Self-care Sunday: Men's Grooming

Skincare is for Men, Too

When a man incorporates skincare into his daily routine, it’s obvious. He looks well-cared for, has fewer breakouts, there is a reduction of irritation and redness, and he possesses a glow that says, “I am choosing to thrive.” This last part is because he knows that the daily ritual of taking care of himself just feels good… and it shows. 

For the uninitiated, cultivating a skincare ritual might seem overwhelming.  So. Many. Options. Guys, we’re here to help you narrow it down. You don’t need yet another project that creates overwhelm or option fatigue. This should be about feeling great. Be efficient, have fun, and follow the BellaVita rules of skincare for men:

1. If it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. 

You’re not going to maintain something long term that you dislike doing. Your skincare routine has to match your time availability, patience level, budget, and interest, otherwise you’re going to be stuck with a medicine cabinet full of products you don’t use. Start simple with a product or two (perhaps a cleanser and moisturizer). See how they feel. Is the texture heavy or light enough? Do you like the scent?  The adage “no pain, no gain” does not apply here. Skincare is about pleasure. It can take as little as a couple minutes a day, or as much as a couple of hours.  Everything about your skincare routine is up to you. 

2. Go Natural & Organic

Fun fact: the ingredients that can legally be used by the cosmetic and skincare industry in the United States are largely unregulated. While there are 11 cosmetic ingredients that are currently banned by the FDA, for example, there are over 1,300 ingredients that are banned in the EU. Companies operating in the United States are free to use whatever chemicals they want with little government oversight, which means many of the conventional skincare products you’ll find in drugstores, supermarkets, and even high-end beauty counters can contain potentially harmful ingredients that include known carcinogens, irritants, and endocrine system disruptors. 

Go for products made by companies that are committed to clean beauty practices. There’s no reason not to use natural and organic, plant-based skincare that is not tested on animals. It is not lower quality than products filled with synthetic ingredients. In fact, in our experience, natural ingredients are even more efficacious, nutrient-dense, and enjoyable to use. 

3. Know Your Skin Type

We’ve created our “Skintuition'' collection because we know that (especially for women, whose hormone fluctuations are more complex than men’s) skin is always changing.  Weather, diet, activity level, age, and, yes, hormones have a major impact on our skin. Having a baseline understanding of your skin is easy, however, with a little observation. Is your skin oily, dry, or balanced? Are you prone to breakouts? Flakiness? This self-knowledge will help you determine whether you need a cream or gel cleanser, a heavier or lighter moisturizer, and how often you need to exfoliate. Here are some general guidelines to help you determine your skin type:

• Dry Skin: small pores and tight-feeling skin that doesn’t get oily throughout the day. 
• Balanced Skin: doesn’t get oily, but generally doesn’t feel tight or uncomfortable. 
• Oily Skin: large pores, builds up oil throughout the day, most commonly around the nose and forehead. 

4. Determine Your Skincare Goals

Alongside knowing your skin type, choosing your skincare products is all about identifying your skin concerns. A person wanting to curb breakouts, for example, might not choose the same products as someone who is concerned about slowing the appearance of aging. Someone who wants glowing skin will not necessarily choose the same products as someone who wants to control their sebum production. This guideline is a little more advanced than the others, so take it or leave it, depending on how your starter skincare routine is going. 

Of course, there’s more to skincare than these guidelines — if you want there to be.  Just remember to start simple (a cleanser and moisturizer) and build your ritual from there. If you're craving more, add in an exfoliator, toner, and serum — perhaps not all at once — if you want less, use your cleanser only in the shower to make your two steps more efficient. It’s all up to you. 

Just remember to have FUN and enjoy your more nurtured, happy skin!