A Man’s Skincare Guide
Do men benefit from a facial ?
Well Gents, the answer … is a definite yes !!!
Your skin suffers damage on a daily basis from your regular shave routine as well as the environment. Whether you work outside or in an office, your skin cannot be fixed by soap and water alone. In addition, poor skincare can also contribute to premature aging, which is becoming a greater concern amongst males in recent years and why shouldn’t they worry about their looks and ageing ?
A survey conducted by The International Dermal Institute indicates that 79 percent of male respondents say they have one or more skin problems that they notice daily. Yet in spite of this, the selection of their shaving products rarely takes these problems into account.
Men’s skin is much coarser with larger pores. This can increase the chance of sun damage when working outside, especially when combined with the fact that men are more likely to skip the sunscreen compared to women
So remember next time your shave seems closer than ever, whilst redness fades, the underlying problems does not. In fact, gents probably need facials more than the ladies. So why not consider treating your face to a facial.
Here are a few reasons for you men to start you thinking about a skincare regime:
1) Shaving is Easier
You’ll benefit from a much smoother shave. Did you know that the average man’s beard grows two millimetres per day, meaning there is ample opportunity to create an inflamed skin condition during shaving ?
Whether it’s every day or every two weeks, the continuous dragging of a razor across sensitive facial skin can cause irritation and increased sensitivity leading to the risk of razor burn, inflammation, and irritation from shaving over spots and pimples. In simple terms, shaving is a form of physical exfoliation (helps shed the dead top skin cells) that can distress the skin and impact the health, creating visible signs of trauma and irritation.
As well as over-exfoliation, your skin’s natural protection (lipid barrier) may be damaged. Your epidermis relies upon the lipid barrier layer (kind of like the cement between the skin cells) to keep moisture in and keep irritants out such as chemicals and allergens from entering the deeper layers of the skin. During shaving, the barrier lipid layer can be compromised, especially if you use alcohol-laden aftershaves. Once the barrier lipid layer is compromised, your skin loses hydration more readily causing your skin to become dehydrated as well as allowing chemicals from the environment to penetrate into the skin. This in turn causes more irritation and sensitivity and once inflamed, anything can then irritate the skin, including daily shaving.
A facial will deep clean bumps and soothe irritated skin. A facial consists of a combination of exfoliation, masks and moisturisers, which will assist in addressing the side effects of shaving and make your skin smoother than ever. The smoother your skin, the better your shave. And, even if you aren’t worried about wrinkles, this is one of the best reasons to apply some moisturiser once or twice a day.
In addition to all of the symptoms that sensitized skin may experience, we now know that inflammation leads to premature skin aging, which undoubtedly will also be a concern for you modern guys.
2) Oily Skin
Another reason for men to have facials is that male skin produces more oil. In general, men have higher testosterone levels than women, which is why men can produce more oil.
When not cleaned properly, oil will clog your pores leading to blackheads and pimples. During a professional facial, most therapists will perform extractions, which is a professional removal of oxidised sebum (oil) that is clogging pores i.e. blackhead removal. Do this yourself at home and you risk damaging your skin, where as a professional facial with a skincare therapist will result in clean, clear skin.
However, just because men produce more oil doesn’t mean to say all men have oily skin. Part of the reason facials are so effective is that therapists understand your skin type and its needs. (Especially a Dermalogica skin care therapist)
For example:
- For dry skin types, you’ll need a facial that leaves your skin hydrated and moisturized.
- If you have oily skin, you will need a facial that addresses oiliness, shrinks your pores and exfoliates your skin.
- For anti-ageing – you will need a facial that exfoliates, hydrates and introduces anti-ageing ingredients into the skin.
3) Learn from your Skincare Professional
Professional skin health therapists use more effective products that aren’t sold over the counter. Go to a good salon and they will almost definitely use clinical products that work deeper down in the skin as opposed to cosmetic products that only wok on the top 2 layers of the skin that are either dead or dying! And what use is that if you want healthier skin not a patch up?
They can also show you:
- New techniques.
- How to apply products.
- The order in which to use them, and explain why.
- Therapists also use professional steamers and electrical gadgets to open your pores, which means a deeper clean and faster results.
Chances are, you’ll be relaxed and chilled out but you can use this opportunity to ask questions. “What are you currently using on your face ?” “Why is that product going on first ?” or if you prefer … just lay back and enjoy the treatment.
And you don’t need to stop there! There are other great treatments for men. More and more men are experiencing salon treatments and it’s totally acceptable to indulge yourself. Why not try waxing, executive hand and foot care, a massage or mineral salt scrub or even progress to more advanced skincare such as BioSurface Peel, microdermabrasion or CACI Non-Surgical ? Most treatments are adaptable for men !
So whether it’s skincare for young men, men in their 30’s or skincare for older men in their 50’s, if you would like to know more about our facials and other treatments for men or even to try a treatment for yourself, please call or email Studio 8 Beauty to discuss your requirements on 023 92 380 692 or salon@studio8beauty.co.uk
We also stock a full range of Dermalogica Shave products, so why not speak to one of our Dermalogica Skincare Experts to see what products are suitable for you.