From plastic surgery to using expensive products to spending an hour getting out the door, the whole idea of skin care has traditionally been considered "a female thing." The truth is that anti-aging skin care goes beyond mere vanity. In today's youth-obsessed culture, great skin can land a guy a date---or a job. The good news is that men really don't have to spend a lot of time, money or effort to keep their skin looking its best.
Hydrate
Poor hydration affects every part of the body, not the least of which is your skin. Our cells depend on proper hydration to carry out all functions, including reproduction of new cells. Under-hydrated skin looks parched, wrinkled and older than it is (think "parchment"). On the other hand, well-hydrated skin actually "fills out" at a cellular level, which "fills in" wrinkles. Drink enough water or clear liquids in a day so that you are "peeing clear"---the easiest test for good hydration.
Exfoliate
Many men have no idea what "exfoliation" even means. In terms of skin care, this means using a scrub containing some sort of granular substance, such as nut husks, to get rid of dead surface skin (think "sand blaster"). Dead skin cells will stay attached quite a long time on their own, covering over the new, younger-looking skin beneath. This causes skin to look sallow or dingy. More layers also cause wrinkles to appear deeper. Apply exfoliating scrub to the face, using brisk circular motions for about one minute before washing your face.
Cleanse
One of the biggest mistakes in anti-aging skin care is using bar soap on the face. Bar soap is harsh and drying to the face. Even moisturizing bar soaps are not ideal for facial skin care. It takes no more time to wash with a good facial cleanser. That doesn't have to mean shopping at department store counters. As with exfoliating scrubs, a variety of great facial cleansers can be found at almost any pharmacy-type store for around $5 (often in the same aisle). Cleansers with green tea are ideal; they clean deeply, shrink pores and tighten skin, without dehydrating effects. They also offer the additional benefit of causing a cooling sensation, which can help you feel more awake. Some green tea cleansers even contain an exfoliating ingredient, allowing them to pull double duty.
Eat Right
Low-fat diets are popular, but don't cut fat altogether or your skin will suffer. Keep unsaturated fats in your diet through fish, nuts and cooking with olive oil. Many vitamins and nutrients also contribute to optimum skin health, so take a multivitamin daily.
Control Oil
While hydration and essential oils are good, oily skin is not. An oily face reflects more light, and light draws attention---often to wrinkles. Oil-absorbing sheets ("blotting papers") come in small packs that can be kept almost anywhere. Using them several times throughout the day eliminates the ill effects of oily skin. For an easy and inexpensive alternative, press an unfolded paper napkin to oily areas and hold it for a few seconds.
Avoid the Usual Suspects
If the last decades have taught us anything about skin care, it's that sun damage and smoking cause premature aging effects. Kick the habit, and limit sun exposure and tanning. If skin is too pale for your liking, try using a light self-tanning lotion.
References
- The Rough Guide To Men's Health 1; Lloyd Bradley; 2009
- ABC News: Skin Care with Mathew Avram, M.D.
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