A No-Fuss Natural Skincare Routine For Men 

The Best Natural Skincare Routine for Men in 1-2-3

Guys, listen up! The hormone testosterone is responsible for giving you, on average, 20% thicker skin than female skin. Lucky you! Because of this, your natural skincare routine looks a smidgeon different. Can you use all the same skincare products as women? Absolutely! Everything inside our doors is proudly gender-neutral. However, over the past 11 years in business, we've noticed certain products gaining popularity with our male clientele. We've also collected some tips and tricks along the way to help men optimize their natural skincare routine based on their skin type. Here's what we know:

First, what's your skin type? We work within these five skin characteristics:

• Sensitive skin may react or sting with the use of certain actives. 
• Normal skin is clear and not bothered by much. 
• Dry skin is flaky, itchy, or rough and common in men with thick facial hair. 
• Oily skin is shiny, slippery, and occasionally prone to breakouts.
• Combination skin is dry in some areas and oily in others. This skin type requires a more nuanced approach, but don't worry - it's not our first rodeo.   

Now that we know your skin type, it's much easier to determine the right product lineup for happy, healthy skin. A tailored approach is always the way to go, as your skin type will benefit more from certain elements of a great skincare routine than others. 

1. Cleanse 

Maybe you've been using an Irish Spring soap bar on your face for years with no issues. Heck, you could probably swap it with your Dawn dish soap and get the same type of squeaky clean. But these harsh ingredients, synthetic fragrances, and dyes, will catch up with you. They're stripping your skin of its natural goodness that we're now attempting to restore. So we love recommending a gentle and effective cleanser to keep men's skin fresh, clean, and thriving. Give yourself a little facial massage, washing your face in the morning and after exercise. GK Pro Tip: We tell this to anyone who will listen. Please don't wash your face with hot water - it just dries it right out.

2. Exfoliate

But does he take care of his skin? Just let that baby-soft mug speak for itself! Exfoliating twice a week will remove dead skin cells, giving you a brighter, smoother complexion, and preventing breakouts. For our newbies, we recommend you start with an exfoliating peel pad. They're super easy to use, with noticeable results. Don't go too crazy with this step. These are active ingredients; a little goes a long way. Exfoliating should be done in the evening, after cleansing and before moisturizing, so your skin can drink up the benefits and recover while you sleep. 

3. Moisturize  

Moisturizers are formulated to trap water in your skin while adding powerful vitamins and nutrients. As a result, skin is left feeling soft, plumped, protected, and deeply repaired. Think of it as a coat for your skin, providing a layer of protection. For the best results, apply moisturizer to your face and body immediately after showering or shaving while the skin is still damp. This step should be done twice a day - once in the morning, paired with sun protection, and again after cleansing, before bed. 

The Most Effective Natural Deodorant For Men

Ok, this is a biggie. It's a staple in your routine. It's something you can't live without. Maybe it's used once a day, or you double-down during CrossFit. We're talking antiperspirants. But there's a catch. The aluminum in antiperspirants forms a plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat, leading to a mountain of well-documented health concerns. Some research suggests that aluminum-containing antiperspirants may be absorbed by the skin and have estrogen-like (hormonal) effects over time. Antiperspirant can also make you feel hotter, depriving your body of its natural ability to cool off. It often causes staining on clothing and significantly contributes to underarm irritation and sensitivities. Fortunately, there's another effective option. Enter: natural deodorants! We love to see men putting their health first and trading in their aluminum-based antiperspirants for clean, healthy deodorants. Of course, deodorants won't stop you from sweating, but sweating is good! It's a natural bodily function that doesn't want to be blocked. Instead, we focus on odour control and stain resistance; we've rounded up the best natural deodorants in Canada. GK Pro Tip: if you want to double down on odour protection, men love this charcoal underarm bar that washes away odour-causing impurities in just 60 seconds, boosting the efficacy of your natural deodorant.

Ready to Level Up? 

If you want to add more skincare tools to your toolkit, you're in the right place! We love to see our guys using a more proactive skincare regimen! So here are some other goodies to take your skin to the next level (and impress your female friends). 

Add a Toner To Enhance Other Products

Our toners are packed with ultra-hydrating ingredients that bind water to your skin, restoring hydration after cleansing. (Here's a detailed breakdown of what they actually do for the skin.) Josh Rosebrook's Daily Acid Toner is the holy grail of multi-treatment toners and a popular choice for all skin types.

Try A Serum To Add Hydration

If your skin is dry, adding a hyaluronic acid serum to your natural skincare routine is a fast way to give your skin a drink. Viva Organics Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a no-brainer. This natural facial serum stimulates collagen production, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. (You would apply this product after cleansing and before moisturizing.) Then, seal that goodness into the skin with a balm - this one is particularly favoured among those who work outside or in dryer conditions - to keep skin nourished. Hydrated skin = happy skin! 

Depuff Your Eyes With An Eye Cream

Eye creams are impressive little players in the skincare game, densely concentrated to target the most delicate, thin skin under and around your eyes. When this area loses its firmness and thickness, you'll notice puffy under eyes, crow's feet, and dark circles more prominently. 

Be Proactive With Spot Treatment

At the first sign of a breakout, apply a treatment formulated to deeply penetrate blemishes, dark spots, age spots, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. A natural and effective acne treatment helps to speed up healing and reduces or eliminates blemishes. Apply only to the area of concern.

Use SPF ... Daily!

Now that you're taking really good care of your skin don't forget to make it all count - with daily sun protection. The steps and products mentioned above don't mean much if you're burning to a crisp in the sun. Daily SPF is a must. It's like the extended manufacturer's warranty on your other products.

Facial Grooming? Try A Beard Oil

Men's skin requires TLC in and around the beard area, as shaving can leave the skin dry, exposed to irritation, and susceptible to ingrown hairs. Before you shave, wet your skin and hair to soften it. Use a moisturizing shaving bar and shave in the direction of hair growth. Follow with a rich beard oil to soften and condition your facial hair and alleviate itchiness, dryness, acne, irritation, and ingrown hairs. 

A Simplified Shower For Men

Lather to your heart's content in the shower (hopefully, while singing at the top of your lungs) with a shower gel that's good for your body and safe to wash down the drain. Our active bar 3-in-1 are favoured by our GK Guys. If you have a dry or itchy scalp - a symptom we've come to expect if using a chemically-loaded shampoo, we've seen great results with 100% Pure's Burdock & Neem Shampoo/Conditioner. 

Our Takeaway

Nothing makes us happier than seeing our male clientele making healthy skincare choices! We're finding more than ever that men are swapping their harsh eye-watering fragrances-packed drugstore deodorants, body washes, and skin care for healthier, cleaner options. Have you made the switch yet? It's never too late to start your best skincare routine yet. Every man's skin is different; there is no "one size fits all" approach to skincare. If you need help determining what skin type you have or have questions about how to take better care of your skin, contact your knowledgeable Green Kiss Educator today.

All copy found on The Green Kiss website is written for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.