by Moyo Olisa
Having good, glowing skin is not the sole prerogative of women. Men are supposed to look good too, they are supposed to take care of their skin too.
Trust me, we— women especially—see beyond those sideburns, moustaches and beard. We see the bumps, the ashy-ness, the pimples and spots. Believe me, it does not look good. The good news is, by incorporating 4 simple steps into your daily rub-and-shine regimen, I promise you that you will be well on your way to looking like the Adonis you wish you were.
These 4 Steps include: Cleansing, Toning, Moisturizing and Protecting, and I will explain below why you need these steps.
Step 1: Cleanse
You need to cleanse your face in the morning and at night – most importantly at night. Your skin accumulates so much gunk (oil and dirt) during the day and trust me you don’t want to take all of this to bed with you. Use cleansers that aren’t harsh on your skin, causing it to produce excess oil. Try the SebaMed Cleansing Bar, which you can buy from any pharmacy or supermart. It’s guaranteed to unclog your pores and eliminate dirt but still moisturise your skin. Please stop using products like Neutrogena or Clean & Clear, unless prescribed by a dermatologist. Also, stop using all those harsh minty soap bars.
Step 2: Tone
You should use a toner after cleansing your face. They help regulate your skin’s oil production while keeping your skin’s pH level balanced. Toners are either astringents or hydrators. If your skin is oily, use an astringent such as Thayers Witch Hazel Toner. It works wonders on pimples and blackheads. You can also get it from any pharmacy.
Step 3: Moisturise
I know this is the biggest problem most men have – moisturising. Please apply lotion to your skin daily ‘forgossake’, and I’m referring to the parts everyone can see as well as parts no one can see!
For your face, you can use a light moisturiser like the Cetaphil daily moisturizer, which you can also find at any supermarket. Fun Fact, I know it might seem counterproductive to apply a moisturizer to oily skin but using an oil-free moisturiser to seal in moisture on your skin actually causes your skin to produce less oil than usual!
Step 4: Protect
Whether you are a man or a woman, you should never skip sunscreen! I can’t even start explaining the short- and long-term damages UV rays cause to the skin! Pick a chemical sunscreen from your pharmacy with at least SPF 30 to shield your skin from the harsh and damaging rays of the sun.
Finally, I feel I should let you know that taking care of your skin causes it to age more slowly. Think about it, what shall it profit a man to be fine but have ashy skin??