If you’re like most guys, you probably neglect the care of your skin. You might even think a tanned, weathered face looks good — but the ladies like a smooth, clean face to snuggle up against, and neglecting your skin now can cause problems you can’t fix in the years ahead. The following steps will give you an easy skin-care regimen that will help you keep your skin healthy and younger looking.
Perform a morning cleaning and moisturizing each day for proper skin care
Wash and rinse your face with warm or cool water instead of using hot water, when you can. Too much hot water removes lipids (natural oils) from the skin and can cause dryness and flakiness.
Exfoliate with a coarse washcloth at least once each week. This means lightly scrubbing away dead skin. Scrub in a circular motion, gently but firmly removing dead skin, oil and other debris on your face. Rinse after your exfoliation removing any remaining cleaning agents you used, such as dry oatmeal, which is a good, natural abrasive.
When you wash your face, use a mild soap, using warm or cool water. Apply less pressure if you have just exfoliated. Rinse with cool water. Don’t dry your face by rubbing it into a towel — pat it dry. Better yet, apply moisturizer to damp skin. Moisturizers absorb better into the skin when it’s damp. Use fat-dense soaps with ingredients such as lanolin and cocoa butter.
If you’re shaving, wet your face with warm water to loosen your beard. This is one time when you might want to use some hot water. Next, put a dab of moisturizer on your face before you put your shaving cream on. Shave using strokes in one direction, shaving with the hair, not against it. Use a sharp blade if you use a razor. If you use an electric shaver, use light pressure, moving in a circular motion Rinse with cold water to close your pores. Pat your face dry, but not completely. Re-apply moisturizer and leave it in.
If you like to use cologne, try an after shave before you moisturizing after your shave. After shaves can soothe burning and, if they contain alcohol, can help prevent infection from cuts. Apply a non-perfumed moisturizer if you use an after shave lotion.
If you’re going outside in the sun, apply a sunscreen instead of a moisturizer after shaving. It takes a while for sunscreen to absorb into your skin and start protecting you. Use a minimum 15 SPF, and apply at least 30 minutes before you go outside. Many guys make the mistake of putting on sunscreen when they get to the court or softball field, wondering why they ended up burning.