These easy 5-step skincare routines might be tailored to meet a man’s needs, but they are so good your girlfriend will want to steal them for herself! Featuring Kiehl’s & Darphin.
This is an actual conversation that just took place with my husband:
Husband: I think the cream I am using is causing me to get these lines on my head.
Me: (Confused face) You mean your Kiehl’s? No, that wouldn’t cause you to get lines on your face…which are called wrinkles. And also, what are you talking about? You have perfect skin.
Husband: No, it’s there. See look! (Points to single, very faint line running across forehead.)
Me: Ok. So like, I am not even sure that is a wrinkle. I think you just need to wash your face. (In my head: Also I hate you for thinking that qualifies as a wrinkle as I sit here with sfogliatelle folds from temple to temple.)
So dear men, we love you so much, we really do. But we women have no tolerance for your skincare nonsense, with your perfect, baby-smooth skin and $2, one product ‘bodywash/shampoo/conditioner/face cleanser/toner/probably claims to clean the car’ skincare routine. With that said, I do think men care about their skin and want good skin, I just think they don’t complicate it nearly as much as women, likely due to the fact that they have a good base to start with.
Key Men’s Skincare Facts:
1. Thicker than women – 20% higher collagen density in male skin means that although skin breaks down at the same rate as women, signs of thinning won’t be as pronounced.
2. Oilier than women – men have more active sebaceous glands, meaning “more noticeable” pores and skin prone to breakouts. The plus side, less prone to dryness, resulting in a shiny, youthful complexion.
3. Ageing later than women – signs of aging occur later in men but are more rapid once they begin. Primary signs of aging include sagging eyes and dark circles. Wrinkles also occur later, but when they do appear, they are fully grooved.
4. Regular shaving makes skin more sensitive in men.
Below are two skincare routines I’ve curated to meet men’s skincare needs. One for basic, clean, healthy skin, and the other to pamper yourself a bit, because even men like a good spa day from time-to-time. Both are gender-neutral, suitable for normal-oily, sensitive skin.
5 Easy Steps To Great Skin – For Men
Standard Option – The Kiehl’s Approach
1. PURIFY
Kiehl’s Age Defender Dual-Action Exfoliating Cleanser
Description: Formulated with Moroccan Lava Clay, our unique exfoliating face wash for men’s skin deeply cleanses and removes excess dirt and oil for a refreshed, younger-looking appearance. Use this 2-in-1 men’s cleanser morning and night or as an exfoliating face mask.
Cost: $28
2. BALANCE
Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic
Description: Help reduce enlarged pores and reduce shine with our pore minimizing toner. Formulated with ingredients from the mouth of the Amazon River, this pore refining toner for oily skin is rich in minerals. Leave skin feeling balanced and smooth for a healthy-looking appearance.
Cost: $21
3. TREAT
Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum (in my arsenal)
Description: A Vitamin C serum that boosts radiance, helps firm skin and visibly diminishes fine lines, wrinkles and pores for smoother-looking skin. Formulated with 10.5% L-Ascorbic Acid and 2% Ascorbyl Glucoside plus Hyaluronic Acid, this patented, water-free concentrate is a Kiehl’s customer favorite.
Cost: $68
4. EYE
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye
Description: Our replenishing eye cream for dark circles and eye puffiness helps restore the eye area for a smoother appearance. Infused with Butcher’s Broom Extract, Lavender Essential Oil and Evening Primrose Oil, our formula helps smooth and restore the eye area. Use this eye cream at night and wake up to fresher, younger-looking eyes by morning.
Cost: $40
5. MOISTURIZE
Kiehl’s Oil Eliminator 24-Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer for Men
Description: Experience an out-of-this-world clean feeling with our men’s moisturizer for oily skin. This lightweight, shine-free moisturizer absorbs sweat and surface oil while helping visibly minimize pores. Infused with Aerolite Technology™ and Totara Wood Extract, this ultra-absorbent, ultra-light non-comedogenic moisturizer for men leaves skin smooth and shine-free.
Cost: $28
TOTAL COST: $185
My Pampered Pick – The Darphin Approach
1. PURIFY
Darphin Purifying Foam Cleanser
Description: A mild water based cleanser that develops into a delicate foam to gently and effectively remove make-up, impurities and excess oil. Ideal for combination to oily skin.
Cost: $39
2. BALANCE
Darphin INTRAL Toner (in my arsenal)
Description: Particularly appropriate for sensitive skin, this soothing toner with Polysaccharide, Chamomile and Howthorn extracts, tones and refreshes skin as it completes the cleansing process.
Cost: $45
3. TREAT
Darphin Ideal Resource Perfecting Smoothing Serum
Description: Here is the perfect solution for skin that is beginning to show first signs of ageing: lack of radiance and smoothness, fine lines and wrinkles. It restores skin to its ideal beauty immediately and over time. Skin perfecting illuminators instantly diminish the look of imperfections; flaws fade from view, even without makeup. Over time, Clary Sage helps improve smoothness, and our powerful LINE POLISH COMPLEX helps support skin’s natural collagen. Light is brought back to skin, texture is visibly improved, pores appear minimized, lines and wrinkles are visibly diminished.
Cost: $113
4. EYE
Darphin Exquisâge Beauty Revealing Eye and Lip Contour Cream (in my arsenal)
Description: Infuse life to your skin to reveal expressive eyes and an exquisite smile. This comforting cream features reinvigorating CelluVie Complex, to help boost skin’s natural collagen production, and Golden Chamomile. It helps visibly enhance elasticity and firmness, smooth the look of lines and wrinkles, minimize the look of dark circles and puffiness.
Cost: $98
5. MOISTURIZE
Darphin PREDERMINE Densifying Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Description: Velvety light, firming and wrinkle-defying cream with a powerful Peptide complex, Hyaluronic Acidspheres, Iris and Padina pavonica extracts helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles as it visibly densifies and firms skin for a plumper appearance. Delectable cream formula helps replenish moisture and renew skin’s elasticity, resilience and wrinkle-resistance.
Cost: $158
TOTAL COST: $453
BONUS PRODUCTS:
POST-WORKOUT
Darphin Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water (in my arsenal)
Description: All-in-one, no-rinse, soothing cleanser for face, eyes and lips, is particularly appropriate for sensitive eyes and sensitive skin that is prone to redness, rosacea and irritation. Gently removes make-up and impurities without irritating as it softens, refreshes and comforts skin.
Cost: $45
EXFOLIATE
Darphin Age-Defying Dermabrasion (in my arsenal)
Description: Institute-inspired, ANTI-AGING DERMABRASION rejuvenates as it polishes skin to perfection. Natural exfoliants (Silica, Pearl, Lava) make this delectable, creamy complexion-slougher gentle enough for sensitive skin; detoxifies and smooth the look of pores and fine lines. For optimal results: follow with application of the YOUTHFUL RADIANCE CAMELLIA MASK.
Cost: $85
One last note:
I think there is something to be said for the simple skincare routine synonymous with men’s skin. As women, we are conditioned to strive towards that 10-step K-beauty routine with all the bells and whistles. But skin’s natural healing properties don’t necessarily require layers and layers of serums and creams. According to French skincare expert to the stars, Joelle Ciocco, “During the night and after you made your Double Cleansing (purifying step twice at night; forego in the morning) our skin ecosystem is going to regenerate to create natural defenses. If you clean your skin in the morning you will just ruin the efforts your skin produced during the night and attack the « shield » which will make your skin even more vulnerable against external aggressors.” In other words, there’s nothing wrong with letting skin do its thing and repair itself, but even a simple skincare routine needs a boost to adequately battle pollution and bacteria to maintain a healthy skin barrier and address those pesky signs of aging.
Happy cleansing!
*Resource: Eucerin
The Cheeky Genova 