More men are making skincare a part of their grooming routine, and that’s great!

However…

33% of men still use bar soap to wash their face!

Most bar soaps are just too harsh to use on facial skin. They have a high pH (generally around 9-10) that may be OK for the body, but way too drying and stripping for the face.

Whether your skin is dry or oily, or mixed, it manufactures an oil called sebum that protects it and helps it fight off bacteria and infections while sealing in moisture.

Dry skin does not manufacture as much sebum, which means it is more vulnerable to losing moisture and is not as well protected from the elements. Cracked skin is prone to infections because, as the skin barrier is broken, bacteria and other germs can get in and cause an infection.

Oily skin, on the other hand, overproduces sebum. The oil can mix with dirt, dead skin cells, bacteria, and plug pores, causing acne, breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads.

Both skin types require gentle handling. That seems pretty obvious for dry, irritated skin, but we often feel that oily skin can be handled more aggressively. It’s a mistake. Stripping your skin of its natural oils, exfoliating too often, or using soap can be counterproductive, irritate your skin, and actually stimulate it to make even more oil.

For more info about skin health, check out a previous blog post.

Here’s how to keep skincare for men super simple and effective:

Always remember that less is more. Be gentle to your skin and don’t use anything harsh on it. Your skin is not your kitchen sink!

1. Wash your face once or twice a day simply with warm water. Hot water strips the skin of its protective natural oils, and cold water does not allow the pores to open to remove dirt.

Pat it dry with a clean towel.

If you have acne, or very oily skin, you can use a gentle foaming cleanser.

If you have a beard, you can wash it with a beard wash 1 to 3 times a week (no more than twice if you have dry skin).

All natural face oil for men by Reves de Sabine

2. Apply a few drops of natural face oil. Oil does NOT make your skin oily; it’s a myth! Choose an oil that contains a short list of nourishing and healing ingredients, without artificial fragrances or preservatives, which can irritate your skin. . Our 100% natural Face Oil for Men (“Beard or No Beard”) is a great choice, and it smells naturally fantastic. It is also an excellent beard conditioner. Gently massage it in.

What about exfoliation?

Shaving exfoliates the skin. An electric razor does not exfoliate as much as a blade, but it still removes some dead skin cells.

Sometimes, a build-up of dead skin cells can plug hair follicles and cause razor bumps or ingrown hairs when shaving.

So exfoliating before shaving can prevent ingrown hairs from forming. Gentle exfoliation with a sisal washcloth (as in our Men's Face Care Set) is easy, gentle, and effective, and the warm water will open the pores, loosening any lingering dry or dead skin.

Some bearded men can experience beard dandruff. The best way to get rid of these flaky skin cells is to use a good boar bristle beard brush using short, gentle strokes that follow the natural direction of the hair.

A sisal washcloth can be used for other areas of the face.

Gua sha massage… a wonderful addition to men’s skincare routine

A facial massage using a gua sha tool takes only a few minutes a day. It is a great addition to your skincare routine, as it helps relieve tension, reduce puffiness, increase circulation, encourage lymphatic drainage, and minimize fines lines and wrinkles. Gua shas come in various sizes, shapes, and stone types. There are even stainless steel or glass gua shas. Glass is more sustainable than gemstones, and it is fully recyclable.

I love the bian stone gua sha that comes with our Men’s Face Care Set , because it is very versatile and can be used on other parts of the body as well (great to work on tight knots and achy muscles).

Skincare is self-care

Regardless of how much or how little time you decide to give your skincare routine, having a daily ritual and taking care of yourself just feels good.

And in the end, well-cared-for skin means you’ll experience less irritation and redness, less frequent breakouts, fewer wrinkles, and your skin will look healthy and radiant.