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Skin care routine for men
A skin care routine for men is just as important as one for women.
It may well have been almost frowned upon or laughed at when men started taking an interest in their own skin and appearance as it was always catered more for women.
Nowadays, men are wearing more fragrances. We have seen an increase in more male perfume ads on our TV screens.
Men like to smell great too and with so many reaching for the skin care products over the years, they too want to have great looking and feeling skin, just like the ladies.
Men feel more comfortable too when shopping for skin care products without feeling embarrassed that they’re reaching for the exfoliating face mask or moisturiser.
Sun care is just as important for men
If anything, men should be taking care of their skin. Many will have the types of jobs that will have them working outside in all weathers such as builders, roofers and postmen.
Office staff still need to take care too. Many males that work in an office will perhaps be out and about travelling to see clients as part of their job.
They’re often suited and booted with a smart hair cut so it makes sense to have good skin too.
The shelves are stacked with just as many male skin care products in the stores as well as online. Businesses have seen an opening in the market for such products and men are more confident to reach for certain products.
We all know how much our skin can dry out in certain weather conditions, central heating on at home and day to day atmosphere all play a part in how our skin reacts.
Hot weather sees our skin dry, tight and flaky if we don’t take care of it.
Taking care of the inside for a better outside
It’s important to remember also that what we put inside our bodies plays a big part too in how good or bad our skin feels and looks.
Healthy eating, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water all assists in the long term benefits of looking and feeling good.
There are many products available that are gender neutral as well as those specifically for men and women.
By this year (2022) the male industry for personal care is predicted to reach $166 billion, according to Allied Market Research.
Over the years, men have felt that it’s too feminine to take care of their skin. It was always something that only women ever did.
Men used to use whatever bar of soap was available at home, courtesy of their wives/partners purchasing it with the weekly shop.
There wasn’t any thought about if that bar of soap was going to do any good. It was simply used because it was the only product available to them.
Women very cleverly hid their own skin care products from the men, especially if they cost more than your average range.
They were often left with the day-today bar of soap that was used by everyone in the home.
The negative impact on our skin
So many aspects of gender are much more acceptable these days and now men and getting into the swing of asking about their skin issues and taking care by using some of the best products.
We know just how much dirt and grime can built up on the skin during the day so it’s important to have a skin care routine to remove the excess oils and dirt.
Whilst men don’t have to worry about the build up of make up on their skin and potentially blocking pores if it’s not removed thoroughly, those who work outside have just as much to think about.
Working on building sites, in all weathers, underground, around food etc can all impact on a man’s skin.
We don’t realise either the amount of time we touch our skin, especially our face, on a daily basis.
Anything from removing an eyelash, blowing our nose to itching hay fever eyes will all transfer dirt from our hands to our face.
Our hands are exposed to dirt every single day, even when we feel our hands are clean after washing.
Touching the steering wheel when driving to work, opening doors and shaking hands with a colleague will all transfer germs and dirt that we inevitably transfer to our face.
Some men will shave every day so there is already that element of washing the face and cleansing before applying a cologne.
Others won’t apply anything to their skin after a shower and the face doesn’t get washed again until the evening.
By using daily products to protect the skin and help put the moisture back in sees many men doing just that as their skin care routine becomes more popular and acceptable.
Long term gain
It’s not just for the short term that we benefit from looking after our skin. Those who regularly take care and use products to cleanse and moisturise will see a better result later on in life.
As discussed in my article about celebrities using skin car products, it’s important to know your skin type in order to buy the most suitable products.
Men who shave may find that their skin is much dryer than women’s as the moisture can be stripped out with continuous shaving.
Using a shaving foam will help to lock in moisture and makes the skin much easier to shave.
FM World shaving foam no.134. Inspired by Aqua De Gio- Giorgio Armani available to purchase here This gives the razor the chance to glide across the skin.
A man’s skin care routine is pretty much the same as women’s.
Cleaner is the first and important start to say soon care routine. Washing off any excess oil, dirt and pollutants that can end up on the face throughout the day.
It’s important to use a cleanser that doesn’t dry out the skin whilst it removes dirt. Skin that feels tight as soon as it’s washed is not going to feel comfortable.
One product that perhaps gets overlooked for men is an eye cream.
FM World Fontaine lift up eye cream Enriched with carefully selected ingredients – caffeine prevents the formation of dark circles and puffiness; shea butter nourishes and regenerates; Ginkgo extract soothes irritations; avocado and coconut oils moisturise and soften. ▪ reduces symptoms of fatigue and aging ▪ gives your eyes back their lost glow ▪ developed for the delicate skin around the eye contours ▪ restores skin’s elasticity
Men are no exception to wrinkles around this delicate area and products that are used early on in life will significantly benefit the skin around the eyes and help to reduce the signs of ageing.
Moisturiser is an essential product for everyone to have as this will keep the skin hydrated, looking brighter and will help keep the complexion clear and protected.
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Try to find one that is suitable for your skin type, especially if you suffer with oily skin.
Some may not be suitable and may make the skin more oily so shop accordingly. Using the right one will benefit and improve the skin, with better skin texture, fewer breakouts and will make the skin less oily, contrary to belief.
Applying a moisturiser after shaving is definitely a product to reach for and by applying morning and evening will keep it looking refreshed and youthful. We all strive for youth as we get older!
Products available for men
With so many products available for men to use for their skin care, there isn’t any right or wrong products to choose from.
Take a look at the different ranges of what is available from these different companies.
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When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Bulldog moisturiser on Ebay.co.uk
Bull Dog original moisturiser 
Ingredients Clinique for men on ebay.co.uk
Clinique For Men 
Clinique moisturising lotion -
Different types of soap bars
The market is full of different types of soap bars and with so many to choose from, it can be a challenge to find the one that’s most suitable for our skin.
We take for granted that there are so many types these days and they all seem to serve a different purpose, not just for basic cleanliness.
Where did it all begin and why was soap created?
A brief history of soap
Soap making dates back to 2800 B. C with Mesopotamian, Babylonians, Egyptians, the Romans and Ancient Greeks.
Soap was made by using oil, fat and alkaline salts and mixing them together. This created a soap-like substance.
It was originally created for cleaning cooking utensils or for medicinal purposes to treat skin diseases and sores.
It wasn’t until later, during the 19th century that soap bars were created and used to wash wool in the textile industry.
Years ago, the most basic soap was originally created by taking animal fats and mixing this with lye ( a metal hydroxide obtained by leaching wood ashes).
Over the years, soap recipes became more widely known but soap was expensive and demands were high until 1791.
A Frenchman discovered a chemical process which allowed soap to be made and sold much cheaper, his name was LeBlanc.
Over 200 years later, there was another Frenchman who learned of the ingredient’s glycerin, acid and fats and how well they worked together.
This led on to the beginning of modern soap being made.
With this new method of soap making, the process is still used today for the creation of soap that we see and purchase today.
Science moved on and creations developed when more was learned about the ingredients.
Bathing soaps became a separate product from laundry soap and were therefore made as milder soaps to be sold for personal use.
In the 1970s liquid hand soap was invented and available to purchase and these days soap is also an ingredient in many beauty products.
Over the past 50 years, liquid soap has become more popular Today we see more modern and appealing ingredients in soap products such as palm oil, olive oil and coconut oil.
Some brands also add fragrances, colours and a touch of decor to make them more appealing to the buyers’ eye.
Gentle soaps
Many of us will have heard of Dove soap. A bar that is made by using synthetic ingredients.
Dove soap is a very popular choice of soap for its gentle ingredients on the skin Whilst using artificial ingredients, we may be let to believe that they would produce harsh products.In fact, they produce some of the most gentle soaps, such as Dove which can be used on all skin types.Different skin types
Everyone’s skin is different so we can’t all use the same products when cleansing the skin.
Choosing the right one can be just a difficult as choosing the right perfume.
Some people may use different soap for the body and the face.
The skin on the face is a lot more delicate due to constantly being exposed to heat, cold weather and outside elements.
Using the same bar may be too harsh for both the body and skin, especially those who have sensitive skin.
It’s more beneficial if you already know your skin type before you purchase a soap.
Dry skin
If your skin feels dry, tight or itchy after washing with a certain soap, this will be an indicator that the product isn’t suitable for your skin type.
Sensitive skin
Aloe Vera plant is well known for its healing properties when it comes to skin care For those who have sensitive skin, try using a product such as Aloe Vera. A delicate product that doesn’t zap the moisture out of your skin.
I use an Aloe Vera foam facial wash on my own skin as it always feels dry and tight if I use other types. This can be purchased from FM World.
Look for organic ingredients that keeps your own PH balance correct.
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This page contains affiliate links. Should you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive compensation.
Transparent soaps are also good to use on sensitive skin as these are made with additional glycerin which helps to increase the moisturising properties.
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When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
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Medically diagnosed skin conditions
For those who are prone to dry skin, such as eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis, choosing a glycerin- based soap as recommended for sensitive skin, are best.
Fragrance -free products are more suitable. These will be gentler on the skin.
Try those that have added ingredients such as vitamin E, Shea butter, aloe Vera and coconut oil.
Coconut oil 
Shea butter 
Aloe Vera These will add moisture and keep your skin from drying out.
Oily skin
Oily skin can be a hard one to maintain. When we have oily skin, this is due to out body producing too much additional oil. By using a product that already has added moisture can often make matters worse.
Try using a similar product that’s recommended for dry skin. Using those with mild ingredients such as sea salt, brown sugar, oatmeal and peach pits will help.
Use products that are non-comedogenic ( a skincare product or cosmetic that is formulated so as not to cause blocked pores).
Combination skin
Those who have combination skin can use a bar that is made with synthetic surfactants ( Syndets) or those that are superfatted ( soaps that contain excess fat compared with its alkali content).
If you have skin that has been medically diagnosed with eczema, allergies or psoriasis for example, it’s important to find the right soap for this type of skin so it doesn’t become inflamed and aggravate the delicate layers.
Some of the gentle exfoliating soaps are suitable for this skin type as long as they are not overused.
There are products on the market that help with blackheads, uneven skin texture and breakouts.
Avoid the scented and fragrance soaps that can alter your own natural PH levels.
Looking for an Aloe Vera range for your skin? Take a look here at our facial wash to suit all skin types.
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