Is Men’s Skin Care Different Than Women’s?

Men often ask us, “Is men’s skincare different from women’s?” We understand why someone would ask, after all, skin is skin! However, there are a few differences between the best skincare routine for men compared to women.

A Few Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Skin

Men typically have oilier skin than women due to having larger pores and producing more sebum. This isn’t to say that men’s skin doesn’t need hydration, it does. However, moisturizing is usually a bigger part of women’s skincare starting at an earlier age.

Men’s skin is also typically thicker than women’s skin and contains more collagen as a result. This is why men often start showing aging a little later than females the same age (all else being equal). Men do tend to show fine lines or crow’s feet first since the skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate compared to the skin elsewhere on the face and body.

A third more obvious difference is facial hair. Men either grow or remove facial hair much more frequently than women. Either growing a beard or daily shaving affects the skin.

Hormones also make a difference. Testosterone is partially responsible for facial hair, increased sebum production, and other gender variations in skin. Women often have hormonal breakouts depending on the phase in their cycle. So, in the case of acne, teenage boys and girls, as well as men and women, might use different approaches to control their acne.

Everyone should wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen. However, one difference between most men and many women is that women are more likely to wear foundations and tinted cosmetics containing sunscreen even if they don’t use a dedicated sunscreen product.

That said, gender differences in the skin are fairly minimal. Everyone should adopt a skincare routine tailored to their skin type and needs. There may be scent preferences, aesthetic differences, and marketing differences among products designed for men and women but the formulations are similar.

Similarities Between Men’s and Women’s Skin Care Needs

Many great products are equally effective for people of all genders depending on skin type, age, and needs. For example, everyone benefits from a quality broad-spectrum sunscreen. Damaging rays from the sun is one of the top causes of premature aging and can also contribute to skin cancer.

We recommend that everyone, regardless of gender, wear sunscreen that protects against UVA (aging rays), UVB (burning rays), HEV (high-energy visible light – think tech devices such as cell phones), and IR-A (invisible to the eye yet very damaging). Not all sunscreen products do this so talk with a skincare professional about which products to use and read the labels.

An Ideal Skin Care Routine for Most Men

Individual skincare needs vary depending on genetics, age, climate, lifestyle, and more. However, we find that most men look their best with a skincare routine consisting of the following types of products:

1. Exfoliating cleanser: This helps remove oil, dirt, dead skin, sweat, and product build-up from the day. Gentle exfoliation also helps prevent pimples.
2. Oil Control: Since men tend to have oilier skin they also are more likely to need extra help with oil control.
3. Hydration: After the teen years (and even during), women’s skincare often heavily features moisturizers. Men also need to keep their skin hydrated, but as we mentioned male skin tends to be oilier so many overlook hydration.
4. SPF: As mentioned earlier, everyone who wants to retain youthful-looking skin benefits from daily sun protection. If you like the look of a tan, consider getting a spray tan.
5. Eye Cream/Serum/Treatment: The skin around the eyes is one of the first places on the face where men start developing fine lines. In addition, dry, flaky skin, fine lines, dark circles, under-eye bags, or puffiness are other issues that develop around the eyes.
6. Growth Factor/Peptides (for ages 30 and up): Growth factors and peptides are similar and both are advantageous. Growth factors are proteins that your skin naturally produces while peptides are amino acids that serve as building blocks. Both help promote skin elasticity and collagen production.
7. Retinol (for ages 30 and up): Retinols are a form of vitamin A that helps rejuvenate the skin and also helps treat acne. It is a long-used anti-aging treatment. Retinols do increase sun sensitivity and can dry out the skin so people who use them should also use high-quality hydration and sun protection products.

Depending on your needs, you may benefit from additional products or alternate products. Sometimes a single product may serve more than one need, for example, some sunscreen or sunblock products also contain moisturizers.

Six Great Products to Try (and Why)

1. ZO® Dual Action Scrub: This product serves as both an exfoliating cleanser and helps with oil control.
2. ZO® Complexion Renewal Pads: This product is a great option for oil control. These pads are also convenient, we recommend keeping some in your gym bag.
3. Alastin® Restorative Eye Treatment: Pamper your delicate under-eye skin with this treatment featuring TriHex Technology to support the production of new elastin and collagen.
4. SkinMedica® TNS Advanced +: Think of this serum as a multi-vitamin for the skin. It contains next-generation growth factors and peptides.
5. SkinMedica® HA5 Hydrator: This hydration product contains 5 types of Hyaluronic acids. It’s nearly weightless, fragrance-free, and helps the skin retain moisture for up to 8 hours.
6. ZO® Daily Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 50: Another two-in-one product that serves as both a hydrator and sunscreen. It has a non-greasy formula with a matte finish. It is also water and perspiration-resistant.

Next Steps:

Schedule a men’s skincare consultation with one of our team members at The Skin Center by CPS to learn about the best skincare products and rejuvenating cosmetic treatments.

As part of the Charlotte Plastic Surgery family, we have proudly served Charlotte-area residents for over 70 years. We love helping people look and feel like their most attractive and most confident selves. Contact us today to get started.