Men vs Women
When we pass through the skincare section in drugstores, we see that when it comes to skincare, brands target men and women differently.
Women seem to need more products – there are cleansers, moisturizers, serums, masks, and many other skin care necessities that come in all colors, scents, and sizes.
The men’s section is more modest, usually holding a small corner space featuring a few black, gray, or blue containers of cleansers and shaving creams.
Sometimes we might wonder – is having different products for men and women a marketing ploy?
Are men’s and women’s skin so fundamentally different that we can’t all just use the same products to keep our skin nice and supple?
Skin Differences
The fact is – men’s skin is different from women’s!
The androgen hormones are the reason in most of the differences and among other factors such as:
1. Men have thicker skin than women do.
Men produce hormones called testosterone that cause their skin to be about 20% thicker than women’s.
Their skin also thins gradually with age, while women’s thins significantly after menopause.
2. Men’s skin naturally has more collagen.
Collagen is a protein found in the body and is one of the major components of the skin.
It is responsible for providing structure for the skin. As we grow older, our body produces less collagen and is visible in saggy skin.
Men are the genetic winners in this aspect. Because of their thicker skin, they generally have more collagen.
It’s believed that without other factors, men should look about 15 years younger than women of the same age!
3. Men’s skin produces more sebum.
Sebum is an oily substance found in the skin, and men have more of it than women do.
The downside to having more sebum is obviously having oilier skin.
Men generally have bigger pores and oilier skin than women do, making them more prone to acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.
On the plus side, producing more sebum makes men’s skin naturally better hydrated than women’s.
4. Men’s skin produces more hair.
One of the more obvious skin differences between men and women is that men produce more facial hair.
While this isn’t a direct skin difference, the amount of shaving men do greatly affects their skin.
Shaving, when done properly, helps exfoliate the skin, ridding men of dead skin cells on areas where they usually shave.
Appropriate Skincare Routines and Treatments
Given the many differences in men’s and women’s skin, it’s safe to say we definitely have different skincare needs!
Here’s a basic guide to providing your skin with its gender-specific needs.
1. Women need more collagen.
If our skin produces less collagen, then let’s get them ourselves!
Once we start our anti-aging routines, we should avail of products that contain a lot of collagen amino acids that our skin can absorb.
While good skincare plays a major factor in maintaining a youthful glow, some women (and even men!) prefer more powerful treatments such as a Botox treatment.
Botox is a potent protein that significantly lessens the visibility of wrinkles and laugh lines and prevents the formation of new ones.
2. Women need to moisturize more.
As women’s skin produces less sebum, we are more prone to dry skin and need to moisturize more.
Moisturizing daily protects our skin from external factors that can cause flaky skin or breakouts, like sweat, wind, and temperature. It also helps prevent the formation of wrinkles and laugh lines.
3. Women need to exfoliate more.
Given that women don’t shave as often as men do, we need to exfoliate more.
Exfoliating has many benefits – it unclogs pores, adds glow to the skin, and evens out skin tone.
It is advisable to use a scrub on the face twice a week with a product that provides medium to deep exfoliation.
4. Men should use more skincare products.
In this day and age, it is more socially acceptable for men to take care of their skin too. Men should have more products than just facial wash and shaving cream!
These are the basic steps that anybody should observe to maintain healthy skin, even men.
Wash your face. It is best to wash the face twice a day. For men, try cleansers for oily skin.
Exfoliate. Use a facial scrub twice a week.
Moisturize. Find the right moisturizer for your skin type.
Use sunscreen daily. The sun is one of the most harmful factors for the skin. Using sun protection daily is a must for men and women.
Our Best Skin Yet
While we can observe good health habits that are beneficial to our skin like exercising regularly and drinking lots of water, our skin is unique and needs different kinds of products and treatments to be at its healthiest.
Want to learn more? Text Tammy Napoli now at 225-571-5349 to book an appointment.
No matter what age or gender, with the appropriate customized skin plan, we can achieve our best skin yet.
