Understand the Ins and Outs of Men’s Skin Care and How to Add Exfoliation Into Your Routine

The rising trend in men’s skin care seems to be receiving its long-deserved attention. In the past, such care had shone more on women’s skin care, leaving men in the dark and guessing what they are supposed to do. Some men have simply given up trying to figure skin care out and, as a result, decided to do nothing at all. Some may even be trying out skin care products made for women.

Whatever the case may be, men need to take care of their skin just as much as women do. One proven inroad to improving your skin care is the practice of exfoliating.

What Is It?

So, what exactly is exfoliation and what are the benefits of incorporating it into your skin care routine? Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing off dead skin cells to let new ones come to the surface of your skin. It’s a way to make sure your skin stays clean, because keeping dead skin cells on your skin’s surface clogs pores, causing ingrown hairs, acne, and even wrinkles.

Another plus to exfoliating is a closer shave. Removing dead skin cells from the surface effectively exposes hair follicles more prominently, which makes it easier for you to shave. Make sure to pick an exfoliator that contains glycolic acid. This ingredient helps break down bonds between your dead skin cells and your active skin cells to better facilitate exfoliation.

How Do You Do It?

Now that you know what exfoliation is and its benefits, you might be wondering how do you it. First and foremost, never try exfoliating dry skin. Doing so will ultimately cause more irritation and damage than improvement. Wet the skin with warm water to open up the pores and to make exfoliation easier on the skin.

Star scrubbing your skin with your exfoliator of choice, but do so delicately. Your instincts may tell you that the rougher you scrub, the better the results, but the opposite is actually true. You will do more damage than good if you do not apply a lighter touch when exfoliating.

Also, make sure to limit exfoliation to only once a week. While it’s tempting to exfoliate a few times each week to expose the fresh skin you so relish, exfoliating too much can cause skin irritations and harsh redness.

Parting Words of Wisdom

Before you go off on an exfoliating frenzy, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Cleansing your skin is always important, but you should never use a cleanser and an exfoliator during the same round of skin treatment. Exfoliators are intended to displace cleansers. If you use both, you will overdo it on your skin.

If you want to take your exfoliating routine to the next level, you can invest in a men’s face brush and body gloves. Using your hands is just fine, but if you want a deeper scrub with even better results, a face brush or body glove is the way to go.

Once you have started exfoliating, you will need to start wearing an SPF 30 sunscreen everyday. This helps keep skin moisturized, but it also makes sure that new layers of fresh skin do not suffer from the sun’s direct UV rays. You should also avoid direct sunlight just after exfoliating your skin.

A little goes a long way when it comes to exfoliator products. Make sure to read the instructions on your chosen product and use the amount indicated. Too much can, again, cause skin irritation. Bring out the brighter side of your skin by incorporating an exfoliation treatment into your skin care routine.

Sources:

How to Exfoliate, askmen.com

How to Exfoliate: Men’s Exfoliation Dos and Don’ts, menscience.com