By Angela Rightout , published Apr 12, 2019

Skin Care Routines: Women Vs Men 

Walking down the beauty aisles of any drugstore you’ll notice many products targeted toward women and their skincare and beauty regimens. In a small section of the aisle, you may notice a few brands dedicated to men. The marketing strategies are vastly different. Women’s products are usually lighter in color, floral scented, with botanical ingredients wrapped in pretty packaging. Women’s products also focus on routines. In contrast, men’s packaging is often in black or gray bottles with bold text. These products also target men by suggesting a routine that’s technically NOT a routine. It’s an “all in one, get the job done type of deal.” Either way, men's skin care needs just as much love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The statistics of men with daily effective skin care routines are low. Only 29 percent of men 18-34 have a skin care regimen- and it goes down from there. About 26 percent of men ages 35-49 have a skin care routine and only 16 percent of men age 50 and up have a routine. Even more so, 40 percent of the men with routines, only spend five minutes or less dedicated to their daily skin care regimen.

Although some men may not fuss as much about their skin or take the time to have dedicated regimens, they should. A good skin care routine can extend the health of skin for many years to come. Men tend to have thicker skin than women, resulting in more youthful skin. But, it doesn’t always show because a lot of men don’t take the time to protect their skin with good products and dedicated daily routines. Read on to learn the difference between women and men’s skin, a routine that may help, and how to incorporate SeabuckWonders' sea buckthorn products.

Difference Between Women and Men’s Skin

Women's skin and men’s skin are different. How exactly? Well, there are structural differences. Testosterone causes an increase in the thickness of a man’s skin. This accounts for why men’s skin tends to be between 25 -30 percent more thicker than a woman’s skin. Thicker skin means slower aging. Also, regardless of age, men have a higher collagen density than women.

Collagen density is in direct relation to signs of skin aging. In theory, men should have skin that looks about 15 years younger than a woman of the same age. But these lucky attributes are not always noticed in men’s skin because some men may not take the time to care for their skin.

Another difference in men’s skin is their sebum production. Sebum production in men is greater than that of women. Sebum production is attributed to androgen secretions. These androgen secretions are the reason men tend to have oilier skin and acne longer and well into adulthood.

Men are also inclined to be in the sun and work in outside conditions more than women. But they use sunscreen less. Statistics show that only 14.3 percent of men regularly use sunscreen on both their face and body. Not only does not using sunscreen damage the skin and promote aging, but it also can lead to cancer. Studies show that 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are the result of exposure to UV rays!

Furthermore, men also are more prone to avoiding exfoliation, unlike many women. Check out our article on why exfoliation is so important.

Sea Buckthorn Male Study

To take advantage of your potential to look years younger, it's important to use good products that will get the job done. Studies show that sea buckthorn is good for men to hydrate the skin. Also, it has been proven that sea buckthorn is good for a variety of skin ailments, including acne, a condition that is prone to affect men much longer than women. The omega 7 palmitoleic acid found in sea buckthorn oil is an important building block for healthy skin and mucous membranes.  A study on healthy males tested the effects on sea buckthorn oil in water emulsion. The males either applied the sea buckthorn oil lotion on their skin or they used a placebo for eight weeks. The study discovered that the men who used the sea buckthorn oil showed improvement in skin barriers vs those who used the placebo.

Incorporating a Skin Care Routine

So, to reap the benefits of your collagen density and thicker skin, incorporate a skin care routine that may take a bit longer than five minutes a day. Follow this simple four to five step routine, that incorporates sea buckthorn oil. 

Step 1: Cleanse

The foundation of beautiful and bright skin is cleanliness. Best practices are
to wash your face twice a day.  Wash your face when you wake up and after any major activity that produces sweating or before you go to bed. The last thing you want is for oil to be resting inside your pores. Before washing your wash, open your pores with warm water. (Cold water closes pores.) Warm water helps your face wash penetrate through your skin to get a nice good clean. It also allows for better removal of dirt, sweat and oil.

After splashing your face with warm water, lather your face with your face wash by rubbing it in a circular motion. Don’t pull down on the skin as this will promote sagging. Rinse your face and cleanser off with cool water to shrink your pores and prevent new dirt and oil from entering, Lastly, pat your face dry, don’t rub. Rubbing will encourage premature wrinkling. Your face should feel clean but not tight. We recommend the SeabuckWonders exfoliating facial cleanser. Our award-winning all-natural facial cleanser combines steps one and two, listed below. It serves as a daily facial wash AND exfoliator. Although exfoliating is recommended between one and three times a week, our cleanser is gentle enough to use daily. But it’s also tough enough to remove daily impurities and dead skin cells. It revives dull skin, boosts blood circulation to allow for a fresh complexion.

Step 2: Exfoliate

As mentioned in step one, the SeabuckWonders daily exfoliating cleanser can serve as steps one and two. But, for those who may use a different facial wash that doesn’t serve as an exfoliator as well, we would recommend this being your next step. Either way, some form of exfoliating is IMPORTANT! Exfoliating removes dead skin cells and deep down impurities. If you shave, you should exfoliate before you shave. This helps loosen up hair and forces them to elevate above the skin allowing for a much better shave. Focus on the areas you plan to shave along with your nose, forehead and neck. Also, always be gentle near your eye.

Step 3: Balance your Skin

This step is only for normal or oily skin. You can balance your skin’s PH levels by using a skin toner. Skin toner removes facial impurities and reduces oil production. Since men are more likely to have adult acne longer than women, this step can be crucial to your routine. This step is always done after washing, exfoliating and shaving. Don’t use toners that have alcohol, menthol or harsh ingredients. Toners with witch hazels may be a good choice.

Step 4: Hydrate and Moisturize

Cleansing and exfoliating will require you to add moisture. The best moisturizers will allow your skin to remain hydrated and protect them from impurities entering into your pores. They will also provide anti-aging benefits. Apply your moisturizer all over your face, neck and take special care to the dryer parts of your face.

SeabuckWonders Facial Cream provides the perfect amount of moisture for most skin types. Since the main ingredient of our skincare is sea buckthorn oils, they are rich with Omegas. Omega 7 in the Facial Cream provides daily deep hydration and boosts cellular functions. Omega 3, 6 and 9 nourishes and restores your skin’s natural balance. It’s also the best way to give your face a daily dosage of sea buckthorn oil. Plus a little goes a long way.

Step 5: Prevention

Use sunscreen to protect from aging skin and most importantly certain skin cancers. It’s a small and quick step that may change your life. Use a natural sunscreen targeted toward men with zinc-based SPF. Check out our guide to sunny weather skincare here.

Finally, use a men’s facial serum and/or an anti-aging serum at night and eye cream, as the eyes are usually the first to show aging signs. Pure sea buckthorn seed oil acts in the same way that serum does- by delivering nutrients deep into the skin. A drop or two gently massaged into your skin after washing will do.

 SeabuckWonders sea buckthorn oil is the perfect addition to your nightly routine and daily routines. Your skin can reap the benefits of sea buckthorn oil with just a drop or two added to your existing lotions and skincare products. Studies show that sea buckthorn supports healthy aging in the skin. It has also shown promising results in fighting wrinkles and keeping skin hydrated.

Also, to cap off your regimen, you don't want to forget the rest of your body.  So, for an all-over moisturizer, SeabuckWonders' Sea Buckthorn Body Lotion is a great and affordable choice. This moisturizer makes it easy for your skin to get a good dosage of sea buckthorn oil. This moisturizer serves to protect the health of your skin and works great on sensitive skin. 

The Takeaway

To simplify it, men need skin care routines too! But, with that said, men naturally have thicker skin with a higher density of collagen. This results in the skin looking more youthful than women if treated properly. Yet, many men do not see the benefits of their increased collagen due to their lack of a good routine.

Incorporating a few simple steps can help men achieve and retain beautiful skin that’s slow to age. Wash your face, exfoliate, use a toner, and follow up with a moisturizer and incorporate sea buckthorn oil. Don't neglect your entire body and always use sunscreen. Use nightly creams and serums to slow the aging process.