Men’s Summer Skin Care Essentials
Thank goodness for the changing seasons. Seems people are much nicer when the weather is pleasant. That’s why I’m convinced that sunlight is Nature’s version of Zoloft. But unfortunately, the sun comes with no prescription or dosage recommendation and the euphoric effect it brings oftentimes lead to sun exposure overdose.
Summer Skin Care Essentials
The summer months can be especially damaging to the skin. Men, who typically have 20% more oily skin and significantly larger pores than women, are more prone to acne breakout. Heat and humidity promote the skin’s oil glands to develop more, so keeping pores clear of oil and grime during the summer is essential. Here are some important summer skin care tips just for men:
Clean your face twice each day with the use of cleansing products which contain natural ingredients. If you have excessively oily skin, cleanse it three times daily. Avoid using harsh soaps. Instead choose a natural cleansing face wash. Detroit photographer, blogger and stylish gent, Tafari K StevensonHoward, tells me the secret to his smooth skin is natural black soap. “Inexpensive, moisturizing & from the mother land.” I agree with StevensonHoward wholeheartedly, just prepare yourself for the mess it has a tendency to make.
Follow-up cleansing with a toner. In addition to being 20% more oily, your skin is typically thicker and tougher than women’s, so it can tolerate active ingredients in toners and astringents. Glycolic acid helps keep the pores clear throughout the day and will also reduce the risk of ingrown hairs after shaving.
And speaking of ingrown hairs, black men are particularly susceptible to excruciating ingrowns and razor bumps. To successfully dislodge ingrown hairs, use a glycolic facial cleanser or polishing scrub before you shave. Also, you might have to get out the tweezers and extract them by hand. A good exfoliation with the cleanser or scrub should make that goal infinitely easier to achieve. “African Male” by MenEssentials provides luxury skin care and grooming products for men of African heritage.
Undergo a deep exfoliation at least once every four days, or, at least, once per week. Doing so will scrub away dead skin cells, reduce the risk of ingrown hairs from shaving, and keep your skin looking healthy and glowing.
Use a lightweight moisturizer with SPF 15 or above. Wearing a light moisturizer will keep your skin’s moisture content in balance, and reduce the risk of wrinkles and fine lines developing. Moisturize immediately after shaving to restore the lost oils from the shave, and apply a heavier moisturizer at night to promote healthy cell regrowth.
Use an aftershave daily to restore lost moisture and oils after a close shave. Aftershave also helps to protect your skin and reduce its sensitivity to the sun. Look for an all-natural aftershave with nourishing oils to promote a more even toned complexion.
Avoid harsh acne products before hitting the beach. Acne products that contain salicylic acid and other powerful ingredients can dry out your skin and make it more prone to sunburn. Topical retinoids commonly used to treat acne will also increase the risk of sunburn. These products can weaken the cells on the top layer of your skin, so your skin will become more sensitive to the sun. Use these only at night if you need to manage acne or breakouts, so you’re not putting your skin at risk for further damage.
ALL skin needs sunscreen. For obvious reasons, skin cancer rates are 20 times higher among Caucasians than among people with dark skin. However, even men of color are at risk to sun damage. If you plan to spend any amount of time under the sun, slap on plenty of sunscreen.
Drink lots of water as it is the one substance our bodies can’t live without. And because the body is mostly made up of water, we are in constant need of replacing it. Due to the fact that we lose water all the time, it is important that we make sure we’re drinking enough on a daily basis.
Originally posted on Examiner.com
