Clean Skincare for Men: What You Need to Know
Beauty
April 11, 2024
Author: Doré
Beauty
April 11, 2024
Clean Skincare for Men: What You Need to Know
Author: Doré
We all know that staying in shape is key to a healthy lifestyle. For both men and women, this starts with good habits: you exercise, you pay attention to what you eat and you do your best to stay hydrated. Like all things, consistency with these good habits is key.When it comes to skincare, particularly for men, extending the same principles to your daily routine reaps similar rewards. Consider your skincare routine a workout for your face!Men's skincare doesn't have to be complicated. Just like staying in shape, forming new skincare habits is about goal setting, flexibility and repetition, so your baseline regime should be straightforward and consistent. No frills, just power-packed products that clean, protect and nourish your skin.What is Clean Skincare?Clean skincare is rooted in a commitment to products that are free from harmful toxins and are transparent about which ingredients they do and do not contain. It can be confusing, though, because not every brand can agree on what ingredients are “clean.” While most beauty lovers would prefer not to see SLS, PEGs and parabens in clean beauty products, there is no one standard answer. It’s all left up to that company’s individual definition.Here at Doré, clean means that our products are safe for both people and for the planet. We have an emphasis on non-toxic and plant-based ingredients as well as transparency in the sourcing and manufacturing of products. For us, non-toxic products are those that are formulated without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and other chemicals of concern. Instead, they rely on more natural sources of vitamins and antioxidants essential for nourishing the skin, or safe synthetic ingredients that impose no known harm on their users and can make a product more effective or stable.Finding the Perfect Clean Skincare RoutineThe modern man’s day-to-day life is filled with stress–daily life is an assault course. First, there's the stressful commute or a tough day at work. Then you have to factor in the environmental irritants you face, like pollution and UV radiation. It all adds up and can leave your skin looking dull and tired.While a good diet and regular exercise can certainly boost skin health, it only takes you so far. It’s that facial workout all over again: only a solid skincare routine adapted to your needs will keep your face looking and feeling soft, supple and glowing.For men, this often means a different approach than for women. Did you know that men’s skin is 20-25% thicker than women’s? Men also tend to have higher levels of hydration, pigmentation and sebum. That’s why it’s so important that men develop an effective skincare routine.A Simple, Clean Skincare RegimenAs we’ve mentioned before, skincare requires consistency, just like anything else we work on and expect to see results. But developing a routine can seem daunting if you don’t know what to do or which products to use. Lucky for you, we’ve identified the three most important steps that men usually skimp on—and where you should be paying attention.CleanseGuys have nailed one aspect of skincare: skipping the morning face wash. Overdoing it with daily washes can strip away the essential oils your skin needs. However, this strategy only works if you make sure you wash your face every night. After all, we start each day with a clean slate, so why not let your skin end on a fresh note, too?That’s what nightly cleansing does: it prevents dirt and pollutants from soaking into your pores while you sleep. We recommend using a mild foaming cleanser to help reduce surface oil. This is particularly helpful if you shave to keep the skin’s surface razor friendly. If you have non-sensitive skin and want a deeper clean, you can mix it up and add an exfoliating cleanser for an enhanced shaving experience, with a mild wash to follow.We Suggest: Doré Le Cleanser. Packed with anti-inflammatory Witch Hazel and brightening Goji Berry, our gel to milk facial cleanser leaves skin perfectly clean and hydrated.RepairOur skin endures quite the beating from free radicals, which over time leads to oxidative stress—a fancy term for our skin’s negative reaction to toxins from air pollution, cigarette smoke, industrial chemicals and harsh UV rays. Without going into a chemistry lesson, this is where a hero product, like an antioxidant serum, can be helpful to reduce damage.Vitamin C in particular is a powerhouse in mitigating these skin stressors. It's best applied in the morning, right after your shave and just before you moisturize, to form a protective barrier against daily damage.We Suggest: Doré Le Baume. It's not just any balm; it's an all-in-one hero that repairs and moisturizes extremely dry skin. Le Baume includes castor oil, which protects skin against loss of moisture and provides hours of hydration.Moisturize and ProtectThe final step is to moisturize your skin and protect it with SPF.In the morning, once you finish applying your antioxidant serum, you should apply a moisturizer that has at least SPF 30. Don’t forget, sunscreen isn’t just for the beach—incidental sun exposure, like the time you spend walking to the train or sipping a beer on the patio after work, adds up and causes skin damage over time.At night, you should opt for a lightweight moisturizer without any SPF to give your skin a chance to breathe. We Suggest: Doré La Crème. A hydrating all-in-one daily moisturizing cream. It is packed with marine algae to help repair the skin barrier and white lily to brighten the skin.Our Top Tips for Picking the Right ProductThe good news is there are more skincare products for men hitting the shelves than ever before: from luxury beard oils to pocket-friendly lip balms, the options are seemingly endless. The bad news is the influx might also leave you feeling at a loss for what to buy.We know we’ve thrown a lot of advice at you, but we are passionate about making skincare as easy as possible. With that goal in mind, here are our top tips to keep your skincare routine as easy and effective as possible.1. Know Your Skin Type:The reality for most men is that their skin tends to be on the oilier and thicker side, thanks to the effects of testosterone. That's why a lot of skincare products aimed at men are designed to cut down on the shine.However, not every man’s face fits the oily profile—dry, flaky skin can be just as common. If you're in that camp, your go-to products should be a cream cleanser paired with a heavy moisturizer to tackle dryness head-on. For those who find their skin can't make up its mind between oily and dry, look for products formulated for combination skin. And finally, if you have sensitive skin, you should aim for products with as few ingredients as possible to avoid any chance of irritation, burning, or stinging.A little pro tip? Give "cocktail moisturizing" a try. It might sound like a bit more effort, but mixing and matching moisturizer products to address specific areas of your face can be a game-changer, especially for those dealing with combination skin. This approach allows you to customize your skincare routine to your skin's unique needs, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution.2. Forget Gender:While men-specific products are nice, it’s also important to remember that many skincare products are unisex and typically suitable for both men and women. There's no need to box yourself into choosing products solely based on branding. You should look for the qualities and solutions that the products offer and make your choices accordingly. For example, if you’re hoping to avoid scents, look for fragrance-free products. Alternatively, look for products with natural essential oils, like sandalwood or cedarwood—not only do these scents smell great, but they also offer a soothing and calming effect on the mind and skin.3. Consider Your Ethnicity:Your heritage also plays a significant role in determining your skin type and its needs. For example, African-American men might find themselves dealing with ingrown hairs more frequently, which is usually related to the natural curl of their hair. For this skin type, we often recommend using a depilatory instead of shaving to reduce razor bumps. On the other hand, Asian and Hispanic men might notice they're more susceptible to irregular skin pigmentation. In this case, we recommend extra caution against sun exposure and perhaps incorporating a skin-brightening product to their regimen.4. Experiment:At the end of the day, finding the best skincare for your needs is often a process of trial and error. We recommend buying your products from a store that allows returns or samples so you can more easily experiment and discover what works best for you. Another tip is to order a subscription or sample box that sends you a selection of travel sizes based on your preferences so you can try before you buy.ConclusionWhile the definition of clean skincare varies from company to company, the underlying trend is a good thing: people are becoming more aware of the ingredients that go into their products, and consumers are searching the shelves for products that will help them feel like they are taking control of their health and wellbeing and are living in line with their values.Embracing a clean skincare approach doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as your existing routine: you shower, wash your hair and clean your teeth because it is easy and because it works. Your skincare routine can be the same. Try to integrate face wash while you shower, or moisturizer to warm damp skin. If you shift your focus to simplicity and functionality, you can ensure your skincare routine is not just a task, but a rewarding part of your day-to-day wellness practice.
We all know that staying in shape is key to a healthy lifestyle. For both men and women, this starts with good habits: you exercise, you pay attention to what you eat and you do your best to stay hydrated. Like all things, consistency with these good habits is key.When it comes to skincare, particularly for men, extending the same principles to your daily routine reaps similar rewards. Consider your skincare routine a workout for your face!Men's skincare doesn't have to be complicated. Just like staying in shape, forming new skincare habits is about goal setting, flexibility and repetition, so your baseline regime should be straightforward and consistent. No frills, just power-packed products that clean, protect and nourish your skin.What is Clean Skincare?Clean skincare is rooted in a commitment to products that are free from harmful toxins and are transparent about which ingredients they do and do not contain. It can be confusing, though, because not every brand can agree on what ingredients are “clean.” While most beauty lovers would prefer not to see SLS, PEGs and parabens in clean beauty products, there is no one standard answer. It’s all left up to that company’s individual definition.Here at Doré, clean means that our products are safe for both people and for the planet. We have an emphasis on non-toxic and plant-based ingredients as well as transparency in the sourcing and manufacturing of products. For us, non-toxic products are those that are formulated without phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and other chemicals of concern. Instead, they rely on more natural sources of vitamins and antioxidants essential for nourishing the skin, or safe synthetic ingredients that impose no known harm on their users and can make a product more effective or stable.Finding the Perfect Clean Skincare RoutineThe modern man’s day-to-day life is filled with stress–daily life is an assault course. First, there's the stressful commute or a tough day at work. Then you have to factor in the environmental irritants you face, like pollution and UV radiation. It all adds up and can leave your skin looking dull and tired.While a good diet and regular exercise can certainly boost skin health, it only takes you so far. It’s that facial workout all over again: only a solid skincare routine adapted to your needs will keep your face looking and feeling soft, supple and glowing.For men, this often means a different approach than for women. Did you know that men’s skin is 20-25% thicker than women’s? Men also tend to have higher levels of hydration, pigmentation and sebum. That’s why it’s so important that men develop an effective skincare routine.A Simple, Clean Skincare RegimenAs we’ve mentioned before, skincare requires consistency, just like anything else we work on and expect to see results. But developing a routine can seem daunting if you don’t know what to do or which products to use. Lucky for you, we’ve identified the three most important steps that men usually skimp on—and where you should be paying attention.CleanseGuys have nailed one aspect of skincare: skipping the morning face wash. Overdoing it with daily washes can strip away the essential oils your skin needs. However, this strategy only works if you make sure you wash your face every night. After all, we start each day with a clean slate, so why not let your skin end on a fresh note, too?That’s what nightly cleansing does: it prevents dirt and pollutants from soaking into your pores while you sleep. We recommend using a mild foaming cleanser to help reduce surface oil. This is particularly helpful if you shave to keep the skin’s surface razor friendly. If you have non-sensitive skin and want a deeper clean, you can mix it up and add an exfoliating cleanser for an enhanced shaving experience, with a mild wash to follow.We Suggest: Doré Le Cleanser. Packed with anti-inflammatory Witch Hazel and brightening Goji Berry, our gel to milk facial cleanser leaves skin perfectly clean and hydrated.RepairOur skin endures quite the beating from free radicals, which over time leads to oxidative stress—a fancy term for our skin’s negative reaction to toxins from air pollution, cigarette smoke, industrial chemicals and harsh UV rays. Without going into a chemistry lesson, this is where a hero product, like an antioxidant serum, can be helpful to reduce damage.Vitamin C in particular is a powerhouse in mitigating these skin stressors. It's best applied in the morning, right after your shave and just before you moisturize, to form a protective barrier against daily damage.We Suggest: Doré Le Baume. It's not just any balm; it's an all-in-one hero that repairs and moisturizes extremely dry skin. Le Baume includes castor oil, which protects skin against loss of moisture and provides hours of hydration.Moisturize and ProtectThe final step is to moisturize your skin and protect it with SPF.In the morning, once you finish applying your antioxidant serum, you should apply a moisturizer that has at least SPF 30. Don’t forget, sunscreen isn’t just for the beach—incidental sun exposure, like the time you spend walking to the train or sipping a beer on the patio after work, adds up and causes skin damage over time.At night, you should opt for a lightweight moisturizer without any SPF to give your skin a chance to breathe. We Suggest: Doré La Crème. A hydrating all-in-one daily moisturizing cream. It is packed with marine algae to help repair the skin barrier and white lily to brighten the skin.Our Top Tips for Picking the Right ProductThe good news is there are more skincare products for men hitting the shelves than ever before: from luxury beard oils to pocket-friendly lip balms, the options are seemingly endless. The bad news is the influx might also leave you feeling at a loss for what to buy.We know we’ve thrown a lot of advice at you, but we are passionate about making skincare as easy as possible. With that goal in mind, here are our top tips to keep your skincare routine as easy and effective as possible.1. Know Your Skin Type:The reality for most men is that their skin tends to be on the oilier and thicker side, thanks to the effects of testosterone. That's why a lot of skincare products aimed at men are designed to cut down on the shine.However, not every man’s face fits the oily profile—dry, flaky skin can be just as common. If you're in that camp, your go-to products should be a cream cleanser paired with a heavy moisturizer to tackle dryness head-on. For those who find their skin can't make up its mind between oily and dry, look for products formulated for combination skin. And finally, if you have sensitive skin, you should aim for products with as few ingredients as possible to avoid any chance of irritation, burning, or stinging.A little pro tip? Give "cocktail moisturizing" a try. It might sound like a bit more effort, but mixing and matching moisturizer products to address specific areas of your face can be a game-changer, especially for those dealing with combination skin. This approach allows you to customize your skincare routine to your skin's unique needs, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution.2. Forget Gender:While men-specific products are nice, it’s also important to remember that many skincare products are unisex and typically suitable for both men and women. There's no need to box yourself into choosing products solely based on branding. You should look for the qualities and solutions that the products offer and make your choices accordingly. For example, if you’re hoping to avoid scents, look for fragrance-free products. Alternatively, look for products with natural essential oils, like sandalwood or cedarwood—not only do these scents smell great, but they also offer a soothing and calming effect on the mind and skin.3. Consider Your Ethnicity:Your heritage also plays a significant role in determining your skin type and its needs. For example, African-American men might find themselves dealing with ingrown hairs more frequently, which is usually related to the natural curl of their hair. For this skin type, we often recommend using a depilatory instead of shaving to reduce razor bumps. On the other hand, Asian and Hispanic men might notice they're more susceptible to irregular skin pigmentation. In this case, we recommend extra caution against sun exposure and perhaps incorporating a skin-brightening product to their regimen.4. Experiment:At the end of the day, finding the best skincare for your needs is often a process of trial and error. We recommend buying your products from a store that allows returns or samples so you can more easily experiment and discover what works best for you. Another tip is to order a subscription or sample box that sends you a selection of travel sizes based on your preferences so you can try before you buy.ConclusionWhile the definition of clean skincare varies from company to company, the underlying trend is a good thing: people are becoming more aware of the ingredients that go into their products, and consumers are searching the shelves for products that will help them feel like they are taking control of their health and wellbeing and are living in line with their values.Embracing a clean skincare approach doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as your existing routine: you shower, wash your hair and clean your teeth because it is easy and because it works. Your skincare routine can be the same. Try to integrate face wash while you shower, or moisturizer to warm damp skin. If you shift your focus to simplicity and functionality, you can ensure your skincare routine is not just a task, but a rewarding part of your day-to-day wellness practice.