You see him nick your cleanser or face cream on occasion (or is it just me?), but what is it really doing for his skin? We spoke to Nivea skincare expert Robyn Hutch about sharing beauty products – read on for more.
What’s the difference between men’s facial skin and women’s facial skin?
The dermis of men’s skin tends to be about 20-30% thicker. This means there’s more collagen. The thicker structure also means that men’s skin is taut, firm and resilient, with a lower tendency to form wrinkles. But nothing lasts forever and there’s inevitably a catch – this lower tendency to form wrinkles holds until about mid 30s or early 40s, after which the rate of decline in collagen structure is steeper than for women. So wrinkles in men do appear, but just later in life compared to women.
It’s also oilier, and there’s a tighter network of fatty tissue. For younger men this contributes to greater likelihood of blackheads and other skin impurities. Men have more facial and body hair and also produce more sweat.
Are women able to use men’s products, and vice versa?
Research shows that men’s skin tends to be oilier and has a greater thickness, which means that formulation experts have to develop products specifically for men.
For the most part it wouldn’t be recommended for a woman to use men’s facial products in the same way… but there are a few tricks. A woman could use her men’s exfoliator to prepare her body for a tan, or even his shaving product for her legs. If these are fragrance neutral or fragrance free options that’s even better. Try Nivea Men’s Originals Exfoliating Face Scrub, $8.60
How many times a day should a man be cleansing and moisturising?
There is no difference here between men and women. Cleansing and moisturising should be part of a normal daily routine. That is, at least once daily.
What kind of skincare routine should men follow?
It is important for men to cleanse to thoroughly clean the skin and remove any excess oil and dirt. Cleansing also helps to refine the skin. The result of cleansing should be skin that does not feel dry and tight.
They also need to exfoliate – these products can refine and smooth the skin, and the end result is skin that looks clean and healthy. This should be done once a week.
And of course, a good moisturiser is necessary to alleviate dry and tight skin. men tend to suffer from dark circles around the eyes and puffiness. Eye creams can also instantly revive tired eyes and also help reduce dark circles, puffy eyes and the appearance of fine lines.
Try Paula’s Choice PC4Men Face Wash, $26; L’Oreal Paris Men Expert Pure Power Charcoal Scrub, $12.95; Clinique Anti-Age Moisturizer, $65; Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream, $19.55
What about for guys with no hair or shaved heads – should you ever extend your beauty products to your scalp?
The skin on your head is just as important as it is on the rest of the body. It needs nourishing and protection. You can definitely extend your beauty products to use on your scalp. Of most importance is the use of sunscreen. This is a must for those who sport the shaved head look.
Shaving is always super tricky. What do you recommend to use pre and post shaving?
Shaving is an extreme form of exfoliation. It is because of this you need to use a pre shave product to provide a slippery surface for the razor to glide on and protect your skin from irritation of the sharp blades.
Before you even get to the action of shaving, skin prep is needed to make the whole process a whole lot easier. Wash your face with warm water, and apply a gel or foam over the hairy areas. Wait 1 minute before shaving against the direction of hair growth, and avoid running the blade over the same spot several times. Once done, pat your face dry and use an after-shave balm to provide an instant soothing effect to stressed skin. It’ll also cool the skin and help reduce redness and irritation.
Try Gillette Fusion ProGlide Silver Touch, $13.99; Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream, $26.50; Aveda Men Pure-Formance Dual-Action Aftershave, $69.95
Can women use men’s shaving cream too? For example, on the legs?
Fundamentally, yes. The trick may just be finding a shaving product that doesn’t smell so masculine.
Have you used a men’s beauty product before? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
