Male beauty: Anti-ageing tips

When it comes to men’s beauty routines, our focus is usually on general hygiene and grooming. If we’re being honest, anti-ageing tips for men tend to go unaddressed.

But just like male hair loss and baldness, skin ageing is something many men are genuinely concerned about - even if they don’t say it out loud.

There’s also not a lot of information around about how men’s skin ages compared to women’s - so I decided it was time to chat to Registered Nurse from Cynosure, Sandra Sostres, and founder of men’s skin care brand gentSac, Shira O’Sullivan-Linker.

Here’s what I found out…

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Men’s skin ages more slowly than women’s skin

Surprising, right? While factors such as sun exposure and lack of a skin care regimen can exacerbate men’s skin ageing, men’s skin actually ages more slowly than women’s. Why? According to Sandra, it’s all to do with “the different level of androgen hormones”. Men have more, “and as a result they have thicker skin and a higher collagen density”, which means they don’t age as quickly as women.

As well as having thicker, tougher skin, men “also have more sebaceous glands, producing more oil”, which means “they require less hydration and moisturising on their skin than women”. Unfortunately, “this excess of oil and androgen hormones makes them more prone to acne” and enlarged pores. On the other hand, although the signs of ageing (wrinkles, loss of elasticity, pigmentation) in men are the same, blokes won’t cop these until later on in life. Case in point: Hugh Jackman's wrinkle-free forehead!

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Men are still concerned about skin ageing

In Shira’s experience, men are worried about their skin ageing -  she just doesn’t think “Australian men are used to being open about their concerns when it comes to skin care”. As a result, they’re sometimes “not as proactive [as they should be] about moisturising or having a routine that is caring for their skin.” Sandra suspects men feel self-conscious about fine lines and wrinkles “later in life in comparison to women” (due to the aforementioned, comparatively slower onset of skin ageing) - but that doesn’t mean it isn’t on their minds.

There are products specifically formulated to help

If you visit bh on the reg, you’re probably aware there are plenty of skin care brands out there catering specifically for men. When it comes to anti-ageing products, Sandra says “the most important product is a good sunscreen [with] SPF 50” - particularly if the man in question is an outdoorsy type. She also recommends an anti-ageing cream containing vitamin A, a good exfoliator and a cleanser formulated with AHAs and BHAs to help reduce the appearance of already-visible wrinkles.

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In case you haven’t already noticed, the ingredients used in men’s anti-ageing products are actually incredibly similar to those used in female counterparts. The biggest difference is the look and feel of the products - not to mention the scent (no florals, please)! If you want to establish a man-friendly, anti-ageing skin care regimen, look no further than these buys:

Sun protection: SunSense Sport SPF 50+, Banana Boat Ultra SPF 50+, Paula’s Choice PC4MEN Lip Balm SPF 50

Cleanser: Nutrimetics For Men Cleansing Face Wash, MooseHead Dirt Eliminating Face Wash, L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Vita Lift Cleanser

Exfoliant: Rubifresh Skincare Men’s Daily Face Scrub, Davinci Scrub Up

Anti-ageing cream: NIVEA Men DNAge Anti-Age Moisturiser, ClarinsMen Line-Control Cream (Dry Skin), Clinique For Men Anti-Age Moisturizer

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In-salon and professional skin care treatments are available

While some men wouldn’t be caught dead in a girly beauty salon and, according to Shira, would “prefer to find a product they can use themselves in the comfort of their own home”, Sandra stresses there are now more “men-only cosmetic and beauty clinics” offering treatments “tailored for men” - so professional treatment is absolutely an option.

The expert recommends “laser/IPL treatments to address concerns such as pigmentation, uneven skin texture, wrinkles and skin laxity”. Chemical peels can also be used to prep the skin for these procedures, as well as to help maintain the results post-treatment.
 

Do the men in your life take good care of their skin? Are any of them concerned about skin ageing?