Beyond facial wash: Five steps men NEED to get the best skin ever
When it comes to the men in our lives, getting them on a skincare regimen has proven to be quite the challenge. We Project Vanity girls have been doing our best to convince our dads, boyfriends and husbands to wash their face properly, apply sunscreen and moisturizer, and leave on an occasional mask. While some have been successful, others like myself are still taking the smallest of steps to get them on board the skincare train.
My boyfriend Mark absolutely hates putting anything on his face because "it feels sticky" and is "too much work". However I got him to sit still for a few minutes (there may have been some bribery involved) to try out a few products on him. If you want to get your guy beyond the hilamos with Safeguard stage of skincare, these are the steps and products he can add to improve his skin!
Exfoliate all that nasty dead skin away
Cure Natural Aqua Gel (P1,500) is one of my personal skin care must-haves, and I'm sure anyone who has read Liz's rave review would agree! It exfoliates really well but does not feel harsh on the skin, which makes it perfect for our facial-fearing men. Beyond the daily cleansing, a weekly exfoliating routine keeps skin clear and refreshed from all the pollution and grime we encounter. The unisex packaging is a good bonus for men averse to feminine-looking products. The best part about Cure though is that it can also be used on elbows, cuticles, knees, and just about any rough spot.
Mark: I barely felt it! And it doesn't smell like anything.
Me: (So happy at how much clearer his face looks!)
Mask Up to brighten and tighten skin
While Origins has dedicated products for men, Modern Friction and Drink Up Intensive (P1,500~ each) are good for both guys and gals! I fell in love with the Origins masks at the Mask Madness party (I got to take home these samples), and the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is my current fave for pampering my dry skin.
Most men are prone to blackheads and dull skin because exfoliation is an often neglected habit. Use Modern Friction before applying the overnight mask, or try the best-selling Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask (P1,500).
Mark: I’m okay to use this once in a while, when I remember to. I probably still have to try it a couple more times before I can really see the effect.
Me: (Touches his face and feels how much softer his skin is after. He probably still doesn’t know the difference. Men.)
Banish chapped lips
I have a couple of guy friends who are comfortable carrying around the Nivea Men Active Care Lip Balm (P100~), but there are those like my boyfriend who doesn’t want a lip balm in his bag unless it is mine. He won’t remember to apply it anyway, he claims. My solution: Use an intensive lip moisturizer at night! Vaseline Lip Therapy in Original is a good one for locking in moisture, plus it’s clear and comes in blue packaging.
Mark: Why do I need this again?
Me: Because you need to moisturize your lips.
Mark: Why do I need this again?
Me: (Exasperated) Because I said so.
Nourish and moisturize to keep them looking young
Time and again we have discussed how good retinol is for the skin. This anti-aging ingredient banishes blemishes and promotes collagen production, so of course we want to share this goodness with our men. The Retinol Anti-Aging Skincare has a dedicated line for the boys, and recommends a daily Retinol Men’s skincare regimen using the Anti-Wrinkle Facial Serum (P1,525), Eye Cream (P695), Daily Moisturizer (P695), and After Shave Balm (P625). These are all available at Beauty Bar.
Use the Anti-Wrinkle Serum before the Daily Moisturizer.
Mark: Do I need to use both the Serum and the Moisturizer? I can feel them on my skin. I can smell them also. The serum feels slightly sticky at first but seems to disappear but the moisturizer stays.
Me: The serum has been absorbed, which means it works. The moisturizer is supposed to be absorbed as well but will definitely feel “heavier” on the skin. How do you like the smell?
Mark: I am not used to it but maybe I’ll get used to it in time.
Me: Will you use them again?
Mark: I will probably skip the moisturizer. You did say that the serum is a more intense version, right?
Me: You still need both. Be thankful we’re not at 10 steps yet.
The After Shave Balm has a dual function – it calms the skin after shaving while acting as a daily moisturizer, so no need to follow up with a separate moisturizer if you use this.
Mark I like this better than the moisturizer. Two birds with one stone!
Me: This and the moisturizer reminds me of men’s perfume. The scent lingers for hours.
I have been an advocate for eye cream since college. I'm glad Retinol Men thought to include this product to their lineup!
Mark: You expect me to apply eye cream with the “lightest touch”?
Me: Yes. Don’t tug on your eye area. Don’t rush the process.
Everybody needs sunscreen to protect their skin
I bought the L’Oreal Paris UV Perfect Aqua Essence City Face Mist with SPF 50+ (P749) as a UV protector that I can spray over makeup, but I thought of another great use for it: men’s sunscreen! The easy spray-and-go application can help you a lot in rallying your man to use sunscreen every day.
Mark: Finally! Thank you for this. I will use this every day as long as I remember to use it. I like this better than the cream ones that you make me apply, or the spray ones that I still have to spray on my hand before applying to my face.
K: Yes! Good job me! Now let me borrow it because I forgot to use sunscreen under my makeup.
Have you been successful in getting the men in your life to use skincare? Male readers (we know you exist!), will you try these products out? What are your go-to's?
