Learning to determine your skin type is the first step to take in our journey to keep our skin looking good and healthy. If you know what type of skin you have you can choose treatments and products that will work great for you, keeping you away from adverse reactions.
Skin types are determined by keeping in mind three factors: water levels, oil levels, and sensitivity levels. Water affects the elasticity and overall comfort of the skin, oil determines the softness and nutrition of the skin and sensitivity to the resistance and tolerance to external agents.
Genetics and age play an important part in your type of skin, but you should also take a close look at your lifestyle, especially if you smoke regularly or if you have poor hygiene.
Table of Contents
- 1 Normal Skin
- 2 Combination Skin
- 3 Dry Skin
- 4 Oily Skin
- 5 Sensitive Skin
- 6 Skin Care for Men
Normal Skin
This skin presents a perfect balance between water content and oil, with moderate levels of sensitivity, that’s why it is considered the best type of skin. People with normal skin have a radiant complexion and almost invisible pores with zero imperfections.
As with other types of skin, it can change depending on different factors, one of them is age. A young man can have normal skin, but as he grows older it can become dry or oily due to imbalances.
Normal Skin type characteristics:
- The face is smooth with no dry patches
- Pores are small and clean
- Spots are few and far between
- Skin feels supple and comfortable
- Skin is not greasy and shiny looking
Combination Skin
If you have this type of skin you can have dry areas as well as oily areas. This commonly takes place on the T zone of your face (forehead, nose, and chin) where the skin is oilier. Genetics play a role, but also your hormonal balance. Weather can also affect your skin, as it becomes drier during the cold months of the year.
Men with this type of skin have enlarged pores and can produce blackheads and shininess.
Combination type characteristics:
- Pores on the nose area are enlarged
- Fine lines around the eyes
- Shiny areas on the nose and forehead
- Dry and or flaking on the cheeks, eye and neck area
- Blemishes on the nose and chin area
Dry Skin
Dry skin has low water levels and loss of elasticity, which can cause a dull complexion, easy development of wrinkles and fine lines and the appearance of red patches. Sensitivity levels can vary from person to person, so some people can have normal skin while other delicate skin.
This type of skin has no visible pores and when exposed to drying factors it starts repairing, producing flakes and itchiness.
Genetics plays a big role here as well as hormonal levels, but external factors will also visibly affect your skin. Among those factors we have: the weather (wind, UV radiation), excessive exposure to heat (long hot baths, indoor heating), some medications, cold temperature, sunburn, and burns.
The National skin Care Institute also recognizes the existence of “very dry skin”, a type of skin that is rough and scaly.
Dry Skin type characteristics:
- The skin has fine lines
- Pore size is very small
- Dry patches that can flake off
- Darker skins can have greyish patches
- Skin feels tight and uncomfortable
Oily Skin
Having oily skin means that your oil glands are producing lipids in excess. This happens to all of us when we are young and experiencing hormonal changes, but can also appear as a result of living with stress or heat and humidity. The amount of excess oil tends to vary even daily, reacting to factors such as sun exposure, weather, and wind.
Oily skin is characterized by excess sebum, shine and looks thick and waxy. It easily encourages the appearance of pimples and blackheads and gives you an overall dull complexion.
Men with chronic oily skin have a lot of problems with blemishes and the pores look enlarged.
Oily Skin type characteristics:
- Large pore size
- Pores can be clogged with dirt and oil
- The face is greasy looking, even after cleansing
- Skin can be prone to acne and blackheads
- Skin is thick and sallow looking
Sensitive Skin
It is very important to know whether you have sensitive skin or not. This type of skin gets irritated easily by ingredients in common men skincare products, producing inflammation.
According to dermatologists, there are four types of sensitive skin: acne, burning and stinging, rosacea and contact dermatitis (produced by allergies and irritants). Skin treatments must take into account individual differences. Among the common products that cause skin inflammation, we have moisturizers, detergents, soaps, and cosmetics.
This type of skin is recognized because it often suffers from redness, itching, dryness, and burning.
Sensitive skin type characteristics:
- Skin can be irritated easily
- dry and thin
- Skin can feel uncomfortable and sore
- Shaving can cause discomfort
- Skin products can irritate the skin
Skin Care for Men
Our skin is highly susceptible to free radical damage caused by continual exposure to environmental factors, including the sun. When the natural defense systems of the skin are overwhelmed, free radicals take control and skin tissue no longer function optimally. This can cause the skin cells to become damaged, which if not cared for, can lead to visible damage and premature aging of your skin.
Why is skincare important for men?
Skin is important to us – our face is one of the first things that people make a judgment call on when they meet us. Rightly or wrongly, it’s human nature, so it pays to keep our skin looking the best it can. Not only that but the skin provides our first line of defense, it is actually our biggest body organ.
What do we need?
All skin types benefit from the same basic principles with a couple of extra things to be aware of for different skin types. Every skin type needs sun protection and any time spent outdoors should be with sunscreen on. Keep one in the car so you don’t get caught without it. And of course, we are what we eat holds true for the skin too – the better balanced the diet and the better hydrated we are the better our skin looks. For proof – look no further than the mirror the morning after a big night out.
Skin Care for men – cleanse
- Skin needs to be cleaned thoroughly once a day, twice if you have oily skin to free pores of daily grime build up.
- Look for a cleanser that is gentle but effective with no soap, detergents or sulfates in it.
- Avoid harsh exfoliating scrubs, they can damage skin – a daily shave is an exfoliator in itself – give a light rub with a facecloth when cleansing.
- Cleanse before shaving to soften stubble, use a cleanser with calming, soothing properties – shaving causes daily micro-injuries.
- Use lukewarm warm water and pat rather than rub dry.
- Put on moisturizer while the skin is still damp to lock in moisture.
Skin Care for men – moisturize
- Moisturize every morning and night if you tend towards dry skin.
- Use a moisturizer that has no perfumes, colorings, harsh preservatives that can cause irritation to the skin.
- Use on damp skin to lock in moisture and penetrate more effectively.
- Don’t forget the neck area, the skin is thin and ages quickly here.
- Avoid products with alcohol, they can dry out and irritate the skin.
- Air conditioning, heating, flying all dry the skin – so moisturize to compensate.
Skin Care Tips for Men Who Want Good Looking Skin During Winter
Summer begins to fade away like the autumn leaves and cool winds come in. Winter changes our skin too, the cool air dries up the moisture in our skin which can cause dry skin, a.k.a flaky skin.
Most men may overlook skincare during the winter, but the more you dry up your skin the less elasticity it will have and the more wrinkles you’ll end up with.
Skincare products for men are easy to use and having great looking skin doesn’t mean you have to spend hours pampering yourself in the lady’s room.
Below are a few tips that you should follow to keep your skin well moisturized and healthy during the winter.
Use a Gentle Face Wash
It’s important to wash your face daily, however using soap and water and dry out your skin quickly. Use a gentle face wash that is made with natural ingredients or that is made for men with sensitive skin.
Moisturize Your Skin
A moisturizer is also another skincare product for men that you should use on a daily basis. There are many types of moisturizers for men, it’s important to pick a product that is made for your type of skin. Apply this product after washing and drying your face.
Sunscreen in the Winter
The sun is still shining during the winter, and sunburns are still possible as the sun reflects on the white snow, directly on your face. If you are outdoors for a long time then using sunscreen can help protect your face from drying up and getting burned. You can also find moisturizers with SPF, but if you are outdoors almost all day then use separate sunscreen that will last longer.
Drink Lots of Water
Water is always part of a healthy diet because it’s good for your body and skin. Keeping yourself hydrated during the winter is important, when you hydrate yourself correctly it gives your skin a natural glow.
5 Foods You Can Eat For Better Skin
I’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat” thousands of times during school years and at first I didn’t pay attention. But, as the signs of aging begin to appear, you begin to realize that stuffing chips and beer in your face doesn’t help your skin, or health either.
Obviously the best option is to follow a healthy diet, with lots of veggies and fruits. But it doesn’t hurt to have a beer and nachos every now and then too!
For guys who are looking to add some healthy options to their diets, you should definitely add the following 5 foods that will help improve your skin so try to include them at least once a week in your daily diet.
1. Avocados
Why are avocados good for your skin? They are packed with B-complex vitamins that help promote healthy skin. It contains vitamin B3 which is an anti-inflammatory, which can come in helpful for irritated skin. The oils in this fruit also help moisturize dry skin. You can eat it or also use it as a face mask.
2. Mango
Another fruit that helps your skin thanks to the Vitamin A it contains. Vitamin A helps to repair skin cells and is also an antioxidant. If you have dry skin then you may have a Vitamin A deficiency.
3. Almonds
This nut contains vitamin E which helps moisturize your skin and prevent signs of aging.
4. Cottage Cheese
This dairy product helps your face thanks to the selenium mineral it contains. This helps prevent dandruff, so there is a plus for your hair!
5. Mushrooms
Not the ones that make you trip! Mushrooms contain a type of vitamin B called riboflavin which helps repair and maintain tissue and improve skin problems such as blemishes and skin wounds.
Almond Oil and Its Benefits on the Skin
Are you a man who prefers to use all-natural products? That’s a good thing! I always say that it is better to opt for natural alternatives if you can and avoid products that rely too heavily on chemicals for the job.
There are a lot of products and treatments based on natural ingredients that have proven to be beneficial for the skin, one of them is the application of almond oil.
This type of oil has become preferred by massage professionals around the world since it helps gliding over the skin and provides a nice level of absorption. At the same time, it has been known to bring some pretty interesting benefits to the skin. Let’s take a look at them.
Almond Oil Skin Benefits
- Although it may feel like a moisturizer, almond oil is an emollient. This means that it will have a softening effect on the skin with regular application.
- It is a great alternative to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and also avoid the problems of dry, flaky skin.
- Applied on the face, it can help you say goodbye to dark circles under the eyes and will improve your complexion.
- This oil contains high amounts of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. This will have a positive effect in the treatment of scars.
- It also provides good protection against the harmful UV rays of the Sun. So if you are a man who goes outside during long periods of time, you will find great protection.
How to Use Almond Oil
There’s nothing complicated about using almond oil. To start just grab a small amount on the palm of your hands and rub them together to spread the oil evenly. Then just rub your hands over your body. It is a good idea to spend some more seconds on those areas which present dry skin (watch the elbows, knees, and feet!). Start with your body and finish by applying gentle massages on the skin. Use oil regularly for a month and I bet you will be surprised with the results.
Skin Care Tips for Black Men
One of the main men skincare problems black men have to face is Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, known by the common mortals as simply “razor bumps”, this is a skin problem that appears in people with curly, coarse hair, a feature shared by most black men. It is believed that up to 80% of black men have to deal with this issue every day.
These particular razor bumps appear on the surface of the skin when facial hair starts growing again and back to the skin, penetrating it near the hair follicle. Shaving makes this process much easier as you cut your facial hair leaving it sharp like a needle.
When you have these bumps they itch a lot and are very annoying, from scratching you can end up with scars and each time you shave you practically suffer torture. At first, using a hair removal cream can seem like an obvious alternative, but as many black men can say, the use of these creams can lead to more irritation and worsening of the condition.
How Does Ingrown Hair Appear?
Although this is a condition that affects both men and women, it is a major problem among men, because of the properties of their neck and facial hair. The issue of ingrown hair starts when we shave or remove the hair below the skin surface. Given the nature of the hair, it curls back quickly, burrowing into the skin and forming the subsequent razor bumps.
Tips to Avoid Ingrown Hair
Many men resort to tweezers to solve their razor bumps issues, however, this is a rather irritating practice. Here we leave you with some skincare tips for black men in the form of ways you can treat and prevent ingrown hair from now on:
- Take care of your blade for shaving. Your shaving instrument must be in the perfect condition given the potential of having problems in the skin. A good rule is to use a razor blade mostly for 15 days and then replacing it with a new one. Also, be sure to get one of the best shaving creams.
- Use a proper aftershave to minimize redness and itching. Men and women can take advantage of the aftershave offers, however, read well and ensure that they are formulated for your type of skin. Prefer natural solutions as some chemicals can lead to more irritation.
- If you use an electric shaver to shave then replace the rotary blades periodically, like if you use it every day then replace it within 20 days.
- Shave in the direction the hair grows. This is a basic technique for shaving that the vas majority of men simply don’t take into account. To determine the direction your face grows, pass your hand over your neck and face and feel it. Remember that the direction of growth is different in the neck than in the face.
- Avoid depilatory creams. These creams have the inconvenience of being chemical-based. This, of course, leads o the same problem I’ve mentioned before: irritation. You would only be replacing one inconvenient with another.
- Grow a beard! For men who are always having serious cases of ingrown hair and bumps, growing a beard can be the smart way to avoid them. Of course, not all men can afford to have a grown beard because of work and other issues, but you’ll be sure to avoid razor bumps!
- You can also use a beard trimmer to trim your facial hair rather than shave it to avoid ingrown hair.
Skin can be as individual as we are but we can be roughly classified into groups when it comes to skin care. Your skin could be typed as normal, oily, dry or a bit of both and called a combination or sensitive. When it comes to caring for your skin there are different regimes and things to consider for each skin type.
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