Contrary to conventional wisdom, skin care is not for women only. Men also are becoming increasingly aware of value of skin care and are taking action to cultivate a healthy and young-looking skin. Many would start with women’s skincare products - of wife, girlfriend, or sister – but because of some issues specific about male skin, there is need to have products appropriate for men’s skin care.
Need for men’s skincare products
Men and women bodies are different, and so would be their skins. Male skin in general
is thicker and tougher
has more and thicker hair
has higher collagen density that though starts to decline earlier
is oilier and shinier because they have more sebum (oil) production and larger pores
Male skin is
stressed and aggravated by daily shaving which can cause irritation, cuts, razor burn and bumps, etc.
more prone to acne but a bit less to dry skin
However, like women, men also wish to have a healthy-looking skin and address related issues such as skin sensitivity, acne, aging, etc.
A simple 3-step regimen for men’s skin care
Given the specific needs of male skin, it is recommended for men to not use too many layers of products and thus avoid stressing their skin. We instead recommend below a simple 3-step daily skin care routine:
Wash face with gentle cleanser,
Balance the skin pH with a toner, ideally with oil-controlling, mild skin-exfoliating and pore-tightening properties, and
Hydrate the skin with multi-functional moisturizer that has one or more of hydrating, oil-controlling, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, etc. properties.
In addition, we recommend a weekly exfoliation with face scrub for deeper cleansing and a sunscreen during outdoor activities for anti-photoaging purpose.
Key features of an ideal men’s skincare products kit:
Light in texture: to avoid pore blockage, and relish a comfortable feel
Oil-controlling and pore-tightening: especially for those with excess skin sebum
Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory: to prevent shaving rash and acne
Anti-aging: to control wrinkles and sagging
Combining essential oils with skincare products could provide additional benefits. Here are some masculine essential oils commonly used in men’s skincare products:
Cedarwood Atlas (Cedrus atlantica): helps in controlling excess oil production and maintaining clean complexion
Frankincense (Boswelli carteri): helps in reducing wrinkles and reviving damaged skin
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin): beneficial for oily and blemished skin
Sandalwood (Santalum album): balances skin oil, reduces blemish and anti-aging
A relatively new addition to the essential-oils family, Buddha Wood (Eremophila mitchelli), has great anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial therapeutic properties. It is a favorite oil for use in prevention of shaving rashes.
The Muk by JAN is a product range specifically designed for male skin care. Featured with woody aroma of Buddha wood and Sandalwood oil, two sublines for oil controlling and anti-aging, it is available to meet needs of different male skin types.