Everyone has needs. Taking care of ourselves is a vital part of having a happy, healthy life. Sometimes it can be hard for some of us to really get down to it or it can be confusing when certain markets are heavily geared towards one end of the spectrum versus the other. When you go into stores, most skin care seems to be for everyone, but a vast majority of it seems marketed towards those in their teenage years versus adult skin. Those of the older generation may not need products that are abrasive or intense on beating issues like acne. With age, our needs change and so does our skin. When we’re young, it may be a grease-ball, acne infested mess. But we’ve made it to the other side, and our skin did too, so transitioning to the next product to satisfy the skin can be a bit confusing.
Changes in Adult Skin
When we age, our skin slows down in it’s cell turnover process. The skin isn’t working as fast to shed it’s layers for new ones and that means we need to tone down the aggressiveness of our routines. Overtime, our skin will begin to become thinner and more delicate. It will be easier to dry out and if you don’t use SPF, sun spots will start to be more apparent. Adults need gentler ingredients in their skincare as well, since the raging oil glands and puberty hormones have died down.
There are differences between teen acne and adult acne, and it’s important to understand what is causing it. For example, teenage acne is caused a lot more aggressively by the overproduction of oil glands while adult acne mostly due to hormones. Since the production of our oil glands slow down and the cell turnover isn’t what it used to be, build up can happen a lot easier. With teenage acne, it can be all over the place while adult acne is mainly on the lower half of the face, chin, and jawline. With adult acne, there is more of inflammation and cystic acne from all of this unattended buildup.
Differences Between Men and Women
There are a few differences between a man’s facial condition versus a woman’s. For one, men have more testosterone than women, and that testosterone is apart of their male sex hormone, androgens. These androgens help drive that facial hair growth and make their skin 25% thicker. Another difference is that men generally have larger oil glands than women, so their sebum is more dense and can become congested easily.
As women age, dermatologists suggest to really only do a thorough cleanse once a day, as our skin doesn’t go through shedding those layers quite as fast as they did in our youth. Men, however, need to be a little more aggressive and ought to hold onto their twice a day routine from their teenage years. On top of keeping their pores clear, they have to be sure that they keep all of the hair follicles and pores around their facial hair as clean and clear as possible. Men use shaving cream and other thick products and therefore need to take extra care of cleaning out all the gunk.
Our Top Picks for Men’s Face Wash
Alba Botanica Even Advanced Enzyme Scrub with Sea Algae
An important thing to keep in mind as we get older is that cell regeneration slows down. We also need to be wary of what types of products we include in the daily routine. This scrub has a special Marine Complex that help to boost that regeneration process and produce a balanced complexion. It cleans out all the dirt and grime from the day while also rejuvenating the skin. This is also created with an all vegetarian ingredients so you can show the Earth some love as well as your face.
Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser
The nice thing about this cleanser is that it’s both a cleanser and a toner, so getting ready in the morning can be a little easier. This wash has aloe and sage leaf that help to draw out the dirt and oil from your pores and leave behind smooth skin. It also has witch hazel, a well known and recommended astringent to help defend against adult acne. Many prefer this wash to use pre-shave because it doesn’t dry out your skin. This is a multi-tasker that is perfect for those men that need a simplified routine.
Kiehl’s Since 1851: Age Defender Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser
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It’s says it all in the title with this product. Kiehl’s brings in Moroccan Black Lava Clay to really draw out those impurities and help exfoliate away dead skin cells. This is a great product for all skin types because it’s not over drying, but it also doesn’t bog down your pores with excess product. When you have a little more time in your day, you can also use this product as a five minute face mask to really smooth out the skin with Phylic Acid they derived from plant extracts. This is also where the age defense comes into play because it smooths out fine lines and encourages cell turnover.
Bioré Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser
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This is a great drugstore alternative for those with combination skin to both give your face a deep clean and bring back some balance. You can clean your skin without drawing away from your natural oils so all of your problem areas will have the right amount of treatment in the way they need most. This is also non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores.
Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing 2-1 Wash and Mask
This product is especially great for those with sensitive skin, with the daily wash gently lifting out impurities and cleaning out your pores. This works great as a daily cleanser because it’s gentle enough of the skin while also being highly effective at fighting against acne and keeping it from coming back. When you have five minutes to spare, you can put this on as a T-zone mask to really knock out those stubborn blackheads.
Lush Coalface: Coal Cleansing Bar
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Lush has gotten huge over the past few years with their all organic approach to products and their magical bath bombs. This product is no less special, with the charcoal soap giving your skin a mild exfoliation while also including an infusion with rosewood and sandalwood oils that soothe and calm down the skin. Lastly, it’s liquorice components help the whole thing smell heavenly. It’s relatively affordable and one of their most popular facial cleansers. It leaves you with a clean, matte finish to help start off your day right.
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