When it comes to male skincare, many men believe that they don't need it. This is mostly due to the traditional Chinese male chauvinism, especially in the northern part of China. Many men don't have a skincare routine, and even if they occasionally do, they often fall into various skincare misconceptions. Let's take a look at some of the misconceptions in male skincare so that we can better take care of our skin in the future.
Misconception 1: Not using skincare products immediately after washing the face
Most men don't have the concept of skincare ingrained in their subconscious. When they have acne, they feel helpless and think that washing their face vigorously will get rid of the problem. However, this is not the case. Nature has given all living beings a self-protective instinct, and our skin is the natural protective barrier bestowed upon us. Our skin secretes sebum to protect itself, but this sebum is relatively fragile. It gets washed away to a large extent when we wash our face, and new sebum cannot form quickly. Therefore, right after washing our face, we may feel tightness and dryness in the skin.
Recommendation: Skin that has lost its sebum barrier should use skincare products as soon as possible, preferably within 3 to 5 minutes after washing the face, to form a protective layer and maintain a balance in sebum secretion.
Misconception 2: Oily skin needs daily exfoliation
No matter what skin type we have, we don't need to exfoliate every day. The normal person's stratum corneum is not very thick. Even if it accumulates to a certain extent, it doesn't need daily exfoliation because it takes a few weeks for the stratum corneum to accumulate significantly. Therefore, there is no need to exfoliate every day. Cleansing masks can help remove oil and exfoliate, but even if male skin is slightly thicker and oily compared to female skin, repeatedly removing layers of the stratum corneum is not advisable. The outer layer of the stratum corneum plays a protective role for the skin, and only aged and dead stratum corneum needs to be removed regularly.
Recommendation: Regular exfoliation with exfoliating scrubs is sufficient once a week.
Misconception 3: Using hot water to wash the face cleans more thoroughly
It is true that hot water can facilitate the cleansing process, but this view is incorrect. Although hot water can make the cleansing process easier, the high temperature of hot water causes rapid evaporation, which takes away a significant amount of moisture from the skin.
Recommendation: Even in cold winter, there is no need to use hot water to wash the face. Using water that is about the same temperature as the body is sufficient. It is also advisable to rinse the face with cold water afterwards to tighten the pores.
Misconception 4: Washing the face with a wet towel
Men, being more outgoing in nature, often overlook small details. After sweating, they have a habit of washing their face with a wet towel, thinking that it can effectively clean sweat stains. However, using a towel to wash the face cannot deeply clean the pores and, moreover, a damp towel that doesn't dry quickly is conducive to the growth of various microorganisms. Washing the face with a wet towel is like applying various bacteria to the face.
Recommendation: It is best to switch to a gentle facial cleansing sponge and remember to regularly air and disinfect it.
The fact is that not only women need skincare, but men need it too. Men have always had a desire to save face, and only when their skin improves will they feel more confident.
