Revamp Men’s Skincare During Winter – Sargam Dhawan
Keeping your skin healthy and hydrated at any time of the year can feel like an uphill task, but it is particularly challenging during winters. Usually, we don’t realize the need for an extra dose of moisture during cold weather until it’s too late, and by then, the weather is on its way to wreaking havoc on dry, tight, and flaky skin. Try these tips by Sargam Dhawan – Director, Paul Penders, to counteract the brutality of winter on your skin.
These are the factors that impact your skin’s health:
Skin Thickness – The thickness of the skin can differ as per place, age, and gender of the person. In addition, androgens (testosterone) which leads to an increase in skin thickness, account for why the skin of a male is about 25 percent thicker than the skin of a female. Men’s skin gradually thin with age; while the thickness of a woman’s skin remains constant until about 50 years of age, ageing in men begins much later.
Presences of sebaceous glands and bigger pores – Men have more active sebaceous glands, which means larger pores which leads to two things – the facial skin is more susceptible to the effects of free radicals in the air and the skin is shiner and oily. That alone is a wake-up call for all men to protect their skin better and get rid of that extra oil.
Skin Texture – The texture of a man’s skin is rougher as the epidermal layer in thicker. The composition of sebum and its development often differ. After puberty, sebum development is greater in males than in females, due to androgen secretions.
Hydration – Puberty frequently promotes the growth of men’s facial hair and induces secretions of sweat. Males have more lactic acid in their sweat, which in contrast to female sweat accounts for a lower pH (0.05 lesser). Men often sweat twice more than women, which is stimulated by an increase in body temperature. And that is why facial hair seems to be better hydrated.
Adopt these tips in your daily skincare regimen to keep skin healthy & hydrated during winters:
Avoid Hot Water Bath – The skin can be inflamed by hot showers and baths, causing redness, scratching, and even peeling like a sunburn, which can disrupt the natural moisture balance of the body as well as remove natural oils, fats, and proteins that keep the skin healthy. Dry skin increases the likelihood of infection and in turn, contributes to the overproduction of oils in an attempt to compensate for lack of moisture.
Identify your skin type – This is the first step in preparing for your routine skin care. Take a tissue test and see if your skin is clean, oily or blended. Those with oily skin appear to have oil in their t-zone (front, nose, and chin) in general.
Start a cleansing routine – Men must wash their face at least twice a day with a gentle face wash that suits their skin. As the skin tends to get oily all day long and block the pores, it is important to follow a daily cleaning routine. Remember that our skin’s natural PH balance is around 4.5 to 5, so it’s better to opt for a cleanser that has organic extracts, vegetable oils enriched with vitamins, and antioxidants to soothe and protect all types of skin like Botanical Men’s Cleanser.
Exfoliate – Dust and oil accumulated on the face results in blackheads or whiteheads and forms a dead skin surface. Exfoliation sheds the dead skin cells and provides clean, healthy skin. When exfoliating, don’t try to simply wash away blackheads and acne, it doesn’t work like that. Consider exfoliating as another step in your skincare routine. For oily skin, use a scrub-based on salicylic acid or a glycolic face wash as it cleans and exfoliates deeply.
Moisturize – Whenever we cleanse and exfoliate our skin, it also strips away the natural and beneficial moisture produced by our skin. It is essential to moisturize the skin in order to keep it soft and supple. Men with oily skin should opt for a gel or they can use a light lotion or occlusive (water-trapping ingredient).
SPF is a must – SPF should be an important part of the skincare regime as it protects the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays that cause sunburn, tanning, and early ageing. A 30 SPF sunscreen is a perfect option for men and should be used every day. Most males have a habit of wiping the sweat away from their face. Ensure to re-apply your sunscreen often.