To keep your skin in prime condition for as long as possible, you must use anti-ageing skincare products. And that goes for men too!
There’s a big obstacle however, because of the consensus that men don’t age as quickly as women. Because of this fact, all too often, they skip on anti-ageing products. Big mistake.
Now it’s true that men and women have different skin, and in theory, there is potential for men to have youthful skin for longer, which we’ll come onto in a minute. The male advantage is often undone by not looking after the skin properly, a poor lifestyle or not using SPF to protect the complexion from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
How is Male Skin Different to Female Skin?
You don’t need to be a scientist to have clocked the fact that men have tougher, thicker skin with larger pores. This is because men have more testosterone which influences the thickness of male skin.
The fact that their skin has more sebaceous glands means that more oil (sebum) is produced. Add facial hair to the mix and it’s a dead cert recipe for a shiny t-zone, blocked pores, blemishes, and often acne too.
Shaving also increases the risk of irritation, cuts, and blocked hair follicles. Deep exfoliation is needed to address blockages and blemishes but conversely, men often need products that are suitable for sensitivity and that are non-irritating too.
The great news is that men have a higher collagen density for more of their life, which gives them the ‘youthful’ advantage that we mentioned earlier. Collagen is a component which plumps up the skin and keeps it supple so when you have more of it, lines and wrinkles diminish. It’s like the holy grail of skincare!
It all sounds great so far, doesn’t it? You might be mistaken for thinking there’s no need to use anti-ageing products even. So, let’s find out why these are a necessity for the modern man.
Why Do Men Need Anti-Ageing Products?
Men can negate the benefit of having a higher collagen density when they adopt an unhealthy lifestyle. Lack of exercise, too much alcohol, smoking and a poor diet can all have a knock-on effect when it comes to skin health.
Another reason is that some men don’t pay enough attention to looking after their skin, instead opting for harsh ingredients like shower gel or soap and not moisturising facial skin at all. Without daily maintenance, you can soon see the effects.
Then there are the environmental factors like the cold, wind, central heating, and sunshine. When skin is ravaged by the elements or central heating is going at full belt, it naturally needs an extra boost of hydration and some extra-strength antioxidant protection to prevent damage to cells. Without it, the complexion becomes dehydrated, cells get damaged and guess what that leads to? Yup, you guessed it. Premature ageing in the form of lines and wrinkles.
Then there is the most worrying aspect which is UV damage. In fairness, many women are only just getting to grips with the fact that to keep skin protected and looking youthful, SPF must be applied to the face daily. The reality is that most men are not doing this at all.
When skin isn’t protected from the sun, energy from UV radiation can cause significant change within our skin cells, damaging its DNA which can lead to cell mutations. The visible effects of this process are hyperpigmentation, dark spots, crepiness and wrinkles and as we now know, malignant melanoma, a very aggressive form of skin cancer. And sun damage is indiscriminate, meaning that it doesn’t matter whether you’re male or female.
Obagi Gentle Men’s Kit for Normal-Dry
We love this kit because it’s been designed for men with normal-dry or sensitive skin and has the ideal combination to keep your skin clean, healthy, and youthful.
This kit includes:
· Obagi Nu-Derm® Fx Gentle Cleanser
· Obagi Professional-C® Serum 10%
· OBAGI360 HydraFactor® SPF30
Obagi Nu-Derm® Fx Gentle Cleanser
A gentle formulation to cleanse and remove oil residue and impurities caused by the everyday environment. Natural soothers including Oat Amino Acids, Aloe, Apricot Kernel Oil, Panthenol, Sage Leaf Extract and Borago Officinalis Extract make this a perfect cleanser for sensitive skin and Glycerin supplies much-needed moisture for a dehydrated complexion.
Obagi Professional-C® Serum 10%
A powerful antioxidant, this nourishing, deeply penetrating serum will encourage collagen production to minimise signs of ageing including fine lines and wrinkles. Not to mention that it reduces irritation and inflammation and protects against harmful UV damage. Lastly, but by no means least, this luxurious serum provides that signature Vitamin C radiance for a healthy, youthful complexion.
OBAGI360 HydraFactor® SPF30
The best-selling 2 in 1 moisturiser and sunscreen that offers all-day hydration and factor 30 strength broad-spectrum protection against damaging UVA/UVB rays.
Apply OBAGI360 HydraFactor® SPF30 liberally in the morning, at least 15 minutes before skin is exposed to the sun, then reapply every 2 hours whilst in the sun. Ground-breaking ingredient, Hydromanil™ has been clinically proven to deliver continuous hydration for up to 8 hours meaning dryness doesn’t stand a chance plus using a dual-purpose moisturiser like this one makes life so much easier!
