For men 50 and over, the importance of taking care of the skin becomes something more of a priority when faced with issues like an aging complexion, wrinkles, dark spots and more. Unfortunately, most men don’t think about a skincare routine until they notice these minor changes. But even though you might think it’s too late to care for your skin at our age, the truth is it’s never too late to start and we can help with our blog – A Guide to Skincare for Men over 50.
There’s no reason to think either that markets aren’t ready and willing to help men get the skin care they want. A recent report from CNBC shows that men’s gender-neutral products will carve out about $166 billion dollars through 2022 and skin-care sales have increased by 7% in 2019.
Some Background on Your Skin
Did you know your skin is an organ? The largest of our organs, in fact. And like the rest of our body, it breaks down with time. Typically, aging skin starts in your 20s, and goes unnoticed until you reach your late 40s or early 50s. There are many factors cited for this, everything from genetics, environmental influences, or personal habits such as smoking or not getting enough sleep.
Another piece of information we thought was interesting was that aging and rough skin may be attributed to the reduction of your body producing an active protein in the skin called Collagen. There are different types of collagen (four to be exact) your body uses, and it’s the most abundant protein in your body.
How to Start a Skincare Routine in your 50s
According to a WebMD Medical Reference, the leading contributor to aging skin is prolonged direct sunlight and UV light, which affects the elastin fibers (elasticity) in your skin, or the ability for it to stretch back into place. Luckily, this one cause can be a relatively easy cure that we’ll address further in the article.
Adopting a skincare routine later in life doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect. True, it’s hard to know what products target which problems or are best for the type of skin you have. What is important is to remember that you don’t want to take any drastic actions or remedies as this could cause even more problems further down the line.
Remember, as men over 50, we’re going to have a few wrinkles and that’s completely normal. But take care of your skin regardless to ensure you look healthy for your age. Here are a few simple steps you can incorporate into your daily routine to help hydrate and rejuvenate the skin.
Wash your Face
Ideally, you will use this morning and night, if this is too much, then opt for the evening. The skin repairs and rejuvenates itself naturally in your sleep and by assisting with the process with a good face cleanser is a significant step to take (Cetaphil, 2020).
Moisturize
There are many skin types, from normal, dry, oily to combinations of all. As you age, you are more likely to fall into the dry skin category. It is best to use your daily moisturizer after cleaning your face to support the hydrating ingredients within the face wash (Munce, 2020).
Use an SPF
Dermatologists have learned more about the effects of UV light has on the skin and as we said earlier, over-exposure to UV light may cause dark spots and loosening of the skin. For men, purchase a morning moisturizing which includes an SPF to wear throughout the day to protect the skin against sun damage and UV lights (Punter, 2020).
Eye Cream and Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Along with your moisturizers and face wash, consider adding eye-creams and anti-wrinkle products. Eye-creams are great to combat dark spots, which may appear under the eyes. The active ingredients and formulas used to fight these issues include caffeine or green tea. These work well to make dark sports and circle appear significantly brighter (Rubenstein, 2018).
As for anti-wrinkle creams, they combine three core ingredients: vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and peptides which the skin lacks as your age. Collectively, these increase the amount of collagen the skin produces, brightens, and plumps the skin, helping to reduce wrinkles and providing and overall younger appearance (Rubenstein, 2018).
What to Look for When Buying Skincare Products
According to Diakow (2019) men in their 50s and beyond should consider natural skincare products that are high quality and free from fragrance, irritants, and additives. If in doubt, ask a dermatologist or even an in-store sales assistant. They are both trained to understand the ingredients in skincare and have a knowledge of common skin issues. Sales assistants can talk you through their product ranges to ensure you get the best skincare to suit your needs.
Final Thoughts on A Guide to Skincare for Men over 50.
When you enter your 50s, it’s vital to care for your skin by having a daily skincare routine. The necessities you should have include a daily face wash, moisturizer, and SPF cream. For deeper treatment and help, perhaps use an eye cream and an anti-wrinkle cream to smooth your complexion, tighten the skin and reduce the signs of aging.
We hope that you’ve found some useful information with our piece on A Guide to Skincare for Men over 50. As always, if you don’t see something here you want us to cover, feel free to reach out to us directly through our Contact page or leave a comment below. Stay healthy and take care of your skin!
References
- https://wexlerdermatology.com/press/online/dr-kenneth-howe/
- https://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/g26085/beauty-genius-skin-awards/?slide=1
- https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/a33919189/skin-care-routine-for-men-over-40/
- https://www.cetaphil.co.uk/article/sleep-and-skin-repair#:~:text=Sleep%20and%20skin%20repair,-Share&text=During%20the%20night%2C%20whilst%20sleeping,cell%20growth%20and%20skin%20recovery
- https://www.gq.com/story/ultimate-anti-aging-skincare-plan-for-men
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