliver.

“A lot of products these days tout the fact that they contain antioxidants,” Glaser says. “Theoretically, they should help. Sunlight and pollution cause oxidative damage to skin. But so far, we don’t have any scientific evidence one way or the other that says antioxidants at the level contained in skin products really help.”

Prescription-strength products with retinol (Retin-A) do smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and even reverse signs of aging at the cellular level. But the lower levels of retinol found in over-the-counter products may not be high enough to do much good.