The one thing you need to start using if you want perfect skin
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There are certain things you could stand to devote more time to, and your skin is probably one of them.
Unlike your clothes and shoes, you've only got one skin, so it's up to you to keep it looking its best over the course of your life.
The breadth of skincare products out there can certainly help you counteract signs of aging, dryness, and breakouts, among other things, but getting into the right grooming routine early on is key to your skin's long-term health and vibrancy.
Simply adding a moisturizer to your daily grooming routine will go a long way — grooming and skincare experts across the board agree.
“Skipping moisturizer is the single worst thing you can do to your skin," Kiehl's USA president Chris Salgardo told Business Insider. "Most men don’t do enough to protect their skin. They either don’t want to use a moisturizer, or they don’t think they need to, and then they wake up one day looking older and wonder what happened. Moisturizer, especially a moisturizer with SPF, is essential for keeping skin looking and feeling comfortable, and is the first way to prevent the signs of aging.”
Birchbox Man editor, Nathaniel Nagy, expressed the same sentiment as Salgardo when we posed him the question. Both men warn, though, that choosing just any moisturizer isn't going to cut it. "Everyone’s skin and personal chemistry is different, so you should determine the type of skin you have and the conditions you want to treat, when choosing a regimen," Salgardo added.
To help, Nagy went through five common skin types — describing the traits of oily complexions, dry ones, and so on — and shared his product recommendation for each, below. Pick up the moisturizer that best applies to your skin type and start using it every day. The results should be pretty noticeable with regular application.
Oily skin
BirchboxIndicators: Large, visible pores and a greasy sheen that develops quickly after you’ve cleansed.
Product to try: An oily complexion is a tricky nut to crack. An oil-free moisturizer will certainly help, but it won’t handle the sebum that your skin produces naturally. This Protective Matte Moisturizer from Ernest Supplies is made with dimethicone, a natural silicone derivative that soaks up grease to give skin a matte, natural finish.
ERNEST SUPPLIES Protective Matte Moisturizer, $25, available at Amazon and Birchbox.
Dry skin
BirchboxIndicators: Your skin is often itchy, flaky, or generally tight.
Product to try: Any moisturizer will (obviously) help mitigate dryness, what you really want is a product that maintains your skin's lipid barrier, locking in moisture throughout the day. DTRT Skin Saver Ceramidin Cream is designed to do just that, forming an insoluble film on the surface of your skin without leaving a greasy residue.
DTRT Skin Saver Ceramidin Cream, $39, available at Birchbox.
Combination skin
BirchboxIndicators: An oily T-Zone (your forehead, nose, and chin) alongside drier skin on your cheeks.
Product to try: Combination skin presents a unique challenge: You'll want a formula that offers deep, lasting hydration without leaving a greasy residue. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men offers a perfect balance, using chestnut extract to support skin's lipid barrier (thereby locking in moisture), and dimethicone to help soak up excess oil.
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men, $25, available at Birchbox and Nordstrom.
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