Men and Aging
The Skinny on Men’s Skin
Don’t want to look like the Mummy? Some simple solutions.
“The same three daily steps apply to both men’s and women’s skincare: Clean, Tone, and Moisturize.”
By Janis Hashe
“Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse.”
— Usually (wrongly) attributed to James Dean
“I hope I die before I get old.”
— Lyric from the Who’s “My Generation”
“…male aging is unique compared to that of women because of the different constraints that emerge from our reproductive and metabolic biology.”
— Richard G. Bribiecas, “How Men Age”
Not so long ago, the ideal look for a middle-aged male was the Marlboro Man—rugged, lined, deeply tanned from hours sitting in the saddle.
But as most now know, many actors who played that iconic figure died from lung cancer. Not smoking is now much more common than smoking. And there has been a comparable evolution in men’s attitudes about skincare.
Quite a few women of a certain age have had this conversation earlier on: “Oh my god, you’re washing your face with deodorant soap!” “Yeah, so what?” Now, however, men’s skincare lines proliferate, younger men have been raised with better knowledge of skincare and its importance, and older men have become converts. There’s now a popular men’s skincare blog, Men’s Health magazine’s website has an entire tab on skin, and it published an article in April called “Here’s the Name of Every Wrinkle on Your Face.”
So, what’s the thinking man to do if he wants to avoid the walnut effect (and skin cancer)?
Men’s skincare: KISS
Skincare lines for men have recognized most men want to Keep It Simple, Stupid. But the same three basic daily steps apply to both men’s and women’s skincare: Clean, Tone, and Moisturize. artnaturals offers a number of products ideal for this formula. For cleansing: Tea Tree Face Wash or Clarifying Face Wash, both designed for deep but gentle cleaning and detoxing. For toning: Vitamin C Toner, adding Vitamin C’s antioxidant power to tighten pores and rejuvenate. For moisturizing: Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which uses the naturally occurring acid to battle aging, while deeply hydrating skin.
Thicker male skin benefits from extra exfoliation, and artnaturals’ Konjac Sponges, used daily to apply cleanser, provide dead skin cell removal without scrubbing.
Men who learn to take care of their skin also realize that, like women, skin may need more moisture during dry, cold winter months, as well as dry, hot summer. Adding the artnaturals Retinol Moisturizer after nighttime cleansing can do the trick.
The sun ain’t your friend
Many men still prize the bronzed, outsdoorsy look of a deep tan. But the message is out that the sun’s rays are not skin’s friend—and this applies to all skin, Caucasian, African American and Asian. Popular men’s blogger Harris O’Malley (aka “Dr. Nerdlove") speaks sternly to his readers about this:
“That golden glow that we associate with health and good looks is the visible effect of skin damage. The UV-A and UV-B rays from sunlight don’t just destroy skin’s elastin, causing it to wrinkle and sag. It doesn’t appear early—after all, you’re in your 20s, you think you’re immortal and your good looks are going to last forever. But the more sun exposure you have, the more likely that you’re going to end up with age spots, heavy wrinkles, jowls and a sagging jawline. Fun times.”
Dr. Nerdlove continues: “Wearing sunscreen is a matter of a long-term investment. A little effort now pays off massively when you’re in your fifties and everyone is convinced you can’t be more than 35. If you really need to get a golden tan, look into some fake-bake options; self-tanner and spray-on tan are a better option than premature aging and potential death.”
Point #1: Protect. artnaturals offers a full line of sunscreen products: Soleil SPF30 Sunscreen, Soleil SPF30 Sunscreen Spray, and Soleil SPF50 Sunscreen Sticks (for nose, ears, forehead and hairline). Even when the sun’s not out, damaging rays still penetrate the clouds, so daily sunscreen use is highly recommended.
Point #2: No-sun Tan. You’d still like some bronze. artnaturals’ Soleil Sunless Tanner Set allows you to build up some glow without the tanning downside. The look can be further enhanced with Soleil Protective Body Tanning Oil, which, when applied over the Sunless Tanner, uses botanical oils and extracts to moisturize skin and upgrade the glow.
Take care of your manly mane and face with our Best Face Forward Bundle.
A little care now—a lot of benefit later.