By J.A. JULIÁN & MANNY FIMBRES

Maintaining a toned, hydrated, nourished, and cared for skin will make your face look brighter. You will also delay those expression lines or wrinkles typical of the age. With a daily routine and these steps, we assure you that your face will have that harmony, softness, and elasticity typical of a model of the best catwalks in Milan.

Men's skin is far different from women's, this is known and known to all, but this does not mean that it does not require the same facial care. Our skin is greasier and harder, with or without a beard, and that is why we must use masks and facials for men. Before using these treatments, it is necessary to understand the steps and basic products to clean the skin and prepare it for the use of these specific treatments. Here’s what would be a perfect routine for men's facial care:

Basic cleaning of facial skin

Before applying any cream, it is essential to clean the area well to achieve optimal hydration, the necessary rejuvenation or any of the treatments that you want to apply.

It is important to wash your face well with water and neutral soap, better yet, a foaming cleanser which contrary to popular belief, foam cleansers aren't only for people with oily skin; dry skin types can get it on the foaming fun, too! It's simply a matter of picking the right formula. Whether your skin leans oily, acne-prone, combination, or dry, there’s a sudsy foam cleanser for everyone, just ahead.

But first, a few important notes. If you are prone to dryness or irritation, it's best to steer clear of foaming face washes that contain sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), a commonly used ingredient in skincare products, like cleansers and shampoos, which are responsible for providing their rich, foamy lather. SLS can be drying or irritating to some people's skin — especially those that are already dry or sensitive. Also, since foam cleansers do tend to cleanse skin extra-thoroughly, you'll always want to follow up with a moisturizer to help restore hydration and softness to your skin, regardless of your skin type.  

This first step is simply an exfoliation to remove impurities from the face that is, removing the dead cells that accumulate daily from environmental contamination, drowning the pores of the skin, and turning them into the famous black spots. You will also help prepare the skin for shaving.

If you are one of those who shave daily with a very close shave and does not let a single hair out of the beard, it is advisable to use shaving foam with nourishing formulas that do not dry out the skin and form flakes or the typical redness due to friction of the blade, which leave the hair follicle open to the air.

After exfoliating and shaving, pores must be closed so no more impurities enter. Here comes the tonic to stop closing and return the PH to the skin and achieve the optimal elasticity for each face. This is fine, but how do I do it? In fact, it is very simple, all you have to do is apply the product to a cotton pad and give small touches. There is no need to rub it; a few taps on the face with the cotton soaked in tonic will be more than enough. And by the way, now that we mention it, keep in mind one thing: do not pass the tonic, it is important for the moisturizer to penetrate well into the dermis and take its effect.

Now it's time for the moisturizer. It is important that you consider the type of skin you have. Mixed, oily, dry ... not all creams are good for any face type. The application is as simple and comforting as you can imagine. With your fingertips, spread it all over your face and gently rub it across your face, noticing how your skin oxygenates and becomes smooth and luminous. Neglecting this step will make the pores we talked about before open and wrinkles appear, and the smoothness, uniformity, and luminosity that is achieved with a good moisturizer will be lost. You can also protect the face with moisturizers with a sun protection factor. If you are 40+ it would be ideal that you also use it in winter or on cloudy days.

Surely you are now asking yourself another key question: How often do I have to do this ritual?

The answer is as easy as the rest: every day in the morning and at night, that is, when you get up and go to bed. In fact there are some specific creams for the day and others for the product to work while your skin is relaxed during sleep.

What to do if you have a beard

But of course, what if we are like 95% of men today and have a beard? In that case, the cleaning of the face will have a limit in the area that delimits skin and beard. This does not mean that you should leave your hair behind because it will be damaged. What you have to do is use specific products for that part.

The main thing here is to be clear that we must separate care from one area and another, and not neglect either. If you follow all these steps, there will be no one with the skin (and even the beard) better than you.