Many men are under the impression that a proper skin-care regimen isn’t necessary unless you are a woman. This is nowhere near the truth. Taking care of your skin is important for both genders, and we can all benefit from a routine that helps us to put our best face forward. It’s true that there are men out there who can get away with not doing much of anything to their face, but as time goes on, this may not always be the case. With age comes the wear and tear of lifestyle choices and changes in hormones that can leave African American skin in a frenzy.

By understanding what you should do for your skin daily, you can protect it, slow down the aging process, and have a more even complexion with less bumps. Just as important as what we should do is what we shouldn’t do. Here are 5 things you should put on your ‘Don’t’ list if you want to improve the current condition of your skin, or just keep it in good health.

Don’t use any old lotion as a moisturizer. No one wants ashy, dry skin, and it can be tempting to use the same lotion you use on other body parts to hydrate your face. It’s an easy solution that is also cost-effective. Despite these benefits, this habit can do more harm than good. Many body lotions are full of chemicals and have not been properly balanced to hydrate skin without clogging pores. When pores can’t breathe, breakouts and undesirable shine soon follows.

Natural moisturizing ingredients to look for: Aloe, Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Argan

Don’t try a one-size fits all approach when it comes to skin care. What works for someone else may not work for you because we all have different skin types. There is dry skin, which requires an extra amount of moisture that could cause breakouts in oily skin. For oily types, what’s needed is an agent that gently gets rid of excess oil without destroying the natural oils that are healthy. Contrary to popular belief, removing all the oil from your face does more harm than good. This causes the skin to overcompensate and produce even more oil, which worsens the problem. If you have combination skin, you’ll need to use products to balance skin that is both oily in some spots and dry in others. Of course, we can’t leave out sensitive skin – this sort of skin especially benefits from a natural regimen that’s free of chemicals likely to cause reactions.

“Quick fixes” seem to be readily available by using any soap that’s on hand, but these same products could dry out your skin, leading to rapid aging, wrinkles, and acne. Additionally, they do very little to help skin repair itself to heal acne and scars that are left behind.

Ingredients: For combination skin, try honey and oatmeal. For dry skin, vitamin E and jojoba. If your skin is oily, honey and tea tree oil can help. All of these ingredients tend to work well with sensitive skin but test them first.

Stop shaving irresponsibly. Shaving irritation is a leading cause in breakouts for men, but there are ways to combat it. Shave with a razor that isn’t dull and be sure to keep it clean. Begin shaving in the direction of hair growth and make sure the creams you use are based on natural ingredients. Always use aftershave that’s also based on organic ingredients to provide replenishment that’s much needed after a close shave.

Glycerin and aloe are consistently prime ingredients to watch for in shaving products.

Don’t keep using unhealthy hair products. Not only is our hair close to our face, it can spread hair products that are absorbed by our skin. Along with natural spreading, we often touch our hair and then our faces unintentionally. If you’re using heavy oils and harsh chemicals, your skin can easily suffer the consequences.

Don’t overlook the importance of sunscreen. Sunscreen does more than just shield your skin. It aids in a more even complexion because the rays of the sun can promote hyperpigmentation. Wrinkles are also the results of too much sun exposure. Sometimes the sun’s rays can cause damage to our skin – even when we don’t notice it. We can’t avoid nature, so it’s best to learn how to shield our skin to keep it healthy and youthful.

Great skin is the perfect asset for more confidence. It may sound like a lot of work, but caring for your skin is much easier than it seems, so there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. Combining what you now know about skin care and natural ingredients with a weekly scrub or exfoliation only adds to a more handsome face and will speed up your journey to healthier skin by getting rid of buildup from dead skin cells. Whether you admit it or not, you’ll love the way it feels.

That’s it for this week.

Dedicated To The Skin You’re In

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care