Merge the skincare gap between men and women targeted products and instead focus more on your own skin’s needs and the best ways to care for it as no two people have the same skin.
Due to gender stereotypes, women are much more likely to have a mapped-out skincare routine because women have been conditioned by society to care about their appearance and have been criticized for aging for generations. That said, many women do enjoy knowing about their skin and their bodies and the best ways to take care of them. Men on the other hand have historically been shamed for wanting to invest in their appearance and for caring for their bodies so it can be harder for them to reach out and ask questions about their health and skin.
In recent years, the gap between men’s and women’s products has grown smaller as it has become much more socially acceptable for women to not care about their skin and for men to do so! However, there is the common misconception that most skincare products geared towards men are the same as skincare products geared towards women just in a different package. However, this is not the case. Skincare products geared towards men are really just skincare products geared towards individuals who have thicker skin.
The general populations of men and women have different skin types, with men tending to have thicker skin and women tending to have thinner skin. Most skincare products are broken up into men vs. women’s skincare categories but really it is skincare for individuals who have thicker skin and individuals who have thinner skin. The skincare world is typically split into products isolated for two genders, but it’s essential to remember that each person has a different skin type no matter what their gender is. So, it is much more important to find skincare products that fit your skin type and not be limited to what gender is assigned to which product. For example, this means that “men’s” skincare could work better for women with thicker skin and “women’s” skincare could work for men with thinner skin. This then begs the question; how can I tell if I have thick or thin skin?
How to Know the Thickness of Your Skin
1. Testosterone Levels
Men usually have thicker skin than women. A man’s skin is usually 25% thicker than a woman’s skin due to men’s likelihood to have more testosterone. So, men are more likely to have thicker skin but that doesn’t mean only men can have thick skin. Any individual who has higher testosterone levels will most likely have thicker skin. This is because testosterone increases collagen production so the more testosterone you have the more collagen your body will produce and the thicker your skin will be. This collagen boost means that those with thicker skin are more naturally protected against signs of aging compared to those with thinner skin.But this variation in skin types does mean that there is a difference between “men’s” skincare and “women’s” skincare because each product is geared toward a different type of skin. This means that any
men-geared skincare isn’t exclusively available for men but for those who have thicker skin. This means men-geared skincare does include most men but also includes women who have higher testosterone levels and any individuals who are on testosterone.
Individuals with thicker skin might need more hydration than thin skin due to its depth, so men’s skincare tends to focus on hydration.
2. Facial Hair
In relation to testosterone, those who have higher testosterone levels also tend to grow more hair, specifically on their face. Facial hair can protect the skin from the sun’s radiations making it age more slowly. The daily routine of shaving also acts an as exfoliant, which gets rid of dead skin cells and keeps the pores clearer. As a result, those who shave their face and have thicker facial hair, usually need less intensive skin-care routines.
On the downside, using shaving creams might increase the sensitivity of some’s skin. Also, using razors on the face might result in cuts, in-grown hairs, or razor burns. In such cases, using moisturizers, face lotions and sunscreens can be extremely useful.
3. Sebum Production
Individuals with thicker skin usually have more sebum (or oil) production and larger pores. This results in oiler skin and also makes them more prone to more stubborn acne. Due to having more oil production and larger pores, those with thicker skin have acne that usually lasts much longer than the acne those with thin skin develop.
4. Sensitivity to Sun
Women tend to take better care of their skin as women receive more shame for aging than men. So, most women apply sunscreen more frequently and are less likely to get sunburns. Those with thinners skin are also more likely to get sunburnt because thinner skin is more sensitive to the sun. Men statistically are less likely to wear sunscreen but those with thicker skin are more resistant to the sun’s harmful rays so wearing sunscreen has less harmful immediate consequences. That said, wearing sunscreen is beneficial no matter what your skin type is as any extended exposure to UV radiations, is harmful.
Best Lifestyle Skincare Practices
Some of the easy, low-maintenance ways for people to care for their thick skin includes:
1. Keeping Hydrated
It’s very well known that hydration plays a huge role in how vibrant the skin looks like. Ideas to slow the aging process, such as keeping skin hydrated by using moisturizer and drinking more water are helpful. Using thin-skin products might do the trick, however, there are hydration and anti-wrinkle products that are made just for those with thick skin.
2. Supplements for Skin
The majority of the United States population lacks necessary vitamins and minerals needed by your body. It doesn’t matter what your gender is or what kind of skin you have in this case, as supplements will do more than just give you better motor and mental functions. They’ll give your body cells everything they aren’t getting from the diet. For your skin, this means better defense and brighter looks. Some vitamins and minerals that are essential for skin health include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E.
3. Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
The way your lifestyle affects your overall health cannot be overlooked. While women are more prone to hormonal fluctuations which always affect their skin, bad lifestyle habits can affect both men’s and women’s skin the same. Some of the factors that negatively affect your skin include over-exposure to sun, physical or psychological stress, junk food, smoking, and physical inactivity. Through maintaining a healthier lifestyle, you guarantee better health that lasts you a lifetime.
There’s no shame in taking better care of your skin. Taking better care of your skin will increase your health, confidence, attractiveness, and in turn your productivity. However, you don’t have to spend an hour every day maintaining a healthy routine either. Taking care of your skin can be as low maintenance as you make it to be, the only key is to make it a habit.
